SULT1A1

(Sulfotransferase 1A1): This gene helps predict how well your body activates minoxidil, a key ingredient for hair growth. Variants may indicate whether you need a higher dose or special additives like tretinoin for best results.

SRD5A1 & SRD5A2

Steroid 5-Alpha-Reductase: These genes affect how much DHT (a hormone linked to hair loss) your body produces. High activity can increase hair loss risk, suggesting the use of DHT-blocking treatments and selecting between finasteride, dutasteride, or spironolactone, which works as an anti-androgen to block DHT.

MTHFR

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase: This gene influences your body’s folate levels, which are essential for healthy cell growth, including hair follicles. Variants may impact your need for folate supplements.

GPR44-1 & GPR44-2

Prostaglandin D2 Receptor: These genes help us understand your sensitivity to prostaglandin D2, a compound that can cause hair loss. Cetirizine, a prostaglandin D2 inhibitor, may be effective for managing hair loss by blocking this pathway.

PTGFR-1, 2, 3

Prostaglandin F Receptor: These genes impact how well your body responds to latanoprost, a treatment that promotes hair growth through prostaglandin pathways. Variants in these genes can indicate whether latanoprost will be effective for you.

ACE

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme: ACE affects blood flow. Variants here may determine how well circulation-boosting treatments, like minoxidil or caffeine, work to enhance hair growth.

PTGES2

Prostaglandin E Synthase 2: This gene plays a role in producing prostaglandins that help hair growth. Variants can indicate how effective treatments like minoxidil might be for you.

COL1A1

Collagen Type 1 Alpha 1: This gene affects collagen production, which supports hair structure. Variants can influence your hair’s strength and resilience, and whether collagen supplements may help.

SLC23A1

Vitamin C Transporter: This gene controls how well your body absorbs vitamin C, which is essential for hair strength and health. Variants may suggest a need for supplementation.

NQO1

NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1: This gene is related to your body’s antioxidant defenses. Low activity may mean oxidative stress is contributing to hair loss, suggesting antioxidant treatments.

CRABP2

Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 2: This gene is involved in how your body uses vitamin A, which supports a healthy scalp and hair. Variants may suggest vitamin A supplementation like Tretinoin.

BTD

BTD (Biotinidase): This gene helps your body use biotin, an important vitamin for hair growth. Variants may reveal whether you need extra biotin to support healthy hair.

CYP19A1

Aromatase: This gene controls how much testosterone is converted to estrogen. Low activity may lead to higher DHT levels, which could accelerate hair loss, guiding the use of anti-androgens like spironolactone, 17-α estradiol, or melatonin, which can help reduce DHT production and enhance hair growth effects.

SLC23A1

Vitamin C Transporter: This gene controls how well your body absorbs vitamin C, which is essential for hair strength and health. Variants may suggest a need for supplementation.

ZPR1

Zinc Finger Protein ZPR1: This gene is linked to zinc levels, and variants might suggest the need for zinc supplements, which are important for hair health.

MUC1

Mucin 1: This gene is related to magnesium absorption. Variants could indicate if magnesium supplementation might benefit your hair health.

DMGDH

Dimethylglycine Dehydrogenase: This gene affects your body’s selenium levels. Low selenium can impact hair health, so variants here might suggest the need for supplementation.

Minoxidil

Helps with hair loss by stimulating hair follicles and increasing blood flow to the scalp, which promotes hair growth. It is a vasodilator, meaning it widens blood vessels, improving blood circulation to the hair follicles.

Dutasteride

Inhibits the production of the Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone that causes hair loss.

Latanoprost

Has been found to help with hair loss by extending the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle. It is a prostaglandin analog that promotes hair growth by increasing the density, thickness, and pigmentation of hair follicles.

Finasteride

Helps treat hair loss by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). By lowering DHT levels in the scalp, finasteride slows hair loss, promotes hair regrowth, and helps maintain existing hair in individuals with male pattern baldness

Melatonin

Studies suggest that melatonin may help reduce hair loss and promote regrowth by extending the hair growth phase, reducing oxidative stress, modulating immune responses, and improving scalp health.

Caffeine

Caffeine can stimulate the scalp through blood flow, supporting hair follicle health — specifically, the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.

Spironolactone

Slows androgen production, decreasing testosterone. May act as combined or solo therapy for androgenic alopecia.

Tretinoin

Promotes and regulates skin cell development. This creates a favorable environment for hair growth. Thought to work synergistically with minoxidil. May penetrate hair follicle better when in combination.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D may support hair health by promoting hair follicle function, reducing inflammation, and regulating the immune system, which can help prevent hair loss and encourage regrowth.

Cetirizine

Motivated by the success of hair growth in other prostaglandin pathway medications, researchers studied the use of topical cetirizine in patients with androgenic alopecia and found that it may increase hair density and hair diameter.