Hair Loss Treatment Medication

Hair loss is one of the most common and bothersome conditions for people. Tension sets in as soon as one notices thinning of hair or excessive hair loss and everyone starts advising all types of treatment plans. But before you decide for any expensive treatment plan, it is advisable to understand what hair loss is and the types and benefits of medication available for its treatment to ensure effective and desirable results.

Hair loss

Hair loss or male pattern baldness are embarrassing conditions for men. Before you go for any other baldness treatment medication it is important to know about the real process of baldness.

The scalp hairs are divided into two phases, growth phase and resting phase. Almost 90% of our hairs are in growth phase, which lasts for approximately four to five years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. Once they are fully grown, the resting phase starts, which lasts for up to four months. After this period, the hairs fall out naturally and are replaced by new in its place. This is an ongoing process and as a result of which we can lose up to 100 hairs daily. However, this is a normal occurrence and is not deemed as hair loss.

Hair loss process starts if the rate of hair fall increases at an alarming rate. Moreover, if the new hairs that replace the old one come slowly or are thin, it may be onset of baldness. Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss but there could be some other reason behind it. Hence it is important to discuss your particular hair problem with your doctor before you buy Propecia or begin any other treatment.

Benefits of medication over other types of treatments

With hair loss becoming a common cause of concern amongst millions of people across the world, every year a large number of medications, herbs, spices, nutritional supplements, oils, shampoos etc comes up in the market each claiming itself to be the panacea for hair loss. Each year, men suffering from baldness spend billions of dollars in an attempt to treat their hair problem. Unfortunately, 99% of all products being marketed in the less than ethical hair treatment industry are completely ineffective for the majority of those who use them.

If you are going bald you should seriously consider medication treatments to halt or even reverse your hair loss. While there is no “Cure”, hair loss drugs can often stop or even reverse alopecia aerate in most people. Medication for treating baldness slows thinning of the hair and increases coverage of the scalp by growing new hair and enlarging existing hairs.

Types of Medications for Hair loss Treatment

Today there are two FDA approved medications for baldness – minoxidil which is sold over the counter as Rogaine, for both men and women, and Finasteride, a prescription pill sold as Propecia, for men only. Two other drugs have been recently approved for hair growth and include a high-estrogen oral contraceptive and Aldactone (spironolactone). However, these two medications are only for women due to their feminizing side effects.

Both these medications slow thinning of the hair and increase coverage of the scalp by growing new hair and enlarging existing one. However, the effectiveness of finasteride or minoxidil depends on your age and the location of hair loss. These medications do not work for everyone, and you should not expect to re-grow a full head.

Propecia as Hair Loss Treatment Medicine

Propecia (Finasteride) is proven to be the most effective medicine to treat male pattern baldness. Propecia is for men only, and is not approved by the FDA as a hair treatment for women or children.

Propecia works by blocking the enzyme, Type II 5 alpha-reductase from converting testosterone to its active form DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the body. DHT plays a major role in inherited male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). In this process, it reduces the level of the hormone in the scalp which shortens the hair growth cycle and allows hairs to revert to a normal growth cycle. This can result in stopping further hair loss and increasing new hair growth in men with male pattern baldness.

A single 1mg Propecia tablet is to be taken everyday continuously for 3-6 months before benefit is seen. When Propecia is discontinued, the hair loss process resumes so continuous use is recommended to sustain benefit.

Also remember that Propecia is a prescription only medicine with certain side effects and should be taken after consultation with the doctor.