Hair loss medication is available for the treatment of hair loss but they have their own merits as well as demerits. Men can do very little to stop their hair from falling. But the use of some medication may restore some of their lost hair.
At present, just two approved drugs are available that deal with the problem of hair loss. They have been clinically proven to be effective.
Hair loss medication controls hair fall by slowing hair thinning, increasing the present hair growth and by helping new hairs to regenerate. These medicines should be taken regularly to have an effect. If they are discontinued, the hair that has grown will fall and slowly you will return to the stage as before medication.
Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are the two drugs that deal with loss of hair effectively. These two drugs work in separate ways. Finasteride is available in the form of a pill and Minoxidil in the form of a liquid. Minoxidil is to be applied twice a day on the scalp. But both these medications do not revive hair in the front portion of the head. They are known to grow hair in the crown. Till now hair transplantation is the only mode of reviving hair in the frontal area.
Finasteride is available in the market from 1997. It is effective only in men. It stops the testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone which is responsible for loss of hair. But this is not the reason. The reason lies in the genes
Hair loss medication such as Finasteride grows the hair which is present and stops from further falling of hair. You can see the effect within three months and new hair starts to regenerate within 1 year. If the medication is stopped, your hair will start falling within a year of stopping the medicine.
There are several merits of taking Finasteride as it is available in the form of a pill has to be taken once daily. It is for men only and they had experienced several benefits. It stops further losing of hair regenerates new hair.
The demerits of Finasteride are that it is available only if prescribed by a doctor. It does not cure. It is not for women. It is expensive and may result in side effects that affect sexual life.
Minoxidil was at first used in the form of a tablet for high blood pressure. But later doctors found that it helps grow new hair. So it was formulated for treating hair loss. It has to be applied twice daily. Hair starts falling within three to six months of stopping the treatment.
The merits of Minoxidil are that it is an effective medication for women. It slows down hair fall. It revives new hair and has minor side effects. It can be used patients who had hair transplants.
This hair loss medication has some demerits too. It does not cure and has a limited effect. It is not effective for every pattern of hair loss. It is not effective for severe baldness. It is not preferred by all as it in lotion form and is expensive too.