Let's cut to it. There are dozens of things people try for androgenetic alopecia, and they are not created equal. Some are FDA-approved and backed by thousands of patients in trials. Some are a promising molecule that's never been tested on a human scalp. Lumping them together — the way most "top 10 hair loss treatments" lists do — is exactly how people waste years and money.
So here's a different approach: one map, every option, graded A–D on the actual evidence, sorted by how it works.
Explore the interactive map
Take consistent progress photos with the free tracker → so you can measure what the map can only estimate.
How to read it (the A–D tiers)
| Tier | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | FDA-approved and/or strong, replicated RCT + meta-analysis evidence. |
| B | Solid RCT evidence, but fewer/smaller trials or off-label. |
| C | Preliminary human data — small or short studies. |
| D | Mechanism/in-vitro/animal only — a hypothesis, not proof. |
Full method on the editorial standards page. The grade reflects evidence strength, not popularity or price.
The four mechanism angles (why treatments differ)
Androgenetic alopecia is mostly driven by DHT acting on genetically sensitive follicles. Almost every treatment pulls one of these levers:
- Reduce DHT production (5-alpha reductase inhibitors — finasteride, dutasteride). See 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
- Lower DHT at the scalp locally (e.g. topical anti-androgens, ketoconazole).
- Block the androgen receptor (the newer experimental drugs — clascoterone, pyrilutamide). See the pipeline tracker.
- Stimulate growth independent of DHT (minoxidil, microneedling, LLLT).
A smart regimen usually covers more than one angle — which is exactly what the interactive map helps you see, and what the tracker helps you measure.
The proven core (Tier A / B), in one glance
- Topical minoxidil 2%/5% — Tier A, growth/anagen. The reliable foundation.
- Oral finasteride 1 mg — Tier A, DHT reduction. Big trials; know the side-effect profile.
- Oral dutasteride 0.5 mg — Tier A efficacy, mostly off-label. Strongest DHT reduction; see dutasteride vs finasteride.
- Low-dose oral minoxidil — Tier B, growth. Know the side effects.
- Microneedling, PRP, LLLT — Tier A/B adjuncts, growth.
Everything below that — most botanicals, most supplements — sits at C or D. Not worthless, but not proven. We say which is which on each treatment's page.
Measure it, don't guess: the free progress tracker
Here's the problem the map can't solve for you: is it actually working on your head? Day to day, you can't tell — and the early minoxidil "shed" can make it look worse before it looks better.
The RunawayHair tracker fixes the one thing that makes progress photos trustworthy: consistency. It ghosts your baseline shot over the live camera so you line up the same angle and distance every time, and it checks your lighting and focus before you shoot. Same region, same framing, same light — month after month. That's the only honest way to know.
And it's genuinely private: your photos never leave your device. No account, no upload, no subscription.
FAQ
What's the single most proven hair-loss treatment? By evidence, topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are the two Tier-A first-line options with the strongest trial support. "Most proven" isn't the same as "best for you" — that depends on your situation and a clinician's input.
Do I have to pick just one? Most evidence-based regimens combine mechanisms (e.g. a growth stimulator plus a DHT reducer). The map shows how angles stack; a clinician helps you choose safely.
Are the natural options useless? Not all — a few have preliminary (Tier C) human data. But most sit at Tier D (mechanism only). We grade each one honestly on its own page.
Not medical advice — see the disclaimer. Sources are listed on each individual treatment page.