What Is Finasteride And How Does It Work
Finasteride works differently from minoxidil in treating hair loss. This medication is whats known as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Rather than improving blood flow, finasteride prevents 5 reductase from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone . DHT is the primary culprit in androgenetic alopecia, and reducing its presence on the scalp will have a dramatic effect on its ability to harm your follicles.
Does Rogaine Work On Everyone
Although Rogaine can reverse signs of balding in patients with hereditary hair loss, it doesnt appear to work on everyone. According to a 2014 study published in Dermatologic Therapy, approximately 40 percent of patients with androgenetic alopecia will successfully regrow their hair
Additionally, Rogaine isnt a one-and-done miracle product for hair loss. You need to continue using it otherwise, your luscious locks will eventually go back to their formerly bald state.
There are also potential side effects to consider. One of the most common side effects of Rogaine is severe irritation of the scalp, causing dandruff-like flakes as a result.
Other side effects may include the following:
- Unwanted hair growth
- Changes in hair texture and color
- Rapid weight gain
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Chest pain
If youre thinking about using Rogaine, its important that you talk with your doctor first. He/she can look at your medical history and tell you whether or not you may be a good candidate for Rogaine.
Who Should Not Use Minoxidil
While minoxidil is sold over-the-counter, there are individuals who should avoid its use. They include:
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Those with patchy hair loss
- Those with sudden hair loss of unknown cause
- Babies and children
- Those with inflamed, irritated, or otherwise infected scalps
- Anyone with a history of low blood pressure
- People who use other medications on their scalp
In addition, anyone with cardiovascular health problems should speak with their primary care physician before they begin to use. Similarly for those taking prescription medications, to ensure there is no interaction with the minoxidil.
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Now Available Without A Prescription
As a hair growth treatment, minoxidil is applied as a lotion on the scalp two times each day. This method of administering the drug causes the hair-growing effect to be on the scalp only, and not on other parts of the body. There is no effect on blood pressure when applied as directed. In 1995 the US FDA declared that minoxidil in a 2% topical lotion form no longer required a prescription from a Medical Doctor for purchase in the US.
What Haircut Should I Get Men
To keep their face from looking more bulky, men with elongated faces should try short haircuts with a short top like short haircuts or modern haircuts. However, if you want more volume at the top, avoid fading on the short side, and you can style your hair in a side part, brush it or brush your short/spiky hair.
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Could Your Hair Loss Be Stress
Excessive levels of stress can cause hair loss in men and women. Many people do not realize that stress can have a physical impact on your body. Severe stress over the course of a few months can lead to extreme fatigue during the day and hair loss.
If you start to notice your hair thinning, eliminating stress is a great first step. You can start engaging in more activities you enjoy and try to decrease the number of extreme stressors in your life. If stress was the cause of your hair loss, then when your stress level decreases, it’s likely that your hair will grow back.
Does Rogaine Work For Thinning Hair
Premature hair loss can be a distressing issue. Thinning hair is often the first sign of hair loss, and it can happen to anyone at any age.
So does Rogaine work for thinning hair? Short answer, yes it does. When it was introduced to the market a little over 20 years ago, it took the world by storm. Its nearly instant success was primarily due to one thing it worked! Rogaine is a liquid or foam solution that you apply directly to your scalp by rubbing it in the affected area. It is one of the few hair loss treatments that has been approved by the FDA. It reduces hair thinning and slows down hair loss.
It is true that Rogaine works for thinning hair. However, it comes with a few caveats. Here is everything you need to know about Rogaine and how it works for thinning hair.
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Explore Your Hair Loss Treatment Options
It never hurts to do a little bit of research when exploring treatment options for hair loss. But at some point, you’ll probably want to talk with a healthcare professional so that you can get a professional opinion about how to combat hair loss.
We don’t recommend cutting corners by exploring cheaper homeopathic and all-natural remedies as an alternative.
Drugs like finasteride and minoxidil are clinically proven to treat male pattern baldness and even reverse hair loss with a majority of men, and theyre approved by the FDA.
As great as hair loss medicine is, theres still a catch: you have to be committed. That means using the products exactly as directed and sticking to a treatment regimen for the long-term.
What Is Rogaine And How Does It Work
Just like good teeth or clear, blemish-free skin, having a head full of thick hair is an undeniably attractive trait. It comes as no surprise that Rogaine has flown off the shelves since it was introduced in the late 1980s.
But lets back up for a second. What is Rogaine, exactly?
Rogaine is a hair regrowth treatment and the only FDA-approved brand to treat hair loss in both men and women. One of the key ingredients in the Rogaine formula is minoxidil, a medication belonging to a class of drugs known as vasodilators.
Vasodilators work by expanding the blood vessels to improve blood flowhence, its early beginnings as a drug for hypertension. Although its commonly believed that topical minoxidil works similarly by improving blood flow to the scalp , the exact mechanisms of minoxidil are still not clear.
Based on animal models, scientists suspect that topical minoxidil shortens telogen phase and prolongs anagen phase .
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And Once You Have Started To Experience Regrowth
Then you need to keep using the Rogaine. Every day. For the rest of your life.
Yes, it sounds daunting, but minoxidil is not a permanent fix or hair loss cure. It works only as long as it continues to be used.
For some, the thought of having to use a product like this on a daily basis and forever more is simply too much, in which case Rogaine is not for them.
For others, however, the benefits of even SOME regrowth can outweigh this disadvantage.
Its certainly something to think long and hard about if youre planning on giving Rogaine a try.
