The Big 3 Hair Loss Treatments: What Are They and Do They Actually Work?

"The Big 3" Hair Loss Treatments

The hair loss sector has been evolving for decades, with hundreds, if not thousands, of treatments that are readily available in the market, today.

Within the hair loss sector, you may have heard the term "The Big 3". This is in reference to three treatments that have been medically approved for treating hair loss. "The Big 3" treatments are finasteride, minoxidil and ketoconazole, and most doctors regard these three treatments to be the only viable option for treating hair loss.

Despite these being the only medically approved treatments, there are some non-medical treatments that can be effective in hair loss prevention, however, these three treatments are the only ones that have had sufficient trials and approval from the FDA.

So, in no particular order, let's take a closer look at "The Big 3" hair loss treatments...

Finasteride

Finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia among others, is a medication pill used to treat male hair loss. It can also be used to treat excessive hair growth in women and as a part of hormone therapy for transgender women. It is orally consumed.

Finasteride works by stopping testosterone turning into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT stops the formation of hair growth. Finasteride stops DHT being produced and this helps shrink the prostate, thus reducing hair loss.

Finasteride, as well as the very similar treatment, Dutasteride, are the only medically approved hair loss treatment pills available. They have been shown to help prevent hair loss in patients experiencing early signs of male pattern baldness.

Despite its relative effectiveness, finasteride (and Dutasteride) comes with the risk of negative side-effects, with some being severe. Some common negative side-effects from using finasteride include; erectile dysfunction, low libido, skin rash, headaches, dizziness, depression, feminisation, breast enlargement, breast tenderness, and fatigue. Caution is advised.

What is the safe alternative to finasteride? Medical drugs like finasteride do not appeal to many men, therefore it is normal to seek safer, non-medial alternatives. The most obvious alternative to finasteride would be multivitamin extract supplements.

Multivitamin extract supplements like HR23+® have been shown to help reduce excessive hair loss, and support the function of healthy hair growth in both men and women. What's more, HR23+® does not give any major negative side-effects, which means you will not have to compromise on your health and wellbeing.

For more information on multivitamin extract supplements, click on the image below...

Minoxidil

Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Regaine (or Rogaine in the US) among others, is a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss. It can be used by men (5% solution) and women (2% solution).

It is an antihypertensive vasodilator. It is available as a generic medication by prescription in oral tablet form and over the counter as a topical liquid or foam.

Minoxidil can help regrow hair and slow further loss in patients suffering from early stages of androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness). Originally tested in the 1960s as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure, Minoxidil was found to increase hair growth in some patients. However, its hair regrowth effects tend to be minimal.

Much like with any medication, minoxidil does come with the risk of some negative side-effects, with the most common being; skin rash, headaches, dizziness, itchy scalp, greasy hair, excessive hair shedding, and fatigue. Caution is advised.

What is the safe alternative to minoxidil? A lot of men and women prefer to avoid medications like minoxidil, therefore it is normal to seek safer, non-medial alternatives. The most obvious alternative to minoxidil is keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) topical solution.

KGF is an important endogenous mediator of hair follicle growth, development, and differentiation. When used as a topical solution (most commonly as a serum), KGF can help reduce hair loss, promote hair growth, and even help stump the effects of greying hair.

For more information on keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), click on the image below...

Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole, sold under the brand name Nizoral among others, is an antiandrogen and antifungal medication used to treat a number of fungal infections. Applied to the skin it is used for fungal skin infections such as tinea, cutaneous candidiasis, pityriasis versicolor, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis.

Ketoconazole has also been found to be effective in stumping hair loss and stimulating hair growth in men and women suffering with initial stages of thinning hair. Ketoconazole (Nizoral shampoo) has also shown to be highly effective for treating hair loss when used in conjunction with minoxidil and micro needling (derma rolling).

Some people do not regard ketoconazole as one of "The Big 3", because it is not specifically approved to treat hair loss, however, Nizoral is a hugely popular shampoo that is often used in conjunction with minoxidil and finasteride in order to treat androgenic alopecia.

Some negative side-effects associated with ketoconazole are; spots/acne, headaches, itching and redness on the scalp, dryness on the scalp, skin and nail discolouration.

Although Nizoral shampoo is generally regarded as a safe product to use, there are still many men and women who would prefer to avoid using it. Unfortunately, there isn't really a standout alternative to ketoconazole because shampoos have not shown any signs of being able to treat hair loss.

Neogen NeoWash Shampoo is designed for people who are prone to hair loss with a sensitive scalp. This non-aggressive formula gently cleanses while strengthening the hair fiber, thanks to its innovative TrichoTech technology. It is, perhaps, the next best thing that you can give your hair.

Conclusion

If you are suffering from early stages of androgenic alopecia (male/female pattern baldness), then "The Big 3" hair loss treatments should definitely be of consideration to you. However, we should not forget that these three treatments are medications, and like with any medical drugs, there is always the risk of negative side-effects.

It is recommended to try safe, non-medical treatments first, because using medical treatments is a long-term commitment, and not one that is particular beneficial to your health. It is unlikely that there will be a cure for hair loss any time soon, but remember, these three treatments are not the be all and end all.

There are plenty of options out there, and some non-medical treatments can be effective in preventing hair loss and supporting the growth of hair, which is really all you want if you are going through early stages of thinning hair.

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