Your gender, coupled with the cause of your hair loss, typically dictates the type of treatment used to stimulate the regrowth of hair. For men, treatment options are rather limited, often involving one of two medications approved by the FDA to treat male-pattern baldness. Women have a few more options available to reverse hair loss.
Minoxidil
A popular remedy for hair regrowth is minoxidil, a topical medication used to treat both androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness, and alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease. It's available in a 2 percent concentration for either sex and a 5-percent prescription strength for men. It's applied directly to the scalp twice a day to slow the progression of hair loss and potentially encourage the regrowth of lost hair. The Mayo Clinic explains that growth occurs within 12 weeks of starting the medication. If minoxidil fails to provide results in this time frame, consult a doctor or dermatologist about another medication.
Finasteride
The Mayo Clinic also suggests finasteride for the regrowth of lost hair. Available only by prescription, the drug keeps testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone. Also known as DHT, this hormone binds to and then miniaturizes hair follicles, triggering the loss of hair. By keeping DHT from binding to the follicles, it can slow the progression of hair loss and even stimulate the regrowth of lost hair. Finasteride is taken by mouth once a day to provide results.
Oral Contraceptives
Women experiencing hair loss as a result of hormonal issues can encourage the regrowth of lost hair with oral contraceptives, advises the American Hair Loss Association. Oral contraceptives can lower the production of male sex hormones from the ovaries, which could be contributing to the loss of hair. Low androgen index contraceptives are the only birth control pills that can correct this problem.
Spironolactone
The National Institutes of Health offers spironolactone as an option for women suffering from female-pattern baldness. This oral prescription acts as an antiandrogenetic, meaning it reduces the production of male sex hormones. Though it isn't currently approved by the FDA for this use, it's often taken in conjunction with minoxidil to slow the progression of hair loss and stimulate the regrowth of lost hair.
Cimetidine
Commonly used to treat gastrointestinal problems, cimetidine can lower the production of male sex hormones in women experiencing hair loss. It also keeps DHT from binding to hair follicles, which can encourage the regrowth of lost hair. Due to the dosage needed to provide results, this remedy is not recommended for men with male-pattern baldness, cautions the American Hair Loss Association.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Women suffering hair loss as a result of hormonal changes associated with menopause can experience hair regrowth during hormone replacement therapy, according to the American Hair Loss Association. By supplementing both estrogen and progesterone, hormone levels are better in balance decreasing the predominance of male sex hormones in the body.
Anthralin
Men and women experiencing hair loss from alopecia areata can see the regrowth of lost hair with anthralin, a topical medication commonly used to treat psoriasis. When used each day, anthralin should stimulate hair regrowth within 12 weeks, advises the Mayo Clinic.
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