Rogaine / Minoxidil… does it work.
- Thread starter poker
- Start date
From WebMD
What Causes Hair Loss in Men?
Written by Mark Aumann
Medically Reviewed by Debra Jaliman, MD on February 09, 2022
If you think your hairline is receding every time you look in the mirror, you’re not alone. More than half of men 50 or older have signs of hair loss. It reaches 4 out of 5 men by age 70.
Why? It's usually something you can blame on your family tree, but there are several other possible reasons.
Genetics
Male pattern baldness -- you may hear it called androgenetic alopecia -- is triggered by the genes you got from your parents. Exactly how it is inherited isn't clear, but it does tend to run in families. So if you have close relatives who are balding, you're more likely to have it, too.
Doctors don’t fully understand why certain hormonal changes cause hair follicles to shrink, or why the balding process gradually happens in the same pattern for most men. But it usually starts with a thinning of the hairline above your temples and crown.
Depending on your family history, male pattern baldness can start as early as your teens. Not only will your hair get thinner, but it may get soft, fine, and shorter. Learn more about the steps you can take to help prevent going bald if you spot the warning signs early enough.
RECOMMENDED
Temporary hair loss can be a sign of a medical issue, like anemia or thyroid problems. A diet low in protein and iron can also cause your hair to thin.
Your risk for hair loss is higher if you have diabetes or lupus.
Hair loss could be a side effect of certain drugs you take for:
Radiation treatment or chemotherapy can cause widespread hair loss, but usually your hair will grow back with time, once the treatments end.
Stress or Shock
Sudden or excessive weight loss, a severe physical or emotional shock, surgery, or even fever and the flu can bring hair loss that could last several months.
Infections
Things like ringworm can create scaly patches on the scalp and bald spots. The hair usually grows back after treatment.
Your Immune System
If you have sudden hair loss that leaves round bald spots about the size of a quarter in various places on your head, you may have a genetic condition called alopecia areata. It often begins in childhood. You’re more likely to have it if a close family member has it.
Your body’s own immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing small patches of hair to fall out. There’s no pain or sickness involved, and it’s not contagious. Your hair may grow back, but it may fall out again, too.
Impulse Control Disorder
Some people have an urge to pull out their own hair -- from the scalp, eyebrows, or someplace else -- a chronic condition known as trichotillomania. It could affect 1-2% of adults and teenagers.
Grooming
Wearing a ponytail, braids, or cornrows where the hair next to the scalp is pulled tightly can cause temporary hair loss called traction alopecia. In addition, hot oil treatments and perms may damage your hair follicles.
Myths
There are a number of old wives’ tales about hair loss, most of which are false. For example:
What Causes Hair Loss in Men?
Written by Mark Aumann
Medically Reviewed by Debra Jaliman, MD on February 09, 2022
If you think your hairline is receding every time you look in the mirror, you’re not alone. More than half of men 50 or older have signs of hair loss. It reaches 4 out of 5 men by age 70.
Why? It's usually something you can blame on your family tree, but there are several other possible reasons.
Genetics
Male pattern baldness -- you may hear it called androgenetic alopecia -- is triggered by the genes you got from your parents. Exactly how it is inherited isn't clear, but it does tend to run in families. So if you have close relatives who are balding, you're more likely to have it, too.
Doctors don’t fully understand why certain hormonal changes cause hair follicles to shrink, or why the balding process gradually happens in the same pattern for most men. But it usually starts with a thinning of the hairline above your temples and crown.
Depending on your family history, male pattern baldness can start as early as your teens. Not only will your hair get thinner, but it may get soft, fine, and shorter. Learn more about the steps you can take to help prevent going bald if you spot the warning signs early enough.
RECOMMENDED
Temporary hair loss can be a sign of a medical issue, like anemia or thyroid problems. A diet low in protein and iron can also cause your hair to thin.
Your risk for hair loss is higher if you have diabetes or lupus.
Hair loss could be a side effect of certain drugs you take for:
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Gout
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
Radiation treatment or chemotherapy can cause widespread hair loss, but usually your hair will grow back with time, once the treatments end.
Stress or Shock
Sudden or excessive weight loss, a severe physical or emotional shock, surgery, or even fever and the flu can bring hair loss that could last several months.
