Besides laser hair therapy, how is hair loss treated?

Minoxidil (Rogaine), approved as a baldness treatment in 1988, was the first truly effective treatment in the long history of remedies for hair loss. It jump-starts the follicles, making them stop resting, shed the old hair, and start growing new hairs. Finasteride (Propecia), approved by the FDA in 1997, stops the formation of DHT in the scalp, blocking testosterone's hair-thinning effects. Dermatological studies show that extra-strength Rogaine (5% minoxidil) thickens hair overall and even causes some regrowth in 60% of men after one year of use. Propecia stops hair loss over a five-year period in 90% of men and leads to 14% more hairs on average. But there are limits to how much hair both drugs can save. And for someone who already has a large bald spot, 14% more hair may not be enough. In fact, both of the drugs are best at maintaining existing hair. For the most part, they can't reverse the miniaturization of follicles that leads to bald spots. Studies with the Laser Hair ...  more