Thinking you are losing your hair is exceedingly stressful. Dr. Glenn Charles, member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons, says that you will actually only begin to notice your balding scalp after 50 percent of the hair has been lost. Though this may be stressful news, you will find that there are several safe and effective treatments that may be used by both sexes to maintain their hair loss. It is almost always better and easier to maintain your hair than to try and restore it later.
Step 1
Schedule an office visit with your doctor. It is is critical to learn the source of your thinning hair before beginning treatments to maintain your hair. Genetic male baldness will typically be treated differently from female pattern baldness.
Step 2
Discuss finasteride with your health care professional. Finasteride is an FDA-approved pill that is taken once a day for the treatment of male pattern hair thinning. It is accessible by a health care professional's prescription only. It is for men only. The American Hair Loss Association notes that pattern hair thinning, or hereditary male pattern baldness, is the root source of baldness in more than 95 percent of adult men. Male pattern baldness is triggered by the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), inhibiting and shrinking hairs that are not capable of withstanding it. After a while, this results in a lot less dense hair. The American Hair Loss Association says that finasteride can decrease DHT blood levels by almost 60 percent. Lower DHT levels produce a significantly slighter amount of baldness. In addition, The American Hair Loss Association specifically regards finasteride as "the first line of attack" for adult males who are curious about beginning to treat their hair loss. Of the treatments available for men, finasteride is your best option to maintain your hair count.
Step 3
Purchase minoxidil from your drug store. The FDA recommends 5 percent minoxidil for adult men and 2 percent minoxidil for females. Men can also use the 2 percent formula. Apply the 1 ml of minoxidil one or two times per day. Ideally, minoxidil is applied in the morning and before sleep. The American Hair Loss Association reports that minoxidil was the first FDA-approved remedy for genetic baldness. It has been used to treat genetic baldness since the late 1980s. Though the actual way it works is imprecise, minoxidil is thought to encourage cutaneous blood flow to the hair follicle. Increased cutaneous blood flow encourages hair growth and discourages hairs from entering into their resting phase prematurely.
Step 4
Buy ketoconazole shampoo from your nearby drug store. Use it as directed. Ketoconazole shampoo can be used by either men or women. Ketoconazole is the main active ingredient in Nizoral shampoo and is clinically verified to help remedy baldness in adult males. Ironically, it is an anti-dandruff treatment and just so happens to treat alopecia effectively. In a Belgian clinical trial published as "Ketoconazole: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia" published in the 1998 issue of "Dermatology," doctors found that ketoconazole shampoo improved hair density just as much as 2 percent strength minoxidil. The researchers concluded that ketoconazole may well be helpful in the general treatment of of male pattern baldness.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are a male, remember to take finasteride once a day. It does not has to be taken with food. If you are using minoxidil, make sure your hair is dry before applying it. If the topical solution is too oily, consider buying minoxidil foam. A hair restoration procedure may offer a permanent foolproof treatment if your balding continues.
- Finasteride is only for men. Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, discourages females from even touching crushed tablets. Be careful not to get minoxidil in your eyes. If you do, rinse your eyes with water as soon as possible.
Things You'll Need
- Minoxidil
- Finasteride
- Ketoconazole shampoo
References
- Charles Medical Group: Hair Transplant Hair Restoration Facts; Frequently asked questions
- American Hair Loss Association: Introduction
- American Hair Loss Association: Men's Hair Loss / Treatment
- Hair Site: Rogaine
- "Dermatology"; Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia; 1998
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