What actually has evidence
Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is the most common cause of thinning in men and women. In the United States, only two drugs have FDA approval for it:
- Topical minoxidil (2% and 5%), sold over the counter. Men can use the 2% or 5% liquid or foam. Women can use the 2% solution or the 5% foam once a day.
- Oral finasteride 1 mg, by prescription, for men only. Women who are or may become pregnant must not handle crushed or broken tablets.
Both treatments work only while you use them. When you stop, the hair you gained falls out again. Neither one restores a scalp that has been completely bald for years.
Some other options have partial evidence. Low-level laser caps and combs are FDA cleared, not approved. Clearance means the device is similar to one already sold; it is not drug-level proof. Small trials show a modest effect. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and low-dose oral minoxidil are off-label uses that some dermatologists offer. No stem cell or "exosome" product has FDA approval for hair loss.
Dietary supplements do not need FDA approval before they are sold, so a label that says "clinically proven" has not been checked by the FDA. Biotin helps hair only if you are deficient, which is rare. The FDA also warns that high-dose biotin can distort blood test results, including a heart attack test (troponin).
Normal shedding is 50 to 100 hairs a day. Sudden, patchy or heavy loss can have a medical cause, such as thyroid disease, iron deficiency or alopecia areata. See a doctor or dermatologist before you buy anything.
Red flags of a hair growth scam
- Results in days or weeks. Real treatments take months (see the chart below).
- "Cure" or "permanent regrowth" claims. No product cures pattern hair loss.
- "Clinically proven" with no named study. Ask for the trial: who ran it, how many people, what was measured.
- A free trial that needs your card. This is often an auto-ship subscription.
- "Doctor-formulated" or celebrity endorsements that you cannot check. AI-generated videos of famous people are now common.
- Secret or "ancient" formulas with no full ingredient list.
- Prescription drugs sold without a prescription, or brand drugs far below the normal price.
Common hair growth scams
Free-trial auto-ship supplements
You pay a small shipping fee, and the small print enrolls you in a monthly subscription. US law (the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act) requires clear terms, your consent, and a simple way to cancel.
Counterfeit minoxidil and brand products
Marketplace listings can sell fakes with the wrong strength or no active ingredient. Buy from a pharmacy or the brand's authorized retailers, and check the seal, lot number and expiry date.
Unlicensed online pharmacies
Sites that sell finasteride with no prescription can ship the wrong drug or none at all. The FDA BeSafeRx program shows how to check a pharmacy's license.
"Stem cell" and exosome clinics
Clinics charge thousands for treatments the FDA has not approved, and the FDA warns the public about unapproved stem cell products. Ask what is injected and what approval it has.
Black-market hair transplants
Low-price clinics, at home and abroad, can let unlicensed technicians do the surgery. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) warns about this. Confirm the name and license of the surgeon who operates.
"Formaldehyde-free" keratin treatments
In 2011, federal OSHA issued a hazard alert after tests found formaldehyde in salon smoothing products labeled formaldehyde-free. Ask the salon for the product name and its safety data sheet.
Free-Trial Cost Calculator
See what a "free" hair supplement trial really costs. Enter the terms from the offer's small print. The example values are placeholders; replace them with the numbers on your offer.
How it works: the first auto-ship charge falls on the last day of the trial, then one charge every 30 days until you cancel. The pharmacy comparison uses the same number of months, rounded up. If you were billed for something you did not agree to, ask your card issuer about a dispute (US credit cards: within 60 days of the statement) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How to buy hair loss treatment safely
- Get a diagnosis first. A dermatologist can tell pattern hair loss from other causes.
- Start with an FDA-approved treatment, and give it at least 4 months before you judge it.
- Buy from a licensed pharmacy or an authorized retailer. Compare the price with the pharmacy price.
- Read the terms before you enter a card number. Look for "subscription", "auto-ship" or "membership".
- Report side effects to FDA MedWatch and deceptive offers to the FTC.
Frequently asked questions
Do hair growth gummies work?
Only if you lack a nutrient they contain. Biotin deficiency is rare, and extra biotin does not grow hair in people with normal levels. High doses can also distort some blood test results.
Are laser hair growth caps a scam?
Not always. Some devices are FDA cleared and small trials show a modest effect. The scam is the claim that a laser cap works like a cure, or an uncleared device sold with "FDA" language.
Is PRP for hair loss FDA approved?
No. The devices that prepare PRP are cleared, but their use for hair loss is off-label. Results in studies vary.