Real Hair Regrowth. Proven. Prescribed. Private.
Doctor-prescribed hair loss treatments delivered discreetly to your door.
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Finasteride
Blocks DHT to stop hair loss at the source.
- Clinically Proven
- One Tablet Daily
- Slows Loss, Spurs Regrowth
Minoxidil Tablets
Boosts follicle blood flow for thicker growth.
- Stimulates Dormant Follicles
- Convenient Oral Dose
- Thicker, Fuller Hair
Men's Hair TriGro
Compounded triple-action formula for max regrowth.
- 3 Actives in One Dose
- Targets Loss Multiple Ways
- Physician-Formulated
Hair loss in men is almost always the result of androgenic alopecia, which is another name for male pattern hair loss. This type of hair loss includes a receding hairline and / or balding on top of the head. The two patterns may become more pronounced until the areas of hair loss converge, leaving hair in a U-shaped ring around the back of the head.
Genetics are the prime determinant of whether a man experiences male pattern hair loss, and environmental factors don’t seem to have much of an effect on this type of hair loss. Studies have been done on nutritional supplementation and its effects on male pattern hair loss, though it’s difficult to find scientifically rigorous articles in peer reviewed journals. With four out of seven men inheriting the gene for androgenic alopecia, there is significant interest in all methods of hair restoration.
A sex hormone called DHT triggers male pattern baldness. DHT promotes hair growth on the face and body, but causes hair loss on the head. Exactly how DHT accomplishes this is not fully understood, but in the scalp, DHT makes hair follicles get smaller, shortening the hair’s growth phase. At the same time, new hair is prevented from maturing into typical head hair. The result is thinning hair and reduced hair volume, with new hair looking more like “peach fuzz.” Eventually, hair follicles go completely dormant and stop producing hair altogether.
Effects of Hair Loss on General Confidence
Although there is much less of a stigma surrounding baldness than there used to be, and despite the fact that some high profile men have embraced the bald look, losing hair can deal a severe blow to a man’s self-confidence. A survey commissioned by a UK hair clinic found that one-third of men with hair loss said the condition damaged their self-confidence and that nearly 40% of balding men felt envy when they saw other men with full heads of hair. One in seven respondents with hair loss said that the condition affected relationships. And the things men would do to get their hair back are sometimes drastic: 10% said they’d give up a year of their life, around 25% said they’d give up a year’s raise at work, and nearly 17% said they would be celibate for a year if they could get their hair back.
Effects of Hair Loss on Personal Relationships
Unfortunately, some doctors see male pattern hair loss as merely a medical problem, and fail to understand just how devastating it can be to many men. Female partners don’t often see baldness as a problem, but just because partners don’t mind hair loss doesn’t make it easier for men to accept. Cultural differences play a role too. A study in Singapore found that 7% of people would consider breaking off a relationship due to hair loss, and 10% would be embarrassed about introducing partners to family and friends if the partner suffered from hair loss. As with other studies, however, the Singapore study found that it is men themselves who have the hardest time accepting hair loss, with female partners being less critical.
While a supportive partner probably can’t completely banish self-confidence problems due to male pattern baldness, genuine support can help men cope. Simple, casual comments like telling a husband or partner how handsome he looks in a suit, without making a big deal of it can help. If you find some high-profile bald men handsome, like Michael Jordon or Jason Statham, casually mentioning this in context can show that lack of hair does not equal lack of attractiveness to you. Laying the compliments on too thickly, however, may not come across as genuine.
If a partner is interested in hair restoration, being supportive is important, unless he wants to try something that is outrageously expensive, that might be a scam, or that might be dangerous. Some popular hair restoration methods can be accommodated in a middle class budget, and being supportive of a man’s desire to try hair restoration is far better than flatly insisting he should embrace baldness if he doesn’t want to.
Hair Restoration: First Determine if There Is an Underlying Medical Cause
When a man starts noticing hair loss, it’s a good idea to have a medical checkup, because there are medical conditions that can cause hair loss, including nutritional deficiencies, certain medications, stress, and thyroid problems. Hair damage due to over-processing of hair can cause hair breakage that may mimic hair loss as well, so a consultation with a stylist may be in order too.
If a medical condition that can result in hair loss is found, then hair restoration may be as simple as addressing that condition. Likewise, if over-processing of hair is causing excessive breakage, then giving hair a rest for a few months can improve the look and health of hair. If no medical, chemical, or mechanical cause of hair loss can be identified, then other methods of hair restoration may be considered.
Hair Restoration Options: Wigs, Hairpieces, and Surgery
Men who are interested in hairpieces or hair transplant surgery should do extensive research first and if possible get word-of-mouth recommendations. Both hairpieces and hair transplants can be done beautifully and successfully, or they can be done badly. In most cases, hairpieces and hair transplants are situations where you get what you pay for. If a respected hair transplant surgeon is happy to offer references, has a great word-of-mouth reputation, and is booked up well in advance, then he or she is probably very good at it. You can also bet that this hair restoration method will be costly. For some men, the expense is well worth it, but keep in mind that even hair transplants and hairpieces by mediocre practitioners are expensive too, and that this is no time to try and save money.
Topical medications like Rogaine have been around for a long time, and they can be bought without a prescription. Unfortunately, these drugs are better at causing the scalp to grow fuzz rather than mature hair, though individual results may vary. For some men, topical medications may be enough to help restore self-confidence, but others will find them to be less than satisfactory. Some men find that combining Rogaine with a ketoconazole shampoo like Nizoral produces better results. This may be worth a try for men with less severe hair loss.
Hair Restoration Options: Oral Medications
Finasteride, the drug in name brand medication Propecia, has been used for hair restoration since 1997. This drug reduces the conversion of ordinary testosterone into DHT, and can slow, stop, or reverse hair loss. It is not an overnight hair restoration treatment, however. If Propecia is going to work, it will take up to three or even six months before results are noticeable. Some physicians recommend taking it for an entire year before giving up if results are unsatisfactory. However, finasteride causes some degree of hair restoration in a majority of men with male pattern hair loss, and is a much more palatable option for many than hairpieces or hair transplants.
Making the Right Decision
How each individual man copes with hair loss is up to him. Some men find that going completely bald imparts a confident, masculine look (and many women agree), while others want to address hair loss or at least slow it down. After ruling out any medical conditions that may contribute to hair loss, the four main options for men experiencing male pattern baldness are hairpieces, hair transplantation, topical medication, or oral medications. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and none is guaranteed to give the results a man wants. However, there are more options for men today than there ever have been, and research on male pattern hair loss continues, so there could even be other drugs in the pipeline in future years. There is no reason to give up hope for hair restoration.
eDrugstore.com offers Propecia and generic finasteride, which have been shown in clinical studies to help with hair restoration in a majority of men with male pattern hair loss. eDrugstore.com offers the convenience of online ordering with competitive pricing and speedy shipping so that you don’t have to wait to start your hair restoration plan.
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