The following treatments are FDA-approved, although not for hair loss. They have properties that can be used off-label for hair loss, similarly to the way that the so-called Best Hair Loss Shampoos got marketed. The effectiveness of these treatments varies from person-to-person. Nonetheless, here is a rough breakdown. A minoxidil 2 percent treatment is available. Applying minoxidil directly to a scalp has been shown to stimulate hair growth. The amount of minoxidil that gets absorbed through the skin is usually too small to cause internal side effects. Women who have diffuse androgenic alopecia can often use minoxidil and it seems to be more effective in women than it has been for men. The makers of the product recommend that women don’t go more concentrated than the 2 percent solution, and not to the 5 percent. This is because the makers of minoxidil have no received FDA approval for promoting the 5 percent solution to women.