The hair loss industry has become a big business and there are countless products on the market, all claiming to replace what the years have taken away. The majority of products for thinning hair fail to live up to their claims, however, and consumers are better off sticking with the products that have been proven to show positive results.
Finasteride
Finasteride is marketed as Propecia for treating hair loss and is one of two hair-loss treatment methods approved the FDA. Propecia works by preventing testosterone from being converted to the androgen, dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone attaches itself to hair follicles, which causes them to shrink and inhibits their ability to produce new hair.
Propecia is a 1-mg tablet of finasteride and is not designed to be taken by women.
Propecia does have several known side effects, including a reduced libido and erectile dysfunction. These side effects are rare, however, and occur in less than two percent of men using the medication.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil was the first hair loss treatment approved by the FDA and is still a widely used method to treat thinning hair. Originally a prescription medication, minoxidil is now sold over-the-counter and is available in 2% and 5% solution, or in a foam version, which also contains 5% minoxidil, for men. The 2% solution is the only version of minoxidil which has been approved for women by the FDA, and is available over-the-counter. The 5% solution may be prescribed for women by a physician.
Minoxidil is a topical application that is applied directly to the scalp twice a day. Side effects are rare, with irritation or redness of the treated area the most common.
Nizoral Shampoo
Nizoral shampoo is one of the most popular non-FDA-approved hair loss treatments around. Unlike many other products marketed for thinning hair, Nizoral has several clinical studies to support its use. The most commonly cited study is one that appeared in "Dermatology" magazine in 1998. The study, which was conducted by the University of Liege, in Belgium, found those using ketoconazole shampoo, which is the active ingredient of Nizoral, showed similar improvements in hair mass and density as those using 2% minoxidil.
Unlike finasteride and minoxidil, Nizoral does not have to be used daily and is typically used every third day for treatment of thinning hair. The product is also safe for women.
Provillus
Provillus is another popular method for dealing with thinning hair. A two-part product, Provillus caters to the alternative treatment crowd by offering a supplement that contains saw palmetto, nettle root and pumpkin seed, all of which are purported to contain hair-growing properties. There is little clinical evidence to support that claim, however.
The second part of Provillus is minoxidil, with a 5% solution for men and a 2% one for women. The hair-growing properties of minoxidil have been well-documented and any improvement in hair growth from Provillus is likely due to the minoxidil.
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