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Most Effective Hair Loss Treatments

Hair loss affects up to 50 percent of men and 30 percent of women and can cause loss of self esteem and self confidence. Hair loss in both men and women is thought to be caused by a variety of factors including the use of certain medications, stress, genetics and hormones. Although there is no cure for androgenic alopecia (gradual hair loss) or alopecia areata (hair loss in spots), there are some medications on the market that are used to treat the condition.

  1. Minoxidil

    • Minoxidil works for about 19 percent of women and a small percentage of men in the treatment of androgenic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness), which usually occurs due to genetic factors over a period of years. For women in particular, however, Minoxidil is the most effective hair loss treatment on the market. According to americanhairloss.org, men and women should begin treatment early to experience less damage to the hair follicle and treatment must continue indefinitely to preserve hair growth. Minoxidil presumably works by dilating blood vessels to stimulate hair growth. Currently only a 2 percent solution of Minoxidil is available to treat women, and up to 5 percent is available for men. Minoxidil works best on hair loss that occurs in the crown area of the scalp. Minoxidil can be purchased over the counter in most drug stores.

    Propecia/Proscar

    • Propecia works to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, which is thought to attack and destroy the hair follicle and cause it to fall out. Propecia works in 65 percent of men and is effective in growing hair in the top (vertex) and mid area of the scalp. Propecia is taken in pill form daily and is available through prescription only. Propecia has been shown to be effective in both men and women, however, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not even touch the drug due to the possibility of birth defects.

    Cortisone Treatments

    • Alopecia areata is hair loss that occurs when the body rejects the hair due to an immune system response. According to follicle.com, white blood cells attack the follicle and force it into the telogen (resting) phase of growth from which it never recovers and it eventually falls out. Cortisone treatments are offered in the form of topical steroid creams, oral cortisone tablets and cortisone injections delivered into the affected area. Cortisone is thought to reduce the immune system and inflammation response and cause the hair to return to the anagen (growing) stage. Cortisone treatment is available for both men and women.

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