What Are the Alternatives to Finasteride?


If you do not want to treat your hair loss with finasteride either because of the risks or because of the expense there are alternative treatments available. These range from superficial treatments, which cover up your balding such as wearing a wig, to the surgical option of hair transplant.

How Can You Cover Signs of Balding?

The oldest method for reducing the signs of hair loss is to wear a wig. Modern wigs can look natural, as the technology of wig making has developed. Wigs can have also been developed to prevent them from irritating the scalp, which used to be a common complaint for wig users.

Can Shampoos Prevent Balding?

There are shampoos available over the counter, which claim to prevent hair loss and nourish the scalp making hair grow healthier. These can be a cheap alternative to finasteride and do not come with the same side effects. However, their effectiveness is debated and whilst many make your hair stronger they are unable to reverse balding.

Some shampoos are medicated containing chemicals that claim to reduce the amount of dehydrotestosterone on the scalp. These claim to stimulate hair growth although there is no scientific evidence to support this. You should be weary of expensive products offering miracle cures to balding.

Are there Other Similar Treatments to Finasteride?

There are other medications available that are similar to finasteride. These include azelaic acid and medroxyprogesterone. These are not approved by the FDA for hair loss treatments and although they may be effective in combating hair loss, they are normally used in conjunction with finasteride rather than as an alternative to it.

Minoxidil is an approved medication that is used for hair loss. Instead of altering the levels of hormones on your scalp, minoxidil ensures that your hair follicles have a plentiful blood supply. This nourishes the follicles, prevents them from shrinking, and like finoxidil can prevent further hair loss and cause new hair to grow. This can be used on its own or with medroxyprogesterone, azelaic acid, or finasteride. The side effects of minoxidil are less serious than those of finasteride are and stop if you stop using the drug. Minoxidil is rubbed onto the scalp as a 5% concentration solution. A small bottle can normally be brought for between £10 and £15, which can make it more expensive than finasteride.

Can Laser Treatments Prevent Balding?

Another alternative to finasteride is laser hair treatment. Laser combs are used daily to stimulate the hair follicles. When used on a daily basis for about twenty minutes these low- powered lasers are believed to strengthen the follicles and the scalp, prevent balding, and stimulate growth in some cases.

Laser combs are available to buy for home use and can also be used in a clinic. The cheaper option is to buy a comb for use at home although the results are not guaranteed. Laser hair combs can be brought for as little as £15, although the more reputable brands begin at around £100 and can be as much as £300. Many people are not happy with the results of laser hair treatment and prefer more stable methods such as minoxidil or finasteride.

Is Hair Transplantation an Alternative to Finasteride?

Although it is much more expensive than finasteride treatment, hair transplantation can be a more permanent option, which has fewer long- term side effects than finasteride. Hair transplantation offers a natural looking alternative. When done correctly they can give you a full head of hair that can be life- long without causing you visible scarring.

If considering hair transplantation surgery you should look into the different options available and find an experienced and reputable surgeon. Although there are few side effects related to hair transplantation, it can be a painful surgery and there is a risk of infection. If you do not get an experienced surgeon, the results can be unnatural worsening rather than improving your appearance.

The cost of your hair transplantation depends on your level of hair loss, the type of treatment best suited to your scalp, and the surgeon that you chose. It is an expensive treatment, which could cost anything between £1000 and £20, 000.

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