Hair Loss Treatment: Medicines For Hair Fall And Hair Regrowth
If you are looking online for the best hair fall treatment options, you would possibly encounter numerous products that claim to reverse hair loss. Unfortunately, not everything that you simply encounter online is true. Dr. Ankur Singhal who is one of the best hair transplant doctor in India says that you should not believe all the online resources as some of them actually can damage your hair.
It goes without saying that a bit like various causes of hair fall, there are various treatments for hair fall as well. And whatever is the cause, hair fall should be treated with appropriate medicines in order to stop permanent hair loss. The earlier you consult a specialist and obtain the right diagnosis, the higher the chance to stop hair fall and hair loss. Doctors majorly recommend two drugs to treat some sorts of hair loss in both men and ladies. These include Minoxidil and Finasteride.
Table of Contents
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is an over-the-counter medication wont to treat hair loss. It had been the primary FDA approved medication to treat male-pattern baldness. It’s the only hair loss product that’s approved to be used in both men and ladies .
How it works: The precise mechanism through which minoxidil slows or stops hair fall and promotes hair growth is still not known. Some studies suggest that it acts as a gas agonist, which causes hair follicles within the telogen phase to shed and get replaced by new hair follicles within the anagen phase. It acts as an antihypertensive potassium channel opener, which causes the availability of more oxygen, nutrients, and blood to the scalp, thereby aiding within the growth of the hair.
How to use it: Minoxidil is run topically to treat male also as female pattern baldness. It’s available in two concentrations: 2% and 5%, but the two percent solution is currently the only FDA-approved treatment for female pattern hair loss. The five percent solution is preferred to treat male pattern baldness. The recommended dosage of minoxidil is to use 1ml of the liquid twice each day. This should be applied on the dry scalp and must be followed by a mild massage of the scalp. It should be left on for a minimum of an hour before washing the hair with water or shampooing. This ensures proper absorption of the medicine by the scalp. In some cases, temporary hair loss are often observed during the primary few weeks (2-8 weeks) following treatment, but it always subsides on its own.
Side-effects: The common side effects of minoxidil include scalp irritation along with dryness, scaling, itching, and/or redness of the scalp. Although it’s believed to flow from to propanediol (a compound which is used along side the active ingredient and aids in its absorption). Research studies have reported that minoxidil should be used for a minimum of a year for the
treatment to be effective. Also, if the treatment is stopped for around six months, hair regrowth can stop and hair loss can resurface.
Finasteride
Finasteride is also an FDA approved drug for the medical management of hair loss in men. However, its use to treat hair loss in women remains controversial. It’s known to hamper hair loss in about 88% of men and stimulates hair growth in around 66% of men taking the medication.
How it works: it’s an androgen-dependent medication, which suggests the drug works by working on the hormone 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). the surplus of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the blood causes accumulation of the hormone round the follicle, which may cause hair loss. Finasteride inhibits the action of the enzyme 5 α-reductase inhibitor, which is liable for converting the hormone testosterone into its active form 5-DHT. Thus, finasteride suppresses the activity of the enzyme. As a result, 5-DHT doesn’t accumulate round the hair follicles and this aids within the treatment of hair fall.
How to use it: Finasteride is available in the form of a pill which must be taken orally. It’s recommended to be taken once daily, or as per your doctor’s advice.
Side-effects: Finasteride is usually found to be tolerated in men. However, you must ask your dermatologist about the pros and cons if you’re considering finasteride treatment for hair loss. For visible effects, you must use this medicine for a minimum of three months. If you stop taking the medication, then it’d prevent regrowth of the hair, resulting in hair loss within a span of a year.
Best Hair Fall Treatment
In addition to minoxidil and finasteride, there are other drugs wont to treat hair loss. However, these are still within the research phase and aren’t FDA-approved. So, if you’re going to start any hair fall treatment, it is better to consult a specialist for the foremost suitable options available. Also remember that if your hair loss is because of an underlying health condition, like a thyroid disorder, hormonal imbalances or any nutritional deficiency, then this underlying disorder should be treated to deal with the
hair loss. So, before you begin using any hair loss medicines, always try to know the root cause for hair loss and treat the condition accordingly.