Hair Loss Treatments for Men

Androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, is a condition that will develop in up to two-thirds of all men by the age of 65, and even 25% of men in their twenties will manifest some symptoms of this incredibly common disorder.

Naturally, men have been seeking a cure for this disorder for a long time. Such a remedy has been elusive, however, and most who have gone in search of the Holy Grail of hair loss treatments have eventually given up their quest in frustration. But starting in the 1980s, hair loss treatments that actually appear to work began to show up in the marketplace, much to the delight of the men who have tried them and come away delighted with the results.

But what is the truth about these new types of hair loss treatment? Do they really work, or are the anecdotes attesting to their success just stories that should not be believed? A closer look is necessary to sort out the facts from the hype.

Minoxidil

At one time, this drug was used as a remedy for high blood pressure. It was eventually discovered, however, that minoxidil had one very interesting side effect: It sometimes caused new hair to grow. After further research and development, minoxidil was later released in a new topical form that could be massaged directly into the scalp of those experiencing hair loss. Minoxidil, which is sold under the name Rogaine, is available over the counter in drug stores everywhere, and millions of men have now tried this product as a remedy for their male pattern baldness.

Minoxidil appears to work for many men, showing a definite ability to reinvigorate hair follicles that have been rendered inactive through contamination by DHT, which is the naturally produced substance that is responsible for causing androgenic alopecia. While this substance does cause noticeable hair growth in some – but not all – men who use it, it usually takes up to four months for visible results to show. Many men have complained, however, that new hair associated with minoxidil is relatively thin and wispy and lacking in overall quality. Other complaints include hair regrowth occurring only in the crown area, as the area above the temples that is also affected by androgenic alopecia does not respond to the use of minoxidil. This topical mixture, sold under the name Rogaine, is not inexpensive by any means, and once someone starts using it they must keep using it forever or the new hair that has grown will fall out.

Finasteride

Finasteride, which is marketed under the name Propecia, is a prescription medication that was created specifically to address the symptoms of androgenic alopecia. This drug is considered the gold standard of treatments for baldness, as all the tests that have been performed so far show it to be a more potent and effective substance than minoxidil. There is no doubt that Propecia is the first legitimate cure for baldness that has ever really been developed by medical researchers. As such, it represents a true breakthrough in the fight against hair loss.

Taken in oral form, finasteride works internally to undermine the body's system for manufacturing DHT, a derivative of testosterone that causes baldness as a side effect when it is produced in excessive amounts. The fact that it goes right to the root of the problem, whereas minoxidil only treats surface symptoms of this problem, probably explains why finasteride seems to be a more effective hair loss treatment than minoxidil.

However, just like minoxidil it takes several months for finasteride to actually produce results – perhaps as many as 8-12 for some people – and also like minoxidil, it only produces new hair growth in the crown area of the head. Not surprisingly, given the fact that it is sold only by prescription, Propecia is even more expensive tha
Rogaine, and it also must be taken continuously and indefinitely for its results to be lasting.

Natural Supplements

Alte
ative health researchers, largely working outside the medical mainstream, have discovered much about how to regulate the body's production of DHT through the use of certain healing herbs and other powerful nutrients. Hair loss treatment supplements are available that combine several of these potent substances together to provide the body with what it needs to resist hair loss naturally and effectively. In addition to combating overproduction of DHT, these supplements also contain ingredients that help limit the ability of excess DHT to damage healthy hair follicles. These products further include ingredients that are known to promote the growth of thick, healthy hair in anyone who consumes them.

More studies need to be completed to definitively demonstrate the effectiveness of natural hair loss treatments. However, the anecdotal evidence from the multitude of men who have used these products and reported good results is impressive. One great bonus with supplements is that, because what is being used is harvested from nature instead of being produced artificially in a laboratory, the cost of these substances is only a fraction of what people have to pay for minoxidil and finasteride.

Hair Loss Treatment Hope

The primary thing all three of these hair loss treatments offer men suffering from premature hair loss is hope – hope that things can get better, and hope that what has been lost can be brought back again.