Male Hair Loss: Drug-Based vs. Organic-Based Treatments

There are various treatments that have been proven to stop male hair loss, and in some cases even re-grow lost hair. There are two major types of treatments for male hair loss: the pharmaceutical ones and the natural ones.

The drug- based treatments finasteride and minoxidil seem to be effective with a number of men. There are two concerns with these products: that of side effects and the fact that if you discontinue this type of treatment, hair regrowth will stop, and male hair loss may resume.

Alternative Treatment for Male Hair Loss

Diet has always been very important to good hair health. Sometimes men get so tied up in the everyday business of living that they may pay less attention to what they actually put in their bodies. Also, many men eat anything that comes along, sometimes to their own detriment. Good news, men, red meat can be good for your hair! On the other hand, green leafy vegetables can help your hair health, as can fruits and berries. Silica and iron are contained in them and are very important for hair health.

Nutrition plays a very vital role for hair care. The hair follicles which are in an active growth phase are strong and healthy compared to those which are in the resting stage. A steady flow of proper nutrition is essential for hair follicles to grow and produce healthy hair fibers. A balanced diet which has the natural vitamin supplements, proteins and mineral and health supplements is able to provide essential nutrition to the hair follicles. If the already-weak hair follicles do not get proper nutrition, they become more prone to staying in the shedding phase longer than necessary.

Naturally-based topical serums, gels and sprays are available to treat problematic scalp and hair conditions. They usually work in combination with a special shampoo. Specially formulated natural supplements are included in these systems which are designed to augment the topical treatments. These are complete systems that are designed to work together to clean the scalp, stop the root cause of hair loss and provide nutritional building blocks to help your scalp regrow hair.

Minoxidil: The Main Man’s Baldness Treatment

Minoxidil has been used by young men who had been depressed about their hair loss. Men experiencing hair loss have been delighted with the results of hair growth. Minoxidil is a vasodilator — a drug used to dilate the blood vessels — that can promote blood flow in the scalp and nourishment of the hair follicles.

For several years, the drug’s potential to be a main ingredient for hair growth products had been ignored. But news of the hair-growth factor leaked when a cardiac physician reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that one of his patients, a bald man of 38, had regrown hair while taking the drug for his heart condition.

Several dermatologists were soon involved in world-wide trials. They applied a solution containing a tiny percentage of minoxidil to the scalp. Volunteer guinea pigs — all with balding heads — queued up to try it in the USA, Denmark, the UK, desperate to find out whether the treatment was truly effective.

As it turned out, minoxidil did have some success, but only in about 30–40% of patients; and in those, it generally took at least 6 months before the results were visible. The drawback was that the new hair growth was somewhat indiscriminate to say the least — in as much that the hair didn’t just grow back in the places where the solution was applied. Many people, especially women, reported growing facial hair.

After considerable trials and testing it with other hair growth products, it was found that minoxidil only really works for early or mild cases of pattern baldness and patchy hair loss, or alopecia areata. There are several reported side effects with minoxidil, including mild skin irritations, extensive dermatitis, palpitations and chest pains. It has also been reported as having addictive traits.

As the case for many alopecia treatments, it is best to consult a hair loss expert or medical professional before going into the treatment.

Primary Treatments for Male Pattern Baldness

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.

Treat Hair Loss: Topical Solutions or Hair Systems?

A number of people all over the world experience hair loss without even knowing it. Most of these people suffering from hair loss, more often than not, eventually experience complete baldness.

Though there is no known cure for baldness, its extent can be prevented if diagnosed early and treated properly. Majority of the people who are bald today have regretted not seeing the hair loss signs and not seeking immediate professional help for hair loss treatment.

It is said that a normal person sheds an average of 80 to 100 hair strands per day. But losing hair more than this — for instance, losing chunks of hair when combing or the appearance of hairless patches on the scalp no matter how small it is — is enough reason to go see a doctor or hair loss expert immediately.

There are different types of hair loss: temporary and extensive. Extensive hair loss can lead to irreversible baldness. It is important to get diagnosed by a medical professional to determine whether the hair loss that a person is experiencing is brought about by stress, hair care products, illness, and medications. In these cases, hair loss is often temporary.

However, if upon analysis, it is found out that the person has baldness running in the family, then the hair loss may progress and lead to female pattern baldness or male pattern baldness (medically known as androgenic alopecia).

While there are no cures yet for these conditions, there are a lot of hair loss treatment options that can help people cope with the social stigma that these conditions bring. Some people opt to use hair systems, while others opt to avail of topical hair loss solutions.

Hair systems are available as tape-on hair pieces, bonded hair systems for men and women, and hair extensions. Tape-on hair pieces are somewhat similar to removable wigs. They are removed daily before going to bed or when taking a bath. If maintained properly, they can last for years.

Bonded hair systems are for men and women who wear the same hairstyle all the time. They usually last for a minimum of three months to a maximum of one year. Hair extensions usually have the same life expectancy. The difference is that hair extensions can be styled differently.

Topical hair loss treatments, on the other hand, comprise of various combinations of hair loss treatment solutions such as minoxidil, niacin, ginseng, angelica lactone, PDG, pentadecanoic acid, extracts of Serenoa repens and other DHT blockers, as well as 17 essential amino acids that strengthen weak hair follicles among others.

