Hair loss or alopecia is one of those common conditions that we often experience or see around us and probably feel helpless to control. The psychological impact of hair loss is something that keeps us in distress. This condition can change our personality and overall physical look, which we would have never expected. The pattern of baldness or androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss) starts with gradual hair fall and sometimes increases with time. We require an effective hair loss treatment at a very early stage to control the condition. Now the question is, what are the treatment options or hair loss medicines can we use to control alopecia?
Alopecia treatment is not limited to medicine for hair loss; diet and lifestyle changes, topical treatment, medical procedures, hair care solutions, and therapies are also available. Some popular medications, such as Hair4u 5%, Rogaine Minoxidil, Mintop solution 2% for hair growth, etc., are often recommended. Let us see what these hair loss solutions are and how they work.
Topical medications for pattern baldness
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- Rogaine – ROGAINE products work by enlarging the hair follicles and reversing the “miniaturization” process. Both men and women can use this FDA-approved solution. It has minoxidil that can stimulate hair follicles, and the growth phase of the hair cycle is prolonged, offering longer and thicker hair.
- Topical corticosteroids – Corticosteroid creams, gels, or foams contain substances that reduce inflammation around hair follicles, which is needed to treat alopecia areata.
- Essential oils – Some essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree oil have attributes to stimulate the scalp and improve the health of your hair.
- Mintop solution 2% 60ml – This is another minoxidil solution for hair loss. This external solution can open potassium channels and widen the blood vessels to increase the blood flow in the scalp. It also increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair cells to prevent the death of hair follicles. You can buy Mintop solution 2% online or over the counter.
- Hair 4 U lotion – This minoxidil 5% topical solution effectively promotes hair growth by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles on your scalp. Applying Hair 4 U lotion for hair growth promises good results within 2-4 weeks.
- Anthralin – This topical cream is used on the skin or scalp. This medicine for alopecia works by triggering mild irritation on the skin. Therefore, hair regrowth is stimulated.
Diet and lifestyle changes to treat hair loss
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- Nutrient-rich diet – You should take vitamins and minerals like biotin, vitamin D, iron, folic acid, zinc, and protein to improve the health of your hair. Food products like leafy greens, fish, milk, eggs, nuts, oatmeal, and seeds can support hair health for a long time.
- Stress management – Your mental health is important to improve hair health. Meditation, exercise, and quality sleep are powerful techniques to reduce stress and maintain thick and dense hair.
- Minimise chemical application – Excessive heat styling, chemical-rich oils, tight hairstyles, and medicinal side effects can damage hair follicles and lead to breakage or loss. So, consider these factors to protect your hair follicles.
Oral medications to treat hair loss
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- Finasteride (Propecia) – This oral prescription drug can block Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone associated with pattern baldness in men.
- Spironolactone – It is often recommended to treat female pattern baldness. This medication can reduce androgen levels, which ultimately helps you prevent hormone-related hair loss.
- Supplements – Oral supplements of biotin, vitamins D, E, and B, and iron can help stimulate hair growth.
- Oral corticosteroids – Oral corticosteroids are taken to suppress the immune system and treat alopecia areata (AA), a form of hair loss due to inflammation.
Medical procedures to prevent hair loss
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- PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) – Under this medical procedure, your blood is drawn and processed to concentrate the platelets injected into your scalp. This procedure is helpful to promote hair growth and is used for both men and women.
- Laser therapy – Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is applied to stimulate hair follicles. It is a bit expensive hair loss treatment but effective for improving hair density.
- Hair transplant surgery – This surgery works through follicular unit extraction (FUE). In this procedure, a doctor takes healthy hair follicles from other body parts and then transplants them to thinning areas.
- Acupuncture – This is another rare procedure to prevent hair loss. Acupuncture stimulates blood flow to the scalp, improving hair health. It works as an external medicine for alopecia in many cases.
Overall, hair loss solutions are many, but there is still uncertainty regarding their success rate. Minoxidil medicines like Hair 4U 5%, Rogaine, Mintop solution 2% 60ml, etc., are often prescribed to prevent hair loss, but you must consult a hair expert to find an effective treatment that suits your scalp.
