It is very difficult to deal with the social pressures of hair loss. As your hair keeps regenerating, the hair loss in occurring when you are in your teens can be temporary. In every 3-4 months, your old hair falls out and new hair that replaces it. These freshly grown hairs mature for 3 to 7 years at the rate of around 1½ cm per month. It stays at this stage for some time and then falls. So, hair usually grows back naturally, when treated in the right way.

Hair Loss Drugs

Minoxidil: Minoxidil started off as an oral drug for high blood pressure. When it started showing side effects of increased hair growth, it was used to treat baldness. In 1980s Upjohn Corporation got FDA approval for Rogaine, for treating baldness that had 2% minoxidil.

A comprehensive study of effects of minoxidil in men was conducted and it concluded that minoxidil was effective for hair growth on the entire scalp including frontal area.
The working procedure of Minoxidil is still unknown. It could not be the vasodilatating effects of Minoxidil that cause hair growth as other vasodilatators have not promoted hair growth.

Antiandrogens: DHT that is seen in the bloodstream is stopped from binding with the hair follicles with the help of antiandrogens. Their scope varies, for example, there are specific antiandrogens such as finasteride that can inhibit testosterone from converting to DTH and others like fluconazole, spironolactone which have broader applications. At times antiandrogens can produce side effects like gynecomastia. Ketoconazole (found as Nizoral Shampoo) is prescribed or purchased over-the-counter-depending on the circumstances.

Finasteride: A drug belonging to the category of as aza-steroids, Finasteride is seen by the brand name Propecia and Proscar by Merck. This DTH inhibiter was initially used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It blocks the production of 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone to DTH. 1 mg of finasteride daily as Propecia or 5mg of finasteride daily as Proscar blocks 55% and 70% of DTH respectively. In a study 90% of men taking 1 mg finasteride everyday showed remarkable hair growth. Studies show that Finasteride too causes hair growth in crown and hairline area.

A study was also conducted by Merck for knowing least amount of finasteride needed for hair growth and the long-term effects of this drug. 1553 men between the ages 18 to 41with thinned hair were selected. All of them were prescribed this drug. After 2 years 80% of them showed improvement in a visual assessment. And 83% said the hair count was stabilized or increased.

However, there are some limitations. Finasteride should be avoided by pregnant ladies or women who are planning a pregnancy. This drug leaves detrimental effects on the fetuses. Finasteride is generally prescribed for men. They are not known to be useful to prevent hair loss in women. Some believe that this drug is not effective for women in their post menopausal age. They say that hair loss in these women is primarily due to loss of estrogen, which cannot be treated by Finasteride.