Going Bald in the 21st Century

Some people accept it. Others fight back. Going bald is something many of us will have to deal with as we get older. About one quarter of the male population began to go bald by the time they are twenty five. Men are much more likely to go bald or have thinning hair than women. But the consequences can be more severe for a women simply because it is not as sociably acceptable. And while new technology and discoveries have produced some remarkable advances in our lives, curing baldness has not been one of them. In spite of the fact that new discoveries about our bodies are being made almost every single day scientists still aren't sure what causes a person to go bald. They know a person inherits the gene from either their father or mother but how to combat hair loss still relies on drugs or surgery.

If you want to slow down the loss of your hair and maybe even gain some new growth two FDA approved drugs give you the best chance of success. Minoxidil is a substance that you apply to your scalp everyday. A good percentage of people who use minoxidil will experience a slow down in the rate of thinning hair. A smaller percentage will even experience hair regrowth though to what degree depends on the persons age along with other factors. It is equally effective in both men and women but must be used everyday or the hair growth will stop and you will start to experience hair loss once again. Minoxidil is the main ingredient found in Rogaine. A once a day treatment with Rogaine will cost you a little over $200 for a years worth of treatment.

The only other FDA approved drug to treat hair loss is finasteride. Finasteride is found in the popular hair loss product Propecia It is in pill form and must be taken daily or the benefits of it will start to decrease. Studies have shown that most individuals who take the drug will not suffer any more hair loss and about a third will actually experience hair re growth. All this from a drug that was first developed and used to treat prostate problems in men. Many doctors recommend that a individual take both products together. Using Propecia on a regular basis will cost you about $70 a month