If you are like most men, hair loss can be worrisome. But you can learn how to reduce hair loss and preserve your remaining hair rather than wait to try to restore the hair after it's gone. You can use several safe and effective treatments that can reduce hair loss. Reducing hair loss is not overly difficult, but restoring significant amounts of hair without a transplant can be hard.
Step 1
See your doctor or dermatologist to diagnose the cause of your hair loss. Ask the doctor if you are experiencing genetic male pattern baldness. According to the American Hair Loss Association, 95 percent of men with hair loss are experiencing androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness. It is likely that you are experiencing male pattern baldness, but a doctor needs to confirm this before you begin any treatments.
Step 2
Ask your doctor or dermatologist about finasteride. If prescribed, use finasteride as directed. The typical finasteride regimen requires that you take 1 tablet of finasteride every day for a lifetime. HairSite states that finasteride is a prescription hair loss treatment that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, to lower DHT levels. The American Hair Loss Association states that typical male pattern baldness is caused by DHT attacking hair follicles that are predisposed to hair thinning, shortening their growth cycle. Over time, the hair follicles shrink until they can no longer grow.
Step 3
Ask your doctor or dermatologist about minoxidil. If recommended, minoxidil may be purchased at your local food store. Use minoxidil as directed. The typical minoxidil regimen requires that you apply 1 ml of the topical solution to areas of thinning hair one or two times every day. Like finasteride, you should continue usage indefinitely. HairSite reports that minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical solution and has been used to treat androgenic alopecia for the past 20 years. According to the International Society of hair Restoration Surgery, a study in the September 2003 issue of "Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery" showed that patients' hair-loss rate slowed after using 1 ml of minoxidil twice a day.
Step 4
Ask your doctor or dermatologist about ketoconazole shampoo for hair loss. If recommended, ketoconazole may be purchased your local food store. Use ketoconazole shampoo as directed. The typical regimen requires that you apply the shampoo once a day for two weeks. After that, you should only use it one or two times a week. A clinical trial by the Department of Dermatopathology at the University of Liège in Belgium found that ketoconazole shampoo increased hair density and the proportion of hairs in the growth phase in study participants. Scientists concluded that ketoconazole shampoo could be effective in the long-term treatment of male pattern baldness.
Tips and Warnings
- Use minoxidil and finasteride every day. Visible results may take up to a year to occur, but hair loss should noticeably decrease within a few months.
- Report any side effects to your doctor. Side effects from finasteride can include erectile dysfunction and a loss of libido. Merck reports that 1 mg of finasteride caused these side effects in less than 3 percent of men. Side effects from minoxidil can include minor scalp irritation, dry scalp and a temporary increase in blood pressure. Ketoconazole shampoo can cause minor dry scalp if not used as directed.
Things You'll Need
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- Ketoconazole shampoo
References
- American Hair Loss Association: Men's Hair Loss
- Hairsite: Propecia Finasteride Hair Loss Treatment
- Hairsite: Rogaine
- 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
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