The term Alopecia is the scientific term used for the problem of hair fall. Some of the doctor advised drugs that can be used for treating hair fall are minoxidil and finasteride.
Medications to treat Hair Loss
The glaring problem of hair fall has given rise to the need to resort to the medications to treat hair loss. Before we study how it helps, let us first get a brief introduction of this distressing problem. The term Alopecia is the scientific term used for the problem of hair fall. Hair fall is a disease that is being faced by people of all ages. Men and women experience hair fall due to different reasons and it only creates a sense of discomfort and sometimes embarrassment for the ones who haven't been able to find its solution.
Over the period of years, the experts have come up with a number of remedial measures to control hair fall. A number of hair products and medicines have been advised by the by the hair specialists. Some of the doctor advised drugs that can be used for treating hair fall are minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil helps in treating Androgenetic Alopecia. It is available in the form of lotion and sold over-the-counter, no prescription is needed. It has to be applied daily and results take about 3-4 months to show. The hair loss stops and hair regrowth is also experienced. Bald spots are slowly hidden by growth of new hair. As soon as you stop using minoxidil, any further growth of new hair stops. In many cases, hair regrowth is not seen but loss of hair stops. A little scalp irritation maybe experienced as a side effect.
Finasteride is a DHT inhibitor taken in the form of pills. One should be carrying a doctor's prescription to buy finasteride. This drug stops the conversion of into the hormone; Dihydrotestosterone is responsible for hair fall. It shrinks the hair follicles that result in thinning of hair, which eventually leads to hair fall. Finasteride helps in curtailing this process by stopping the conversion of testosterones into Dihydrotestosterone. Health of the damaged and thinned hair is also improved by this drug. Hair loss stops in few weeks after medication is started; however hair regrowth takes months to begin. A reduced sex drive can be a side effect of this drug, a rare possibility though. This drug is not approved for women. Some other DHT inhibitors that limit the action of hormones are revivogen and crinagen among few others.
Apart from the medications mentioned above, there are various kinds of other unproven medications available in the market. It is advised by the doctors not to resort to them as they can have dangerous side effects.