Hair loss treatments and remedies that really work are rare but they exist. There are so many different hair loss solutions out there that finding a good solution becomes an overwhelming task.
Since hair loss is such a common problem in men but also in women, many take advantage of this by selling useless or ineffective products to desperate people. There is no cure to hair loss yet, it can only be treated. Many different people and companies offer many different solutions to hair loss. There is too much misleading information out there about what works and what not.
Fact is that there are currently only two FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved hair loss treatments available. The one is Propecia with its active ingredient Finasteride. The other one is Rogaine with Minoxidil. FDA approved means that these products have a proven track record of being successful to some degree in treating hair loss. These two products have been clinically tested and the results are well documented.
Finasteride was originally approved as a treatment for prostate enlargement but it has been found out later that it also helps to fight hair loss or male pattern baldness in men. Propecia works in men only. Propecia works because it can reduce the DHT levels in the scalp. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is an androgen which is produced by the conversion of testosterone. DHT is the main reason why men loose hair because it causes the hair follicles to shrink and to produce less and thinner hair. Then they stop to produce hair at all.
Minoxidil is the other FDA approved ingredient which is sold under the brand name Rogaine. Rogaine is also for women and is applied topically to your scalp twice a day. It's reported that Rogaine is better for hair growth and regrowth than Propecia, while Propecia is better in stopping hair loss and maintain the hair you have. Many men therefore prefer to use both drugs, first to stop the hair loss and then to regrowth hair.
Minoxidil does not work like Propecia as it doesn't affect the DHT levels. Minoxidil works by stimulating the hair follicles to produce larger and thicker hair again. Minoxidil should work therefore well in areas of thin or miniaturized hairs.
The side effects are rare but they happen. With Minoxidil a small percentage (6%) of users report scalp itching which can be removed by washing Minoxidil out of the hair. Propecia side effects happen in about 2% of men. The side effects are a decreased libido, problems in getting an erection and less semen production. These side effects can be reduced by reducing the dosage of Propecia. If Propecia is stopped, the side effects disappear.
