Hair loss is very common. The Foundation for Hair Restoration reports that although there are millions of cases of hair loss nationwide, 95 percent of hair loss is caused by androgenic alopecia. Androgenic alopecia is a hereditary condition that occurs when the hormone dihydrotesterone (DHT) attacks and thins hair follicles. While this condition is often continuous and progressive, there are several treatments that can help you regain hair growth and prevent further loss.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your health practitioner. It is important to uncover the cause of your baldness prior to purchasing treatments. Men's baldness can be cared for another way than women's baldness. It is likely that you are experiencing androgenic alopecia, but you need to find out for sure.
Step 2
Discuss finasteride with your health practitioner. Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication that is used once a day exclusively for the treatment of pattern hair thinning. If prescribed finasteride, take one tablet every day. Results can occur as early as three months but might take up to a year.
Finasteride reduces DHT, the hormone that causes pattern hair loss. The American Hair Loss Association says that finasteride can minimize DHT levels by close to 60 percent. Lower DHT levels will allow your hair to regrow instead of falling out prematurely. Additionally, The American Hair Loss Association regards finasteride as "the first line of attack" for males interested about starting to treat baldness. Merck reports on the Propecia homepage, the two out of every three men regrow hair while using finasteride.
Step 3
Buy minoxidil from your supermarket or area drug store. Like finasteride, minoxidil is FDA approved for the treatment of androgenic alopecia and can help you regain your hair growth. Apply minoxidil two times everyday to areas of thinning hair.
The Foundation of Hair Restoration reports that the FDA suggests five percent minoxidil for males and two percent minoxidil for females. The website HairSite reports that although minoxidil has been sold for the past 20 years to treat hair loss, how minoxidil actually works is still somewhat debated. It is generally thought that minoxidil regrows hair by increasing blood flow to areas of thinning hair.
Step 4
Buy ketoconazole shampoo from your supermarket or area drug store. Apply ketoconazole shampoo every time you shower--in place of your regular shampoo--for two weeks. After your first two weeks, apply it every third day to maintain the effect. These instructions are listed on the box.
Unlike most shampoos formulated to combat hair loss, ketoconazole is clinically proven to help remedy hair thinning. In a Belgian peer-reviewed study titled "Ketoconazole: effect of long-term use in androgenic alopecia" available in the 1998 edition of the Journal of Dermatology, scientists stated that ketoconazole shampoo improved hair thickness just as much as two percent strength minoxidil. Ketoconazole additionally improved the proportion of hairs in the growth or anagen phase as much as two percent strength minoxidil. The doctors concluded that ketoconazole shampoo can be helpful in the overall treatment of androgenic alopecia.
Tips and Warnings
- Ketoconazole shampoo can dry out your hair, apply conditioner to your hair after shampooing if this begins to occur. Inexpensive minoxidil solutions can be very oily and take a while to dry. Consider purchasing a more expensive minoxidil topical solution or a foam version if this becomes a problem.
- You need to use minoxidil and finasteride continuously or your previous rate of hair loss will return. Women should not use finasteride.
Things You'll Need
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- Ketoconazole shampoo
References
- Foundation for Hair Restoration: Permanent Hair Transplant Methods
- 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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