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I have been told that if the hair loss gene is too strong (dad loses hair at very young age) then medical hair loss treatments won’t work. Have you seen any evidence to suggest otherwise?

It’s important to remember that there are no guarantees with any non-surgical hair loss treatment. Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) work very well for some balding men and not at all for others. This is true for any hair loss pattern. However, medical treatments generally work best when started in the early stages of thinning hair.

It’s also important to note that there is no hair loss cure. Androgenic alopecia (genetic balding) will eventually overcome the effects of these drugs and hair loss will once again progress.

The only way to know what your experience will be is to use hair growth drugs as directed for up to one full year.

David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

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Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair loss treatments, Rogaine, minoxidil, Propecia, finasteride, balding, thinning hair, hair loss cure, Androgenic alopecia, hair growth

On March 1st, 2012, the patent on Rogaine‘s popular foam topical expired and a generic version of generic minoxidil foam was finally released.

After reporting this exciting news on our Hair Loss Q & A blog, our hair restoration experts at the hair transplant network evaluated the product and decided to carry generic 5% minoxidil foam at the hair loss treatment shop.

The FDA initially approved Rogaine foam because of both its 85% regrowth rate and proven efficacy, but it was the product’s usability that truly resonated with hair loss sufferers. Many minoxidil users preferred the foam (to the liquid) version because it was easier to apply to the scalp and did not “run” or “streak.” However, despite the improved usability and ease, hair loss sufferers still experienced one significant issue with Rogaine foam: the price.

However, the price, in and of itself, was not necessarily the problem. The problem with the cost of Rogaine foam was the fact that hair loss sufferers did not have a generic foam option. For example, the difference between the Rogaine liquid and generic minoxidil liquid (5%) is an estimated $25 for a three month supply (with Rogaine liquid costing $49.99 and the generic liquid costing $24.99). Without the generic foam version, customers did not have the ability to compare and select a reasonable product within budget. However, with the release of the generic foam, minoxidil users now have the ability to utilize the foam version at reasonable cost!

I am experiencing hair loss of about 40-60 strands a day. I have lost lots at my temples. It’s gone really deep. My goals are:

1.   To prevent further balding.
2.   If somehow I can regrow hair at my temples (is this too much to ask for)

I read about platelet rich plasma (PRP) and ACell. I don’t know how effective they are. Can anyone explain if this is effective? I don’t know if I have thinning hair. I have undergone no hair loss treatment yet. My stylist told me that there is thinning of hair at the front. Please advise which doctor I should consider in the Los Angeles area.

There is currently no non-surgical hair loss treatment available that is likely to restore your receding hairline. However, your best bet to retain the hair you have and potentially add density to thinning hair is using Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride). These are the only two clinically proven and FDA approved drugs for the treatment of androgenic alopecia.

In addition to these drugs, you may also wish to add Nizoral Shampoo to your hair growth regimen. Nizoral contains the active ingredient Ketoconazole which may be a mild DHT blocker. Used in combination, Rogaine, Propecia and Nizoral are known affectionately as “The Big Three”.

To restore your hairline, you may require hair transplant surgery. To learn more about your options I suggest consulting with one or more of the prescreened, quality hair restoration physicians recommended by the Hair Transplant Network. You can also click here for a list of recommended doctors in California.

Treating hair loss is a multibillion dollar industry. Unfortunately for the millions of balding men and women across the globe, sorting out effective non-surgical hair loss treatments from the multitude of hair growth scams out there can be tough.

Those suffering from androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness) have a veritable cornucopia of herbal and drug-based topicals, tablets, shampoos and even mechanical devices to choose from. Many of these products make lofty claims to turn back the clock and restore bald heads to luscious, flowing locks. But buyer beware! Currently there is no hair loss cure. However, there are a few select products that are clinically proven and FDA approved or simply offer compelling evidence to support their claims to regrow hair.

To learn more about which treatments are really effective for thinning hair read the article:

Which Hair Loss Treatments Really Work?

To purchase credible treatments for balding at extremely low prices, visit our online hair loss treatments store.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss, balding, hair loss treatments, hair growth, androgenic alopecia, baldness, bald, hair loss cure, regrow hair

Hair restoration surgery is becoming an increasingly popular solution for hair loss suffering men and women around the world. However, many of the world’s leading hair restoration experts advise their patients to consider non-surgical treatments as a complement to surgery.

Currently, there are only two clinically proven and FDA approved medical hair loss treatments. These are Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride).  While the risk of side effects are very low with each of these drugs, some patients prefer to undergo hair surgery without the added benefits of hair loss drugs.  But is this really a good idea?

While hair transplant surgery has the potential to restore the appearance of a full head of hair, it does nothing to curb the progression of future hair loss. Only proven non-surgical hair loss treatments like Propecia and Rogaine can help to slow its progression and even possibly produce new hair growth.

To learn more about the risks of hair transplant surgery without the medical stabilization of balding as well as natural alternative to drug-based non-surgical treatments, read the below article:

Are Non-Surgical Hair Loss Treatments Required for Hair Transplant Surgery?

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

Hair loss suffering men and women have all been waiting for it!  On March 1, 2012, Perrigo Company, the largest manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in the United States, announced the launch of its long-awaited topical foam hair loss treatment. This new generic version of Rogaine Foam (5% minoxidil) is to be marketed under a variety of store brands such as Walmart’s Equate line.

