Most people experiencing hair loss have a condition known as androgenetic alopecia. It's caused by the androgen dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which elicits the miniaturization of hair follicles. As follicles shrink the hair is no longer securely attached to the scalp. This prompts an excessive amount of shedding and eventually leads to baldness. A number of treatments are available to slow the progression of hair loss and, in some cases, stimulate the production of new hair.
Step 1
Consult a doctor or dermatologist. Proper diagnosis of the cause of hair loss can affect your treatment options--so talk to a doctor or dermatologist to determine the best form of treatment.
Step 2
Apply minoxidil directly to the scalp. Both men and women can slow the loss of hair and sometimes stimulate the production of new hair growth with the topical application of minoxidil. According to the Mayo Clinic, rub minoxidil into the scalp twice a day to grow hair and prevent further loss.
Step 3
Pick up a prescription for finasteride. The National Institutes of Health asserts that men can often slow hair loss and encourage the regrowth of lost hair with finasteride. This medication impedes the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, an androgen that binds itself to hair follicles and causes them to shrink. The shrinkage produces the loss of hair.
Step 4
Ask your dermatologist about spironolactone. The National Institutes of Health and the American Hair Loss Association agree that spironolactone can treat women suffering from female pattern baldness. This medication is taken by mouth each day to lower the androgen levels as well as prevent the production of dihydrotestosterone. Both factors can play a role in female hair loss.
Step 5
Take cimetidine by mouth each day, suggest the American Hair Loss Association. This is another medication that reduces androgen levels in women, and thereby prevents dihydrotestosterone from binding to hair follicles.
Step 6
Shampoo your hair and scalp with ketoconazole. The American Hair Loss Association provides this as another option for women dealing with female pattern baldness, stating that this topical medication acts as an antiandrogenic agent on the scalp. This could slow the loss of hair in women.
Step 7
Undergo corticosteroid injections. According to the Mayo Clinic, corticosteroids can sometimes encourage hair growth in people suffering from alopecia areata. A series of injections are often necessary to provide results.
Step 8
Use an oral contraceptive to lower androgen levels. Oral contraceptives contain female sex hormones that can balance androgen levels in the body. The decrease in androgen levels can slow hair loss and stimulate the regrowth of lost hair for women.
Step 9
Massage anthralin into the scalp. This is another treatment that can stimulate hair growth in people with alopecia areata, advises the Mayo Clinic. Daily application can cause hair to grow in roughly three months.
Tips and Warnings
- Some women can see an improvement in hair loss with hormone replacement therapy. Talk to your doctor about estrogen/progesterone supplementation.
Things You'll Need
- Minoxidil
- Finasteride
- Spironolactone
- Cimetidine
- Ketoconazole
- Corticosteroids
- Anthralin
- Oral contraceptives (optional)
- Estrogen/progesterone
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