# From Cells to Strands: A Systematic Review Comparing Exosome Therapy, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment

**Authors:** Rajah Darwish, Marina Zakhary, Kaleigh Wingate, Noura Ayoubi, Faisal Ghafoor, Bushra Ejaz

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.87875 · 2025-07-14

## TL;DR

This review compares exosome therapy, PRP, and minoxidil for treating hair loss, finding exosome therapy most promising for regrowth and safety.

## Contribution

The paper systematically evaluates and compares emerging exosome therapy against established treatments for androgenetic alopecia.

## Key findings

- Exosome therapy shows the most promising results for hair regrowth and safety.
- PRP provides moderate benefits but is less effective than exosome therapy.
- Minoxidil is accessible but has limited effectiveness and requires continuous use.

## Abstract

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts psychological well-being and quality of life. Traditional therapies such as minoxidil and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) offer varying degrees of success, while exosome therapy has recently emerged as a potential alternative. This review compares the effectiveness, safety, and patient-centered outcomes of exosome therapy, PRP, and minoxidil in the management of AGA. The findings suggest that exosome therapy shows the most promising results in terms of hair regrowth and safety, followed by PRP, which offers moderate benefits. Minoxidil remains the most accessible treatment, though with more limited effectiveness and the need for continuous use. Overall, exosome therapy appears to hold the greatest potential for long-term improvement. Further research is needed to guide clinical decision-making and optimize treatment outcomes.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** minoxidil (PubChem CID 4201)
- **Diseases:** Androgenetic alopecia (MONDO:0005339)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** AGA (MESH:D000505)
- **Chemicals:** Minoxidil (MESH:D008914)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12351504/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12351504