Hair Loss Prevention

In the world of hair loss treatments there are two different potential problems that need to be dealt with. One is the prevention of hair loss and the other is re-growing hair once it has gone away. These sound like they would pose the same difficulties but actually finding out how to prevent hair loss and how to regrow hair requires that we look at the problem from two angles. Hair loss prevention is really the easier of these two situations to deal with.
In order to prevent hair loss you need to understand what causes the loss of hair in most people. Usually, both men and women will be suffering from the same condition which is called pattern baldness or androgen alopecia. This condition causes the hair to slowly fall out of areas of the scalp. In men this usually occurs at the front of the skull above the forehead and at the crown of the head. This is a genetic condition that can be passed down from either the Mother’s line or the Father’s. Unlike the old belief that it only came from the Mother’s side of the family.
The loss of hair from this condition is caused by a build up of DHT at the follicle and blood supply boundary. DHT is a by product of the metabolism of the male hormone testosterone. Preventing hair loss will require that you either decrease the levels of this substance in the body’s blood stream or you increase the flow of blood to the hair follicles. Any hair loss prevention product that is effective will attack this side of the equation.
The US Food and Drug Administration has only accepted two drugs as being effective for the treatment of pattern baldness. Finasteride is a drug that is taken orally and limits the amount of DHT that is build up in the blood stream. This drug was originally in clinical trials to determine the efficacy for the treatment of enlarged prostrate in men. During the trials it was found that many of the subjects in the study showed hair growth and a limiting of hair loss. This drug is not recommended for female hair loss prevention due to the fact that it is known to cause birth defects. Therefore, women of childbearing age are not allowed to take the drug or even handle the tablets.
Another drug certified for the prevention of hair loss is Minoxidil. This substance is normally applied to the scalp in a lotion or foam. The most common product name with this drug is Rogaine but the formulation can now be found in generic brands also. The active ingredient in these lotions is safe for women and in fact one formulation of Rogaine is marketed especially for women. This has been tried as a hair loss prevention shampoo but in general the solution was not left on the scalp long enough to make a big difference.
All hair loss prevention products are going to act on the hair follicles in the ways these drugs do. Either they will limit the amount of DHT in the blood stream or, like Minoxidil, they will promote blood flow to the hair roots. Minoxidil does this by enlarging the blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the hair units.
If you are worried about hair loss these are two products that have shown good results. Using either of these will probably help with your hair loss prevention program.