Finding a way to provide sustained hair growth for men is an ongoing problem. The majority of men who are losing their hair are suffering from male pattern baldness. This is an affliction that affects 40 million men in the United States alone. The chances of losing your hair increases as you age. The good news for those suffering from male pattern baldness is that huge advances have been made over the past few decades. With the introduction of minoxidil and then later finasteride, hair growth for men entered the modern age.
Minoxidil Improves Hair Growth for Men
Minoxidil was initially sold as a blood pressure medicine. A unique side effect was soon discovered. Researchers realized that it resulted in increased hair growth for men and women. Shortly afterwards, the FDA-approved medical treatment was released into the market. It was the first hair loss treatment that showed at least some effectiveness for the majority of patients that took it.
Minoxidil is a topical treatment used to improve hair growth. It is primarily used to slow down the loss of hair, but it is not a cure for baldness. If you have already lost the majority of your hair, then minoxidil will probably not benefit you. If you are in the early stages of hair loss, though, it may be of great benefit. Continued use of the product is extremely important. Any hair growth will be lost if you stop using it. Minoxidil is most commonly sold as 2% or 5% solutions, but it can be higher. Hair growth for men is reportedly higher for those using the 5% solution.
Hair Growth for Men Takes another Leap Forward with Finasteride
Similar to minoxidil, finasteride was not originally used for the treatment of hair loss. Eventually however it was discovered that finasteride helped prevent the loss of hair. Finasteride became the second drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss, and it soon hit the market.
Finasteride, unlike minoxidil, is a drug that is taken orally. In many ways the effects are similar to minoxidil. It will help prevent the loss of hair in men who have recently begun balding, but it is not as effective for those who have already lost most of their hair. Compared to minoxidil, finasteride has proven to be somewhat more effective. Studies have shown that nearly 80% of the men who have taken finasteride have seen positive results. Halting treatment will cause any hair growth to subside, and your hair loss will continue again.
Over the years, there have been numerous miracle hair loss cures and natural remedies. Some of them may work, but few studies have been done to prove their efficacy. Other treatments for hair loss that have shown varying results include hair transplants, laser combs, bald spot concealers, and a number of other topical creams. Minoxidil and finasteride, however, continue to be the only two FDA-approved treatments for hair loss.
