Frontal hair loss, also known as a receding hairline or male pattern baldness, is the most common form of hair loss among men. According to Frontal-Hair-Loss.com, all men experience frontal hair loss to a greater or lesser extent. Even though it is common, it is still a cause for anxiety: hair loss in general can be an indicator of serious medical problems, and it can make a person look and feel aged and less attractive. Fortunately, there are often ways to prevent or stop hair loss. The Foundation for Hair Restoration reports that 95% of hair-loss cases are the result of androgenic alopecia, a medical condition caused by elevated levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). If a cause is known, a treatment can be determined. If you notice that you are experiencing hair loss, consult your doctor to make sure that the hair loss is caused by androgenic alopecia and not by a more serious condition.
Finasteride
One of the most successful hair loss treatments, finasteride is an FDA-approved prescription tablet safe for men to take daily. Finasteride works by lowering the body’s DHT levels by up to 60%, according to the American Hair Loss Association, causing scalp hair to re-grow. Finasteride may even be helpful for cases of frontal hair loss, as Dr. Robert Bernstein, clinical professor of dermatology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York, suggests. Though finasteride was clinically tested to determine hair re-growth only on the vertex, or top, of the head, finasteride will likely be a successful hair loss treatment anywhere on the scalp, as long as some hair is still growing there. Finasteride is not approved for use by women.
Minoxidil
Finasteride requires a prescription; minoxidil, another FDA-approved hair loss treatment, does not. Minoxidil is a topical cream that could be applied to the scalp in 1 or 2 ml doses up to twice a day, according to the Foundation for Hair Restoration. Minoxidil is generally used at the vertex with much success, especially as a way to stop hair loss and prevent further hair loss. Bernstein notes that minoxidil, like finasteride, “definitely can” have good results at receding hair lines as well.
Ketoconazole Shampoo
Another over-the-counter hair loss treatment, ketoconazole was the subject of a Belgian peer-reviewed study titled “Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia” published in the Journal of Dermatology in 1998. The study found that ketoconazole was as effective at improving hair density as a 2% minoxidil solution, concluding that ketoconazole could be used for the same purposes as minoxidil is. Ketoconazole shampoos, such as Nizoral shampoo, should be used every day for two weeks, then once every three days. Ketoconazole-based shampoos may dry scalp and hair; to avoid this, make sure to use a moisturizing conditioner after using the shampoo.
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