The success of hair loss treatment depends on what is instigating hair to fall out in the first place. The initial step is to find a certified trichologist to help diagnose the roots of hair loss. Once you established the cause, you can select specialized treatments that will help retain the hair you have or regrow lost hair. Our expert team at www.Drugs-med.com prepared a brief overview of hair loss treatment options and debunked some myths so that you can make a smart decision.
One hair loss myth is that any hair loss is permanent. When the cause is stress or nutrient deficiency, such hair loss is temporary and hair will regrow once the underlying problems are addressed. Hair loss caused by chemotherapy is also largely reversible. Genetic hair loss, instead, is mostly permanent, as is any type of hair loss caused by scarring on the scalp.
Women suffering genetic hair loss have few options for hair regrowth. Minoxidil is the only treatment for women that has been officially approved. It works by making hair follicles larger and encouraging existing hair growth, while it does not stimulate lost hair regrowth. When used by men, Monoxidil is effective for nearly 30-50% of the patients.
Finasteride, also marketed as Propecia, is the only oral drug officially approved for treatment of androgenic alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness. This genetic condition manifests when a man’s hair follicles discontinue producing adequate hair in response to hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Finasteride acts by inhibiting an enzyme that otherwise would transform testosterone to DHT.
Finasteride has gained the status of the most popular anti hair loss drug for men. And still, treatment results vary between individuals, and researchers warn that men should have realistic expectations. Let`s have a look at the popular myths about Finasteride and de-bunk them, using the findings of clinical research.
Myth: Finasteride can aid you stop hair loss
Fact: In most males, hair loss is triggered by miniaturization. This process ensues when hair follicles are instigated – by DHT – to grow for increasingly shorter periods, thus making the hair weak and small. For the time being, there is no way to keep the miniaturization from starting.
Myth: Finasteride can regrow lost hair
Fact: The highest effect of applying Finasteride is represented by thickening of partially miniaturized hair and halting the advance of hair loss. It is largely useless in re-growing hair in zones that are vastly miniaturized or completely bald.
Myth: Once you start Finasteride you must take it eternally
Fact: You can stop taking Finasteride any time you please. An important note, if you decide to discontinue using the drug, any improvements in hair thickness or hair count will reverse, and you will return to that same grade of hair loss that would have progressed without treatment.
Myth: Finasteride triggers birth defects should a man take it while his spouse is pregnant
Fact: Exposure of expecting women to sperm from males treated with Finasteride carries no known threats to the fetus. Nonetheless, men should pay attention that Finasteride may instigate inability to ejaculate, loss of sexual desire, and inability to achieve orgasm. These dysfunctions may continue for some time after men stop taking Finasteride.