Genetic Testing In Androgenetic Alopecia
A gene polymorphism-based diagnostic test that will predict the chances of future androgenetic alopecia development is now in the market . For young patients concerned about hair loss, this test may help to define the value of early treatment initiation.
In males, the gene test can predict the chances for MAA by reporting the presence or absence of a specific variation in the androgen receptor gene found on the X chromosome. The variant AR gene causes changes in the hair follicleâs response to dihydrotestosterone, resulting in alterations in the hair growth cycle. A positive test result indicates a 70% chance of developing MAA, whereas a negative test result indicates a 70% chance of not developing MAA. The test is of value as a screening test in predicting the future chances of developing MAA rather than a confirmatory test.
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How To Tell If Youre Losing Your Hair
It can be tricky to spot the first hints of male pattern baldness, but there are a few signs to watch out for. This type of hair loss often begins at the temples or the crown of the head. Some men will notice a single bald area of thinning strands, while others will see their hairline recede in an M shape.
Male pattern baldness generally progresses in one of three ways: a receding hairline, thinning of the hair on the crown, or a general thinning of the hair all over the top of the head.
Determining whether you are losing hair can be very difficult as its pretty typical to shed anywhere from 25 to 100 hairs per day, says Isherwood. This is all part of the natural growth cycles your hair goes through. However, if you notice increased shedding, male pattern baldness runs in your family, and you can see your scalp, its a sign to take action.
Yes It’s Normal To Lose More Hair When You Start Minoxidil
The beginning of any hair loss treatment regimen can feel like your moment. After seeing your hair do nothing but fall out, youre finally taking matters into your hands and putting an end to it. Many guys turn to minoxidil, a topical solution thats proven to stop hair loss and even regrow hair for some men.
The problem with minoxidil? Its not an instant cure for male pattern baldness. Most men dont start seeing results for the first 4-6 months of treatment. In fact, some guys even see their hair fall out in even larger quantities in the first few months of their treatment. This increased hair loss is referred to as minoxidil shedding, and its an infamous term among men starting minoxidil.
The good news? This is expected. Its a significant indicator that youre on your way to growing new and healthier hair. At first glance, this might not make a lot of sense. So we talked to one of our Keeps advisors to understand how this all works.
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Introduction To Minoxidil: Will It Stop Hair Loss
What does minoxidil do?
Today minoxidil is generally sold over the counter in 2%-5% foam or growth spray solutions and applied topically on the hair follicles. It is widely used to promote hair growth or reverse the causes of hair loss. Although back in the 1970’s it was used as a treatment for hypertension We’ll go more into the side effects of this later.
In some studies, it is effective in helping promote hair growth for people suffering from androgenic alopecia. Minoxidil in some cases may stimulate hair growth by increasing the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, although the exact mechanisms behind it differ from individuals.
So what does this all mean? When used as a vasodilator it acts to increase the blood flow to the hair follicles, by opening adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells.
What are some of the reported side effects?
- Unexpected weight gain due to water retention
- Severe site itchiness or irritation, eczema
- Chest pains and increased heart palpitations – in some cases risk of stroke
- Random growth of facial hair, hairy underarms or legs
- Excess fluid retention and an increase in swelling in your hands or feet
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, and headaches
- Dry flaky or redness of the skin
- Anxiety and depression
- Loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, or sexual impotence
Is minoxidil safe for postpartum hair loss?
Talk To A Dermatologist And Be Realistic With Your Approach To Hair Loss
You always hear these stories about people who take a homeopathic approach to fighting baldness.
Its usually some off-the-wall remedy like smearing a paste of ginger and cayenne pepper on your scalp three times a day or eating a special type of ginseng farmed only in a rural village in Tibet. We’ll go on the record to say that it’s highly unlikely that these remedies work at any level.
Theres a lot of misinformation, half-truths, and pseudoscience regarding hair loss, and there are also treatment programs that have been well-researched and tested in clinical settings. So, how do you find the difference? For starters, talk to the experts in the industry like dermatologists and general physicians about treatment programs.
Avoid people advertising secret cures, all-natural remedies, and permanent fixes. If there was a way to stop baldness from happening, wed all know about it already.
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Reversing Methotrexate Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common side effect of Methotrexate and other cancer and chemotherapy medications 12. While hair does grow back after an individual stops taking the medication, the embarrassment and depression of hair loss can be hard to deal with. Fortunately, individuals can implement a few tips to reduce hair loss and stimulate new growth.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Finasteride
Before taking finasteride, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- have any other medical conditions, including problems with your prostate or liver
- Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
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Noticeable Hair Loss In Women Can Be Deeply Distressing Here Are Some Medical Treatments That May Help
About one-third of women experience hair loss at some time in their lives among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss in women often has a greater impact than hair loss does on men w, because it’s less socially acceptable for them. Alopecia can severely affect a woman’s emotional well-being and quality of life.
The main type of hair loss in women is the same as it is men. It’s called androgenetic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss. In men, hair loss usually begins above the temples, and the receding hairline eventually forms a characteristic “M” shape hair at the top of the head also thins, often progressing to baldness. In women, androgenetic alopecia begins with gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss radiating from the top of the head. A woman’s hairline rarely recedes, and women rarely become bald.
There are many potential causes of hair loss in women , including medical conditions, medications, and physical or emotional stress. If you notice unusual hair loss of any kind, it’s important to see your primary care provider or a dermatologist, to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. You may also want to ask your clinician for a referral to a therapist or support group to address emotional difficulties. Hair loss in women can be frustrating, but recent years have seen an increase in resources for coping with the problem.