Common Causes
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to treat male pattern baldness: Minoxidil (Rogaine). Rogaine is available over the counter (OTC) as a liquid or foam.
Related Conditions
If a medication is causing your hair loss then your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medication to treat your condition if an alternative exists. There are several treatments that may slow or prevent the development of male-pattern hair loss, although these must be used continuously, or the former pattern of hair loss will return.
What medications are available to treat male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is an inherited trait. It affects more than half of men over the age of 50. You can’t always prevent your hair from falling out as you age, but there are treatments and remedies that might slow down the process.
Can a doctor prescribe a different medication for hair loss?
Pattern Baldness. Spironolactone is an aldosterone antagonist, and a potassium-sparing diuretic used to treat high blood pressure. Spironolactone is approved as a diuretic but has not been approved as treatment for alopecia, by the FDA. It has an "off label" use in alopecia, more for female pattern baldness.
Can male pattern baldness be prevented?
Can spironolactone be used for pattern baldness?
Which is the best medicine for baldness?
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is regarded as one of the most effective hair loss treatments. Topical minoxidil can be an effective treatment for androgenic hair loss,. Some studies demonstrate improvement in up to 70 percent of users.
What is the best treatment for baldness in women?
How is female hair loss treated? Minoxidil (Rogaine) 5% is the only topical medication approved by the FDA for female-pattern hair loss. The once daily use foam treatment regrows hair in 81% of the women who try it.
Which topical drug is used in males for baldness?
Topical minoxidil: its use in treatment of male pattern baldness.
Can Female baldness be treated?
The only medicine approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil: It is applied to the scalp. For women, the 2% solution or 5% foam is recommended. Minoxidil may help hair grow in about 1 in 4 or 5 of women.
Is minoxidil safe for women?
Minoxidil is the only drug which is FDA-approved to treat female pattern baldness. It works by prolonging the growth phase of the hair follicles, Yang says. It's recommended that women use minoxidil 2%, while men can use the 5% formula.
Which minoxidil is best for female?
Researchers found that 5% minoxidil seemed to be better suited for promoting hair growth and increasing hair count. Even so, 2% topical minoxidil was found to be superior to the placebo treatment for improving hair growth, and both concentrations were well-tolerated by the women.
What medications cause hair loss in females?
What Types of Drugs Cause Hair Loss?Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)Antibiotics and antifungal drugs.Antidepressants.Birth control pills.Anticlotting drugs.Cholesterol-lowering drugs.Drugs that suppress the immune system.Drugs that treat breast cancer and other cancers.More items...•
Is there any treatment for baldness?
Finasteride (Propecia) and Minoxidil (both oral and topical - Rogaine) andare the only drugs approved by the FDA to treat pattern baldness (hair loss resulting from hereditary causes). Rogaine is a topical solution that is applied by directly rubbing it onto the scalp where hair growth is desired.
What is the drug minoxidil?
Minoxidil is used to stimulate hair growth and to slow balding. It is most effective for people under 40 years of age whose hair loss is recent. Minoxidil has no effect on receding hairlines. It does not cure baldness; most new hair is lost within a few months after the drug is stopped.
How effective is minoxidil?
It does stimulate hair growth, although scientists aren't quite sure how it works. Minoxidil is available as Rogaine or Theroxidil, or in generic form. It's sold as a liquid or foam and in two strengths: 2% and 5%. Effectiveness: Minoxidil works for about 2 out of 3 men.
Does minoxidil cause hair loss?
Increased hair loss, one of the most publicized side effects of minoxidil, is often the result of hair follicles rapidly moving through the hair growth cycle and shedding before an anagen phase. This is normal as it is part of the mechanism in how minoxidil works.
1. Prescription and OTC medication
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to treat male pattern baldness:
2. Hair transplants
The two most popular hair transplant procedures are follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction.
3. Laser treatment
Laser treatment is thought to reduce the inflammation in follicles that keeps them from regrowing.
4. Quit smoking
If you’re a smoker, you’ve probably heard about all the negative effects smoking has on your lungs. But did you know that smoking can cause hair loss?
5. Scalp massage
Not only do massages feel wonderful, but they can help with hair loss, too. Massaging the scalp stimulates the hair follicles.
6. Balanced diet
A well-balanced diet can keep your hair in tip-top shape. Make sure you’re including a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, unsaturated fats, and lean proteins in your diet. And limit your intake of sweets.
7. Get a checkup
Aside from your genetics, there are several medical conditions that can result in hair loss. You’ll be able to address your hair loss by treating the underlying condition.
Which hair loss medications are FDA-approved for use in men?
In the U.S. there are currently 2 medications that are FDA-approved for use in men experiencing male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia -- the most common form of hair loss in both genders.
Which hair loss medications are FDA-approved for use in women?
There is only one medication that is FDA-approved for use in women experiencing female pattern hair loss, which is also known as androgenetic alopecia.
Which medications might be used off-label for hair loss?
As you can see above, there are a lot fewer FDA-approved hair loss medications than you might expect for such a common issue. For this reason, many doctors who specialize in hair loss may reach outside the “FDA-approved box” to come up with other treatment options if these have not given patients the results they were hoping for.
Strut Health FDA-approved and off-label treatments for hair loss online
Here at Strut, our doctors are well-versed in the FDA-approved agents as well as some off-label medications for hair loss treatment in men and women.
