Tremendous advancements have been made in the field of hair restoration from hair transplant surgeries to FDA approved medications that stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss. Many people are under the misinformation that these treatments are mutually exclusive of one another; when in fact the opposite is true. Medications are often prescribed by hair restoration surgeons before and after surgery. In this article we will clarify misconceptions on hair treatments that have not been proven and provide the facts on approved medications for hair loss.
Medicine has made tremendous strides in the treatment of men's hair loss. The advent of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as the medicine sold under the brand name Propecia and the evolution of surgical hair restoration, for many, living with noticeable hair loss is no longer inevitable. For the first time in the human story, we can stop or slow the progression of hair loss. Through advance hair restoration surgical procedures we can replace lost hair with completely attractive natural results.
It is important to recognize and understand that the majority of hair loss treatments being marketed today are still nothing but "snake oils." Or products that only have anecdotal support in regards to their effectiveness. Ads in the back of men's magazines, radio commercials and infomercials promoting miraculous hair loss treatments.. The untold truth (now told) is that the vast majority of these advertised "treatments" do not effect the prevention and treatment of hair loss.
Bona-fide hair loss treatments are either approved by the FDA or recommended by The American Hair Loss Association while approval is being sought. Hair loss is most successfully treated through early intervention. It is important to undergo a professional medical evaluation and to begin treatment under professional recommendation. The remainder of this article will review the two treatments clinically proven to successfully treat hair loss varying degrees.
Finasteride, Proscar/Propecia
Finasteride is the generic name for the brand name drugs Proscar and Propecia. Finasteride was originally developed by Merck as a drug to treat enlarged prostate glands (Proscar). During the trials on men with prostate problems an intriguing side effect of hair growth was observed. Since finasteride had already been approved by the FDA to treat enlarged prostates in men, Merck and Company decided to pursue the possibility of developing finasteride as the first pill to treat male pattern baldness. On December 22, 1997 the FDA approved a 1mg dose of finasteride for the treatment of androgenic alopecia in men (male pattern baldness). Propecia is the first drug in history to effectively treat male pattern baldness in the vast majority of men who use it.
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Understanding How Propecia/Finasteride Effects Hair Loss
In a 5-year study of men with mild to moderate hair loss, 2 out of 3 of the men who took 1 mg of finasteride daily regrew some hair, as measured by hair counts. In contrast, all of the men in the study who were not taking finasteride lost hair.[1] Finasteride's hair-raising success is due to its ability to specifically inhibit Type II 5-alpha-reductace, the enzyme that converts testosterone into a more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Propecia's 1 mg dose of finasteride can effectively lower DHT levels by as much as 60% when taken daily. It is DHT that shrinks or miniaturizes the hair follicle, which eventually leads to baldness. This 60% reduction in DHT has
proven to stop the progression of hair loss in 86% of men taking the drug during clinical trials. 65% of trial participants experienced what was considered a substantial increase in hair growth.
The only truly proven effective medically proven way to arrest the hair loss process is to lower DHT levels. The American Hair Loss Association recommends finasteride as the first line of attack for all men interested in treating their male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil (loniten)
Minoxidill, in pill form, was widely used to treat high blood pressure. People taking the medication were surprised to find that they were growing hair in unexpected places like on their cheeks and the back of their hands, some even grew hair on their foreheads. As happens in science in medicine we learn through an unintended consequence. Thus, Minoxidil (loniten) was the first drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of male pattern baldness.
As in finasteride researchers discovered a very interesting side effect of the drug. Some enterprising researchers had the notion that applying minoxidil topically, directly on the head, might grow hair on balding areas. Well it did this to varying degrees depending on the extent of the hair loss. For it's time, this treatment was revolutionary.
Minoxidil proved clinically to slow the progression of hair loss and regrow some hair. Today, most hair restoration doctors consider it a marginally effective drug in the cessation of hair loss. Minoxidil has no effect on the hormonal process of hair loss so its positive effects are at best temporary. Long term results are often unsatisfactory to the patient.
The American Hair Loss Association still recommends the drug for those who have not responded favorably to finasteride treatment or for those who would like to add another product to their regimen. The AHLA does not recommend minoxidil as the first line of attack for men suffering with male pattern baldness, but does recognize it as an effective treatment for a small percentage of its users.
Beverly Hills and Los Angeles top hair restoration centers and surgeons effectively combine use of medications in providing their patients with highly successful naturally appealing results through hair restoration. Hair restoration as a medical specialty has seen rapid advancement over the past several years with more anticipated in the near future. The newest technological developments hair restoration in instrumentation and procedure combined with the passion and skill of hair restoration surgeons’ bolds well for hair loss sufferers.
[1] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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