IS there a Treatment for Hair loss? Part 2

Medications

Despite all the razzmatazz about medications by the drug industry, they are all ineffective and expensive. It is the very rare individual who will regain hair growth after use of these medications and this is more pure luck than any credit to the medications. None of these medications work if there is baldness. It is hard to find any one individual (who is honest) to have any sort of significant hair growth after using these medications.

The drugs approved for the treatment of alopecia are:

Minoxidil (Rogaine). This medication was associated with a lot of hype but never lived up to its expectations. It can be used to treat both types of alopecia. It comes as a liquid and is applied on the scalp twice a day. It is available over the counter in strengths of 2-5%. It is approved for the treatment of androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata. It is difficult to find anyone (at least those not paid by the industry) who has evidence of any hair growth after use of this medication.

The industry claims that new hair after application of minoxidil is thinner and shorter than previous hair. The hair growth stops once the use of the mediation is stopped. The only side effect is an irritation or dryness of the scalp.

Finasteride (Propecia). Finasteride is another medication which has been approved for male pattern baldness. It is taken as an oral pill. Some individuals do claim hair growth and the results take at least 2-4 months to show. Finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of the male testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that decreases hair growth. For some men there may be some hair growth but the medication also causes a decrease in sex drive- a high price to pay for some hair follicles. As with minoxidil, the benefits of Finasteride stop if you stop using it. The drug is only approved for use in men.

Corticosteroids. For alopecia areata, some physicians may inject corticosteroids. These injections are performed every month for a few months. Some physicians also recommend topical corticosteroid creams. The results are not great. Some individual show a response and many do not. In most cases of alopecia areata, the hair growth will recover after some time and the need for corticosteroid injection is questionable. Corticosteroids do nothing for androgenic alopecia.

Anthralin (Drithocreme). Available as either a cream or an ointment. This is a tar like chemical which is used in the treatment of psoriasis. It is not effective in all individuals and the results are mild, at best. The drug also stains bed sheets, clothes and makes a real mess.

Herbs/nutrients; everyday on the internet and popular medical magazines, there are new drugs/nutrients advertised as the latest to cure hair growth. Individuals from every ethnic background have their own version of folklore tales and myths about hair growth. The things recommended for hair growth are wild and beyond the realms of one’s imagination- from crow’s feet, bears penis, scorpions arse, snakes gall bladder, meditation, yoga, et etc. There is not one iota of proof that any of these work. There is no herb or nutrient that can grow any hair.

The hair growth industry is a big scam and the best advice is to avoid these products and save one’s money.