Scientific studies have shown that minoxidil is effective in the front areas of the scalp, as well as the vertex area in male pattern hair loss. At the conclusion of one 48 week study, improvements were seen in the frontal scalp regions of 51% of men using 5% minoxidil, 42% using 2% minoxidil, and 13% of placebo users. Among these men, moderate to great increases in hair growth were seen in the frontal scalp regions of 19% of men using 5% minoxidil, 10% using 2% minoxidil, and 3% of placebo users.

It has also been shown that any benefits are lost when Minoxidil treatment is ceased. Therefore to maintain any hair growth the use of Minoxidil must be maintained on an ongoing basis.

The method of action for Minoxidil is not known. It is not just the vasodilating effects which cause the hair regrowth, as no other vasodilator has been shown to be effective in treating hair loss.

1. Use proven treatments first
2. Take pictures
3. Be patient

Most hair loss treatments, if they are going to work at all, takes a minimum of 6 months to begin working, and sometimes up to 24 months to really see visible results. Treating hair loss takes time because of hair cycles.

The process of hair loss from male pattern baldness is a gradual one. Hairs grow, cycle into dormancy, and then regrow again several months later. Each time they re-grow, they do so thinner, shorter, and less pigmented. In time, they become so small that they are no longer noticeable. This can take many years. New hairs only grow in a 2 or 3 year cycle, so it can take a year or more to be able to detect the success of a treatment.

It’s easy to get confused when investigating the many shampoos available. With some background knowledge of what has shown to be effective in previous studies, however, you can make more intelligent choices about the hair loss shampoo you choose for experimentation. And that is the great thing about shampoos – they are relatively inexpensive in this maze of hair loss/regrowth methods, so you can try a few without breaking your budget!

When you’re checking out shampoos that might help you fight your own hair loss problem, look for these ingredients and consider how they should effect your choices:

1. Surfactants. These ingredients cause shampoos to lather when they are applied. You may have the idea that the more lather a shampoo creates, the cleaner it will get your hair. Shampoo manufacturers are on to the fact that this belief is common and they load products with surfactants. This misconception is not true, and as a matter of fact surfactants can actually irritate your scalp and accelerate your hair loss. Avoid shampoos that boast of copious lather.

2. Herbal Additives. Of all the herbs that can be added to shampoo to promote hair growth, Saw Palmetto has been documented to be the most effective. You should be sure to find shampoos that include this natural remedy and try them out. Saw Palmetto has been proven effective in limiting the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) your body creates, and DHT is the primary cause of a large percentage of hair loss cases in adults. DHT is found in the blood streams of both men and women (to a lesser degree) and causes hair-producing follicles to atrophy (die).

3. Nettle and bay have also been helpful to some people. Medicinal herbs, these contribute to the development of nutrition in the scalp, and stimulate hair follicles. Shampoos which include these might help you too.

4. Essential Oils. The concentrated oils from plants such as lavender and other aromatics, essential oils have been used since ancient times to treat the scalp and hair. These still have value in hair care and the reduction of hair loss, proving once again that we have much to learn from long-forgotten medicine.

5. Tea Tree Oil. Many swear by this ingredient, and there are several brands of this on the market. So popular are these shampoos, you can find them at most any drug store as well as health product retailers. As an aside, tea tree oil has also been found to be effective in the prevention of head lice infestations.

There are no definitive studies to show that shampoos can actually result in regrowth of hair that is caused by what we all “permanent” conditions, largely the result of heredity and hormones. However, early prevention is important, and experimenting with shampoos during these early stages may provide invaluable help in reducing the rate of loss.

Learning about male pattern baldness and its implications will help you understand your own situation. Finding possible remedies that can help stem the loss of hair, or renew hair follicles, requires some research. Most men find that their hair thins with age and, depending on several factors, this process could lead to partial or total baldness of the scalp. It is not a pleasant problem to have, but it is not something you face alone.

There are a variety of potential sources and causes of male pattern baldness and if you are in the early stages, it will be useful for you to know more about your particular situation, and whether or not there may be a solution that will suit your needs.

