Propecia

Discover the best hair loss pills

It is normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day, this is part of the hair renewal process. However most people suffer from excessive hair loss at one time in their life. There are many reasons for this including medication, radiation, chemotherapy, exposure to chemicals, hormonal and nutritional factors, thyroid disease, generalized or local skin disease, and stress.Many of these causes are temporary and a few are permanent. These are some of the more common reason for hair loss.This is the most common cause of thinning and affects both men and women. Men generally have hair loss concentrated in a specific pattern from the front through to the crown. Women tend to have thinning throughout their head without being in any specific pattern. This type of hair loss is caused by the androgen DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone. Since everyone has DHT that is produced by their bodies and only some people suffer from hair loss there has to be another factor involved. This other factor is having follicles that have a greater number of Androgen receptors for the DHT to attach to. This is the component that is inherited through the genes. To date the most effective preventative treatments are anti androgens, drugs that prevent the creation of DHT. In the future gene therapy will one day be able to alter the genes to prevent the follicles from being affected by DHT.

What is Finasteride (Propecia) and how does it work?

Finasteride is the first approved pill to treat male pattern hair loss. Propecia® is a tablet taken once a day, available via a doctor’s prescription only.
According to Merck the manufacturer, an estimated 1 million men in the United States take Propecia daily. Most men taking Propecia ® experience an increase in hair count, a decrease in hair loss, and an improvement in appearance.

Hair Loss Solutions

It has been discovered that the hormone known as DHT is one of the principal factors in male pattern hair loss. Propecia® inhibits the formation of DHT, and in this way appears to interrupt this key factor in the development of inherited male pattern hair loss in men. Most men who take Propecia experience a slowing or cessation of hair loss over the back and top of the scalp.Again, results can take time. If you are not willing to commit yourself to taking Propecia® for at least twelve months, it is probably not worth starting. Like Regaine ® Propecia® must be taken on an ongoing basis to maintain the benefit. Merck states that any hair grown or maintained by Propecia® will be lost within twelve months if the patient stops taking the medication. Further, men who are already “shiny bald” are less likely to benefit from Propecia®, because the hair follicles may not be salvageable. Men who have early thinning in the back and top have a better chance to see some benefit, but as noted above, only for as long as they continue taking the medication.
Many commonly prescribed prescription drugs can cause temporary hair loss, trigger the onset of male and female pattern baldness, and even cause permanent hair loss. Note that the drugs listed here do not include those used in chemotherapy and radiation for cancer treatment.Your doctor may not mention hair loss as a side effect of some drugs, so don’t forget to do your own research and read the drug manufacturer’s complete warnings. Your pharmacist can provide you with this information even before you fill a prescription.Many pill and medication guidebooks (sold in bookstores and pharmacies) are also excellent sources of complete information about prescription drugs. If your doctor prescribes any of the following drugs, ask if one that does not have hair loss as a possible side effect can be substituted.