A lab-made copy of a natural blood-vessel-building protein, applied as a scalp serum for thinning hair. The rationale is sound and animal and cell studies show larger follicles and faster regrowth, but no human study has tested it alone, and getting the large protein into skin is hard. Everyday risk is low; proof of regrowth remains thin. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | ~40–70 ng/mL | Low iron stores independently cause and worsen hair shedding |
| Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) | ~40–60 ng/mL | Low vitamin D is associated with hair thinning and poorer follicle cycling |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) | ~0.5–2.5 mIU/L | Both under- and over-active thyroid cause diffuse hair loss and mimic other alopecias |
| Total and free testosterone / DHT (selected cases) | Age- and sex-appropriate | Androgen excess drives pattern loss the serum cannot counter |
Cadence: Standardized photographs at baseline, then ~3 and 6 months, and roughly every 6 months thereafter; repeat labs only if a deficiency was found