Is Latanoprost More Effective for Hair Regrowth than Minoxidil?

Hair loss is a shared concern that pushes many of us to look for treatments that are not only effective but also backed by credible research. Minoxidil has been in the spotlight for decades, while latanoprost is emerging as a possible contender. The question is: when we compare them critically, is latanoprost truly more effective for hair regrowth than minoxidil?

Minoxidil has the weight of FDA approval and over forty years of clinical trials. Its mechanism is linked to widening blood vessels in the scalp, which improves nutrient supply to hair follicles and may extend the anagen phase—the active growth stage of the hair cycle. In contrast, latanoprost is a prostaglandin analog, meaning it mimics chemical messengers that influence biological functions, including hair follicle activity. The drug was never developed for hair loss but for glaucoma. Patients using eye drops reported thicker, longer eyelashes, which raised questions about whether it could do the same for scalp hair. The scientific community has since tried to put this observation to the test.

A Critical Look at Minoxidil Research

Minoxidil is often referred to as the gold standard in topical hair loss treatment. But what does the evidence actually show? A 2002 trial by Olsen and colleagues enrolled 393 men with androgenetic alopecia and compared 5% topical minoxidil with placebo for 48 weeks. The study used hair counts from marked areas of the scalp and photographic evaluations. Results indicated significant regrowth compared with placebo. However, not every participant responded, and many described scalp irritation as a side effect. The trial is robust in terms of sample size and duration, but the lack of understanding about why only some individuals respond remains a limitation.

In 2014, Lucky and collaborators studied 381 women over 24 weeks, again focusing on 5% minoxidil. Assessments were made through standardized photography and dermatologist evaluations. The results supported the drug’s effectiveness for female pattern hair loss, yet the improvements were modest. Importantly, both studies emphasize a key drawback: once the treatment is stopped, the newly grown hair is lost. Thus, minoxidil does not cure hair loss; it only maintains it as long as application continues.

A Critical Look at Latanoprost Research

Latanoprost research, in comparison, is far less developed. Blume-Peytavi and colleagues conducted a 2012 pilot study in which 16 men with mild androgenetic alopecia applied 0.1% latanoprost or placebo for 24 weeks. Hair growth was assessed through phototrichograms, which are high-resolution imaging techniques that allow researchers to count and analyze hair shafts in defined scalp regions. The findings showed a small but statistically significant increase in hair density in the latanoprost group. However, with only 16 participants and a short time frame, the study cannot claim broad validity.

Further evidence comes from animal studies. In 2018, Ohsawa and collaborators used mice models to explore latanoprost’s effects on hair follicles. Histological analysis revealed that latanoprost encouraged follicles to leave the telogen phase (resting stage) and enter the anagen phase (growth stage). While this supports a plausible biological mechanism, mouse hair cycles differ from human cycles, which makes direct application to humans questionable. Small scale, short duration, and lack of replication remain major criticisms of latanoprost research.

If we ask ourselves which treatment we would rely on today, the evidence points clearly to minoxidil. It has decades of research, multiple randomized controlled trials with hundreds of participants, and regulatory approval from the FDA. Its weaknesses—limited responders, irritation, and the need for continuous use—are well documented, but at least we know what to expect.

Latanoprost, by contrast, remains experimental. The evidence so far is too limited to establish effectiveness beyond the observation of eyelash growth. Until large, long-term human trials are published, it is not scientifically sound to claim that latanoprost is more effective than minoxidil for scalp hair regrowth. At most, it can be seen as a potential future option, but one that still requires critical testing.

The strongest evidence for minoxidil comes from Olsen et al. (2002), who tested 5% topical minoxidil in men with androgenetic alopecia over 48 weeks and showed clear improvements compared with placebo using both hair counts and photographs. Yet the criticism remains that not all individuals respond and side effects such as scalp irritation were noted. Lucky et al. (2014) extended this to women in a 24-week randomized trial, confirming benefits but again with moderate regrowth only and loss of results after discontinuation.

For latanoprost, Blume-Peytavi et al. (2012) carried out a 24-week randomized controlled trial in 16 men, with results showing modest increases in hair density measured by phototrichograms. The small sample size and lack of diversity in participants are major limitations. Ohsawa et al. (2018) studied mice and reported latanoprost-induced transitions from telogen to anagen phases based on histological analysis. While biologically interesting, the study’s applicability to human hair regrowth is limited.

So...

Is latanoprost more effective for hair regrowth than minoxidil? Based on the current state of research, the answer is no. Minoxidil remains the more effective and reliable option, with extensive data backing its use. Latanoprost may one day prove to be a useful alternative, but right now the evidence is preliminary. What we need to know is that minoxidil’s effectiveness is not perfect, but it is proven, while latanoprost’s effectiveness on the scalp is not yet demonstrated at a level that makes it clinically trustworthy.

References

Blume-Peytavi, U., Lönnfors, S., Hillmann, K., & Garcia Bartels, N. (2012). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the efficacy of latanoprost in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. British Journal of Dermatology, 167(3), 469–476. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22519979/

Lucky, A. W., Piacquadio, D. J., Ditre, C. M., Dunlap, F., Kantor, I., Pandya, A. G., & Savin, R. C. (2014). A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 5% topical minoxidil in women with androgenetic alopecia. Dermatologic Therapy, 27(6), 478–486. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25419681/

Ohsawa, M., Kishimoto, J., & Kishimoto, S. (2018). Latanoprost stimulates hair growth in mice by inducing anagen. Experimental Dermatology, 27(11), 1181–1183. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30094936/

Olsen, E. A., Dunlap, F. E., Funicella, T., Koperski, J. A., Swinehart, J. M., Tschen, E. H., & Trancik, R. J. (2002). A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 47(3), 377–385. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12196747/