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Products for Men
Minoxidil is the main hair growth ingredient for men to look for when shopping for a shampoo or direct application product. Approved by the FDA, minoxidil in shampoos comes in concentrations ranging from 2 percent to 5 percent. Based on clinical studies, higher concentrations appear to be more effective for men. For example, men may prefer Kirkland Minoxidil 5% Regrowth for Men to experience quicker results.
Minoxidil is available for direct application to the scalp. Men can also apply minoxidil directly to the affected areas of the scalp for re-growth treatment, along with using an ordinary shampoo for cleaning the hair.
Finasteride is a prescription drug that men can use for hair loss treatment, and is recommended by the American Hair Loss Association as "the first line of attack" for men who want to treat hair loss. Finasteride does have Finasteride systemic side effects including loss of libido. The drus cannot be used by women.
Products for Women
Women can experience the female version of male-pattern baldness, sometimes referred to as androgenetic alopecia. This condition causes an abnormal amount of hair to fall out along the crown of the head. The cause of this condition in women is the same as it is in men - the androgen DHT binds to follicles in the scalp, causing them to wither and die out.
Minoxidil treatment options for females are somewhat wider than for males, with many of these options coming in the form of shampoos. These products appear to be effective with continued use over a period of time. According to the American Hair Loss Association, moderate hair growth after eight months of using minoxidil was experienced by 19 % of women between the aged 18 to 45.
Shampoo and conditioner systems for women generally contain a topical solution of minoxidil to treat androgenetic alopecia. At least a 2 percent concentration of the medication must be contained in the hair cleansing system in order for it to be effective. The FDA recommends that women should not use minoxidil products containing no more than a 2 % concentration of minoxidil. A typical product for women is Kirkland Minoxidil 2% Regrowth for Women.
Another shampoo approach for women is ketoconazole, the active ingredient in Nizoral. According to the American Hair Loss Association, this medication also can promote hair growth in women. Ketoconazole reduces the male sex hormone of testosterone by acting as an antiandrogenic Reducing androgen levels in the body also reduces DHT, which can slow the progression of hair thinning.
Over-the-counter shampoos containing ketoconazole, such as Nizoral, are available in a 1 percent concentration without a prescription. A prescription is needed to obtain the 2 percent concentration, bit it is far more effective. The American Hair Loss Association reports that ketoconazole should be used only by women; men must rely on minoxidil.
Nioxin is a shampoo product that relies on thoroughly cleaning the hair. The concept is that hair loss can be caused by environmental factors, and that an effective treatment is to rid the scalp and hair of toxins and pollutants that may be the problem. The makers of Nioxin claim that their thorough hair cleansing system does promotes hair growth in women, but actual scientific evidence of this seems to be limited.
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