Infections
Things like ringworm can create scaly patches on the scalp and bald spots. The hair usually grows back after treatment.
Your Immune System
If you have sudden hair loss that leaves round bald spots about the size of a quarter in various places on your head, you may have a genetic condition called alopecia areata. It often begins in childhood. You’re more likely to have it if a close family member has it.
Your body’s own immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing small patches of hair to fall out. There’s no pain or sickness involved, and it’s not contagious. Your hair may grow back, but it may fall out again, too.
Impulse Control Disorder
Some people have an urge to pull out their own hair -- from the scalp, eyebrows, or someplace else -- a chronic condition known as trichotillomania. It could affect 1-2% of adults and teenagers.
Grooming
Wearing a ponytail, braids, or cornrows where the hair next to the scalp is pulled tightly can cause temporary hair loss called traction alopecia. In addition, hot oil treatments and perms may damage your hair follicles.
Myths
There are a number of old wives’ tales about hair loss, most of which are false. For example:
- Wearing a baseball cap or hat may give you “hat hair,” but it does not lead to hair loss. Read more about the myths surrounding hats and hair loss.
- Neither does swimming in a chlorinated pool or salt water.
- Sunscreen won’t make your hair fall out, but it will protect the areas where your hairline has receded.
- Hair dryers may cause your hair to be more brittle, but they won’t lead to permanent hair loss.
Male Pattern Baldness
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
The male pattern baldness (MPB) form of androgenetic alopecia (there is also a female pattern baldness) accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. By age 35, two-thirds of American men will have some degree of appreciable hair loss and by age 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. About 25% of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach 21.
Contrary to societal belief, most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects every aspect of their life. It affects interpersonal relationships as well as their professional life. It is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of hair loss. Learn about the different male pattern baldness treatment options currently available.
The American Hair Loss Association recognizes how devastating male pattern baldness can be for men of all ages and has created resources for men to get completely objective answers to their hair loss questions.
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
The male pattern baldness (MPB) form of androgenetic alopecia (there is also a female pattern baldness) accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. By age 35, two-thirds of American men will have some degree of appreciable hair loss and by age 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. About 25% of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach 21.
Contrary to societal belief, most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects every aspect of their life. It affects interpersonal relationships as well as their professional life. It is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of hair loss. Learn about the different male pattern baldness treatment options currently available.
The American Hair Loss Association recognizes how devastating male pattern baldness can be for men of all ages and has created resources for men to get completely objective answers to their hair loss questions.
Male Pattern Baldness Treatments: Know Your Options
By Nichole Tucker, MA
Medically Reviewed by Jennifer T. Haley, MD, FAAD on March 03, 2021
Here are three expert-approved treatment options for your male pattern baldness.
According to experts at Mayo Clinic, male pattern baldness — also referred to as androgenetic alopecia — is said to be a hereditary condition, unlike other hair loss. But there are treatment options you should know about to help you on your journey to a fuller head of hair.
“Male pattern hair loss is caused by many factors that are not completely understood. What we know is that genetics play a large role in determining those who will develop pattern hair loss,” Amy McMichael, MD, a professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, North Carolina tells WebMD Connect to Care.
According to Mayo Clinic, “you might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it.” Here are three treatments that experts specifically noted as being effective for treating male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil— This formula is an over-the-counter shampoo, liquid, or foam product. According to Mayo Clinic, minoxidil treatment takes about six months to see results, and during that time you should apply your product two times per day.
Finasteride — According to a 2018 article published in MedlinePlus, finasteride is used to treat male pattern baldness by preventing testosterone to convert to dihydrotestosterone..This FDA-approved drug may take a few months for you to notice results and can be effective in terms of preventing hair loss and triggering new hair growth. However, Mayo Clinic also notes that finasteride may not be as effective for men over 60.
Hair Transplant — Although other pharmacologic treatments exist in the pool of male pattern baldness, Mayo Clinic also lists hair transplant surgery, or hair restoration surgery, as a more permanent treatment for hair loss. During the procedure, your dermatologist will remove hair from one part of your head and use it to fill in a bald area.
All of the drugs and procedures available for androgenetic alopecia treatment start with a trip to your dermatologist’s office to discuss your treatment options.
