'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.
Finasteride: Before and after
It usually takes about 4 months to notice any improvement. Finasteride tends to be more effective if you begin taking it when you first notice hair loss. A dermatologist may also prescribe this medication to treat a woman who has hereditary hair loss and cannot get pregnant.
Low-level laser therapy — also called red light therapy or cold laser therapy — irradiates the scalp to promote blood circulation and encourage hair growth.
Finasteride (Propecia) and Minoxidil (both oral and topical - Rogaine) are the only drugs approved by the FDA to treat pattern baldness (hair loss resulting from hereditary causes).
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Medications are the most common treatment for hair loss in women. They include the following: Minoxidil (Rogaine, generic versions). This drug was initially introduced as a treatment for high blood pressure, but people who took it noticed that they were growing hair in places where they had lost it.
The FDA has approved three medications for hair loss: Rogaine (minoxidil), Propecia (finasteride), and Olumiant (baricitinib).23 “These medications work by stimulating new hair growth and slowing or stopping the progression of balding,” says Lindsay Modglin, nurse and clinical research specialist.
It's unlikely there will be a cure for baldness any time soon. While scientists continue to conduct invaluable research that helps us better understand the condition, there aren't yet any groundbreaking inroads towards a permanent cure.
“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.
Minoxidil (Rogaine, etc) is FDA approved for ages 18-65
Give it a 'go'. I respond that minoxidil can certainly be helpful but minoxidil is certainly not for everyone. Minoxidil is FDA approved for men and women 18-65 with a type of hair loss known as androgenetic hair loss.
Seeing a visible scalp is often a sign of fine hair, and genetics can be the primary cause for this type of hair loss. However, other common causes of thinning hair include stress, hormone imbalances, certain medications, illness or infections and malnutrition.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to unpredictable hair loss. Scientist believe the cause is genetic, as it tends to run in families. Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that often results in unpredictable hair loss.
If the part in your hair is widening, you find bald spots, or you're shedding more than 125 hairs per day, you're likely experiencing hair loss and need to see a dermatologist.
It's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding.
But there is a cheap treatment, he and other dermatologists say, costing pennies a day, that restores hair in many patients. It is minoxidil, an old and well-known hair-loss treatment drug used in a very different way.
You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
"It's genetics, good old-fashioned genetics," said Cole. But scientists have had a hard time pinpointing the precise gene that causes baldness. Scientists found one gene in 2009, but they've had a hard time getting results with various therapies targeted to that gene.
Finasteride (prescription medication)
What studies show: Finasteride has been shown to slow down further hair loss in about 80% to 90% of men taking it. Some men also see some hair regrowth, which tends to occur in men who start finasteride when they first notice signs of hair loss.
Bringing estrogen and progesterone levels back into balance contributes to a decrease in hair loss and can improve hair density.
In general, Medicare covers services that are “medically necessary.” Medicare coverage may not include dermatology services that are cosmetic (intended to improve the appearance). Some cosmetic procedures that Medicare generally doesn't cover include hair loss treatment and cosmetic surgery.
Vitamin D can indeed cause hair loss, but it's rare. Although the precise role of vitamin D in hair growth isn't well understood, research shows that vitamin D receptors play an important role in the anagen phase of the hair follicle cycle — the phase in which new hairs grow from the follicle to their full length.
How Much B12 Should I Take Daily For Hair Growth? The lowest amount recommended that should be traceable in your body is 2.4 mcg. While you are looking for a difference in your hair growth you can increase this dosage to 3 mcg and beyond.