AT A GLANCE:

• Hair loss isn’t just genetic, it’s biological. New science shows that inflammation, hormones, nutrient balance, and stem cell health all play critical roles.

• The root cause lies in stem cell exhaustion. Over time, the regenerative cells that fuel hair growth lose potency, slowing renewal and weakening follicles.

• Traditional treatments like minoxidil and finasteride still work, but regenerative therapies are now leading the field.

• Secretome therapy represents the next frontier, using a powerful blend of proteins, peptides, and exosomes to reactivate dormant follicles and restore scalp health.

We know that hair loss can feel like a deeply personal issue. But in 2025, it’s also a scientific one—and that means that there are more and more opportunities to support and even reverse hair loss at the source.

Once seen as an inevitable part of getting older, thinning hair is now understood as a biological process that can be measured and influenced. From hormones and genetics to inflammation and cellular health, researchers are uncovering how (and why) hair loss really happens.

The result? A new wave of innovation that’s moving far beyond camouflage, quick fixes, and costly surgeries. Today’s breakthroughs focus on regeneration: leveraging your own biology to help your body restore hair growth naturally, from the inside out.

Why Hair Loss Happens

Spoiler: It’s not just your DNA.

For decades, hair loss has been seen as a question of losing a genetic lottery. But while genes do play a role, they’re only one piece of a much bigger picture.

Today, scientists know that hair thinning is a multifaceted process: shaped by everything from your hormones to stress, nutrition, environment, and, most importantly, the health of your cells.

Here’s what we now understand:

1. Hormones. The hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) remains one of the leading culprits in androgenetic alopecia—the most common form of hair loss in both men and women. DHT binds to receptors in hair follicles, shortening the growth cycle and producing finer, weaker strands over time.¹
2. Inflammation and stress. If you tend to notice more hair in the shower drain during a particularly anxious time, you’re not alone. Chronic stress or systemic inflammation raises cortisol levels, which disrupts the normal rhythm of hair growth. Over time, this stress chemistry can push follicles into a prolonged “resting” phase.²
3. Nutrient and environmental factors. Deficiencies in vitamins like iron, zinc, and key amino acids can compromise scalp health and reduce the energy available for follicle repair. The same is true for exposure to pollution, UV light, and other toxins.³
4. Cellular aging. Perhaps the most groundbreaking discovery of recent years? Hair loss is closely tied to stem cell exhaustion. Hair follicles rely on specialized stem cells to regenerate each new strand. As these cells age, they lose potency and communication with your hair follicles falters. Eventually, they stop producing visible hair altogether.⁴

This understanding has shifted the field of hair restoration entirely: from treating surface-level symptoms to addressing the root of this kind of aging itself.

What Hair Loss Treatments Are Available—And What Actually Works?

If you’ve ever searched for hair loss treatments online or on TikTok, you’ve seen it: Serums that “reactivate” follicles, supplements promising instant thickness, and miracle oils that claim to stop shedding overnight.

The truth? Only a handful of approaches have meaningful scientific backing. But here’s the good news: Those that do work are getting better and better, every year.

Here’s where the science stands in 2025:

1. Minoxidil (Rogaine). Still one of the most accessible and studied options, minoxidil helps increase blood flow and nutrient delivery to the scalp, keeping follicles active longer. It can help maintain existing hair and, in some cases, stimulate regrowth—but consistency is key.⁵
2. Finasteride. A prescription oral medication that blocks DHT, the hormone responsible for shrinking follicles in androgenetic alopecia. It’s shown to be most effective for men, but can also be prescribed to some women under medical supervision.⁶
3. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma). One of the first regenerative therapies to go mainstream, PRP uses your own blood’s growth factors to stimulate follicle activity. Clinical data shows improvement in density and thickness for many patients, but results vary.⁷
4. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). These are devices that deliver red light to the scalp to enhance cellular energy and encourage follicles to stay in the growth phase longer. The results are gradual and mixed, but are supported by increasing evidence.⁸
5. Secretome Therapy. This is where the future is heading. The secretome—a potent blend of proteins, peptides, and exosomes naturally released by stem cells—represents a new generation of regenerative medicine.⁹

Let’s double-click on this below.

