There are hundreds of products that claim to prevent hair loss. Laser combs, herbal remedies, topical elixirs, and special shampoos litter the internet and late-night television. Unfortunately, very few of these options prove to be effective or have any substantial scientific background. Still, there are some options that are not only effective, but are safe and backed by credible peer-reviewed research. Please consult your doctor to determine the cause of your hair loss before attempting to treat it.
Propecia
Propecia is a popular, FDA approved option to prevent hair loss. It is currently available as a 1 mg Finasteride tablet by prescription only. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery reports that Propecia was found to be both safe and effective in treating male pattern baldness in a five-year study. To date, this study, led by Dr. Keith Kaufman, is the longest clinical trial of Propecia for hair loss. By the conclusion of the study, 65 percent of men had improved or maintained their starting hair count. Researchers note that men taking Propecia "had a considerable difference" in hair count versus the men who did not. Propecia taken daily is an effective option for men to prevent further hair loss and may help to regrow hair.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is another popular, FDA approved option for preventing hair loss. It is available over the counter in 2 percent and 5 percent strength. The FDA only approves the 2 percent strength for women. Minoxidil is applied topically to the scalp and to other areas of hair thinning.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery describes a four-month surveillance study that found 5 percent minoxidil effective in treating male-pattern hair loss. Researchers found that hair density improved in 74.2 percent of men and worsened in only 1.5 percent of men. Balding areas on the scalp were found to be smaller in 67.3 percent of men or unchanged in 31.9 percent of men. This is evidence that minoxidil can slow or even prevent hair loss.
Ketoconazole shampoo
Ketoconazole shampoo is another over the counter option to prevent hair loss. A dermatology study at the University of Liège in Belgium found the long term use of ketoconazole shampoo to be effective in treating androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness. Usually regarded as an anti-dandruff remedy, results suggest that the anti-inflammatory action of ketoconazole can help to prevent hair loss. Researchers found similar improvement in "hair density and size and proportion of anagen [hair] follicles" when comparing ketoconazole to 2 percent strength minoxidil. This is very promising because very few topical shampoos have any scientific backing in preventing hair loss.
Ketoconazole is found in Nizoral and Revita shampoo.
References
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery: Five-Year Propecia (Finasteride) Hair Regrowth Study
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery: 5% Minoxidil in Treating Male-Pattern Hair Loss
- PubMed; Dermatology; Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia; 1998
- Eblue.org: Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenic alopecia
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