Why is Propecia an effective pill for male pattern hair loss?
Most men with premature hair loss are genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia – a condition that is commonly known as male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness occurs because of the effects of testosterone-the primary male sex hormone- on your hair follicles. This hormone is present in high amounts in your body after puberty, and is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) because of the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. DHT works on he hormone receptors present in your hair follicles and slows the production of scalp hair. This results into hair which is shorter and weaker than normal, and sometimes your hair will stop growing completely. This gradual process will eventually results into total or partial baldness.
Stages of male patten hair loss
The onset of androgenetic alopecia usually begins at the end of puberty and is usually determined by your genetic inheritance.
Most men start experiencing hair loss during their late 20s or early 30s. Hair loss initially occurs as a receding hairline and gradually progresses to thinning hair at the top of the head. Finally both areas will converge to form a U shape around the sides and back of the head. The remaining hair, if any, becomes finer in texture and the growth rate slows down. Moderate hair loss that occurs due to hormonal causes affects most men by age 50. This hormonal condition can be hereditary in nature.
What is Propecia?
Propecia (active ingredient finasteride) is a popular prescription pill used in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. This clinically tested medication has been proven to prevent further hair loss and to promote hair growth in about 80% cases. Propecia is quite suitable for long term treatment in most cases of androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride, the active ingredient present in Propecia, helps in the reduction of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalps of genetically predisposed men.
How does Propecia work?
As testosterone is converted to DHT because of the action of 5-alpha reductase, finasteride blocks the action of this enzyme and lowers DHT levels in the scalp. This reduces the negative effect of DHT on the hair follicles and prevents or even reverses hair loss. Finasteride has been reported to reduce DHT levels by about 60%. Treatment with Propecia must be continued for about 3-6 months for optimum benefits.
Possible side effects of Propecia
Like other drugs, Propecia too can produce side effects your body, which might include sexual problems such as temporary impotence and low libido. But most of these side effects are temporary in nature and usually disappear without treatment. Pregnant women, in particular, need to avoid any kind of contact with finasteride, as it is known to cause birth defects in an the male foetus. It is advisable to follow your doctor’s instructions while taking this hair loss medication. Propecia has been specifically formulated to treat the symptoms of pattern baldness in men. It cannot be taken by women with female pattern baldness, nor can it be prescribed for men who experience hair loss because of cancer or chemotherapy.
Is Female Pattern Baldness Treatable?
For any person, man or woman, baldness is an embarrassing condition, and it can easily make you feel like you are losing control over your body. For women it can seem even more embarrassing, because with men it almost seems expected, while women are expected to look beautiful for as long as they can. The fact is that baldness, whether male or female, is a hormonal problem, and as women age, their hormones change as well. Though baldness may look differently between men and women, this does not mean that women are exempt. If you are starting to worry about whether or not you have to worry about female baldness, read here to get some important facts on this condition, and find out how easy it is to treat.
When it comes to female pattern baldness, the baldness in women looks differently than it will in men. Baldness in women occurs in a more even thinning across the entire head, rather than a specific area of the head. Women sufferers will start to see more and more hair thinning and falling out, in the shower, on pillows, in the hair brush, and in areas around the house. Women with curlier or thicker hair will not notice the thinning or hair loss as quickly as someone with straighter hair, conversely, the lighter your skin tone, the more likely you are to notice hair loss than someone with darker skin.
The medical terms for hair loss for both genders is the same — Androgenetic Alopecia. Hair loss for women does not occur as rapidly as it does for men, due to the simple fact that testosterone plays a role in Androgenetic Alopecia, and women simply produce less of it. The primary difference is that generally female pattern baldness appears as a thinning over the crown area of the head, rather than a localized patch of baldness as it does with men.
It is also important to know that you are not alone. Female pattern baldness occurs in more than 55% of women as they age. Unlike men however, as mentioned, severe hair loss is rare in women as they simply do not produce the levels of testosterone that men do. Genetics are the key determining factor in whether or not a women will suffer from female pattern baldness.
Women will begin to notice the typical female pattern baldness later than men and after the onset of menopause when most cases of female baldness begin due to the amount of hormonal fluctuations. The good news for women however is that because their hair loss does not occur at the same rates as a male, the conditions of patterned baldness are much easier to treat than with most males. So while experiencing baldness may feel much more traumatizing to women than to men, the good news is that treatment is much easier for women than for men.
Depending on how severe your hair thinning or loss may be, there is a wide variety of medications and treatments to help. Whether you are looking for natural supplements, or want to try more advanced treatment such as Propecia, the sooner you begin treatment the sooner you will see results. For some women, dealing with it fast and effectively is the only intention, so you may want to talk to your doctor to see if Propecia or generic Propecia will be right for you. Whether you want the go slow approach to hair loss treatment, or whether you want a fast and painless way to go about it is up to you, but the sooner you start seeking treatment, the sooner you will start seeing results.