hair loss treatments
Hair Loss Medication
Hair loss medication is designed to slow down or stop hair loss in its tracks.
There are a variety of medications on the market, the two most popular and well known are called Finasteride and Minoxidil.
It is crucial to understand that the effective and formally tested medications are available only by prescription and should be sought through an accredited source such as our team at the Skinoza Clinic. Any medications acquired via illegal or untrustworthy sources may be harmful or may not treat the root cause of the problem.
hair loss medications
How do they work?
Hair loss medication works by inhibiting the products which cause hair loss and prevent hair growth, and instead allowing the hair to grow naturally again. While these medications may also help to stimulate the growth of new hair and give hair a new lease of life, it is important for clients to understand that these medications help to prevent hair loss but are not formulas for hair growth. Medications are also considered to be more responsive in the face of hair lost on the crown of the head, while hair loss around the sides and back of the head is not as responsive.
Finasteride is a medication which works only in male hair loss. As well as using finasteride after hair transplant surgery, the medication works by inhibiting the production of DHT which causes genetic hair loss. The idea behind finasteride is to slow down and eventually stop the body from allowing this DHT product to destroy and inhibit growth, thus enabling hair to grow naturally again rather than succumbing to a hair transplant.
Crucially, as well as only proving effective in the face of men’s hair loss, finasteride is only effective for as long as it is taken regularly and correctly. Any hair that is gained or maintained during treatment will be lost again within around a year of ceasing treatment, and so for long term results each client will require a long term medication program. Finasteride is taken as a pill and should be taken once daily.
Women are not advised to take finasteride.
Interestingly, Minoxidil is not the only name under which this treatment is used. As of the 1980’s you may have heard the term Regaine in the hair loss medication industry – with this new term referring to a topical solution which was created and designed to replace the oral drug which was originally known as Minoxidil.
This solution is able to be administered and used to treat hair loss in both men and women, with a different concentration used for male and female clients. The Minoxidil, once administered, stimulated hair growth and is particularly effective in the face of androgenetic alopecia (also known as pattern baldness).
While it is unknown by the scientific world exactly how Minoxidil promotes and stimulates hair growth, it is widely believed that the treatment dilates the blood vessels around hair follicles and increases the supply of nutrients to the hair, to encourage growth. The bets candidates for this form of hair loss medication are those who start using it as early as possible when their hair still has a high density.
Clients who are put on a program of Minoxidil will be instructed to apply two doses of the medication every day until hair growth is visible. Two daily applications are required to maintain this growth and to give the hair the volume that the client is looking for.
Hair loss medications work by rejuvenating the hair’s ability to grow, but they are not a quick fix for those who have suffered with hair loss or hair thinning. Many clients come to us and end up combining medication with a hair transplant treatment, as the hair transplant is what enables them to restore their confidence and embrace a new lease of life more quickly.
Things to consider
hair loss medication
Prior to commencement of treatment, your clinician will discuss the pros and cons of both medications with you and will help you to decide if the medication alone is enough to combat your issue and give you the results you are looking for.
The main concern that most clients come to us with regarding hair loss medication is the length of time it takes for results to be seen. It is no secret that hair loss medication is not a quick fix for those who are suffering from hair loss or hair thinning – with medication a slow treatment option which requires persistence and consistency in terms of application if you want to see effective results.
In many cases, we see the use of finasteride and minoxidil after hair transplant as these medications can help to support the longevity of the hair transplant results and prevent the body from producing DHT which leads to future hair loss. If you decide to opt for medication as a standalone treatment, then you need to understand the benefits of these products – that they help to slow and prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth but are not the answer to instant hair volume and natural growth.
Finally, it is important to consider the long term implications of hair loss medication both in terms of your ideal goal and in relation to your budget for treatment. When hair loss medication stops, the issue can return within 12 months, and you will likely see yourself suffering from the same hair loss that brought you to the treatment in the first place. Medication is not a long term solution unless you are able to keep financing and taking the medication on a long term basis, so please discuss the implications of this with your clinician before committing.
