Medication Propecia

Propecia ® is an FDA-approved prescription medication for men. It effectively treats genetic hair loss. The active agent in Propecia is a drug called finasteride. Finasteride works by blocking the type II 5 alpha reductase enzyme. This lowers the DHT level and thus decreases its effect on susceptible follicles. Finasteride has been in use for prostate enlargement since 1984 at a 5 mg dose. The dosage for hair loss is 1 mg and this has been approved since 1997.

The benefit of using this medication will only last for as long as it is being taken.

Clinical studies on finasteride have shown a benefit of reducing hair loss in over 90% of patients to a certain degree. It is a perfect complimentary treatment for those patients who undergo hair transplantation, and especially the younger ones.

Medication Rogaine

Rogaine® was the first FDA-approved hair loss treatment for both men and women. The active agent in Rogaine® is a drug called Minoxidil. Minoxidil (2% and 5%) is a solution/foam that is applied topically to the scalp twice a day. Although the exact mechanism of its effect is not fully understood, it has shown to be clinically effective to combat hair loss. Again, it is only effective as long as it is being used. Due to their different mechanisms of action, both minoxidil and finasteride can be used together.