Preventing hair loss is an easier task than regrowing new hair, so acting at the first sign of thinning hair is crucial. It is important that you skip over the fantastic claims made by the manufacturers of many hair loss products and stick with those products that have been proven to work in independent clinical trials. This will narrow the list of products down to what is often referred to as the "Big 3" hair loss products.
Step 1
See your doctor. A visit to the doctor is always recommended when beginning any new medication and your physician can perform a few tests to help pinpoint the cause of any hair loss. Because the leading hair loss treatment on the market, Propecia, is a prescription product, your doctor will be need to write a prescription.
Step 2
Wash hair with Nizoral shampoo every three days. Let the shampoo soak on your scalp as long as possible before rinsing.
Nizoral is an inexpensive hair loss product available at most stores. The active ingredient in Nizoral, ketoconazole, works as an anti-androgen, meaning it helps prevent the formation of dihydrotestosterone in the body. It is DHT which is responsible for hair loss as it binds itself to hair follicles, causing them to shrink.
Step 3
Apply 1 ml of minoxidil to the thinning area of the scalp in the morning. Minoxidil comes with a dropper to indicate when 1 ml of the solution has been reached. Minoxidil should be applied to a dry scalp and the solution should be massaged into the scalp after it is applied. Wash hands thoroughly after contact with minoxidil.
Step 4
Take Propecia tablet as prescribed. Propecia is a 1 mg tablet of finasteride and it works by reducing DHT in the body. According to the American Hair Loss Association it is the first drug in history to treat male pattern baldness in the majority of users.
Studies have shown that the use of finasteride and minoxidil together work better than using just one product. A study, which appeared in the Aug. 29, 2002 issue of the 'Journal of Dermatology,' showed patients receiving a combination of finasteride and minoxidil had better results than patients receiving finasteride, minoxidil or finasteride and ketoconazole. The test group receiving a combination of finasteride and ketoconazole also had better results than the groups receiving finasteride alone or minoxidil alone.
Step 5
Apply 1 ml of minoxidil to the thinning area of the scalp in the evening. Massage into scalp and wash hands when finished. Minoxidil should be allowed to dry completely before going to bed.
Things You'll Need
- Nizoral shampoo
- Propecia tablets
- 5 percent minoxidil solution
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