Hair Restoration Alternatives

There are some hair restoration alternatives that while not as effective as hair transplantation- nothing is- still can offer some help. The alternatives worth mentioning are Finasteride, Minoxidil, Dustasderide, Ketoconazole, and prayer.

Finasteride, mostly known by its original brand name Propecia when used to treat male pattern baldness- androgenic alopecia, is a synthetic anti-androgen that inhibits the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. In a 5-year study of men with mild to moderate hair loss, 48% of those treated with 1 mg of finasteride experienced some re-growth of hair, and a further 42% had no further loss. Finasteride is only effective for as long as it is taken and hair gained or maintained is typically lost within 6-12 months of stopping use. It works on the crown and possibly on the hairline (not FDA approved) but is most successful on the first. Finasteride should not be used by women and is so dangerous for pregnant women that they should even avoid handling the pills let alone ingesting them.

Minoxidil, known by brand names Rogaine and Regain, is a vasodilator medication known for its ability to slow or stop hair loss and promote hair re-growth. It is available over the counter for treatment of male and female pattern baldness. Like finasteride, minoxidil is only effective when consistently used and improvement disappear within months after discontinuation of treatment. You use minoxidil by applying it in liquid form to the crown of the head. Recently, a foam version of Rogaine was released and it is far easier to apply without dripping.

Dutasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It is used to treat conditions caused by DHT, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Dutasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor like finasteride. The difference is that while dutasteride inhibits both isoforms of 5-alpha reductase, finasteride inhibits only the one that effect male pattern baldness. Dustasderide is considered less effective than finasteride and is not approved for hair loss treatment.

Ketoconazole is a synthetic antifungal drug used to prevent and treat skin and fungal infections, especially in immune compromised patients such as those with AIDS. Ketoconazole is sold commercially as an anti-dandruff shampoo, branded Nizoral, by Janssen Pharmaceutica. While its main or original purpose, ketoconazole may have a positive effect on hair growth. Nizoral shampoo has shown to be beneficial in men suffering from male pattern baldness. One 1998 study showed that Nizoral 2% worked just as well as minoxidil 2% in men with male pattern baldness. Both medicines increased hair thickness and increased the number of anagen-phase hair follicles on the scalp. Nizoral Shampoo only has FDA approval for the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, so although Nizoral may be useful as a hair loss remedy, it cannot be endorsed or marketed as one to the general public. Both the 1% and 2% dosages have positive hair loss benefits although the more potent 2% formulation may be more effective. If you do try it, a good plan might be 2% dosages every third day, leaving the shampoo on the scalp for 3-5 minutes before doing a complete rinse.