Drugs for hair loss

Here is a list of the most popular, widely used products, and the results of some studies about the products.

1. Minoxodil(Approved by the FDA) Most commonly referred to as Rogaine. Although it has been around since 1988 it was only approved for over-the-counter sales in 1996. About 25 percent of the men report some hair regrowth and about 20 percent of the women. There is a stronger version out for men, but it is unsafe for women to use. The extra-strength Minoxodil may work about 45 percent better. The cost is about $300.00 a year, and the hair regrowth stops when the treatment is discontinued. This product seems to be most effective in early stages of hereditary baldness. More than regrowing hair Minoxodil seems to help people retain the hair that they do have with more success. Comes in a cream form that you massage into the scalp.

2. Finasteride (Approved in 1997) is marketed as Propecia. It was the first approved treatment for pattern baldness that came in a pill form. The dosage is one pill a day and it may take several months before you can see any positive results. It is recommended that if you haven’t seen any new hair growth in 12 months that you discontinue treatment. Clinical trial results indicate that more than 80 percent of men taking finasteride may experience a slowing of hair loss, and more than 60 percent may show some new hair growth. The cost is about $50.00 a month. This drug is not safe for women to take and it poses very real danger for women of childbearing age. Women should not touch or handle the tablets because the absorption of the drug can cause birth defects in male fetuses. It has been shown to be safe for women when their partner is taking finasteride.

Questions and Answers
Q. What aren’t these treatments indicated for?
A. Nonhereditary baldness

Hair loss due to illness or childbirth
Children and adolescents
Q. What is really new and promising?
A. (1.) Revivogen - This is a topical solution that can be used by both men and women. It contains every growth stimulant and DHT inhibitor currently known to science, in one solution;

(2) the substance Folligen, a non-drug product meant to improve scalp and follicle health and vitality;
(3)the new product Tricomin which uses Copper Peptides to stimulate naturally dormant follicles into their growth phases while it inhibits the damaging work of DHT. Tricomin can be used in conjunction with Rogaine and Propecia, providing additional benefits to the follicle and surrounding environment;
(4) Proxiphen/Proxiphen-N is a topical formulation of many of the nonprescription hair loss treatment agents, similar to the product mentioned above. However since it also contains prescriptive agents it needs to be prescribed by your physician after a diagnosis of balding.

As with most things in life, your best line of attack is education. The Internet is full of those newsgroups, message boars, chat rooms and product pages where you can find out what real people say about the products. There are Internet sites devoted to discovering products that are total "quackery." And remember, buyer beware!