Quick overview of what you’ll learn from this blog post:
- Why hair loss occurs
- What you can do to treat hair loss
Hair loss – whether male pattern baldness or as a result of a condition like alopecia – affects an estimated fifty million men and thirty million women in the United States. It is something the vast majority of those afflicted try desperately to avoid, and those with baldness in their families actively work to prevent.
And while those at risk of experiencing baldness achieve some preventative success, many do not, despite their efforts. When it comes to hair loss, often it feels a bit like a roll of the dice or the luck of the draw.
But perhaps in understanding the science, high-risk individuals will find more effective and focused ways to deter hair loss unique to their heredity and experiences. Spoiler alert: we’ve got the details.
Where Hair Loss Occurs
Alopecia, though commonly thought of as a specific hair loss disorder, is actually a term used by medical professionals to describe myriad forms of hair loss. This includes “alopecia areata,” a condition characterized by patchy losses that begin suddenly and without any onset symptoms or site inflammation.
The etymology of the term, alopecia, can be traced back to the Ancient Greek word ἀλωπεκία (alōpekía), which literally translates to fox-mange. Written as modern English, and within the parameters of our grammar system, the Greek denotation seems almost completely unrelated. However, picture a fox – or another furred animal, for that matter – whose coat has become mangy, and the word’s maturation through the ages starts to make a bit more sense.
Consistent with the fox-mange image, the hair loss associated with alopecia can, at its worst, affect your entire body. Still, for most individuals, hair loss is localized to the scalp.
Regardless of the site of baldness, the duration of consistent hair loss can be brief or longer-lasting. It is also true that in general, men lose more hair than women, though women are certainly not immune as indicated by the aforementioned thirty million female Americans affected.
Causes of Hair Loss
There are a number of causal factors at play when it comes to hair loss and pattern baldness. Experts cite heredity, stress, and hormonal changes as causes. The onset of hair loss may also be a side effect of other predominant health factors and even some small ailments. Some examples include:
- Scalp ringworm
- High fever
- Cancer treatment through chemotherapy
- Childbirth
In addition to the sources mentioned above, hair loss is often a byproduct of aging. With age, we become more susceptible to our genetic predispositions, including those associated with hair loss and pattern baldness. Lifestyle factors could play a role in hair loss, too–especially when we are highly stressed and/or consuming a poor diet.
When considering the seemingly innumerable catalysts and the notion of hair loss as symptomatic of other external health factors, it is easy to feel a bit doomed. So, how can we possibly manage the risk of hair loss when there are so many potential variables at play? Read on!
What You Can Do About It
Simply put, hair loss is extremely treatable thanks to the last 25 years of medical innovation. In particular, there are countless over-the-counter products and prescription medications available that claim to prevent baldness and regrow hair.
And while choice is generally a good thing, it can be difficult to identify which methods are safe, reliable, and backed by science. Unfortunately, there are a number of shockingly expensive products that are less effective and cause a litany of side effects. That’s why it’s so important to thoroughly research potential hair-loss solutions and consult with a doctor before beginning any hair loss prevention or regrowth regimen. Below, we’ll explore a few options.
DHT Inhibitors for Hair Loss Treatment & Regrowth
When it comes to fighting hair loss, the two most prolific drugs and those most commonly used in the treatment are Minoxidil and Finasteride. At least, that has been the case for the last several decades–until now. There has been a bit of a revolution in the field of hair regrowth over the past couple of years. Keep reading…
Finasteride, while potent, comes with a host of rather unpleasant side effects when taken orally. In response, researchers have discovered an alternative, called dutasteride. Both medications were originally approved for the treatment of enlarged prostate and urination retention.
Then, in 1997, American drug manufacturer Merck & Co released finasteride into the zeitgeist as the active ingredient in Propecia – the brand’s answer to male pattern baldness. Dutasteride received its own FDA approval for scalp hair loss just four years later in 2001, and “has been found in several studies to induce hair regrowth in men more rapidly and to a greater extent than even the highest approved dosage of finasteride.”
A 2017 comparative review published similar findings, noting that an “increase in total hair count per cm[2] representing new growth was significantly higher in dutasteride group (baseline- 223 hair; at 24 weeks- 246 hair) compared to finasteride group (baseline- 227 hair; at 24 weeks- 231 hair).” The converse was also true. In addition to new, quality growth, the Dutasteride group demonstrated a decrease in thin hair count per cm[2].
Finasteride and Dutasteride are 5α-Reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), also known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers. DHT is a hormone created in the body as a result of testosterone conversion that effectively shrinks hair follicle receptors in the scalp.
Dutasteride is the more efficient treatment for hair loss and regrowth because it is the more complete compound. While finasteride is selective for type II 5AR, dutasteride inhibits both type I and type II.
Accessing Treatment
If you are interested in dutasteride for hair loss treatment, talk to your doctor or another licensed healthcare professional about your specific condition. There are so many factors at play in hair loss – what is ultimately causal may be unique to the individual and necessitate a distinct treatment methodology.
Dutasteride is just one said methodology. And as with many prescription drug options used to treat a variety of conditions, there are side effects and potential risks associated with the drug. It is imperative for anyone considering prescription therapy to consider all potential risks.
For those who are not candidates for prescription hair loss treatment , or who want to try an at-home option, consider Powers Hair Solution. This is a first-of-its-kind, doctor-formulated, topical spray proven to fight hair loss and stimulate growth, regrowth, and strengthen hair follicles.
What’s special about Powers Hair Solution? When Dutasteride is combined with Minoxidil in each product’s highest concentrations, the results speak for themselves. And because it is a topical agent designed for the scalp, you can expect it to work only where you apply it. You can learn more about the Powers Hair Solution formulation and the science behind this revolutionary product here.
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Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.