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When started at the
first signs of hair thinning, some medications may help
to prevent or slow the hair loss. The most common of
these hair loss medications are Propecia and Rogaine.
PROPECIA - Propecia
(finasteride) is a prescription pill that is FDA approved
to treat male pattern baldness, and when taken every
day can help you maintain or even regrow hair on the
top and front of the head. It is not effective for hair
loss on the sides, or at the temples. Propecia works
by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihyrdrotestosterone),
the hormone that is responsible for shrinking the hair
follicle and inducing "male pattern baldness"
or "female pattern baldness". (Read more about
what causes hair loss).
With less DHT circulating in the body, there will be
less hair loss in those people that are geneticallly
predisposed to male pattern baldness (also known as
androgenetic alopecia). It can take 3 months or more
before you see any effects of Propecia, and once you
stop taking it, your results will fade within a year.
propecia and women
- Despite the term "male pattern baldness",
Propecia can be effective in both men and women whose
hair loss is related to DHT levels. However, use
of Propecia in women of child-bearing age can cause
birth defects, specifically a deformity in the
growth of the urethra of the penis, known as hypospadias.
In fact, simply handling the pills can cause some
absorption of the medication and increase the risk of
birth defects, therefore Propecia is only prescribed
for women after menopause. (read more about women
and hair loss)
risks and side effects
of Propecia - The most common side effects of Propecia
are decreased libido (sex drive) and decreased fertility,
seen in up to 5% of men taking Propecia. Before starting
any medication, you should discuss with your doctor
or pharmacist other possible side effects. Taking Propecia
may affect a test called the PSA (prostate specific
antigen) that used to screen for prostate cancer in
men. Be sure to tell your doctor if you're taking Propecia.
ROGAINE - Rogaine
(minoxidil) is an FDA approved topical treatment for
hair loss that works for both men and women by increasing
the length of time that the hair follicle is growing.
(Rogaine is supplied in both 2% and 5% strengths, but
only the 2% has been FDA approved so far for use by
women).
For best results, Rogaine
should be used twice a day. and for men, the results
can be improved by using Rogaine in conjunction with
Propecia. When you begin use of Rogaine, you may notice
actually notice an increase in hair loss for up to 4
weeks before the new hair follicles take root. The new
hairs will be thin and wispy, and begin to appear after
3 to 4 months. By 6 to 8 months, the hairs will likely
grow to be as thick and strong as the rest of your hair.
If you discontinue use of Rogaine, you will stop growing
new hair and will lose the hair that you did grow while
on the treatment.
risks and side effects
of Rogaine - Because Rogaine is a topical treatment
that is applied directly to the scalp, the side effects
for the most part are limited to local reactions of
itching, dandruff, and skin sensitivity. Usually the
side effects of Rogaine are not bothersome enough to
discontinue treatment.
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