When it comes to regrowing hair, there is no treatment that will show instant results. Hair loss does not occur overnight and neither will hair regrowth. Even the most effective proven hair loss treatments will typically take a minimum of three or four months before any noticeable improvement is evident.
Propecia
Propecia is the leading hair loss treatment available and is one of just two products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat hair loss. Propecia, which is a 1 mg tablet of finasteride, works by stopping the formation of DHT in the scalp.
Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, states on its website that users of Propecia may need to take the medication for a minimum of three months before seeing any benefits.
.
Dutasteride
Dutasteride is another drug that inhibits DHT. Sold under the trade name Avodart, dutasteride does not have FDA approval as a hair loss treatment, but may be a more effective inhibitor of DHT than finasteride.
A study conducted by the Duke University Medical Center concluded that 2.5 mg of dutasteride was superior than 5 mg of finasteride daily when it came to growing hair. The findings, which appeared in the Dec. 2006 "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology", said dutasteride reduced DHT levels on a dose-dependent basis and that it did increase hair growth in men affected by male pattern hair loss.
Ketoconazole Shampoo
A ketoconazole shampoo, such as Nizoral, is another product that works by lowering DHT levels in the scalp. Nizoral is seldom used as a stand-alone product, and is used as a supplement to other treatments.
A study conducted by Maulana Azad Meical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, India, concluded that patients using finasteride and ketoconazole had better results than patients using just finasteride.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil works differently than most hair regrowth products in that it doesn't tackle DHT issues, but instead works to enlarge hair follicles and extend the length of the hair growth cycle. Minoxidil may take up to four months before any evidence of hair improvement appears.
Because it works differently than the DHT inhibors, those taking finasteride and minoxidil together will enjoy better results than people using one product or the other. The Maulana Azad Meical College study, which appeared in the Aug. 29, 2002 issue of the "Journal of Dermatology", concluded that the patients taking finasteride and minoxidil together had superior results than those using either treatment alone.
References
- Propecia: How Propecia Works
- Rogaine: Questions Men Ask About Rogaine
- Grey Hair Loss: Active Substances Used in Medicinal Hair Loss Remedies
- PubMed: Comparative efficacy of various treatment regimens for androgenetic alopecia in men
- PubMed: The importance of dual 5alpha-reductase inhibition in the treatment of male pattern hair loss
Member Comments