Women's Hair Loss Blog <p>Treating <a href="http://womens-hair-loss-blog.com">female hair loss</a> can prove extremely tricky. According to the American Hair Loss Association there is currently only one FDA approved treatment for female pattern baldness. There are several different prescriptive products that are used in the fight against female hair loss. However, these products are not really intended for this use…according to the FDA. Doctors are also reluctant to prescribe systemic drugs for hair loss due to the substantial amount of side effects that can occur when you try and regulate the hormonal balance of an individual. Therefore, the only FDA approved hair loss treatment for women at this time is a topical drug called minoxidil, more commonly known as the active ingredient in Rogaine.</p> <p>Rogaine for women is an extremely popular product used in the fight against hair loss. Chances are everyone of a certain age has heard of Rogaine mostly because of its major marketing in the late eighties and early nineties. However, just because it is the most widely known product does not mean it is the most effective product on the market. As with any type of medication individual results vary, this is largely due to the differences in conditions that are causing the hair loss, as well as body chemistry, and your body’s ability to respond well to the medication. </p> <p>The ideal situation for any hair loss treatment is to catch it as early as possible to prevent further damage to the hair follicle, and keep as much of your hair as healthy as possible. Rogaine is no different in this aspect. Long ago Minoxidil was used as a systemic hypertensive (blood pressure) medication. Doctors started noticing the abnormal amount of hair growth their patients were having, this was known to be a common side effect of the drug. It was at this time that researchers started performing experiments by applying minoxidil in a topical solution directly to the scalp. By placing the topical solution on the scalp researchers noticed that it stimulated hair growth, but did not affect the blood pressure in any way. </p> <p>Rogaine is an extremely effective drug for many women. However, the FDA will only approve its use in 2% form for women, not the higher 5% that is used in the men’s formula. In several clinical studies overall 59% of women reported some form of hair re-growth while using 2% minoxidil topical treatment. 19% of the study participants reported moderate re-growth, while 40% only showed minimal re-growth. Many doctors believe that the success rate could be higher if the FDA would approve the use of minoxidil in its 5% strength range for women, rather than the lesser 2%. This is exactly why many doctors choose to prescribe their patients 5% minoxidil with the condition that she remains under his supervised care while using it. </p> <p>The one thing you should remember is Rogaine is not a quick fix. It is not uncommon for a woman to use the product for 4-6 months before she begins to notice substantial re-growth. Also, it is recommended that you continue using the product in order to prevent a relapse in hair loss, as well as continued hair growth. The good news is there are other options available to women now! Therefore, if you happen to be in the 41% of women, whom had no response to Rogaine, simply try another drug and hope for the best!! </p> 58 2008-12-15T23:43:48-05:00 8 hair-loss-treatment-for-women Women's Hair Loss Blog www.womens-hair-loss-blog.com 2008-12-15T23:43:48-05:00