What is male pattern hair loss?
Male-pattern hair loss is an inherited condition and is also known as androgenetic alopecia. It is the most common type of permanent male baldness and affects male Caucasians more than other ethnicities. The condition is characterized by a receding hairline and/or hair loss on the top of the head.
What are the different types of hair loss?
Depending on the cause, other hairy parts of the body may also be affected. The most common types of hair loss are: Male-pattern hair loss (baldness) Female-pattern hair loss.
How long does it take for hair to grow back after telogen effluvium?
Temporary hair loss, such as acute telogen effluvium, especially that caused by childbirth or jet lag, is usually self-correcting and regrowth occurs within six to nine months.
What is hair loss?
Care Notes. Medication List. Q & A. Hair loss refers to a loss of hair from the scalp or body. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. There are many different causes of alopecia, some permanent, others temporary. Hair loss is more common in men, affecting 60% of men and up to 40% of women.
How many hairs does the average person have?
The average adult head grows about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs, and 80 to 100 are normally shed each day. At any one point in time, around 90% of the hair on the scalp is growing. This is known as the anagen phase. There are three main phases of hair growth. The anagen phase.
What does it mean when you lose hair?
You are losing hair rapidly or at an early age (for example, in your teens or twenties). You have any pain or itching associated with hair loss. The skin on your scalp under the involved area is red, scaly, or otherwise abnormal. You have acne, facial hair, or menstrual irregularities.
How many hairs do men lose?
Hair loss is more common in men, affecting 60% of men and up to 40% of women. Hair is composed of a protein called keratin. Hair grows everywhere on our skin, except for on our palms and the soles of our feet. The average adult head grows about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs, and 80 to 100 are normally shed each day.
What is the best medication for alopecia?
Minoxidil topical solution. Also known as Rogaine, this over-the-counter (OTC) medication can be used for men or women with alopecia areata or androgenic alopecia. This drug comes in foam or liquid form and is spread on the scalp each day.
How to stop hair loss from alopecia areata?
Try acupuncture. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. Its applications are many, and some researchers believe that it may help with hair loss from alopecia areata.
How long does it take for hair to grow back after alopecia areata?
Hair growth may be noticeable in as soon as four weeks, and treatment can be repeated every four to six weeks. Side effects with injections include: skin atrophy.
What is the best shampoo for androgenic alopecia?
Women with androgenic alopecia may consider trying prescription ketoconazole at a strength of 2 percent. This drug comes in the form of a shampoo and also goes by the name Nizoral. It’s an antifungal agent and may help reduce the body’s production of testosterone and other androgens that lead to hair loss.
How to get hair back?
2. Dial in your nutrition. Pay attention to the foods you eat and how much you’re eating. For example, eating a variety of whole foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals will help fuel your body and the areas responsible for hair regrowth.
How to stop hair loss from trauma?
While trauma can come on suddenly and unexpectedly, you may be able to help manage ongoing stress in your life with exercise, like yoga, or mindfulness techniques, like meditation. Some researchers are even exploring these alternative healing modalities in relation to reversing hair loss.
What to do if you have hair loss?
There are other things you can do at home for the health of your hair and scalp. These approaches may be particularly helpful if your hair loss is caused by: telogen effluvium. stress. trauma to the hair from hair styling. dietary deficiencies. 1. Change your hair styling habits.
What is the best treatment for hair loss?
Some of the newest hair loss treatment devices on the market harness the power of lasers. These products come in different forms, including hats, headbands, and combs. Laser devices use low-level lasers to target the hair follicles, reducing inflammation, and stimulating regrowth. A 2019 study in Lasers in Medical Science found laser hats to be a promising treatment for androgenetic alopecia.
Does minoxidil help with hair growth?
Creams featuring the ingredient minoxidil can stimulate hair growth if you have androgenetic alopecia. Minoxidil is also approved by the FDA for female-pattern hair loss as opposed to finasteride which females are warned not to take. Although scientists do not know exactly how this drug works, years of studies attest to its effectiveness, according to a 2019 review published in Drug Design, Development and Therapy. As with finasteride, minoxidil is only effective if you keep using it. Using both together is optimal.
What is the best treatment for baldness?
Hair Transplant — Although other pharmacologic treatments exist in the pool of male pattern baldness, Mayo Clinic also lists hair transplant surgery, or hair restoration surgery, as a more permanent treatment for hair loss. During the procedure, your dermatologist will remove hair from one part of your head and use it to fill in a bald area.
What is the role of genetics in hair loss?
What we know is that genetics play a large role in determining those who will develop pattern hair loss ,” Amy McMichael, MD, a professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, North Carolina tells WebMD Connect to Care.
How to reverse hair loss?
Here are three treatments that experts specifically noted as being effective for treating male pattern baldness. Minoxidil — This formula is an over-the-counter shampoo, liquid, or foam product. According to Mayo Clinic, minoxidil treatment takes about six ...
How long does it take for minoxidil to work?
Minoxidil — This formula is an over-the-counter shampoo, liquid, or foam product. According to Mayo Clinic, minoxidil treatment takes about six months to see results, and during that time you should apply your product two times per day.
Is baldness a hereditary condition?
According to experts at Mayo Clinic, male pattern baldness — also referred to as androgenetic alopecia — is said to be a hereditary condition, unlike other hair loss.