There are hundreds of different hair loss products available, but only very few of them work. The majority of the products on the market will simply separate you from your money. Those suffering from hair loss should look for products that have undergone independent clinical testing to give validity to claims of stopping hair loss or regrowing hair.
Propecia
Propecia is widely regarded as the best product on the market for dealing with hair loss and it works to treat hair loss in the majority of men who use it. Propecia, which is 1 mg of finasteride, was the second hair loss treatment to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hair loss.
It works by preventing the formation of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). which causes baldness in men. Finasteride was originally developed to treat enlarged prostate, but hair growth was one of the noted side effects, so Merck and Company decided to market the drug as a hair loss treatment.
Propecia is for men only and the most common side effects are a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction and a decreased volume of ejaculate. Side effects occur in less than 2 percent of Propecia users.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil was the first drug the FDA approved for hair loss. Minoxidil was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and hair growth was one of the side effects. The drug is still used to treat high blood pressure under the name Loniten.
Use of minoxidil must be continued for life, as any positive hair growth effects that are gained from usage will be lost once the treatment is stopped. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp twice daily and is available in 2 percent and 5 percent solutions. A 2 percent solution is available for women. Side effects are rare, with a dry, itchy scalp the most common complaint.
Nizoral
Nizoral is a popular shampoo among the hair loss crowd. It does not have the endorsement of the FDA, but it has undergone some clinical testing to support its use for hair loss. A study that appeared in 1998's Dermatolgy noted that use of a ketoconazole-based shampoo improved hair density and size similar to the use of 2 percent minoxidil.
It also noted a similarity in the number of hair follicles that produced new hair. Nizoral is available in 1 percent and 2 percent solutions of ketoconazole. The 2 percent solution is available only by prescription in the United States. Nizoral is typically used two to three times per week for hair loss and can be used by men or women.
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