subject: Treatments For Hair Loss Products You Can Use [print this page] Hundreds of millions of people across the globe suffer from the problem of hair loss. Over 50 million people in the US are affected. Nearly half of men by the age of 35 start to visually lose their hair and the majority are affected by the age of 60. The onset of losing ones hair can be distressing to many people although some see it as part of the natural aging process. Evidence suggest that treatments for hair loss have existed since the times of the ancient Egyptians. A side effect of the drug Minoxidil is that it actually encourages hair growth ans so in 1978 we had a breakthrough in hair loss treatment. This product was launched on the market in 1988 under a brand name.
There are many different causes of hair loss but the most commonly found cause is androgenetic alopecia or "male pattern baldness" which can also affect women. This condition causes progressive balding in men and progressive thinning in women. Hair loss is considered more distressing for women.
These days there are a number of treatments for hair loss. Minoxidil was originally prescribed to treat high blood pressure but was found to encourage hair growth. Scientific evidence has shown that Minoxidil is effective in treating hair loss in the frontal areas of the scalp. A 48 week study concluded that there were visible improvements in 51% of men using Minoxidil 5% and 42% of men using Minoxidil 2%. Amongst the men in the study average to excellent increases in hair growth were seen in about 15% of them. It is unclear to scientists why this drug is an effective treatment for baldness.
In 1997 a brand name product was released containing the drug Finasteride. This had been approves as a hair loss treatment. Research carried out over five years proved this drug to be a success. The vast majority of men taking the drug saw visible positive results. Nearly half saw hair regrowth and no further hair loss in other areas. Just under half saw no more hair loss. This treatment is effective for the front of the scalp and also the crown. Many experts believe this treatment is ineffective and can be dangerous for women.
Another product appeared on the market in 2001 containing the drug Dutateride. Preliminary trials showed very positive results but the trials were stopped at the second phase. The exact reason was never disclosed though some believe this treatment was to similar to Finasteride. At present this treatment is available to buy from some internet pharmacies.
An anti-fungal drug can be administered to encourage hair growth and slow down the effects of balding. Although some experts say that this drug can stop testosterone development. Hair follicles that are in the growing phase can be increased by applying Copper Peptide straight onto the scalp.
Hair transplants involve active hair follicles being moved from the back or side of the head to where a persons hair is receding. As hair grows naturally in these areas hair transplants can give a very natural look. This method can be very expensive.
There are an ever increasing number of treatments for hair loss on the market. These treatments come with varying costs. If somebody is looking for treatment they should carry out a little research first to find the best treatment for themselves.