These hair loss treatment options are non-invasive and are perfect for those experiencing temporary hair loss and baldness. Though they can also be used for those who are experiencing permanent hair loss and genetically determined baldness, there are other hair loss treatment options like hair transplant or laser hair therapy that are most suitable for them.

Benefits of Biotin in Treating Hair Loss

Biotin is a nutrient, sometimes referred to as vitamin H or B7. It’s not usually considered an essential vitamin, because intestinal bacteria can produce it. But because of the overuse of antibiotics and other antibacterial agents, there may be a deficiency of bacteria in the intestines, which would lead to a deficiency of the vitamin.

Although there are many dietary sources of the nutrient, the body can’t readily absorb it. It has been estimated that only about 20–40% of the B7 vitamins in foods is absorbed into the bloodstream, primarily because it’s bound to protein. This is another reason that deficiencies are believed to be common.

Biotin hair loss supplements are recommended because the nutrient is necessary for the production and normal growth of human hairs. The major symptom of biotin deficiency is thinning of the hair and eventually baldness that may spread from the scalp to other parts of the body, in severe cases.

If you want to see results, a biotin hair loss supplement is not the only thing to consider. There are topically applied treatments that have been proven effective time and again.

The next useful idea relevant to this area: One of the most effective treatments is a topical product called minoxidil. Minoxidil works by improving blood flow to the follicles, which produce the hairs.

One more insightful point in regard to this area of interest: Like some other parts of the body, the follicles go through active and resting stages. But sometimes they remain at rest longer than they should. Minoxidil seems to wake them up, so to speak.

For many years, balding was thought to be an inevitable part of the aging process, particularly for people with a family history of baldness. Now, with biotin hair loss supplements and topically applied minoxidil, it appears that we can prevent that part of the aging process. Clinical studies have shown that men in the early stages of male pattern baldness stopped losing hair and even had some growth, with continued treatment.

It isn’t necessary to see a doctor to get biotin supplements or minoxidil. It’s available over-the-counter. You can even order it online. Some companies combine the 2 treatments and include other beneficial ingredients in their supplements.

Can a Drug for Male Hair Loss Be Used for Hair Loss in Women Too?

Hair loss is surprisingly common in women, affecting more than 30 million in the US, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It can start as early as puberty or much later in life. In fact, 38 percent of women who are 70 years or older experience hair loss—in part because hair thickness decreases with age, especially after menopause. The condition often leads to low self-esteem, social anxiety, and self-imposed isolation.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is characterized by thinning over the top of the scalp and sometimes the sides. In men, a male hormone known as an androgen is primarily responsible for hair loss, but the main cause of FPHL appears to be less clear-cut.

Women normally produce male hormones too, and in some cases the condition is associated with excessive androgen levels. Other types of hair shedding in women may be related to oestrogen loss or significant changes in oestrogen levels, as in the postpartum period or in menopause. Hair loss can also result from breakage during hair treatments and styling, certain medication—including hormones—and conditions like iron deficiency, severe dieting, thyroid disease, lupus, and even stress.

Finasteride is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat male pattern hair loss (also called androgenetic alopecia). At higher doses, it’s also approved to reduce the symptoms of enlarged prostate in men. It works by blocking the enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, the androgen that causes the prostate to enlarge. It also reduces dihydrotestosterone levels in the scalp, which slows hair loss and even increases hair growth.

Because finasteride has been effective in controlling male pattern hair loss, it has been used to treat female pattern hair loss, although it has not gained FDA approval for that purpose. Medication prescribed to treat a condition that does not have FDA approval for that use is known as ‘off-label’. Doctors can legally prescribe any medication they deem appropriate for treatment.

Temporal Hair Loss or Receding Hairline

Follicle length is a determinant of the length of the growth phase for a particular hair—shorter follicles produce shorter hairs like those found on the arms and face of a child. In the adolescent male, the facial and main trunk hairs which are genetically designed to grow are stimulated by the production of testosterone to produce deeper follicles resulting in stronger hair in those areas.

Unfortunately, the same reaction will reduce the scalp follicles and hairs. Treatments using a strong drug stimulant can improve the length of those hairs by up to 100 percent—thereby doubling the length of the hair—whilst it is applied, but once treatment with the drug product is stopped, the next generation of hair will return to, at most, its genetically shortened length.

Contributing Factors to Receding Hair Loss

Contributory factors of a receding hairline can include illnesses characterized by high fever (for example typhoid and scarlet fevers), chemotherapy, malnutrition, and glandular disorders can all cause premature receding hair loss. Seeking advice about the condition and obtaining a receding hair loss treatment for the disease or dysfunction will usually work in stopping the loss of hair. If the scalp and follicles are not severely damaged, or worse, already dead, then it is possible to see regrowth spontaneously. Infection of the scalp, oiliness or dirtiness of the scalp and hair, as well as excessive teasing and lacquering of hair are also conducive to baldness.

Conclusion

So if you are starting to notice a receding hair loss, don’t leave it, as it will become progressive. If keeping your youthful looks is important to you, and you don’t want to look old before your time, you do need to take action to stop the hair loss as soon as you notice it. There are many ways that you can cure and stop a receding hairline loss, from natural remedies through to the more traditional medically prescribed treatments. Discussing the available options with your GP is a good first step, as there are many available options for stopping and reversing the receding hair loss ranging from expensive synthetic drugs to hair transplants, laser hair regrowth treatments, and the various natural home-based remedies.