Products that claim to stop hair loss have been
around almost as long as concern about hair loss. Only two medical
treatments have FDA-approval:
Finasteride 1MG Oral tablet (brand
name
Finpecia)  
Finasteride is an oral tablet, available only with a prescription, and is taken
once
daily. Its mode of action is well understood thanks to research that documented
the
hormonal
cause of hair loss in androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride inhibits the enzyme
that
converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the follicle.
Finasteride has proven to be highly effective in clinical trials and in medical
practice for slowing hair loss in almost all men and for reversing hair miniturisation
in some
men. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other hair loss treatments,
including surgery.
Advantages:
Convenient pill form administration - one pill taken once a day.
Effective in most men - the vast majority of men using finasteride experience
some benefit from its use.
Stops hair loss from progressing.
Beneficial side effects such as the shrinking of the prostate gland
in men susceptible to an enlarged prostate.
Disadvantages:
Finasteride is not a cure for hair loss. It will only work over
the long term if you continue taking it. If you stop taking finasteride,
you will likely lose any hair you have gained within 12 months
of stopping treatments.
Finasteride is not approved for use by women.
May cause sexual side effects such as decreased sexual desire(less
than 0.5% decrease).
Finasteride is only available by prescription.
Minoxidil (brand name Regaine®)
Minoxidil is available over-the-counter
and applied topically to the scalp skin in areas of hair
loss. Minoxidil is available
in SA in only the 2% strength. The 5% strength, which is
only available when made up by a pharmacist to a doctor’s
prescription, has been shown to be more effective in both
men and women in
slowing hair loss and promoting new hair growth.... unfortunately
the 5% solution also has a significantly higher incidence
of side-effects(such as contact dermatitus and other allergic
reactions). Results of minoxidil's effectiveness in slowing
or halting hair
loss
to
some degree
in men have ranged
from 50%
to 80% of men treated.
Only about 20% of patients have reported new hair
growth. Minoxidil is ineffective
for some men and women who continue to lose hair.
While it is available without prescription it is used most
effectively in a physician-guided program of hair restoration,
after the
cause of hair loss has been diagnosed.
Minoxidil's mode of action is not completely understood. It appears to
prolong the anagen (growth) phase of the hair follicle.
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