How Medications for Womens Hair Loss Treatment Work

Women suffering from hair loss have different options for treating their condition. These include topical treatments and systemic treatments. But many physicians do not resort to systemic treatments unless they know that the hair loss is due to an excess of androgen in the system.

This is because systemic treatments tend to decrease the body’s androgen levels. Here is a list of the different medications for womens hair loss treatment and how they work.

Research has shown that applying minoxidil directly to the scalp stimulates hair growth. It has been observed that this type of womens hair loss treatment is more effective in women than in men. Women who use this treatment should only use the 2% concentration as the 5% and extra strength concentrations have not been approved by the FDA for use by women.

Androgen Receptor Inhibitors

Estrogen/Progesterone

This womens hair loss treatment is also known as hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen and progesterone are the most commonly prescribed systemic form of treatment for hair loss in women.

Oral Contraceptives

Birth control pills are prescribed to reduce the production in ovarian androgens. But they can also be used to treat women’s hair loss. Only the low androgen index birth control pills should be used as women’s hair loss treatment. High androgen index birth control pills should not be taken since these can contribute to hair loss by triggering it or enabling it once it has been initiated other factors.

Spironolactone

Spironolactone is an antiandrogen that belongs to a class of drugs called potassium-sparing diuretics (water pill) and is an effective womens hair loss treatment. It works by: reducing the amount of fluid in your body without causing the loss of potassium, slowing down the production of androgens in the adrenal glands and ovaries, and preventing dihydrotestosterone from binding to androgenetic receptors.

Cimetidine

Cimetidine is under a class of histamine blockers used mainly to treat gastrointestinal ulcers. But it also has a significant anti-androgenic effect and therefore an effective womens hair loss treatment. It has shown a capability to block dihydrotestosterone from binding to the follicles. Cimetidine has also been used to remedy excess facial hair growth in women.

Ketoconazole

Though it is currently used as an antifungal agent, ketoconazole is a topical women’s hair loss treatment that has anti-androgenic effects. Ketoconazole can reduce the production of androgens by the adrenal gland and the female reproductive organ. Applying this topical treatment on scalp can help remedy hair loss. This womens hair loss treatment can be used in combination with other treatments for hair loss.

Cyproterone Acetate

Cyproterone acetate is another type of systemic women’s hair loss treatment. It has been used to treat severe facial growth in women of childbearing age and also hair loss in women. Cyproterone acetate works by blocking dihydrotestosterone from binding to its receptors. However, experts cyproterone acetate should be one of the last resorts for women’s hair loss treatment because of its toxicity and long-term side effects.

Provillus for Women is especially formulated for women’s hair loss treatment.