Thin, thinning hair: Can medication help?

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There are many factors that make women more prone to hair loss such as: Genetics, disease, stress, aging or hormonal imbalance,... even eating habits. To improve this condition, first of all, you need to see a doctor to find out the cause and treatment regimens for hair loss leading to thinning and thinning. Medication is one of those treatments.

1. Over-the-counter Minoxidil

Minoxidil (including Rogaine, Ronoxidil) is used in the treatment of hair loss and thinning. Experts say it can help some women regrow hair at the crown of their heads by stimulating the roots or hair follicles to grow more.
OTC Minoxidil comes in 5% and 2% solutions which are considered safe for most women. Minoxidil OTC 2% solution is the only FDA-approved hair loss treatment for women. Depending on the solution used, you can apply it to the scalp once a day.
However, this drug has the disadvantage that not everyone achieves optimal results when using it. Dermatologists share: About half of people who use Minoxidil find it effective with new hair growth. About 40% of users have a balance of hair stability, which means no new hair growth but no hair loss. About 10% of users find that it doesn't help at all.
Time to use the drug should last at least 6 months to see the effect. Because hair follicles also need time to grow back.
The most common side effect of Minoxidil is scalp irritation. Some people may experience unwanted hair growth on the forehead or face.

2. Spironolactone (Aldactone)

This is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure but it is also used to prevent hair loss (in women). However, this is not the drug of choice for doctors to treat hair loss because it can cause high levels of potassium to accumulate in the body.
Like Propecia, spironolactone can cause birth defects in male children. Women of childbearing age should not use or must use contraception while using this medicine.

3. Latisse

Women who want longer and thicker eyelashes can be prescribed Latisse. This is a drug that has been approved by the FDA to help grow eyelashes. Researchers are studying whether it can stimulate hair growth. Although there are no research results, some doctors have prescribed Latisse for people with thinning hair.

4. Vitamins

Although there is no research to prove that taking a daily multivitamin improves hair growth, not getting enough of some vitamins can cause hair loss. Therefore, you need to create a healthy and balanced eating habit.

5. Do not use solid oil

Currently, on the market there are a number of products that help stimulate hair growth, you can learn and choose the right product.
Snake oil is a product used by many people. To date, however, the only product for women with proven hair regrowth is minoxidil.
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Reference source: webmd.com