Treatment of hair loss

Treatment of hair loss in men

 There are thousands of unproven claims and products to help with hair regrowth. Many conditioners, shampoos, vitamins, and other products claim to help hair grow in some unspecified way. Nioxin has been a popular brand of shampoo for hair loss, but there is no definite evidence showing it is any more effective than regular shampoos.
These products are usually harmless but generally not scientifically proven and therefore potentially useless.

To slow down hair loss, there are at least four potentially effective, basic options. These include medications like Minoxidil, Propecia,  Avodart and ketoconazole shampoo which are maintenance-type medications and are for long-term use. Stopping these drugs does not seem to worsen or exacerbate the prior hair loss. In other words, stopping the medication will not leave you worse than you started out prior to the medication.

Minoxidil (Rogaine): This topical medication is available over the counter and no prescription is required. It can be used in men and women.
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a vasodilator originally used as an oral drug (Loniten) to treat high blood pressure. However, minoxidil was discovered to have the side effect of hair growth and reversing baldness.
It acts  by widening blood vessels and opening potassium channels, it allows more oxygen, blood and nutrients to the follicle. This can also cause follicles in the telogen phase to shed, usually soon to be replaced by new, thicker hairs.

 Consequently, in the 1980s, Upjohn Corporation received FDA approval to market a topical solution that contained 2%, 4% solution, an extra-strength 5% solution, and a new foam or mousse preparation.
Objective evidence shows that minoxidil is effective for treatment of male-pattern hair loss in both the frontal areas and the vertex area of the scalp. At the conclusion of a 48 week study.

 Minoxidil needs to be applied regularly (once or twice daily) for hair gained to be maintained.

Finasteride (Propecia): This medication is FDA approved for use in only men with androgenic hair loss. Although not FDA approved in women, it has been used "off label" in women with androgenic hair loss who are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant while on the medication.
. Propecia is a lower-dose version of a commercially available drug called Proscar that helps shrink enlarged prostates in middle-aged and older men.

 Finasteride is in a class of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors,the enzyme responsible for the conversion of free testosterone to DHT.
It acts by blocking the action of natural hormones in scalp hair follicles.
Propecia 1 mg tablets are available by prescription and taken once daily.
Propecia may grow and thicken hair to some extent for some people, but its main use is to keep (maintain) hair that's still there. Studies have shown that this medication works well in some types of hair loss and must be used for about six to 12 months before full effects are determined.
 Possible but very unlikely side effects include impotence or a decreased sex drive (libido). Studies have shown that these side effects were possibly slightly more common than seen in the general population and are reversible when the drug is stopped.

Dutasteride (Avodart) has recently been used as "off label" to treat hair loss in men.Although not FDA approved in women, it has been used "off-label" in women with androgenic hair loss who are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant while taking the medication.
Dutasteride is similar to finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and is in a class of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
It acts by blocking the production or binding of a natural substance in the scalp hair follicles.
Dutasteride is available as soft capsules in market.
It is to be taken at both 0.5 mg and 2.5 mg/day generated a superior hair count to finasteride 5 mg at 12 and 24 weeks.
Touching the contents of the capsules may potentially harm a male fetus and females who accidentally touch leaking capsules should wash the area with soap and water immediately.
There is a six-month clearance time required after taking this medication before being permitted to donate blood.

Ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral)

Some preliminary research suggests that ketoconazole shampoo may possibly be beneficial in men suffering from androgenic alopecia. Support for this comes primarily from one study in 1998 that compared ketoconazole 2% to the proven hair loss drug minoxidil 2% in men with androgenic alopecia.
It acts by improving hair density and size and proportion of anagen follicles.
Ketoconazole shampoo is only FDA approved for the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, so although ketoconazole may possibly be useful as a hair loss remedy, the FDA does not accept that there is enough evidence to endorse or market it as one to the general public.