Hair loss amongst men is so common that by the time they reach 35, most would have experienced some hair loss to show up visibly.
Thanks to harmful chemicals, pollutants in the atmosphere and genetically altered food, men are losing more hair (at a younger age) than the earlier generation.
But not to worry, as there are so many effective treatment options to reverse the effect of hair loss in men.
The article is a part of our comprehensive series on “Hair loss in men”.
Understanding the causes of hair loss in men
The following are the leading causes of hair loss in men.
2. Genetics
3. Reaction of certain medications
5. Improper hair care
6. Damage to the scalp region
7. Autoimmune disease
8. Unhealthy lifestyle
For detailed information, read our article on “Key reasons for hair loss in men”
Factors to consider while choosing the best hair loss product for men
let us take a closer look at some critical factors that need to be on your checklist before deciding on a hair loss product
1. Medically approved
While choosing a hair fall product, it is essential to ensure that a recognised medical authority approves it.
By using a medically approved drug, you are ensured that:
- There won’t be any harmful interactions between the medicine and a beverage, food, dietary supplement or another drug.
- Higher chances for the treatment to work as expected.
- There won’t be severe side effects of using the medication.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved two different products to treat hair loss in men. These include Finasteride and Minoxidil.
Minoxidil
This is the first approved drug used to treat hair loss in men. In addition, minoxidil is the only product approved for treating hair loss in both men and women.
The exact working mechanism of minoxidil is not fully known; some research indicates that it acts as an oxide agonist that causes the hair follicles in the telogen phase to shed and be replaced with newer ones in the anagen phase.
Minoxidil also acts as an antihypertensive potassium channel opener that causes oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to flow more on the scalp, thereby helping the growth of new hair.
Finasteride
This is also another FDA approved drug in the treatment of hair loss. However, the use of Finasteride in the treatment of hair loss in women is still a controversial topic.
Finasteride works by acting on the hormone 5-dihydrotestosterone. Excess amounts of DHT in the blood causes the accumulation of the hormone around the hair follicles, which causes hair fall.
This drug works by inhibiting the enzyme five α-reductase inhibitor responsible for converting testosterone hormone into 5-DHT. This, in short, the activity of the enzyme is inhibited.
Check out Andsons “Hair Loss Prescription Kit (Finasteride + Minoxidil 5%)”
2. Should not cause any allergic reaction
Drug allergies are usually an immune response from the body which results in an allergic reaction.
When you take medicine for the first time, you might not have any problems. But the body may signal its immune system to produce antibodies against the drug.
When you take medicine the next time, the antibodies will tell your white blood cells to produce a chemical called histamine. Histamine, along with other substances, causes allergic reactions.
Thus it is crucial to make sure that the drug you use is free from allergic reactions. A drug that might not have an adverse reaction in a person may work differently for you.
Ensure that you consult with a certified physician before choosing your hair fall medication to avoid any last-minute surprise of an allergic reaction.
3. Natural Products
Hair fall products with organic products can help clean your scalp from dandruff, oil and other harmful pathogens.
Organic products are free from dangerous chemicals and other compounds that ser harmful to your health.
Some natural products to fight hair loss are:
- Aloe Vera: It helps to soothe the scalp and condition the hair. It also helps to reduce dandruff and unblock hair follicles clogged with excess oil.
- Coconut oil: Has lots of fatty acids. Penetrates deep into the hair follicles and reduces protein loss from the hair.
- Collagen: Can help to soothe the internal structure of hair and supply the scalp with nutrient-rich blood.
- Biotin: Supplementing biotin can help improve the scalp’s health and make the hair strands healthy and more robust.
Check out Andsons range of hair care products to treat hair loss in men.
Bottom Line
People are often confused about what to choose from the long list of hair fall products available.
You need to evaluate several factors before choosing the proper medication, as selecting the wrong form of treatment can result in an allergic reaction. In this article, we have mentioned some factors for men to consider before choosing a hair loss product.
In addition, make sure that you seek the expert opinion of a certified doctor to ensure that the particular product gives you all the benefits you desire.
