The Confusion Around Finding The Best Hairloss Treatment
Throughout the ages many different cultures have claimed to have the best hairloss treatment. European countries such as France and Germany used saw palmetto for a number of conditions including hair loss. Island cultures touted the benefits of coconut milk. Native Americans claimed that aloe vera was the answer for achieving a healthy head of hair while Mexican and Latin American cultures claimed that jojoba oil would work wonders for those lacking in follicle prowess. It seems that every culture has had a favorite or two, many of which are still around today.
Today we know that the most common form of balding is androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male or female pattern baldness. It is estimated to be responsible for over 80 percent of cases of balding in men and about 25 percent of women.
The cause of androgenetic alopecia is twofold, having both a genetic component, along with a link to androgen hormones. The androgen hormone thought to drive the condition is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is converted from testosterone deep within the hair cell and after conversion binds to the all important hair follicle. Over time the accumulation of DHT causes follicles to shrink (some will die) to a point where hair re-growth no longer becomes possible and existing hair becomes weak and withered.
There are currently two FDA approved drugs considered to be the best hairloss treatments for androgenetic alopecia; minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil – Minoxidil is a topical solution that must be applied twice a day and is available widely over the counter. Studies indicate that it helps re-grow hair about 30 percent of the time. Despite its less than stellar record at re-growing hair its real strength seems to be its ability to protect existing hair and slow the balding process. For this reason many experts believe that minoxidil is indeed the best hairloss treatment.
Finasteride – Finasteride is an oral prescription drug for men that when taken daily has been shown to disrupt the production and accumulation of DHT. A two year research study showed that two out of every three men taking the medication produced more scalp coverage. The downside was that men over 50 did not see the impressive results achieved by their younger counterparts. More research need to be done to determine why this disparity occurred.
Certainly finasteride and minoxidil are excellent choices for some but as you can see no one treatment works for everyone.
Additionally, many still feel that the best hairloss treatment lies in the area of alternative medicine. Alternative remedies for balding and thinning hair are very popular and include saw palmetto, nettle root, essential oils (sage, lavender, soybean, and bay), and biotin along with other vitamins and minerals. Some suggest that among this list of helpful solution lies the best hairloss treatment.
What Next? There are currently a handful of (specially formulated for both men and women) which have been proven effective both in blocking harmful hormones and bringing the all important dead hair follicles back to life. These specially formulated treatments can be used both as a preventative tool, starting before hair loss becomes severe, or after loss of hair has become noticeable. Whatever the level of balding or thinning you are experiencing these products could be just what is needed to overcome this latest life challenge.
Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health products and natural living with over 10 years Article Source:
experience in the field.
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