If you already know that you have a problem of losing your hair, then you already check each morning on your pillow and when you comb or brush your hair to see just how bad your hair loss really is. If you know you have thinning hair then you have also no doubt read dozens of articles that offer help for hair loss sufferers. Sure; like the weight loss industry there are just as many products available that all promise an easy solution for hair loss sufferers, but the majority will give you dismal results. You may spend large sums of money trying some of these hair loss products out and become even more frustrated each time you find they do not work at all.

Many people experiencing premature hair loss simply resign themselves to a process that is as inevitable as growing old. This is a positive and healthy reaction to what is a natural process for many. But for others the onset of premature balding or excessive hair loss represents a traumatic development that causes untold worry and suffering. This too is a legitimate reaction regardless of whether the hair loss is caused by hereditary factors or some other more complex cause.

Although hair loss is far more frightening for women than for men, both sexes are horrified when they find they are losing their hair. There are dozens of factors that contribute to hair loss, from illness to incorrect hair care, and excessive dyeing which is the case more so for women than for men. The first step in combating hair loss is to evaluate exactly what is the cause, and this may even mean a trip to the doctor. It is important to realize that some diseases have hair loss as early symptoms of a more serious disease. Diabetics can also lose hair faster so this is an important factor that must be checked out by a doctor. Other factors contributing to speedy hair loss include worry, excessive stress, surgery and even major life traumas. Most people that look for help for hair loss sufferers will come across shampoos and creams that can be used directly on their hair and scalp.

Should these sufferers just grin and bear it? No, they should not because there are a number of potentially effective treatments they could utilize, depending on the nature of their hair loss. In this article I will outline some of the most popular hair loss treatments currently available in order to reinforce the fact that hair loss can be treated. The next article in the series will look closely at the treatment regimes best suited to specific ailments such as alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.

At present only two medications have been approved as hair loss treatments by the FDA. These are minoxidil, better known as Rogaine, and finasteride, better known as Propecia. Several other drugs have proven to be effective in combating hair loss, dutasteride for example, but have not yet been approved for this particular use.

Finasteride was originally developed to treat enlarged prostate conditions but a low dose version was subsequently approved for the treatment of hair loss in men. It tackles the causes of male pattern baldness by preventing the conversion of 5-alpha-reductase into DHT. Given that DHT is the main male hormone linked to hair loss, reducing its production by two thirds has a major impact on controlling this type of baldness.

Research has shown that 83% of men studied were able to maintain their hair count and 64% experienced regrowth by the end of a two year period. It should be noted that finasteride is approved for use by men only as the drug can have serious effects on unborn male fetuses. Women should therefore only consider using this drug under the strict supervision of a physician.