Lately you noticed while styling your hair during your morning routine that more and more strands are ending up in the sink or on the comb. Looking even more closely you can see right through your hair to your scalp in some spots, or, if your hair loss has progressed, you may even see that you losing hair in blotches, otherwise known as pattern baldness. What is happening to your once thick head of hair? Is there a way to stop your hair loss? And is there a medication out there designed to combat baldness?

Male pattern baldness is a condition that is usually considered hereditary. Also known as androgenic alopecia, baldness typically begins at the start of the temples and moves towards the top of the head. Another type of baldness presents itself in the form of patches, mostly the size of a quarter in different parts of the head. While the condition is considered to be permanent, some men have chosen to fight their hair loss by relying on medications instead of covering up their baldness with hats or scarves. To aid in their fight, more men are turning to the use of a medication called Propecia, an oral medication that is prescribed by physicians everywhere.

Propecia, (pharmaceutical name Firnasteride) is a medication that is taken daily in pill form washed down with a glass of water. Propecia works by ceasing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles and plays a major role in hair loss in men. Propecia is FDA approved and has been shown to slow the process of hair loss if used on a continual basis. Some men have even reported the growth of new hair while on the medication but the results may take months to see. Like Minoxidil, Propecia must be taken consistently or it will stop working. Any man deciding whether to take Propecia should make a commitment towards using it every day on a continual basis in order to benefit from the medications hair restoration properties.

Beings that Propecia is the only oral medication approved by the FDA for the aid in restoring hair to its natural consistency, while it is safe, there are a few unwanted side effects that have been noted by some men currently on the medication, but they are rare. Some men have reported a decrease in sexual drive or libido. Others have had the rare unfortunate experience of not being able to function sexually at all. The good news is these side effects don affect every man on the medication and for those men who do suffer from them; there are other ways to cope with a diminished libido!

So, if you are suffering from the unfortunate condition of hair loss or baldness, talk to your doctor about the benefits of the prescribed medication Propecia. The benefits are great while the risks are small and let face it, when it comes to being able to enjoy a full head of hair, it really shouldn be a privilege, it your right, and Propecia just may be the right thing for you!