Hair loss can be very distressing, it can also be very expensive to treat. Propecia, an FDA approved prescription medication for hair loss, costs about $70 a month. Most insurance companies will not cover propecia and consider it strictly for cosmetic purposes. A hair transplant can cost upwards of $6,000. Many people desire to treat hair loss with more inexpensive solutions without prescription medications.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor. It is important to speak with your doctor before attempting to treat your hair loss. According to the American Hair Loss Association, 95 percent of the time, male pattern baldness is the cause of hair loss in men. Male pattern baldness is a hormonal condition and can be treated by lowering DHT levels.
Step 2
Buy minoxidil and use it every day. Minoxidil is the number one selling hair loss treatment in the world, according to HairSite. It is FDA approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness. It should be applied to thinning areas of clean and dry hair two times everyday in the quantity of 1 ml.
Step 3
Buy saw palmetto and use it every day. Saw palmetto is a dietary supplement that is available in capsule form at most grocery stores. It actually functions similarly to the prescription drug Propecia by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Bastycenter.org notes that in a study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that "those with male pattern baldness may increase hair growth by taking a preparation containing saw palmetto."
Step 4
Buy Nizoral shampoo and use as directed. Androgenicalopecia.com reports that ketoconazole, the active ingredient in Nizoral shampoo, can inhibit scalp DHT topically. Nizoral shampoo is traditionally a treatment for excessive dandruff and may further help prevent hair loss reducing scalp inflammation.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember to use minoxidil and saw palmetto every day. Leave Nizoral shampoo on your hair for 3 to 5 minute to ensure it is absorbed.
- Minoxidil is usually very well tolerated, the most common side effect is minor skin irritation on the area applied.
Things You'll Need
- Minoxidil
- Nizoral
- Saw Palmetto
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