The American Hair Loss Association states that pattern hair thinning, or traditional male pattern hair thinning, is the root origin of hair loss in upwards of 95 percent of males. Thinning hair is induced by the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) attacking and thinning hairs that are not genetically programed to resist it. If this assault continues, it leads to less dense hair.
MayoClinic.com claims that even though there is no foolproof treatment to halt male pattern baldness, several effective treatments exist that can slow the hormonal condition.
Step 1
Schedule an office visit with your general practitioner. It is important to uncover the cause of your hair thinning prior to using treatments. Genetic male baldness is a hereditary condition, and treatments will generally differ than if the cause were a vitamin or mineral deficiency or another hormonal problem.
Step 2
Talk with your health practitioner about finasteride. Finasteride is an FDA-approved pill that is swallowed one time a day for the treatment of genetic male baldness. You can get it through a doctor's prescription only. The American Hair Loss Association states that finasteride can lower DHT blood levels by nearly 60 percent. Lessened DHT levels equals less hair thinning.
Furthermore, the American Hair Loss Association recommends finasteride as "the first line of attack" for men starting to treat hair thinning. Since finasteride is meant to control DHT, women and children should not use it.
Step 3
Purchase minoxidil from your local drug store. The American Hair Loss Association reports that minoxidil was the earliest FDA-approved treatment for male pattern hair thinning. Even though the exact functions of the medication are unclear, minoxidil is thought to increase cutaneous blood flow to the areas affected by hair loss. Better blood flow gives hair follicles a chance to mature at their normal rate.
The National Institute of Health notes that you may need to use minoxidil for at least four months and up to an entire year to notice results. It is most effective for people under 40.
Step 4
Get ketoconazole shampoo from a local drug store. Ketoconazole is the primary ingredient in Nizoral® shampoo and is clinically verified to help treat baldness in men. In a Belgian clinical trial reported in the 1998 edition of the "Journal of Dermatology," scientists found that ketoconazole shampoo helped hair density almost as much as 2-percent minoxidil. Belgian researchers established that ketoconazole shampoo can be valuable in the overall treatment of genetic male baldness. Use ketoconazole as directed.
Tips and Warnings
- Use finasteride and minoxidil as your doctor recommends. Hair restoration surgery can provide a permanent solution if your balding continues.
- You must stay on minoxidil and finasteride, or your prior rate of hair loss will return. Finasteride is normally well-tolerated, but was found to cause loss of libido and erectile dysfunction in 3 percent of males.
Things You'll Need
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- Ketoconazole shampoo
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