Male pattern baldness is most often attributed to genetics. It may result from either male or female genes passed down from your family. Often, baldness from genetics is related to the hormone dihyrdo-testosterone (DHT). The gene that indicates baldness causes nutrients produced in your hair to react with your hormones and cause you to go bald as you age. The older you get, the more these compounds will react to each other and cause increased baldness or thinning of the hair.

Scientists know that testosterone changes as men age, and although research into the cause and effect relationship between baldness and hormones is ongoing, there has been some progress in recent years. Enzymes that our bodies normally produce help our hair grow. As we age and our testosterone composition changes, it may interact negatively with those enzymes, and the result can be hair thinning or reduced growth.

However, if you find your hair loss is more rapid, and perhaps chunks of hair are falling out, then you should consult your physician. You may be suffering from one of the many diseases that cause hair loss, rather than male pattern baldness, so your situation may be more serious. Rapid hair loss is not normally an indication of male baldness, so talk to your doctor as soon as you can.

If your situation does point to male pattern baldness, then you will likely want to consider some of the various treatments that are available. Some of them can slow thinning and encourage regrowth of hair in areas that have begun to go bald. Doing some research about various options will help you to see if an effective treatment might exist for your particular situation. Remember that male pattern baldness is a common hormonal and genetic condition that millions of men worldwide face each year.

Finally, be careful! The hair loss industry has a long history of being inundated with false claims and unscrupulous characters selling fake cures. They prey on the desperation and vulnerability that some men have when faced with this problem. Ask friends or family members who also experienced male pattern baldness about what they have heard or tried. Take your time to research any products or organizations that you intend to use.

Second, take stock of your diet, your lifestyle, and your stress levels. If you consume junk food regularly, stop! Get yourself on a diet that contains good protein, lots of fruits and vegetables, and healthy oils. And get with the exercise! Exercise increases blood circulation, and that means circulation to your head. Increased circulation creates healthy cells, and hair and hair follicles are made up of cells. Cells reproduce when they have enough energy to do so, and they don’t have enough energy if circulation is bad.

If you have a lot of stress in your life, you have to find ways to get rid of it. Once again, exercise is a great way to alleviate stress, as are yoga and meditation. There is no doubt about it: stress and anxiety are linked to hair loss. Life changing events such as surgery, death, pregnancy, divorce and childbirth trigger your body to ultimately forsake hair production for seemingly more pressing requirements.

If your hair loss is due to natural causes such as genetics and heredity or hormonal changes in your body, and if you just aren’t prepared to lose your hair, then you can still do plenty about it. You have options, and you owe it to yourself to research them and choose one that works for you – the sooner the better. Here are a few things to keep in mind while researching hair loss prevention options:

1. Make it your goal to explore as many options and products as you can. Many hair loss prevention products are available on the Internet, and you can shop them in the privacy of your home. Try them out – if you find one that works for you, stick with it. If you find one that doesn’t them just move on to the next one – but don’t give up!

2. Try natural remedies which are available at any health/nutrition center or on hundreds of Internet sites. These work for some people and are reasonably priced.

3. Spend a good long time researching and trying as many hair loss prevention products as you can, but if you can’t find one that works for you then you may want to explore other options, such as wigs, hair extensions of hair pieces.

4. If you can’t find a solution that works for you in any of the above steps then there is one last option that you should consider – hair transplant surgery. It’s a simple procedure, but the price tag often exceeds $10,000, so make sure you exhaust all of the over-the-counter options before you decide to take this option.

You are the only one who can decide if your hair loss is significant enough – and enough of an irritant – to be a problem you won’t tolerate. There are a lot of products to try and more are discovered every year. Do not lose hope. Do not stop looking. You definitely can find a hair loss prevention treatment that will work for you.

One of the most popular methods of treating baldness is by using products designed to reduce the effects of baldness while stimulating the hair follicles for hair production. These products come in foams, creams, and entire regiments that take weeks to use before you notice any results.

The other option is through certified physicians that specialize in hair replacement surgeries. Many of these types of treatments can be done with an outpatient program and are designed to regrow hair by transplanting follicles from one part of the scalp to another. Though this treatment seems to have the best results, there are still some risks involved.

Before starting any program, talk to your personal physician about all your options. There are a few Male Pattern Baldness Treatment options, and your doctor can help you decide which one is the right solution for you.