This article outlines the treatment options available to hair loss sufferers.
This article will focus on four basic approaches:
- A drugs based approach for those who don't mind taking strong medications.
- A commercial product approach for those who prefer a non-drug
solution but who still want a treatment that has a track record.
- A natural remedy approach for those who prefer to follow the natural route.
- A nutritional approach for those who wish to adopt a more holistic perspective.
The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures
for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many
sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of
potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly
assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their
expectations.
It remains a fact that only two hair loss treatments have been approved
by the FDA and both can be classed as strong drug-based medications.
Propecia (finasteride) is the treatment of choice for many men with
good reason - it tends to work! It is a powerful drug that inhibits the
formation of DHT in the system, eventually to a level that is
sufficiently low to encourage a normal growth cycle. Rogaine
(minoxidil) acts differently in that it stimulates hair growth in both
men and women by overriding the prevailing hair loss symptoms. These
drugs can be used either on their own or in combination. Women should
seek professional medical advice before using Propecia.
The world of commercial hair loss products is much less clear cut and
it is here that many scamsters ply their trade to rip-off unsuspecting
customers. The best advice I can give here is research, research, and
more research! Many useful products are available on the market but
none have been approved by the FDA. Probably the best, and certainly
most popular, commercially available products are those containing
natural ingredients that have been shown in field trials to reduce hair
loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about these products
by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.
Increasingly, people are turning to natural hair loss remedies as they
seek to combat thinning hair. This has an obvious appeal for many
sufferers and there is growing evidence to support the view that some
natural remedies may be effective in curtailing hair loss. The most
popular ingredients of natural hair loss treatments include ginko
biloba, green tea, he shou wu, pygeum, saw palmetto and stinging
nettle. Each of these is described in more detail in an supplementary
article entitled "Herbal Remedies That Offer Hope".
It is becoming increasingly evident that poor nutrition and modern
lifestyles can have a negative impact on health, and hair loss is no
exception. At the most basic level, improved nutrition can minimize
shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth. This can
be achieved by:
- eating adequate amounts of protein.
- eating appropriate levels of useful carbohydrates.
- achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats.
