Male pattern baldness affects countless men, and even some women, in the United States and around the world. There are several ways to treat the fine and thinning hair that occurs as baldness progresses, only one of which is truly effective. For all treatments, the earlier you start treating for baldness the better. Once your hair is gone, nothing can make it grow back naturally.
Finasteride
The drug finasteride effectively halts hair loss in men and women, though it causes little hair regrowth. A common trade name for finasteride is Propecia. The drug prevents the production of a special kind of testosterone, called dehydrotestosterone (DHT). The build-up of DHT in the blood and scalp causes the hair follicles to weaken and hair to fall out in androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness. Because the drug only prevents hair loss and cannot reverse it, it is crucial that you recognize the early signs of hair loss--such as a receding hair line and an increase in stray hairs on your pillow and in your styling implements--and begin taking the drug then. Finasteride requires a prescription, so talk to your doctor if you would like to begin taking it.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a topical drug that claims to regrow hair. It is most effective in men younger than 40 who have recently lost their hair. The most common trade name for minoxidil is Rogaine. To use the drug, you apply the liquid to your scalp twice daily. At best, minoxidil will cause some hair to regrow, but do not expect it to cure your baldness or result in a full head of hair. Typically, any new hair that grows during treatment with minoxidil falls out within a couple months of ceasing treatment. Side effects of minoxidil include drying, itching and flaking of the scalp.
Vitamins
You can take several vitamin supplements to increase the general health of your hair. While these vitamins will not stop hair loss, they can strengthen strands of hair and make your hair look a little thicker and healthier.
B complex vitamins promote healthy skin, nails, and hair by helping your body to break down proteins and then reassemble the amino acids into new proteins like those in hair. Consume a B complex vitamin supplement to get more of them into your body.
Vitamin K, while not a B complex vitamin, plays a similar role in the body. Consume dark green vegetables to increase your intake of vitamin K. A vitamin K supplement is usually not necessary because you absorb it in your intestines as the bacteria there excrete it as waste.
Vitamin A specifically promotes healthy skin and hair. You should consume natural sources of Vitamin A, such as apricots, kale, cantaloupes, carrots, spinach, pumpkin, mangoes, liver and sweet potatoes. You should not take a vitamin A supplement because too much of it can be harmful to your liver.
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