Do hair loss treatments work?
You might be aware that there are so many hair care products on the market, but the question remains - do hair loss treatments work? The reality is that no medication is 100% effective, but there are two clinically-proven medications for treating hair loss that work for the majority of men. Let’s take a closer look at them and how you can increase their effectiveness.
So do hair loss treatments work?
The short answer is yes - hair loss treatments are effective for most men. However, the treatment that you undertake and your consistency with your medication play a big part in its success. The only two medications that are clinically proven to treat male pattern hair loss are Finasteride and Minoxidil, and we explain their effectiveness below.
Finasteride
When it comes to hair loss treatments, Finasteride is the leading medication. Statistics show that Finasteride is effective for 90% of men who take it. Finasteride works by preventing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from binding to the receptors of your hair follicles. When left unchecked, DHT can cause your hair follicles to shrivel and die.
But by blocking this process, Finasteride is an effective way to treat your genetic predisposition to DHT. It is taken orally as a capsule, and it’s really important to take the medication consistently over a sustained period of time if you want to see positive results.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a vasodilator that increases blood flow to the areas of your scalp that are affected by male pattern hair loss. As a result, it revitalises the shrunken hair follicles on your head and stimulates their regrowth. Like Finasteride, Minoxidil has been clinically proven to treat male pattern hair loss and is effective in approximately 2 out of 3 men. The reality is that Finasteride and Minoxidil are best used in tandem, which is why we have included both medications in our Full Works treatment plan.
Are there any other effective hair loss treatments?
While Finasteride and Minoxidil are the only clinically proven treatments for hair loss, there are several other products that you can use to improve the health, strength, and thickness of your hair. One is Biotin - also known as vitamin B7 - which plays an integral role in the growth of keratin in the human body.
Keratin is a building block for your hair, skin, and nails, and ensuring that you have enough Biotin in your body helps the healthy growth of your hair. You can also use a saw-palmetto, DHT-blocking shampoo to supplement your hair loss treatment. Saw palmetto is a proven DHT blocker that can reduce the prevalence of the substance on your scalp, which can have positive results for many men.
How to increase the effectiveness of hair loss treatments
While every person is different, there are some simple things you can do to boost the effectiveness of your hair loss treatments:
- Take your treatments at the same time each day by incorporating them into your daily routine.
- Don’t miss days - Finasteride and Minoxidil need to be taken daily to be effective.
- Supplement your medication with products like Biotin and DHT-blocking shampoo to improve the health of your hair.
- Ensure you follow a healthy diet and eat a range of healthy, wholesome foods that contribute to the general health of your hair.
- Limit your use of chemical products in your hair and opt for natural products wherever possible.
Ultimately, hair loss treatments work for most men, but these tips will ensure you give your medication the best possible chance of success. For more information about how our treatments work, be sure to follow our journal and feel free to reach out if you have any questions about any of our hair loss products.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
