Finasteride (Propecia). You take it daily as a pill. Many men taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show new hair growth. It may take a few months to tell whether it's working for you. You'll need to keep taking it to retain any benefits.
Finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness. Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness.
Effectiveness:Finasteride is very effective. It slows or stops hair loss in nearly 90% of men. About two-thirds of these men also regrow some hair. How to use it: Finasteride is a pill.
Finasteride (oral)
This medication, which is sold under the brand name Propecia, is FDA approved to treat hair loss specifically in men with androgenetic alopecia. Propecia is taken as one, 1-milligram tablet, once a day. Results typically show up after three months of treatment.
Minoxidil (Rogaine®): Minoxidil can help early hair loss; it cannot regrow an entire head of hair. To use minoxidil, you apply it to the scalp as directed, usually once or twice a day.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. This type of baldness is not usually caused by a disease. It is related to aging, heredity, and changes in the hormone testosterone. Inherited, or pattern baldness, affects many more men than women.
There is a wide range of conditions that can bring on hair loss, with some of the most common being pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and anemia. Others include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, Rogers says.
Hair type. Fine hair features thinner strands, which can make the scalp more visible. This is a natural characteristic and not necessarily a sign of hair loss or thinning. On the other hand, those with thicker hair strands usually have less visible scalps due to the increased volume and density of their hair.
The only medicine approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil: It is applied to the scalp. For women, the 2% solution or 5% foam is recommended. Minoxidil may help hair grow in about 1 in 4 or 5 of women.
As with male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness comes from hormone imbalances, specifically dihydrotestosterone imbalances, or DHT. This hormone is similar in structure to testosterone, but it is significantly more potent [3]. DHT can attach to receptors on the hair follicles, causing the follicles to shrink.
Telogen effluvium hair loss — the type of hair loss linked to stress — typically affects your scalp and may appear as patchy hair loss. However, it can also cause you to shed more body hair or notice less hair on your body than you normally would.
Deficiencies in zinc, iron, magnesium, selenium, for example, all have the potential to trigger hair loss.
Can thin hair become thicker again? A person cannot change the texture of their hair. However, the hair may grow back after chemotherapy or pregnancy, for example.
Wearing your hair too long will make it look thinner
"Ironically, with thinning hair it's important to make sure you get your hair cut regularly," says Julie Hensman, from Hensmans in Northampton. "Thinning hair can get out of shape more quickly, making it look more obvious".
Alarming as it may seem, the amount of hair that falls out every time you touch it is actually small — and this shedding is likely just a normal part of your hair's life cycle.
At its simplest level, skipping hair brushing will not prevent hair loss – which is what some people assume when they hear brushing might contribute to hair loss. However, under certain circumstances, brushing your hair can contribute to increased breakage and a particular type of hair loss.
'The big 3' in hair loss usually refers to the main products that are used to reduce hair loss. These products are Minoxidil (Rogaine/Regaine), Finasteride (Propecia) and Ketoconazole (Nizoral) and today we're looking at all three medications.