Hair Restoration Products: Which is Really Which?

Choosing from a multitude of hair restoration products in a herculean effort to restore hair is truly a difficult undertaking. How would you know which of the countless products in the market are suitable for your specific hair loss situation?

Information is truly the best tool in selecting the best hair restoration product for you. Before making any decision on which hair restoration products to buy, do careful research to avoid unnecessary spending or worse, harmful and irreversible effects on your crowning glory.

Hair renewal products are usually classified into two groups: topical and medical hair restoration products. These will be discussed in detail below.

Topical Hair Restoration Products

Non surgical hair restoration usually involves the use of topical products. Topical products are rubbed or directly applied to bald or balding spots on the body, and are considered as cheap hair restoration alternatives. Some popular topical products include:

• DHT blockers – DHT blockers include products such as Revivogen, Crinagen, Progesterone Creams, and Xandrox, which claim to minimize the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) present in the balding scalp. They are applied directly to the scalp.
• Growth stimulators – These topical solutions claim to work by stimulating hair growth. They include Rogaine, Tricomin, Folligen, Proxiphen (Prox-N and hair restoration shampoo, Nano) and Retin-A.
• Azelaic acid – An active ingredient found in popular topical hair loss treatments such as Xandrox and Provillus. Azelaic acid is claimed to inhibit the production of DHT.
• Superoxide dismutase – Examples of said products are Tricomin, Proxiphen, Proxiphen-N and Folligen, which profess to stop hair loss by reducing super oxide, stimulating hair growth, and reducing tissue inflammation.
• Anti-inflammatory products – Anti-inflammatory treatments claim to diminish itching, flaking, redness, and inflammation that may increase hair loss. Topical anti-inflammatory product options include Tricomin, Folligen, Proxiphen and Proxiphen-N, Betadine and T-Gel, and Nizoral Shampoo.
• Provillus – A popular topical solution containing FDA-approved hair growth solution Minoxidil and all-natural ingredients that supposedly inhibit the production of DHT. It is also used as an oral medication.
• Xandrox – A topical hair loss solution containing azelaic acid and FDA-approved hair growth solution Minoxidil.
• Revivogen – A topical hair loss solution containing a number of all-natural ingredients said to inhibit the production of DHT.
• Crinagen – A topical spray containing ingredients said to prevent the production of DHT.
• Cover-ups and concealers – Concealers such as Toppik, Prothik, and Couvré can do a surprisingly good job of masking and minimizing a person’s appearance of being bald. These topical concealers and “cover ups” act by reducing the contrast between a hair loss patient’s thinning hair and balding scalp, while increasing the volume and fullness of the thinning hair.

Medical Hair Restoration Products

Medical hair restoration products are usually prescribed by doctors as oral medication. Some examples are:

• Rogaine (Minoxidil) – Rogaine is considered as one of the best hair restoration products in the market and is quite popular among both women and men. Rogaine was originally a blood pressure medication.Rogaine is the first and only FDA-approved topical treatment that is clinically proven to re-grow hair. Rogaine also helps undo the progression of hereditary hair loss. In hereditary hair loss, a mishmash of heredity, hormones, and age causes a progressive shrinking, or miniaturization, of certain scalp follicles. This causes a limitation on the hair’s growing cycle. Over time, as the active growth phase becomes shorter, the resting phase becomes longer. Sooner or later, there may be no growth at all.
  Researchers believe that Rogaine works in part by partially enlarging the hair follicles and reversing the shrinking process. By enlarging miniaturized follicles, the growth phase of the hair cycle is prolonged, enabling the hair to become longer and thicker. With more follicles in the growth phase at the same time, it is possible to see enhanced coverage of the scalp.
  While it is regarded as one of the industry’s leading hair restoration products, Rogaine is still considered as a medication that can have side effects. The exact mechanism of action of Rogaine also remains uncertain.
• Propecia (Finasteride) – Propecia is likewise considered as one of the best known hair restoration products taken daily to treat male hair loss. A once-a-day pill, Propecia has been known to treat certain types of male pattern hair loss in men. This pill reduces DHT, a key cause of hair loss.
  This medication was developed to treat mild to moderate male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of head). However, there is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hairlines at the temples. It also has a high incidence of side effects, which are mainly sexual in nature.
• Procerin – Procerin can be bought in convenient tablet form. It is also available in a topical solution which is used for the purpose of hair restoration. Procerin is effective for men suffering from Androgenetic Alopecia, the most common type of male-pattern baldness that results in hair fall. Procerin is an effective DHT blocker containing natural minerals and vitamins that help in supporting the receding hair line. The active ingredients of Procerin are specifically formulated to block the transformation of DHT into testosterone and helps in blocking DHT without further reacting with testosterone.
• Progesterone – A synthetic form of the female hormone progesterone that has been used to treat female hair loss.
• Nettle Root Extract – An active ingredient found in popular hair loss products like Provillus and Procerin.
• PABA or Para-Aminobenzoic Acid – PABA is found in popular hair loss treatments like Provillus and Procerin.
• Saw Palmetto – A popular herbal treatment contained in many marketed hair loss products including but not limited to Provillus, Procerin, and Extreme Hair Therapy (EXT).

While hair restoration products usually contain ingredients and chemicals that are topically applied or taken orally, there are also natural alternatives for those who are wary of medicines and chemicals. For more information, please read our article on natural hair restoration.