According to McMichael, the first approach to advising patients with male pattern baldness is to discuss their expectations of treatment. “I give patients the options to treat topically with minoxidil 5% solution or foam, to treat systemically with 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors or oral minoxidil, or with low-level laser light options (combs, bands, or caps), and even more invasive techniques like platelet rich plasma injections or surgical hair restoration. What is best for an individual will be the treatments that fit their budget, lifestyle, and the ones with which they will be most compliant,” McMichael says.
Don’t Wait. Get Help Today.
The sooner you address the symptoms of hair loss, the more likely you are to prevent irreversible damage. Speak to a medical professional today to begin your journey to a fuller head of hair.
By Nichole Tucker, MA
Medically Reviewed by Jennifer T. Haley, MD, FAAD on March 03, 2021
Here are three expert-approved treatment options for your male pattern baldness.
According to experts at Mayo Clinic, male pattern baldness — also referred to as androgenetic alopecia — is said to be a hereditary condition, unlike other hair loss. But there are treatment options you should know about to help you on your journey to a fuller head of hair.
“Male pattern hair loss is caused by many factors that are not completely understood. What we know is that genetics play a large role in determining those who will develop pattern hair loss,” Amy McMichael, MD, a professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, North Carolina tells WebMD Connect to Care.
According to Mayo Clinic, “you might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it.” Here are three treatments that experts specifically noted as being effective for treating male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil— This formula is an over-the-counter shampoo, liquid, or foam product. According to Mayo Clinic, minoxidil treatment takes about six months to see results, and during that time you should apply your product two times per day.
Finasteride — According to a 2018 article published in MedlinePlus, finasteride is used to treat male pattern baldness by preventing testosterone to convert to dihydrotestosterone..This FDA-approved drug may take a few months for you to notice results and can be effective in terms of preventing hair loss and triggering new hair growth. However, Mayo Clinic also notes that finasteride may not be as effective for men over 60.
Hair Transplant — Although other pharmacologic treatments exist in the pool of male pattern baldness, Mayo Clinic also lists hair transplant surgery, or hair restoration surgery, as a more permanent treatment for hair loss. During the procedure, your dermatologist will remove hair from one part of your head and use it to fill in a bald area.
All of the drugs and procedures available for androgenetic alopecia treatment start with a trip to your dermatologist’s office to discuss your treatment options.
According to McMichael, the first approach to advising patients with male pattern baldness is to discuss their expectations of treatment. “I give patients the options to treat topically with minoxidil 5% solution or foam, to treat systemically with 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors or oral minoxidil, or with low-level laser light options (combs, bands, or caps), and even more invasive techniques like platelet rich plasma injections or surgical hair restoration. What is best for an individual will be the treatments that fit their budget, lifestyle, and the ones with which they will be most compliant,” McMichael says.
Don’t Wait. Get Help Today.
The sooner you address the symptoms of hair loss, the more likely you are to prevent irreversible damage. Speak to a medical professional today to begin your journey to a fuller head of hair.
Everybody's hopping on the oral minoxidil train.
2.5.mg daily is supposed to work wonders
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/health/minoxidil-hair-loss-pills.html
2.5.mg daily is supposed to work wonders
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/health/minoxidil-hair-loss-pills.html
I can’t open that pay wall… but did a search, and you are correct.
Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety
Michael Randolph et al. J Am Acad Dermatol.2021 Mar.
Show details
Abstract PubMed PMID
Full text linksCite
Abstract
Background: Although topical minoxidil is an effective treatment option for hair loss, many patients are poorly compliant because of the necessity to apply the medication twice a day, undesirable hair texture, and scalp irritation.
Objective: In recent years, oral minoxidil at low dose has been proposed as a safe alternative. This study reviewed articles in which oral minoxidil was used to treat hair loss to determine its efficacy and safety as an alternative to topical minoxidil.
Methods: PubMed searches were performed to identify articles discussing oral minoxidil as the primary form of treatment for hair loss published up to April 2020.
Results: A total of 17 studies with 634 patients were found discussing the use of oral minoxidil as the primary treatment modality for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia was the most studied condition, but other conditions included telogen effluvium, lichen planopilaris, loose anagen hair syndrome, monilethrix, alopecia areata, and permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
Limitations: Larger randomized studies comparing the efficacy/safety of different doses with standardized objective measurements will be needed to clarify the best treatment protocol.
