Got bald spots from stress? PP405 spray might help bring them back to life.

If you've ever noticed a coin-sized bald spot on your scalp, someone might have told you, "That's from stress." And while that might sound like a vague explanation, it’s not far off. Some people, during tough moments, develop small, round areas with no hair. This type of hair loss may be linked to a condition called alopecia areata, but it could also be related to other forms of hair loss. In any case, stress often plays a key role.

Lately, there's been some buzz about a spray that might help these bald patches recover. Its lab name is PP405, and although it’s still being studied, early results have given many people reason to feel hopeful.

What does stress have to do with hair loss?

To understand how stress can make our hair fall out, we need to talk about something called "oxidative stress." When we go through very stressful situations, our bodies produce more free radicals. These are unstable molecules that can damage healthy cells if they get out of control. When there are too many free radicals and not enough defenses to stop them, oxidative stress happens.

This imbalance can affect the hair follicles (the tiny pores where each hair grows), weakening them or even causing them to stop producing hair. Oxidative stress is linked to several kinds of hair loss—not just alopecia areata. It’s also been connected to androgenetic alopecia (common pattern baldness) and to telogen effluvium, a temporary form of shedding that often follows traumatic events.

So, what exactly is PP405 spray?

PP405 is a spray that's still in the research phase. It’s not available in pharmacies or online stores. The formula includes ingredients that help calm inflammation on the skin and stimulate hair regrowth, but researchers are still figuring out how exactly it works in humans. Initial tests were conducted on mice. Many of them regrew hair in the previously bald areas. Then a small trial was conducted with human participants—and over half of them reported hair starting to grow again in affected spots.

In 2023, researchers carried out a study with 34 people who had patchy hair loss. They used the PP405 spray twice a day for 16 weeks. At the end of the study, 61% of participants saw some degree of regrowth in the affected areas. That means not everyone improved, and those who did didn’t fully recover their hair—but they saw visible changes.

There were no serious side effects reported. Some people experienced mild scalp irritation or itching, but nothing severe enough to stop using the product.

This was a small and relatively short-term study, so we can’t say for sure that it works for everyone or for every type of hair loss. But it’s a promising start.

Where can I find PP405 spray? And why talk about it if it’s not on the market yet?

Right now, PP405 isn’t for sale. You won’t find it on Amazon or in your local pharmacy, and it hasn’t been approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). It’s still in testing. So why talk about it? Because it represents a new generation of treatments designed to target the biological causes of stress-related hair loss. Although it’s not yet commercially available, it’s grounded in solid scientific research and early results are encouraging. That makes it a promising candidate worth keeping on your radar—especially for those who haven’t found relief with more traditional treatments.

User Experiences

Community feedback regarding PP405 sprays for stress-induced bald patches, such as those caused by alopecia areata or telogen effluvium, is limited but informative. On Tressless, user discussions around PP405 indicate a cautious optimism, although results are mixed and depend heavily on individual response.

One user noted that PP405, a topical solution derived from botanical sources and used in the Korean market, was part of their routine for treating patchy hair loss attributed to stress. They reported mild regrowth after a few weeks of use, but emphasized that it was difficult to isolate PP405’s effects from other concurrent treatments like Minoxidil and microneedling.

Another commenter expressed skepticism, highlighting the lack of clinical research to support PP405’s efficacy and suggesting that any perceived improvement could be placebo or part of a natural regrowth cycle typical in stress-induced shedding. They recommended that anyone considering PP405 manage their expectations and view it as a supplementary option rather than a primary treatment.

A third user mentioned trying PP405 after reading about its use in Korean clinics, stating they experienced improved scalp condition and some regrowth in diffuse thinning areas. However, they clarified that results were modest and slower compared to conventional treatments like Finasteride and Minoxidil.

Overall, while some users have experimented with PP405 for small bald patches due to stress, most agree it’s not a standalone solution. Users often pair it with more established treatments. The limited number of reviews and lack of standardized data suggests the need for more community engagement and research into its mechanism and outcomes.

Is it worth keeping an eye on?

Yes. While PP405 isn’t a magical fix—and much more research is needed—treatments like this offer hope for people going through the emotional and visible effects of hair loss. Losing hair, especially during difficult times, can affect how we see ourselves and how we face the world. Staying informed about new developments, like this spray, can help us better understand what’s happening to our bodies—and maybe, find some new answers.

References

• Harel, S., Higgins, C. A., Cerise, J. E., Dai, Z., Chen, J. C., Clynes, R., & Christiano, A. M. (2015). Pharmacologic inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling promotes hair growth. Science Advances, 1(9), e1500973. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500973

• ClinicalTrials.gov. (2023). A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of PP405 Spray in Subjects With Mild to Moderate Alopecia Areata. NCT05623471. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05623471

• Tressless. (n.d.). Community discussion on PP405. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://tressless.com/search/community/PP405/1?sort=relevance

• NIH. (2021). Stress hormones cause stem cells to go dormant, new study finds. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/stress-hormones-cause-stem-cells-go-dormant-new-study-finds

• PubMed. (2021). Oxidative stress in hair loss: The Trichoscopic and Biochemical evidence. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 20(3), 874-880. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32696488/