Medication and Treatments for Male Pattern Baldness

As much as you would like to completely get rid of hair loss, you need to understand that sometimes that is possible and the only thing left for you to do is look for temporary treatments or remedies to slow down the hair loss process. Many drug manufacturers out there promise hair products to help you stop or grow hair, but when you try them, they hardly deliver.

This article shall review the different effective ways you can stop or reduce male or female pattern baldness. Read on to understand and get insights on how to get rid of hair loss. 

What is Male Pattern Baldness 

Androgenetic alopecia is another name for male pattern baldness, an inherent medical condition that leads to hair loss in males. This condition tends to affect half of the male gender who are over 50 years worldwide. Now that you understand what male or female pattern baldness is let’s look at the various ways to get rid of this hair loss condition. However, before trying any of these remedies and treatments, you need to consult your doctor first to understand the cause of your hair loss and effective remedies to stop hair loss. 

Hair Loss Prescription Medications 

The good news is that several over-the-counter medications can effectively stop hair loss. The FDA – Food and Drug Administration has approved two hair loss treatment drugs that have proven effective for stopping hair loss. These two types of hair treatment medications include:

  • Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Rogaine is a drug available over the counter, and it is used as foam or liquid to treat hair loss or male pattern baldness. All you need to do is connect it directly to your scalp to grow or stop hair loss. 

  • Finasteride (Propecia)

Finasteride is available as a prescription medication, which means that the doctor has to subscribe to it before using it. It is taken as a pill daily by anyone suffering from hair loss. These two medications have proved to be effective; however, you have to use them every day for a year to witness their benefits. 

Hair Transplants 

Other hair treatment options available for people with male or female pattern baldness are hair transplant procedures. There are two main hair transplant techniques available for hair restoration. They include follicular unit extraction and follicular unit extraction procedures. These two procedures are offered at Beverly Hills Hair Restoration clinic in Los Angeles. 

  • Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

When using the FUE hair transplant technique, the doctor removes individual hair follicles from the donor area to the recipient area. No scalpels are used in this procedure since the hair strands are removed one by one using a punch-like device that cuts around each follicle. When transplanting the harvested hair, tiny holes are made by the same device to insert hair strands. Since it’s a non-invasive surgery technique, anesthetics are used to reduce discomfort and pain. 

  • Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

This method of hair restoration is not as classic as the FUE hair transplant procedure. The procedure is done by cutting out a strip of scalp containing healthy hair strands from the back of the head and implanting them in areas where hair is lost. 

Laser Treatment 

There is also a procedure known as laser treatment to help those suffering from male or female pattern baldness restore their hair. The hair treatment works by reducing hair follicle inflammation that prevents the hair from re-growing. Although limited studies have supported this theory, a 2016 review showed that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was effective in treating male pattern baldness. To ascertain whether the laser treatment works, more research has to be done. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Stopping hair loss can be as easy as changing your lifestyle to better your health. Here are several lifestyle changes that can make your life better and improve your hair growth. 

If you are a chain smoker, you should know that smoking negatively affects your health: hair loss. It can also cause premature graying of hair, wrinkles, and lung diseases. 

  • Scalp Massage 

Massages are wonderful when done anywhere in the body. They not only make your body feel fresh, but they can also help you stop hair loss. The reason being that hair follicles are stimulated when you massage your scalp. 

Conclusion 

You can use many remedies to reduce hair loss, also known as male or female pattern baldness. Some are procedures, while others are simple remedies done at home. Sometimes, stopping hair loss can be as simple as changing your lifestyle. If you notice that your hair loss is happening rapidly, consult your doctor to understand the probable cause. 


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