Treating hair loss is a big business but in reality there are only a few methods that really have a very positive effect on the treatment of hair loss. There are all kinds of remedies and natural hair growth products that are sold. But, the fact is the majority of them have never been studied in a clinical setting to prove their effectiveness.
There are two drugs though which have been studied by the Food and Drug Administration in the US and found to have a positive effect in dealing with balding problems. These substances do very well at keeping the hair you have. They also will assist in re-growing some hair but not a lot.
The first drug, Finasteride, was originally being developed to treat male urinary tract problems. In particular, it was targeting enlarge prostates. During clinical trials anecdotal evidence indicated many men on the drug were also seeing relief from their hair problems.
New clinical trials were initiated that showed the drug was effective at helping to slow down and in some cases reverse hair loss. Finasteride is a medication that is taken by the mouth in tablet form every day. Once the treatment is started it must continue or any gains will be quickly lost.
This drug works well for men but is not prescribed to women of child bearing age because of the potential for birth defects. It is so powerful that women are not even allowed to handle the tablets. Although effective, there are concerns about other side effects that should be looked into.
The second drug approved by the US FDA as a treatment for hair thinning and balding is Minoxidil. This drug was also shown to have a positive effect on hair loss while trials were being conducted on another condition. Minoxidil is a vasodilator medication which means it helps to make the tiny blood vessels in the body larger which in turn lowers high blood pressure.
Increasing the size of the blood vessels apparently counteracts the effects of the male and female pattern baldness and allows the follicles to continue to produce hair shaft material. The Minoxidil is applied to the scalp daily with a 5% solution for men and a 2% solution for women. This is the only drug that has been targeted to the effects of the pattern baldness condition on women.
These two drugs have been shown to be effective in the fight against hair loss. If you are a man you can use either drug but women can only use the second. The point is, there are actually remedies for hair loss that do provide results.
If you would like more information on treatments that actual are effective at treating your hair loss them visit us at the Hair Loss Guide blog where we are dedicated to helping you get back your full head of hair.
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