Secretome Therapy: The Next Frontier for Hair Loss

Secretome is redefining what “natural regrowth” means, because it essentially goes to the source of aging.

While PRP contains some regenerative molecules, the secretome contains hundreds more. These include proteins, peptides, growth factors, and exosomes that communicate directly with your cells, telling them to heal, rebuild, and regenerate. Think of it as the next generation of PRP: smarter and more concentrated.

When applied to the scalp, secretome therapy helps rejuvenate the environment around the follicle by:

• Encouraging dormant follicles to re-enter the growth phase
• Reducing inflammation that interferes with new growth
• Enhancing circulation and nutrient delivery to the root
• Supporting thicker, stronger strands over time

And because it’s derived from your own biology, secretome therapy is both natural and deeply personalized. Your body already recognizes the signals it’s receiving.

Acorn is taking this science one step further. With Acorn YOU™ Secretome, your treatment is created from your own preserved stem cells, extracted from your existing hair follicles. The result is a highly concentrated, individualized product designed to help your follicles behave as though they’re years younger.

In 2025, we’re entering a new era of hair restoration: one grounded in regenerative medicine. Instead of simply slowing loss, we can now help the body rebuild what time and stress have diminished… all using its own biological language.

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FAQs

Q: What’s the main cause of hair loss?
A: Hair loss is multifactorial. While genetics play a role, inflammation, stress, hormones, and stem cell exhaustion all contribute to thinning hair.

Q: What’s the difference between PRP and Secretome therapy?
A: PRP uses platelets from your blood to deliver growth factors. Secretome goes further: It contains a much wider range of regenerative molecules, including peptides and exosomes that communicate directly with hair follicle cells.

Q: Is Secretome therapy safe?
A: Yes. Because it’s derived from your own biology (specifically, your stem cells), it’s biocompatible and personalized.

Q: How soon can I expect results from Secretome treatments?
A: Most patients begin to see visible improvements in density and quality within 90 days, with ongoing strengthening and thickening over subsequent months.

Q: What makes Acorn YOU™ Secretome different?
A: Acorn YOU™ uses your own preserved stem cells, banked directly from hair follicles, to create a personalized, concentrated product. It’s regenerative medicine built entirely from you.

Further Reading:

1. Ho CH, Sood T, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia. [Updated 2024 Jan 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
2. Malta, M., Jr, & Corso, G. (2025). Understanding the Association Between Mental Health and Hair Loss. Cureus, 17(5), e84777. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84777
3. Trüeb R. M. (2015). Effect of ultraviolet radiation, smoking and nutrition on hair. Current problems in dermatology, 47, 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1159/000369411
4. Zhang, C., Wang, D., Wang, J., Wang, L., Qiu, W., Kume, T., Dowell, R., & Yi, R. (2021). Escape of hair follicle stem cells causes stem cell exhaustion during aging. Nature aging, 1(10), 889–903. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00103-w
5. Suchonwanit, P., Thammarucha, S., & Leerunyakul, K. (2019). Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review. Drug design, development and therapy, 13, 2777–2786. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S214907
6. McClellan, K. J., & Markham, A. (1999). Finasteride: a review of its use in male pattern hair loss. Drugs, 57(1), 111–126. https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199957010-00014
7. Gentile, P., Garcovich, S., Bielli, A., Scioli, M. G., Orlandi, A., & Cervelli, V. (2015). The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Stem cells translational medicine, 4(11), 1317–1323. https://doi.org/10.5966/sctm.2015-0107
8. Pillai, J. K., & Mysore, V. (2021). Role of Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) in Androgenetic Alopecia. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, 14(4), 385–391. https://doi.org/10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_218_20
9. Salhab, O., Khayat, L. & Alaaeddine, N. Stem cell secretome as a mechanism for restoring hair loss due to stress, particularly alopecia areata: narrative review. J Biomed Sci 29, 77 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-022-00863-6

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This article has been medically reviewed by: