Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness and Various Types of Alopecia
Alopecia, or as it is commonly known, hair loss, is a big problem among men and women of different ages and different backgrounds. Due to stress, sudden weight loss, malnutrition and other factors, alopecia can start to develop in people who otherwise had healthy hair.
According to your skin and hair type, there are various medical treatments which can help restore your beautiful hair and improve your self-confidence. Among the medication usually prescribed for men suffering from alopecia, there is a minoxidil (5%) based solution called Rogaine, used to regrow hair on the top of the scalp. This treatment is designed for men who are over 18 and who are not using other medicine on the scalp. The product information includes several hair loss pictures to give you an idea of what kind of alopecia Rogaine can cure.
Finasteride is another treatment you can use to treat baldness. This drug was initially meant to treat enlarged prostate glands, but researchers noticed hair growth as a side-effect. Propecia (Finasteride) became thus the first drug in history to effectively treat male pattern baldness in the majority of men who use it. Researchers have concluded that, at the moment, the only truly effective medically proven way to reverse the process of hair loss is to lower DHT(dihydrotestosterone) levels, the androgen responsible with shrinking and miniaturising the hair follicle (a process that leads to baldness) and this is exactly how Finasteride works. It is important to note that Propecia is suitable only for men, since it might have serious side-effects in the treatment of baldness in women.
In the case of the Rogaine treatment, results become visible within two months, up to a year. Although it has proven efficient in about two thirds of the men who have used the treatment, this does not guarantee results for every man. This is why a specialised medical consultation is necessary prior to undergoing the minoxidil treatment. The minoxidil treatment is completely safe, with the only side-effects being potential mild scalp irritation or a small initial hair loss increase.
On the other hand, Propecia (Finasteride) has proven efficient in about 80% of men with alopecia, producing visible results in three up to six months of treatment. What you need to know is that you must continue using Propecia in order to maintain any benefits of hair growth. Otherwise, the hair you managed to restore might fall. This hair restoration treatment is also safe. However, researchers did discover certain side-effects such as a reduced sex drive or temporary impotence while on medication.
Before resorting to any of the two above mentioned treatments or others, you should consult a doctor and have your scalp evaluated. This is important in order to benefit from the best hair restoration treatments and to avoid potential side-effects. At Renew Skin & Health Clinic, our specialists will provide you with a professional consultation, analyse your medical history and prescribe you the most suitable hair loss medication for your particular type of alopecia.
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