The Ultimate Guide to Hair Growth Remedies for Men

Is constant hair loss troubling you?

If there is one thing that tops all of the men’s lists for lifestyle concerns- it is hair loss. With all the hair loss from everyday stress and hard water, men also happen to suffer from male pattern baldness. A lot of men around the age of 50 begin to permanently lose their hair from the front and top of their scalps. This is referred to as male pattern baldness, and it has roots in genetic causes. While both men and women face different patterns of baldness, more than half of all men by the age of 50 experience male pattern baldness.

While that is a depressing thought, you do not need to get your hopes down already. Thanks to how far we have come with science, there are numerous solutions out there for tackling baldness in men. Here, at Man Matters, we believe you should be equipped with all the knowledge you need to get out there and find which solution would fit you best. The key to doing that is diving into the science and specifics of hair growth remedies. Let’s have a look at the tools you’ll need to win the battle against hair fall. 

Painless Medical Solutions For Hair Growth 

There are a number of pharmaceutical companies out there that are constantly looking for solutions for hair fall. However, there are a few key medical components that you need to know before you decide, which product would suit you best. There are two medical treatments that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration- Minoxidil and Finasteride.

Minoxidil for hair fall

Minoxidil is an easily available over-the-counter drug that is available in both cream and foam forms for application to the scalp. It was originally used for the treatment of high blood pressure, which, by the way, also happens to be one of the causes for hair fall in men. However, patients using Minoxidil also noticed significant hair growth. It is now a household name for hair loss treatment. The recommended dosage is two applications per day, but it would be best to refer to your doctor before you begin using it.

You will see significant results within a three to six months period, but you would be required to use the medication indefinitely to retain hair growth. Always remember to do a patch test because Minoxidil is also known for side effects such as weight gain, itchiness, swelling, and in some cases, even serious adverse effects such as headache and blurred vision amongst more.

Finasteride for hair growth

Finasteride or Dutasteride, however, is an oral medication only available on prescription. It prevents the production of the male hormone, DHT, which is responsible for shrinking scalp hair follicles. So, if your dermatologist determines the shrinking of hair follicles to be the cause of your baldness, you would most likely be prescribed a formulation of Finasteride. It blocks the formulation of DHT in the body. This is also a long-term medication that shows reverse effects once one stops taking it. Adverse effects of Finasteride include sexual dysfunction, skin rash, tenderness or enlargement of breast tissue and abdominal pain, among others.

Lifestyle Changes

Medical treatments can go on to include various types of hair transplants and laser therapy. However, if the side effects of these treatments sound scary to you, there is no need to worry. Luckily, there are a number of easy, everyday lifestyle changes you can make in order to see significant signs of hair growth. Here are some of those:

•  Biotin: Biotin is a vitamin found naturally in foods like nuts, sweet potatoes, oats, and eggs. It is known to be an effective, naturally available solution for hair loss. 

• Quit smoking: Smoking is also a major reason behind the greying of hair and hair loss in men. 

• Balanced diet: A diet balanced to include all the nutrition you need for a healthy body is also really important.

• Find underlying diseases: Many diseases that are difficult to diagnose can be causing hair loss as one of their symptoms. Some of these that you should be getting checked up for are diabetes, lupus, scalp psoriasis, amenia, thyroid, or Celiac disease.

• Home remedies: Remember how grandma never went for medical treatments, and always knew of home remedies that would help? Some of those have actually been scientifically proven to work for hair fall treatment in men. These include oil massages (peppermint, rosemary, castor, coconut, onion and olive oil work best), the Ayurvedic herb Bhringraj (or false daisy), and green tea.

Of course, reducing stress and giving yourself time can turn out to be a better treatment for hair loss than most medications or remedies. What worked best for you for controlling hair loss?