Hair growth products

Hair loss medication or hair growth products are used rarely because hair loss is not a real disease. Many people pursue a cure for cosmetic reasons. Hair loss, in many cases, has an emotional impact on people, so they may want to look for a cure if they feel uncomfortable with the change in their appearance.

Hair loss can be caused by an infection or other condition, such as lichen planus, or discoid lupus. In these cases, the medication can help prevent the underlying problem. Male pattern baldness is often not treatable. Available treatments are expensive and do not work for everyone.

Two drugs in the treatment of male pattern baldness can be effective:

  • Minoxidil

Next to these medications your options are a wig or do a hair transplantation surgery.

Finasteride

hair growth products are obtainable by prescription from your physician. Finasteride comes as a tablet that you must take every day. Finasteride prevents the hormone testosterone to converted into the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink, by means of the hair follicles will get their normal size.

Studies have suggested that finasteride the number of hairs that people have (hair count) increases and also the way people think their hair looks like improves. Finasteride must be used for three to six months before the effects show. The balding process resumes when treatment is stopped.

Side effects of finasteride are rare. Less than one in 100 men taking finasteride experienced loss of libido (sexual dysfunction) or have erectile dysfunction (inability to get or maintain an erection).

hair growth products finasteride

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is available as a lotion, that you must rub on your scalp every day. It is available in pharmacies without a prescription. It is not clear how minoxidil works, but there is evidence that it causes hair growth in most men.

The medication contains either 2% or 5% minoxidil. There are indications that the stronger (5%) version is more effective. From other evidence, it appears to be more effective than the 2% version. However, the stronger version has more side-effects mainly itching and dry skin.

Like Finasteride, Minoxidil is used for several months before any effect is observed. The balding process will resume when discontinuing the treatment with minoxidil. The transplanted hair will fall after approximately two months when the treatment is stopped. Side effects are uncommon.

It is the only drug currently available to treat female pattern baldness.

One in four women who use Minoxidil lotion will grow hair, and it slows hair loss or stop at other women. In general, women respond better to minoxidil than men. Hair growth products should be used for a number of months in order to see any effect.

hair growth products Minoxidil