Thinning hair and hair loss can be a frustration for both men and women. Possible reasons why people lose their hair range from hereditary tendencies to environmental changes. Hair can be lost as a result of hormonal fluctuations, excessive stress, poor nutrition, and reactions to certain medications.
It is normal for hair to be shed and replaced daily. Those with male-pattern baldness (MPB) experience hair loss without re-growth. The first signs of MPB are usually a receding hairline and thinning at the top, or crown, of the head. Female-pattern baldness (FPB) appears as a general all-over thinning of the hair.
Use of a shampoo for hair loss may help fight this problem. Nano® and Tricomin®’s shampoos both claim to stimulate hair and produce re-growth. Their manufacturers recommend that they are used in conjunction with other topical lotions rubbed into balding areas to achieve optimal results. Almost all manufacturers of hair loss products agree that slowing or stopping hair loss is easier to achieve than re-growth.
The brand Nizoral® offers a hair loss shampoo promoting the establishment of a healthy scalp. Nizoral® shampoo also has applications as a dandruff treatment. Nioxin® shampoo is marketing to strengthen hair follicles and energize cellular activity in the scalp. This is thought to delay hair loss and strengthen thinning or fine hair.
Many products and services claim to be a solution to the hair loss problem. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes only two treatments for hair replacement: minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is sold under the brand name Rogaine®. Finasteride is sold under the brand name Propecia®.
Rogaine® can be found as an ingredient in shampoos for hair loss that can be obtained without a prescription. The minoxidil in this shampoo, however, has been shown to be most effective at higher prescription strength levels. Minoxidil topical cream used in conjunction with the shampoo is recommended. This treatment has been shown to be most effective treating hair loss at the top of the head.
DHT, or dyhydrotestosterone, is present in the skin on the scalp and suspected to be a contributing factor in the hair loss problem. Although not clinically proven, it is widely believed that DHT has a diminishing effect on hair follicles. The shrinking caused by excessive DHT progresses until the hair follicle is no longer viable and unable to grow hair. DHT blocking products are available claiming to inhibit this from happening.