While many different conditions can potentially cause hair loss, the Foundation for Hair Restoration informs us that "some 95 percent of cases are due to a condition called androgenic alopecia." Androgenic alopecia, or pattern baldness, is a genetic condition where the hormone Dihydrotesterone attacks hairs and thins them in a very distinct pattern. While this is usually a continuous progressive conditions, there are safe and effective treatments that men and women can use to stimulate hair regrowth.
Step 1
Make an appointment with your doctor. The Foundation for Hair Restoration reports that you should lose an average of 100 hairs per day. You must determine if your loss is accelerated because of androgenic alopecia and not another condition.
Step 2
Discuss the use of Propecia or finasteride with your doctor if it's determined that you are a male experiencing androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. If prescribed, take 1 tablet a day.
Finasteride is an FDA-approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness. The American Hair Loss Association says that finasteride can minimize Dihydrotestosterone amounts by nearly 60 percent. Less DHT means less hair loss and an environment that is conducive to hair growth. Merck reports on the homepage for Propecia that two out of three men regrow hair by using finasteride.
Step 3
Buy minoxidil from your neighborhood pharmacy. It is available over-the-counter. The FDA approves 5 percent minoxidil for men and 2 percent minoxidil for women. The Foundation of Hair Restoration states that the normal treatment of minoxidil is two topical applications per day.
HairSite reports that although minoxidil has been used for over 20 years to treat androgenic alopecia and help regrow hair, "how it works" is still a bit of an unknown. It is thought that minoxidil improves blood flow to the scalp, allowing for an increased rate of hair growth or regrowth.
Step 4
Buy ketoconazole shampoo from your neighborhood pharmacy. It is available over-the-counter. It can be used by men and women. Apply it every day for two weeks instead of your regular shampoo. After two weeks, apply it every three days.
In a Belgian study published as "Ketoconazole: effect of long-term use in androgenic alopecia" published in the 1998 edition of the Journal of Dermatology, scientists reported that ketoconazole shampoo helped hair thickness almost as much as two percent strength minoxidil. Ketoconazole shampoo also increase the percentage of scalp hairs in the growth phase. The researchers established that ketoconazole can be helpful in the long-term treatment of alopecia and may stimulate hair regrowth.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember to take finasteride and apply minoxidil every day. Inexpensive minoxidil can be oily and runny. Consider purchasing a slightly more expensive version that dries quickly if you find this to be a problem.
- Women can use 2 percent minoxidil and ketoconazole shampoo but should not take finasteride. Merck recommends that women not even handle finasteride tablets because the medication can adversely affect a woman's hormone levels.
Things You'll Need
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- Ketoconazole shampoo
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