People have been researching the medicines for hair loss treatment for as long as centuries. It was only in 1988 that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medicine for treating hair loss. It is now widely known as Minoxidil under the brand name Rogaine. Following Minoxidil another medicine that was approved for hair loss treatment is Finasteride. What are these medicines? How do they work? What effect do these medicines have on your health? All these are the basic questions one needs to ask his or her doctor when they go for a consultation.
Fundamental medicines for preventing hair loss.
This medicine stimulates regrowth of hair in case of Male pattern baldness, as well as for female pattern hair loss. Minoxidil is usually available in over-the-counter topical solution in various concentrations like 2%, 5%, 10%, etc. 5% Minoxidil is deemed to be more beneficial compared to 10% Minoxidil. For females, usually 5% solution once a day and 2% solution twice a day is recommended. Other than topical solution, it is also available in foam or gel form. Minoxidil dissolves best with alcohol. However, alcohol-free Minoxidil is also available.
Minoxidil is a vasodilator, it dilates your blood vessels and helps with blood circulation. Doctors ask patients to apply it on thin areas to stimulate hair regrowth. It is usually prescribed to apply twice a day on daily basis. It is effective for hair loss even in the patients with a family history.
Scalp irritation, hair growth in areas like forehead. In some rare cases, patients may feel dizziness, headache, palpitation, etc.
To avoid facial hair growth due to minoxidil, patients should wash their hands and wipe their forehead properly after use. Also, it would be better if patients use droppers instead of spray. To avoid irritation caused by minoxidil you can go for either alcohol free minoxidil or use foam formulation. If you are on high blood pressure medications, you need to consult your doctor before starting minoxidil.
In males, testosterone hormone converts into dihydrotestosterone which is an androgen that is responsible for male pattern baldness. Finasteride stops this conversion. It is available in tablet form and generally given in 1.0 mg dosage. Lately, Finasteride is available in the topical form in combination with Minoxidil.
Finasteride blocks the Type II enzyme (5-alpha reductase) that is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Hence it helps in the regrowth of hair on the scalp but not on the other body parts. Hence it is an effective medicine for hair loss.
Ejaculation disorder, decreased sexual drive, inability to keep the erection, pain in testicles, gynecomastia (rarely). Side effects are reversible by stopping the intake of these medicines.Point to be noted is that these side effects are very rare. They are seen in only 2% to 4% population using Finasteride.
Just like Finasteride, Dutasteride is a drug that blocks both type I and type II of enzymes(5-alpha reductase). FDA has not approved Dutasteride up until now. Yet doctors can prescribe it off-label for some patients.
Recently many combinations of Minoxidil and finasteride are available for the patients. Adonsidil Finstrong 2.5x is one of them and it’s seems to be the most effective medicine. In July 2014 International Journal of clinical pharmacology and Therapeutics published a study. This study was to compare 1 mg Finasteride oral tablet and 0.25% Topical solution (a solution that is applied externally). The conclusion was that oral tablet reduces only 62.72% DHT whereas on applying topical solution DHT was reduced to 68.75%. Yet, its absorption in blood is 9 to 15 times less than oral finasteride. Hence, it does not have side effects like oral tablet. So, Adonsidil Finstrong 2.5x contains 5% Minoxidil and finasteride 0.25%. Which is not only effective but also safe in comparison to other hair loss medication.
In Adonsidil Finstrong 2.5X a special ingredient has been used to increase the penetration of Minoxidil. Due to which the penetration is much faster. It has a special lipid to it, which works to reduce itching irritation caused by alcohol. Also, this lipid is not that oily like other combinations so it only leaves a glossy effect on the scalp which can be washed with water easily. Patients with Seborrheic dermatitis can also use this medicine.
Though they are rare; some patients may face side effects almost similar to that of the Minoxidil. Like they can feel irritation, dizziness, headache, palpitation, etc. This could be because of using more than the recommended dosage.You can consult a doctor in such cases.
Plant Based Medicines
Though allopathic medicines are very effective, nowadays people are leaning more towards natural or herbal medicines for hair loss. Some of such medicine available for treating hair loss are Redensyl, Procapil, Capixyl, Baicapil, etc. They are either present in combination with other medicines, including Minoxidil, or on their own.
What isRedensyl?
What isProcapil?
What isCapixyl?
These medicines are effective even for female pattern hair loss. Though these medicines may not be as effective as Minoxidil and Finasteride they are still a good alternative for those who are in the initial stage of alopecia. They also do not have any side effects.
What isBaicapil?
They might not be that effective individually, buttheywork best in the combination. Analysis of thesecombination in the Americancompany has given way to many such initiatives. Grow dense is anexample of one such initiative.
What isGrow dense?
https://youtu.be/zx7T1RBVFy0
Multivitamins.
One of the main reasons of hair loss is improper diet. Most of our health problems can be solved with improving our diet by taking proper nutrients. For hair; vitamins D, B-complexes, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, Iron, selenium, copper are very important. Vitamin D helps with immunity. B-complex vitamins are for healthy hair and the renewal of cells for hair regrowth. Vitamin E prevents oxidative stress. Omega-3-fatty acids is a good source of protein that helps in strengthening the strands. Zinc fights off yeast that causes dandruff, inflammation, and excess shedding. Iron deficiency in your blood can cause hair loss with even greater problem of anaemia, especially in women. Multivitamins play key role in thickening hair and preventing hair loss. Calcium also plays important role in growth of hair.
Cyclical Therapy of Multivitamins for controlling hair loss
Usually a single tablet of multivitamin contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals together. Patients have to take each tablet once a day preferably after breakfast. But inthesekind of medicines there are chances of nutrient interaction or improper overdose. Therefore, there is new concept of cyclical therapy of multivitamins. It is an approach of selective synergistic combination. It helps to avoid nutrient interaction and help in hair regrowth without causing side effects. In this therapy vitamins or minerals that don’t go along each other are separate. Hence it is a cyclical process throughout the week.
Australian Company Grace Biogen brought this therapy in the name of Hair fact. It is an advanced cyclical therapy. There are many different kits as per the requirement. Patients with thyroid problem, women with PCOS problem can also find a safe alternative in this.
There are still many studies going on to bring better medication for controlling hair loss. Hopefully in future we will have more options for hair loss medicine. With no side effects for treating the problem of hair loss in men and women.
