It can be disturbing and frightening if you start losing your hair. Before you run to the drugstore to buy a product that guarantees hair growth, you should see a dermatologist who can literally get to the root of the problem. Many conditions can be causing your hair to fall out. Being under stress, inheriting the problem, a medical condition or having simply damaged your hair from over-treating it can all cause you to lose your hair. Each condition requires a different approach for hair growth, according to the AgingSkinNet website.
Minoxidil
If you have hereditary hair loss, Minoxidil stimulates hair growth in about 60 percent of women who use it. You can buy minoxidil in a 2 percent version over-the-counter. You would apply it twice a day. Give it about four months to determine if it is working, suggests the AgingSkinNet website. If it works for you, you need to use this product indefinitely because, as soon as you stop using it, you will lose any regrowth. Your dermatologist may prescribe a 5 percent version of minoxidil if the 2 percent version isn’t working well.
Spironolactone
Spironolactone is a diuretic that works by slowing down androgens, the male hormones that can be responsible for hair loss.
Cimetidine
Cimetidine’s main use is to treat ulcers. It is also a powerful anti-androgenic drug, according to the American Hair Loss Association.
Cortisone
You can apply cortisone as a topical treatment or as an injectable treatment. Injections are the more effective method, according to MayoClinic.com. You would get an injection once a month. You may see new hair growth in four weeks.
Nizoral/Ketoconazole
Nizoral is a shampoo that contains ketoconazole, which contains anti-fungal properties. If your hair loss is due to a fungus infection, your doctor can prescribe ketoconazole. Ketocoazole is also an anti-androgenic drug. You can buy a 1 percent version of Nizoral shampoo over-the-counter, or your doctor can prescribe the more potent 2 percent version.
Finasteride
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves finasteride, commonly known as Propecia, for hair loss in men, but not for women because it can cause birth defects in male fetuses. Your doctor may prescribe Propecia for you if you are past childbearing age. Propecia works by stopping the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles.
Anthralin
Anthralin, also called Dritho-Scalp, is a cream that you apply to your scalp daily. Used to treat psoriasis, anthralin can stimulate new hair growth. It can take 12 weeks to see hair appear.