Conclusion: Oral minoxidil was found to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative for healthy patients having difficulty with topical formulations.
Keywords: alopecia; alopecia treatment; androgenetic alopecia; efficacy; hair loss; minoxidil; oral minoxidil; safety; systemic minoxidil.
Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety - PubMed
Oral minoxidil was found to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative for healthy patients having difficulty with topical formulations.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
WebMD needs to update this because women, or those that identified as men and all the stuff in between also go bald
I take a finasteride pill daily and apply an extra strength topical minoxidil at night. Have been doing this for 6 months.
I have not re-grown any hair. I have a bald spot on my crown area and it is no worse but no better after 6 months. However, the finasteride and minoxidil has pretty much stopped my hair loss. I am not seeing any hair in the sink, in the shower or on my pillow like I used to. My hair is not falling out anymore.
And furthermore, my hair seems thicker and stronger than it used to be. I can brush it back and it looks pretty decent. This is a big improvement from before where it was thin and always messy.
And if anyone is wondering, I have not experienced any side effects from the finasteride. My sex drive is as strong as it ever was.
I have not re-grown any hair. I have a bald spot on my crown area and it is no worse but no better after 6 months. However, the finasteride and minoxidil has pretty much stopped my hair loss. I am not seeing any hair in the sink, in the shower or on my pillow like I used to. My hair is not falling out anymore.
And furthermore, my hair seems thicker and stronger than it used to be. I can brush it back and it looks pretty decent. This is a big improvement from before where it was thin and always messy.
And if anyone is wondering, I have not experienced any side effects from the finasteride. My sex drive is as strong as it ever was.
Last edited:
I have been taking finasteride for about 15 years now and it keeps what I had, but that's about it.
A Dermatologist review of Nanoxidil… a new drug being tested.
hairverse.com
Nanoxidil for Hair Loss: Efficacy, Side-Effects, Comparison vs. Minoxidil
In August 2011, a cosmeceutical company – Divine Skin Inc., released a new molecule to...
hairverse.com
Until covid, I had to see my doctor every year to renew my prescription. Then it changed to a phone call every year. No sure if next year I will have to go back in person to his office.
I guess your doctor is worried about any possible side effects?
Dont waste your time with FIN. It can cause life-changing side effects.
Go with oral MX instead
There is an associated link between Finasteride and dry eye disease (DED)
From Google... In an effort to characterize dry eye disease (DED) in patients taking finasteride, a potent targeted anti-androgenic medication, researchers recently found an association between usage of the drug and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), in addition to conjunctival and corneal abnormalities.May 2, 2022
I'll pass thank you.....
From Google... In an effort to characterize dry eye disease (DED) in patients taking finasteride, a potent targeted anti-androgenic medication, researchers recently found an association between usage of the drug and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), in addition to conjunctival and corneal abnormalities.May 2, 2022
I'll pass thank you.....
Is your doctor accepting new patients? Does he prescribe 5 mg finasteride? I heard that is the best format and then you cut 'em up.
I've been on Finastride for over 25 years. I started when I was just starting to lose my hair. It was getting thin enough you could see birthmarks on my scalp. About a month in I stopped loosing hair. About 6 months in, noticeable regrowth. At a year, 90% of it came back. I get Proscar, the 5 mg version and use a pill splitter and cut into 4. Proscar is covered by my health plan. Propecia is not. Both have Finastride as the active ingredient.
I am best case scenario. I used to work with another guy who was also relatively young when he went on it. He had good success, but not as good as me. Recession by the temples didn''t fill in, but he got everything on top back. Another friend tried it, and stopped because he said he had side effects.
You have to start before the area is completely bald.
It is a wonder drug for me.
I am best case scenario. I used to work with another guy who was also relatively young when he went on it. He had good success, but not as good as me. Recession by the temples didn''t fill in, but he got everything on top back. Another friend tried it, and stopped because he said he had side effects.
You have to start before the area is completely bald.
It is a wonder drug for me.
Not sure if he still accepts new patients. You can try doctor shopping at the walk-in clinics. Yes, I cut 5 mg pills into 4 pieces.
