Rogaine & Propecia

If you've decided that a hair transplant is not for you right now one of the alternative treatment options include Rogaine & Propecia.

Rogaine and Propecia are the 2 most popular medical/drug treatments used for hair loss in the world.  Do they work? Here's a quick review:

Rogaine: 

#1 Rogaine is a topical, over-the-counter solution that you rub on your head twice a day.  Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogain that seems to help with hair loss.  (You can also buy generic Minoxidil as well)

Rogaine comes in different strengths of Minoxidil concentration (extra strength and regular strength) and costs approximately $30 a month.  While Rogaine/Minoxidil does work, it doesn't work for everyone and it only works on a certain top portion of the head (i.e. it won't help you regrow a new hairline).

Rogaine may help you grow new hair, but it's main strength seems to be in halting any further hair loss. So if you're just starting to lose your hair, you'll be more interested in trying Rogaine than say, someone who's already lost most of their hair.

However, as soon as you stop using Rogaine, you'll lose the benefits so if you're planning on using Rogain, plan to be on it for life. Also, there can be side effects of the minoxidil - Rogaine should not be used if you have heart or blood pressure problems.  Make sure to read the box warnings and consult with your doctor before you try it. 

Click here for more on Rogaine

Propecia (Finasteride):

Propecia was the first pill proven to be effective in treating hair loss.  The active ingredient in Propecia is Finasteride. Propecia should only be taken by men (it can be harmful to women) and it's available only by prescription.

Propecia works by indirectly reducing the level of DHT - a hormone which is related to thinning hair follicles - in the scalp. While Propecia may not work for everyone, it does seem to stop thinning hair and, in a few cases, has even been reported to regrow more hair.  The only real way to tell if it will do this for you is to try it for at least 6 months and see what happens. (Again consult with your doctor first before trying it).

Like Rogaine, any benefits you get will be lost if you stop taking it so plan to be on Propecia for the rest of your life. Costs for 1 month of Propecia tablets vary from around $40-$50 a bottle.

Combined Rogaine and Propecia

The combination approach of using both Rogaine as a topical solution and Propecia as an internal treatment for hair loss has not been studied as much as the 2 methods above.  However many people do combine the 2 treatments and claim that it works better than using one or the other on their own. 

It's generally believed by many experts including hair surgeos that this combination or Rogaine and Propecia works well in halting hair loss and even helping to regrow new hair.  Of course this increases the cost - but for many men (women shouldn't be using Propecia) it's worth it.

New Drug Treatments For Hair Loss

There are new treatments for hair loss popping up all the time. Some topical solutions claim to be more effective that Rogaine or Propecia.  Some, for example, use a stronger concentration of Minoxidil than Rogaine. I'll be adding reviews of various other hair products soon.

The main thing is to steer clear of anything that isn't FDA approved as you're taking your health in your hands. Also, talk to your doctor before taking anything and if you don't feel comfortable about it, don't take it!