Thinning hair can be extremely distressing. Dr. Glenn Charles, a member of the coalition of independent hair restoration surgeons, explains that you probably will only start to observe thinning hair on your scalp when 50 percent of the hair has come out. Although this can be discouraging, many treatment options for men and women really work to stop thinning hair.
Step 1
Talk to your primary care doctor about your thinning hair. It is very important to find out the cause of your hair thinning prior to starting medications. For example, hormone-based genetic male and female pattern hair thinning will be treated much differently than a thyroid disorder or nutrient deficiency that's causing hair thinning.
Step 2
Ask your health care provider about finasteride if you are a male. Finasteride is an FDA-approved tablet that is taken once a day for the treatment of hormonal male hair thinning. Your doctor will give you a 30-day supply. You must keep taking finasteride for an indefinite period of time to improve your hair density.
The American Hair Loss Association says pattern hair thinning, or progressive male pattern hair loss, is the sole reason of hair thinning in more than 95 percent of males. Male hair thinning is triggered by the male hormone dihydrotestosterone--or DHT--attacking, shrinking or thinning hairs that cannot withstand excess levels of the hormone. After many months, this results in less dense, thinner hair. The American Hair Loss Association says finasteride may decrease DHT blood levels by 60 percent. The American Hair Loss Association deems finasteride as "the first line of attack" for males interested in treating hair thinning.
Step 3
Buy minoxidil from your neighborhood pharmacy. The FDA suggests 5 percent strength minoxidil for adult men and 2 percent minoxidil for ladies. The normal treatment of minoxidil is one or two applications of 1 ml of topical solution applied two times each day. Like finasteride, you must take minoxidil indefinitely to combat thinning hair.
The American Hair Loss Association says minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical solution for hair thinning for both men and women. HairSite reports that minoxidil is the oldest and most popular hair thinning treatment in the world. Although it is not quite understood how minoxidil works to combat hair thinning, it is thought to improve blood flow to the scalp. Better blood flow gives hair follicles a setting conducive to hair thinning prevention and potential regrowth.
Step 4
Purchase ketoconazole shampoo from your local pharmacy. Both men and women can use ketoconazole shampoo. Ketoconazole is clinically confirmed to help treat androgenic alopecia, or DHT-based hair thinning. In a Belgian study titled "Ketoconazole: effect of long-term use in androgenic alopecia," published in the 1998 version of the "Journal of Dermatology," doctors found that ketoconazole shampoo helped hair thickness nearly the same as 2 percent strength minoxidil. Belgian researchers concluded that ketoconazole may well be useful for the long-term treatment of hair thinning from DHT.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember to use minoxidil and finasteride every day. Generic forms of minoxidil and finasteride can save you money. Ideally, minoxidil should be applied upon waking up in the morning and before going to sleep.
- You must use minoxidil and finasteride every day, or your previous rate of hair thinning will return, and you will likely lose any hair density improvements.
Things You'll Need
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- Ketoconazole
References
- Charlesmedicalgroup.com: Hair Transplant/Hair Restoration Facts--Frequently Asked Questions
- American Hair Loss Association: Men's Hair Loss/Introduction
- American Hair Loss Association: Men's Hair Loss/Treatment
- Hairsite: Rogaine
- PubMed; "Dermatology"; "Ketoconazole Shampoo--Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia"; 1998
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