Since its debut in 2006, Rogaine Foam has been a popular alternative to liquid minoxidil for those seeking a solution to thinning hair without the greasy feel and scalp irritation often associated with the liquid. However, with no generic alternative available, some balding men and women found that the significantly higher cost of Rogaine Foam, compared to generic liquids like Kirkland 5% Minoxidil far outweighed the benefits.

To learn more, visit “Generic Rogaine Foam: It’s Finallly Here” on Hub Pages.

If you’ve been waiting for an affordable alternative to liquid minoxidil then this may be just what the doctor ordered. Topical foam hair growth formulas offer the following benefits:

• Faster drying
• Less scalp irritation
• Better absorption
• Non-greasy

Ingredients

Active ingredient: minoxidil 5%

Inactive ingredients: butane, butylated hydroxytoluene, cetyl alcohol, citric acid, dehydrated alcohol, isobutane, lactic acid, polysorbate 60, propane, purified water, stearyl alcohol.

To discuss this new and exciting hair loss treatment on our discussion forum, visit “Generic Rogaine Foam is Now Available in Stores“.

To purchase Rogaine Foam and other credible hair loss treatments at discounted prices, visit our online hair loss product shop.

To date, Propecia is still the only FDA approved antiandrogen (DHT blocker) and proven hair loss treatment taken orally.  Since Propecia stops hair loss at its core, failure to include this drug in one’s treatment regimen increases the liklihood that hair loss will continue.  However, given the recent news in the media surrounding Propecia, lawsuits and the alleged possibility of “permanent” sexual side effects, men suffering from androgenic alopecia (genetic hair loss) are more reluctant to add Propecia to their hair loss treatment regimen.

However, while the possibility of experiencing sexual and other side effects from this drug is a very real possibility, many leading hair restoration physician experts feel that these concerns have been blown out of proportion.  Furthermore, most world renowned hair surgeons still prescribe and recommend Propecia to their patients on a regular basis as a complement to their hair transplant procedure.

We recently polled several expert hair loss doctors to garner their professinal opinion on the recent news and alleged risks of Propecia’s “permanent” side effects and class action lawsuits against Merck.

To read what the experts are saying, visit the HubPages article “Propecia for Treating Hair Loss: Is it Worth the Risk?  What the Experts are Saying“.

Best wishes,

Bill Seemiller
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

I’m 22 and have had receding temples since I was 18. The rest of my head however is full of hair and has always been thick. I’ve recently finished using Rogaine for four months but there isn’t really any difference. This problem has always been frustrating, mainly because I don’t want to stay male forever. I have started going to a gender clinic and will be starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) a bit later this spring.

I have just started using a hair stimulant from my gender clinic website which contains both minoxidil and female hormones. I spray and rub this formula well into my scalp every night before going to bed for three months.

Would using Propecia in conjunction with this hair stimulant be a good idea and do you know if HRT and the hair stimulant I now use, or HRT alone, would be enough to potentially get my original hairline back?

Unfortunately, today’s medical hair loss treatments are not particularly effective for restoring a receding hairline. Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are known to be more effective on a thinning crown and, even then, they are much more effective at retaining existing hair than regrowing hair on a completely bald area. HRT may reduce the likelihood of future hair loss but will not restore what you’ve already lost.

The most effective means of restoring a hairline is hair transplant surgery. In fact, transgender patients often undergo surgical hair restoration to restore and even create a more feminine hairline.

Hi, I have been using Rogaine since August 2011 due to a receding hairline. I have been applying it to the temples and my frontal hairline with no positive results. In fact, it’s actually destroyed my frontal hairline when I thought minoxidil was meant to prevent more hair loss. I know you might say it’s not FDA approved for hairlines but this site certainly tells people to try using Rogaine on the hairline anyway, which is why I did it only to lose a lot more hair. What will happen if I stop using Rogaine completely and what will happen if I continue using it because last August, in the middle of my hairline, I had 100% thickness and now I can actually see my scalp.

Using Rogaine (minoxidil) should not result in the permanent loss of healthy hairs. Starting a medical hair loss treatment typically results in an initial and temporary shedding of miniaturized, weak hairs which are eventually replaced with more robust hair growth. Some of these hairs may be lost permanently if they were very weak and about to die.

Androgenic alopecia (genetic balding) can happen slowly over a period of years or quite rapidly over a period of months. It is possible that your rapidly thinning hair coinciding with your application of Rogaine may simply be a coincidence. I recommend consulting with a dermatologist.

Stopping Rogaine will result in the eventual loss of any hairs grown by or retained by its use. In other words, you will experience catch-up hair loss. But again, your normal, bald-resistant hairs will not be affected.

I am female and my doctor told me to use Rogaine Foam to treat my balding. I am worried about the shedding period in the first 3 weeks. How much hair do you actually lose? I am in a professional program at school so I cannot wear bandanas or hats to cover up my thinning hair.

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how much hair loss due to shedding you will experience upon starting Rogaine (minoxidil). Some people experience little to no shedding at all while others complain that they appear even balder than they did prior to starting the drug. While the shedding typically occurs in the first two to three weeks, it will take three to four months regrow hair shed during that time. For this reason, we recommend that new minoxidil users continue to apply the product as directed for no less than 6 months before assessing their results.

Shedding is typically seen as a good sign. During the shedding phase, your head is releasing the dying miniaturized hairs that will eventually be replaced with thicker, darker follicles.

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