ARE HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS SAFE TO USE FOR LONG TERM USE?

Do you have a family history of hair loss? Are you already suffering from this unwanted condition? Yes, hair loss is a natural occurrence that nobody would like. It’s not life threatening nor does it cause any illness but hair loss affects you mentally and can really lower your self self esteem.

Due to this, drug companies have developed different varieties of hair loss treatments.

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Minoxidil is a very popular hair loss treatment that stimulates hair growth by increasing the blood circulation to the hair follicles. Another popular product uses finasteride, a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor. The enzyme 5 alpha reductase converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone or DHT. This hormone causes a condition called androgenetic alopecia. Other products contain natural ingredients and provide all the nutrients the hair needs for healthy hair growth. They also contain a natural DHT inhibitor that comes from the extract of the saw palmetto tree.

Though all of these hair loss products work good in stimulating hair growth, some of them don’t really do well for long term use because of their possible side effects. Minoxidil is a topical aqueous solution that is directly applied to the scalp, then the solution is absorbed through the skin and induces blood circulation to the scalp. A side effect of minoxidil is an itchy scalp although some may tolerate the irritation while others may not. In a small number of patients, intense itching can occur and this can actually cause hair loss because of unintentional pulling of hair.

Finasteride, however, is an oral hair loss treatment that stops the formation of DHT by inhibiting the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. Since Finasteride is taken orally, it systemically stops DHT. The hormone DHT is in fact a very important in male sexuality. Some patients may experience erectile dysfunctions and decreased libido with regular use.

For the products above, not all individuals experience these side effects and it is probably okay to say that they are safe to use for life. But if any of the side effects occur early on, then it is best to discontinue use.

To be on the safe side, natural hair loss treatments are still the best in terms of long term treatment because since these are natural, our bodies can easily absorb and metabolize the ingredients. There are no chemical accumulations whatsoever, so they are safe even after years of use.