Which Baldness Treatment is not meant for Women?

Apr 21
08:05

2011

Ian Caspar

Ian Caspar

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Feeling blue to lose so much of hair so quickly? Do not go for Propecia, even though it is a proven pill for stimulating hair growth and reducing hair loss. The medicine is recommended only for male. Find out more here.

mediaimage
Hair loss is prevalent both among men and women worldwide,Which Baldness Treatment is not meant for Women? Articles although women experience the problem less than their male counterparts. Androgens hormones such as androsteinedione, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are believed to trigger hair fall in men. These are all male hormones and found in smaller volumes in women. The root of this problem is common for both men and women, so experts liken female hair fall to androgenic alopecia also known as male pattern baldness. But this claim is disputed, as you'll come to know once you read this article.

For the treatment of androgenic alopecia, Propecia is one of the most reliable medicines around. But this drug is not recommended for women, especially those who are pregnant or expecting. If you are wondering why this medicine is not recommended for women, let's first of all understand how it works.

What is Propecia? How does it work?

Propecia is a clinical breakthrough in treating male hair fall. With finasteride as the active ingredient, this drug offers an comprehensive therapeutic cure for hair loss in men. Available only when prescribed by a doctor, this oral pill also helps in regeneration of hair on the vertex and the anterior parts of head. In medical surveys, the performance of Propecia has been reported more than satisfactory among men suffering from pattern baldness. It is reported that the drug can stimulate hair growth in just 3 months from the start of treatment. But some men may have to take this pill for up to a year to see its effect.

Thinning of your hairline does not just affect your body image, it also dampens your youthful vigour. Finasteride works by preventing an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase type II from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT damages hair follicles in the scalp, restricting hair growth and causing baldness.

Limitations

So you can well understand that Propecia's effectiveness is only limited to androgenic hormones. But some dermatologists have suggested that androgenic hormones are not responsible for hair fall in women. So they have coined the term 'female pattern hair loss' to describe the dermatological condition many women face. As the drug targets the male hormone testosterone, it cannot cure female pattern hair fall.

Not for women

Studies have shown that hair fall in women is caused mainly by an enzyme called aromatase, on which finasteride does not have any effect. This is why Propecia is only marketed to treat male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It is not recommended for women who suffer from pattern baldness on the scalp or near the forehead. Pregnant women must not take, or even handle, this medicine as it may have an adverse impact on male foetus. Normally the pills are coated to prevent women and children from coming in direct contact with its active ingredient. But if the coating is damaged in any way because of crushing or some outward deformities, it is advisable to throw them away. Consult your doctor to find out more about Propecia.