Hair Loss: The Causes & What to Do About It

It may be hard to believe, but hair loss affects most men at some point in their lives. The most common cause of hair loss is male and female pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. Up to 50% of men will experience this type of hair loss by age 50 and around 40% of women will experience it, too, also by age 50.^[1][2]

It usually shows up in men through a receding hairline at the temples and hair loss at the crown of the head.^[3] For women, it shows up via thinning hair at the top of the scalp.^[4] People who suffer from this type of hair loss have an underlying sensitivity to hair follicle miniaturization due to androgenic hormones.

Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss has several causes. Certain diseases, chemical exposure, or drug use may all lead to hair loss. The most common causes are:

• Androgenic Alopecia (AGA) - This is the most common cause of hair loss in men.^[1] It also affects women.
• Poor Nutrition – Thinning hair is common in people with nutritional deficiencies, but complete baldness is possible. Studies show that limited food intake and deficiencies in certain nutrients may cause thinning. These include deficiencies of biotin, amino acids (protein), zinc, and iron. A high-animal-fat diet may also lead to hair loss.
• Stress - Stress has been shown to restrict the blood supply to capillaries, which prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the hair follicle and may prevent hair growth. This effect is like having poor circulation.
• Medications - Some medications may cause hair loss, especially medications that affect hormone levels. These medications include contraceptive pills, some forms of hormone replacement therapy, anabolic steroids, and acne medication. Other medications include those for blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cholesterol.

Compounded Hair Loss Solutions

Other medications may be effective for the treatment of hair loss when applied directly to the scalp. Empower Pharmacy offers compounded formulas that combine FDA-approved medications and alternative therapies to create a custom product that may treat, prevent and reverse hair thinning and loss due to AGA.

Ketoconazole – This anti-fungal medication may be effective in stimulating new hair growth for sufferers of AGA. In addition to attacking fungi, ketoconazole may be helpful in countering the effects of DHT – the hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles.

Minoxidil fortified with Finasteride - Finasteride acts by reducing DHT levels, thereby inhibiting miniaturization of hair follicles in patients with AGA. Oral finasteride may be associated with side effects such as decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, and gynecomastia. Topical finasteride applied to the scalp may be considered for hair density maintenance after initial improvement with oral finasteride. Topical finasteride may absorb less systemically than oral finasteride, which may reduce the side effects associated with oral finasteride.

Latanoprost - A double-blind scientific study published in The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that latanoprost, a drug that mimics naturally-derived compound molecules called prostaglandins, significantly increases hair density on the scalp after 24 weeks of treatment in young men with mild hair loss.

Azelaic Acid – This is a naturally occurring substance found in whole grains that contains a mild antibiotic that may reduce harmful bacteria on the skin. It is also claimed to be a potential inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase in human skin. A reduction of this enzyme reduces the amount DHT in the body and therefore may have a similar effect to finasteride, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved oral hair loss solution Propecia®.

Empower Pharmacy Solutions

Hair Restore Lite Scalp Solution - 60 mL Dropper Bottle of Minoxidil / Azelaic Acid 5/12.5%

Hair Restore Ultra Scalp Solution - 60 mL Dropper Bottle of Minoxidil / Azelaic Acid / Finasteride / Ketoconazole 5/12.5/0.1/2%