You can use certain medications to reduce the effects of male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is an inherited condition which causes the hair on top of the head to start thinning. Many men who have this trait will end up with bald spot that extends from the top of their head to the crown. Male pattern baldness is caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. DHT destroys hair follicles. Medications for hair loss work by inhibiting the production of DHT.
Finasteride is one of the hair loss treatments that can help reduce male pattern baldness. It is available as a tablet and carries the brand name Propecia. This is one of only two medications that is FDA approved as a treatment for hair growth. Finasteride can prevent hair loss in nearly 80 percent of men, after 3 months of use. Nearly half of all men taking this medication will grow new hair. Sometimes, it can take as long as a year to see improvement.
Minoxidil is the only other drug that is FDA approved for hair growth purposes. This medication can also stop thinning and stimulate the growth of new hair. Minoxidil is a topical treatment that has the brand name Rogaine. This medication is available as a foam or a solution. It can take several months for Rogaine to produce noticeable results.
Unlike medications which are temporary hair loss treatments, a hair transpant can offer permanent results. A hair transplant is a procedure in which a surgeon takes hair follicles from thick areas of the scalp and puts them on the bald or thinning areas. Hundreds or thousands of hairs are typially transplated during this process. In order to be a candidate for this procedure, you must have thick hair on the back or sides of your scalp. Hair transplants can also treat baldness caused by injuries, or medical conditions such as lupus.