Pharmaceutical treatment

The pharmaceutical treatment of hair loss works to revitalize hair bulbs in the resting phase, and accelerate hair growth.

Currently there are many options for treatment and a considerable number of cosmetics available for hair loss prevention. Among these, it is possible to find hair-strengthening shampoos, lotions, masks and pharmaceuticals.

Methods of treatment include both topical and oral treatments. Doctors are able to prescribe medicines suitable specifically for you on the basis of your age, level of health, budget and other factors.

However, pharmaceutical treatment can only slow hair loss for a while and strengthen the growth of existing hairs, but it cannot restore lost hairs or grow new ones.

Pharmaceutical responses are also temporary, with effects reversing in only a few months following a course of treatment.

In order to choose the best course of treatment it is necessary to get a thorough trichologist’s examination to develop a plan of treatment based upon your needs.

We will now describe two of the most commonly used and proven medicines for hair loss treatment.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil was first developed as oral treatment for blood pressure. Minoxidil relaxes the blood vessels leading to an increased flow of blood to hair follicles that results in accelerated growth of hairs in the resting phase. The effectiveness of the drug varies from patient to patient.

Hair growth stimulation with minoxidil in its oral form had been proven, when a topical form of the drug was first produced. Minoxidil passed intensive clinical trials lasting more than 15 years proving the drug's safety and effectiveness.

At present the best known and most expensive treatments based on Minoxidil available are produced under the trade mark of Regaine in Europe and under the trade mark of Rogaine in the USA and some other countries. Medications based on Minoxidil are also produced by other manufacturers in non-patented forms, and are accordingly cheaper.

Minoxidil based preparations for hair loss treatment are meant for external use only. 1 ml twice daily should be applied to dry skin on the effected area. The same dose is used regardless of size of the sites of hair loss. The total daily dose of the preparation should not exceed 2 ml.

Among the potential side effects are heat, redness, peeling in the area of use, allergic reactions, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, hypostases, headaches, dizziness and in rare cases change in arterial pressure has been observed.

Finasteride

This medication was originally developed for the treatment of prostate cancer, but has also been shown to be effective in treating hair loss. Finasteride slows down the development of the enzyme that transforms testosterone into dihydrotestosterone – the male hormone that can lead to hair loss.

The medication was approved for hair loss treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration under the trade mark of Propecia. The main advantage of preparations based on Finasteride is their high level of effectiveness. Results of clinical studies proved that the preparation is very efficient in delaying the hair loss process.

Use of this medication however, has not shown positive results in the treatment of women. Furthermore, pregnant women have been strongly advised against its use due to evidence to suggest it may cause birth defects.

In some men using Finasteride, a decrease in sexual function has been reported. However, in clinical tests, a reduction in potency was only observed in a small number of patients with normal activity returning following the cessation of treatment.

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