8 Common medications treatment to hair loss for men - 2

3. Antiandrogens for male

Topical anti androgens are used by some to treat their pattern hair loss.

Hamilton observed that when men with male pattern baldness were castrated it prevented further progression of hair loss; and that the hair loss in eunuchs induced by exogenous testosterone halted when testosterone treatment was discontinued. This leads to the assumption that it would be feasible to use an antiandrogen to halt or even reverse pattern baldness in men (and equally in women too). However, antiandrogen therapy for androgen-induced baldness is still in its infancy and relatively limited information is available on how it can be used and the appropriate formulations for use.

hair loss

Anti androgen drugs used in medicine may be systemic or topical. Because systemic anti-androgens reduce circulating testosterone, which is required for normal male sexual functioning, their use in androgenetic alopecia is currently limited to women. A topical antiandrogen is administered by applying the compound to the surface of the skin, and appears to hold promise for treatment in men as well as women.

4. Ketoconazole shampoo

Ketoconazole shampoo is a popular treatment in combination with other treatments for pattern baldness.

Ketoconazole (Brand name Nizoral) is actually a synthetic antifungal drug used to prevent and treat skin and fungal infections, especially in immuno-compromised patients. This drug, an Imidazole (an organic crystalline base that is an inhibitor of histamine) derivative, is an effective oral agent that has broad-spectrum antifungal activity and is also a steroid biosynthesis inhibitor. The androgen lowering potential of high doses of Ketoconazole has led to its use in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Formulated as a topical treatment, oral tablet and as a shampoo, the drug Ketoconazole is available by prescription. Branded Nizoral shampoo contains 2 percent Ketoconazole and is prescribed not only for the treatment of infectious fungal scalp conditions, but also in combination with other treatments for androgenetic alopecia. Ketoconazole can cause a reduction in the production of testosterone and other androgens in the skin. A 1 percent version is available over-the-counter, but it may not be as effective as the 2 percent prescription strength.