There are many causes of hair loss. By far, the most common is male and female pattern hair loss. In men, it is clear that hair loss is caused by the androgen, dihydrotestoterone. There are oral medications that block the formation of this androgen. These can also be formulated into topical or injected forms. In women, the exact cause of this type of hair loss is not known. These medications have minimal effects in most women.
Many other treatments are commonly used for both male and female pattern alopecia. Common treatments include topical minoxidil, oral minoxidil, PRP injections, and oral supplements. All of these treatments are proven to be effective and most patients appreciate some benefits–whether it be no further loss or thickening and regrowth of hair. In many cases, multiple modalities are used to achieve the best possible result.
With the recent attention to inflammation, studies were performed using shampoos that are commonly used to treat Seborrhea, or dandruff. It was found that when anti-yeast shampoos, such as Head and Shoulders or Nizoral shampoo, were used at least twice a week, patients experienced hair growth. These findings were seen in both patients with known dandruff and those without.
In short, it has been recommended that all patients with male- or female-pattern alopecia add an anti-yeast shampoo to their current treatment regimen. This should be added to one’s other treatment regimen.