Once men start moving into their late 20s and early 30s one of the biggest concerns is hair loss. Hair loss is still a major cause of worry especially in men who have the problem running in their families. It has been a proven fact that hair loss is predominantly genetic in nature and hereditary hair loss is the main cause for baldness in males. There are predominantly only two FDA approved drugs that are prescribed to treat hair loss in people at the moment. These are Rogaine and Propecia – both to treat male pattern baldness and to stop the process of hereditary hair loss.
It is obviously an important decision whether you are to be treated for hair loss using Rogaine or Propecia and this article is intended to help you understand the differences between the two and to help you make an informed choice.
- At a Basic Level:If we look at the basics, Propecia is a pill form drug that is to be taken by prescription only. On the other hand Rogaine comes in the form of liquid oil or foam that is applied on the scalp twice a day – once in the morning and once at night.
- Ingredients: The ingredient that aids the process of stopping hair loss in Propecia is a drug called Finasteride, which works by hindering the production of DHT (Dihydrotesterone), a hormone that causes hair loss. In Rogaine, the active ingredient is Minoxidil, which works by reenergizing hair follicles that have shrunken or closed. Propecia is a formula that is prescribed for men only while Rogaine is used by both men and women.
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Timeline: When you compare Rogaine and Propecia based on the parameter of how soon it shows results, Propecia shows results in about three months of taking the pill regularly. The results start showing by three months and by the time you’re six months into treatment, one can say that the process of hair loss has completely stopped. Rogaine on the other hand takes up to about a year in women to show results. In men however, Rogaine begins to show effects by four months. However, one thing common between both these drugs is that they work best on people who have hair loss in its early stages.
- Side Effects: There have been a small number of people who were under the influence of Propecia who have reported sexual dysfunction. Some have noted that this problem was only temporary in nature. Rogaine liquid or foam on the other hand has side effects that include itchy scalp, skin allergy and irritation. In some cases, Rogaine has also seen occurrence of increased heart rate, breathlessness due to the presence of minoxidil. Minoxidil is a drug that has also been used in regulating blood pressure.
At the end of the day, one needs to understand how both these hair loss solutions work and which one of these is best suited for you. The bottom line however is that hair loss can be arrested if you start treating it early.
