Treatment alternatives for hair loss are becoming more and more common. These new treatments come with many benefits, including lower cost. Preventing hair loss would be the best option, but, for most of us, that realization comes too late.

Unless your hair loss is the result of some medical problem, the most likely culprit is DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. An enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase transforms testosterone (the male sex hormone) into DHT. DHT then destroys hair follicles by blocking their blood supply and starving them.

For many years anyone wanting to stop hair loss had few options other than expensive medical treatments. Even then, positive results were rare. Many of these “treatments” were more about putting money in the pockets of the providers than putting hair on the head of the patients.

When the use of hair transplants became an option, positive results became more certain. Even so, the total cost of treatments could easily surpass $20,000.00. The high price, general discomfort involved, and the length of time necessary for these procedures made finding alternatives more and more attractive.

Currently, the only FDA approved alternative treatment is Minoxidil (aka: Rogain), which is now available in a number of over-the-counter products> As you may expect, many of the “hucksters” are still out there, so beware of any alternative hair loss treatments that haven’t been independently tested. Other options may prove to be very effective, but you should do your homework before spending your money.

Please Note: This posting is based entirely on information commonly available in the national press and medical journals concerning alternative treatments for hair loss. Nothing herein should be or understood to be any type of medical advice. For medical advice you should talk with his or her personal doctor or other medical specialist.