What are the treatments for hair loss in men?

Many male friends will encounter the embarrassment of hair loss. Many patients start to lose hair from both sides of the forehead, and then gradually extend to the top of the head. The hairline will appear to recede significantly. Hair loss is a disease that develops gradually. After hair loss, the skin will appear smoother, and generally no other symptoms will appear. So how should men treat hair loss? Next, the editor has some methods that male friends can refer to.

1. General treatment: Avoid spicy, greasy and other irritating foods, pay attention to sleep, relax and avoid excessive mental stress.

2. Topical medication: Minoxidil solution is the only topical medication approved by the US FDA for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. It can be used by both men and women. Minoxidil is a non-specific drug that promotes hair growth. The commonly used concentrations in clinical practice are 2%, 3%, and 5%. The higher the concentration, the better the effect.

Because minoxidil requires alcohol as a solvent, topical application may cause local irritation, contact allergy and hirsutism, and the incidence increases with the concentration. If itching, erythema and papules occur during the application process, the drug should be discontinued immediately.

3. Systemic treatment: For male androgenic alopecia, finasteride, a 5-α reductase inhibitor, can be used. Finasteride is a selective type II 5α-reductase inhibitor that can inhibit the conversion of testosterone into its active form, dihydrotestosterone, and reduce the level of dihydrotestosterone in serum and scalp.

It is the only oral drug approved by the US FDA for the treatment of male androgenic alopecia. The oral dosage is 1 mg/day, and it takes 4-6 months to take effect. The best effect is to take the drug continuously for 2 years, and the effective rate can reach more than 90%. The main side effect is decreased libido, with an incidence of about 1%. This is reversible and can return to normal after stopping the drug.

Taking the medicine does not affect fertility. Female androgenic alopecia is mainly treated with anti-androgen therapy, such as cyproterone acetate.

Hair loss is not a very scary disease. It is likely caused by your usual work and rest time and your mental state. Therefore, you must adjust your work and rest time and try to reduce the number of times you stay up late. Secondly, you must keep a good mentality. Too much mental stress can also lead to hair loss.