10 best remedies for hair loss (alopecia)

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

There is no need to explain what causes the symptoms of baldness, alopecia, or hair loss. Despite the fact that baldness does not have clinical symptoms associated with deteriorating health or changes in laboratory parameters, this condition leads to a significant deterioration in the quality of life, and the development of a sense of one's own inferiority. Male pattern baldness is most common, and more than 90 out of 100 cases are adrenogenetic, or androgenic, alopecia. It is otherwise called 'male pattern baldness' and this type of hair loss is associated with exposure to male sex hormones, or androgens.

Modern trichology, or the science of treating hair diseases, has many treatments for alopecia in its arsenal. The most serious drugs that can reduce hair loss in androgenic alopecia are the so-called antiandrogenic drugs. For the first time they began to be used to treat prostate neoplasms, and only then it was proved that they can be used to treat alopecia. This is a medicine like finasteride. Minoxidil is adjacent to them, but these funds will be considered at the very end of the rating. This is due to the fact that they are prescribed only by a doctor, as they can have systemic side effects.

Most often, the treatment of all types of alopecia begins with the use of dietary supplements, vitamins, drugs that improve the microcirculation of the scalp. It is with these funds that the rating of drugs for the treatment of baldness begins. The rating does not include homeopathic remedies, since the principle of homeopathy itself cannot claim to be a proven remedy. All prices in the rating are for the beginning of 2019.

Rating of the best hair loss remedies

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
the best Vitamin and mineral complexes against hair loss	1	Perfectil	630 RUB
	2	Pantovigar	RUB 1,755
	3	Revalid (Moriamin)	RUB 1,335
	4	Evicent – yeast with sulfur	320 RUB
	5	Dihydroquercetin (Taxifolin Baikal)	RUB 1,120
the best remedies for improving microcirculation	1	Capsicum tincture	RUB 45
	2	Troxevasin	RUB 400
	3	Xanthinol nicotinate	157 r
Pathogenetic therapy	1	Propecia, Alfinal, Penester (finasteride)	RUB 6,090
	2	Minoxidil	770 RUB

Best vitamin and mineral complexes against hair loss

The first and most numerous group of drugs that are used to treat hair loss, or alopecia, are various vitamin and mineral complexes. It is known that the hair shaft is a complex structure, which consists of various proteins, the main of which is keratin. The hair contains lipids, various pigments, a significant amount of water. In the hair structure, there are compounds rich in trace elements. In order for the hair to be healthy, the body must have enough calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Sulfur atoms form special disulfide 'bridges' that link together sections of protein molecules. Thus, the cystine protein strengthens the keratin molecules. That is why most of all sulfur in the human body is found in hair and nails, sulfur is an almost indispensable component of various vitamin and mineral complexes for hair loss.

Natural yeast is also very important. They help treat hair loss by providing high amounts of vitamin D, as well as zinc, calcium and amino acids in organic form. Consider the main drugs from this group, with which most often the treatment of alopecia begins. They can be found in a wide variety of forms: both in the form of tablets and capsules, and in the form of medicated shampoos.

Perfectil

Rating: 4.9

Perfectil is one of the multivitamin-mineral complexes in encapsulated form; it is successfully used for various skin diseases such as dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrheic keratosis. It is also widely used in the complex treatment of alopecia. The product contains a large amount of different vitamins and minerals. One gelatin capsule contains vitamins D, E, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12. The capsule contains folic acid, biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper. Perfektil capsule contains selenium, silicon and chromium.

Together, it has antioxidant activity, protects the skin from free radical oxidation, ultraviolet rays. The tool improves hair trophism, reduces hair loss, stimulates capillary blood flow in the vessels of the skin surface. Zinc and silicon contained in Perfectil improves hair trophism. In addition, Perfektil contains two phytoextracts: an extract of purple echinacea powder and burdock root.

It is necessary to apply Perfectil for baldness during or after meals, with a small amount of liquid. One capsule per day is enough. Perfectil is produced by the British company Vitabiotics, and the cost of one package of 30 capsules, calculated for a monthly intake, averages 630 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Perfektil include a pronounced dermatotropic orientation. The remedy helps well with exacerbation of psoriasis, with dermatitis, and extracts of echinacea and burdock have a wound healing effect. However, this Perfectil does not contain sulfur, and therefore its activity only in relation to alopecia is not so high. In addition, allergic reactions can quite often occur, which are expressed in an allergic rash and itchy skin.

Pantovigar

Rating: 4.8

Pantovigar is a complex preparation containing medicinal yeast, vitamins B1 and B5, cystine, and keratin protein, which is the main building material of the skin appendages – hair and nails. The use of this product, which is sold in capsules, improves the growth of hair and nails, and especially in the presence of a deficiency of vitamins and trace elements. This remedy is shown for various diffuse hair loss, but Pantovigar should be used after taking a trichologist, and for its purpose. This must be done, since the remedy is indicated for the non-hormonal form of alopecia. It is used in the event that a violation of the hair structure has occurred due to any chemical action, with excessive solar or ultraviolet radiation, and then Pantovigar is indicated for use. Pantovigar is produced by the famous German pharmaceutical company Merz, and is prescribed one capsule 3 times a day, the average course of treatment is at least 3 months. You can buy a package of Pantovigar in the amount of 90 capsules, designed for 3 months of use, at an average cost of 1,755 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Pantovigar include a very good, balanced composition: it contains keratin, L-cystine, as well as calcium pantothenate and yeast. All this makes it possible to improve the disturbed trophism of hair, follicles and hair follicles. But it should also be remembered that this remedy will not be effective for androgenic alopecia, when high testosterone levels are the cause of hair loss and hair loss. Also, when taking Pantovigar, various allergic reactions, increased sweating, tachycardia, bloating and discomfort in the abdomen may occur. Therefore, in the event that you do not know what type of baldness you have, then before using Pantovigar it is better to consult a specialist – a trichologist.

Revalid (Moriamin)

Rating: 4.8

Revalid is perhaps the most carefully selected vitamin and mineral complex, and at the same time it is of very high quality. It contains only the substances most necessary for hair growth and improvement of skin trophism, and there are no unnecessary compounds in it. This is important, because the fewer active ingredients, the better the tolerance, for the rest of the complex medicine. It contains methionine and L-cystine, B vitamins, trace elements such as iron, zinc and copper, as well as active biological structures: wheat germ extract, millet and yeast. The vitamin-mineral complex Revalid is shown exclusively for diseases of the skin and its appendages. These are nail dystrophy, various forms of alopecia, except for scarring, hair color abnormalities, which include vitiligo (leukoderma). Revalid is used for diseases of hair follicles, as well as under intense exposure to environmental factors: solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, under unfavorable environmental conditions (dustiness, high temperature causing dry skin).

Revalid's metabolic action. It consists in reducing hair fragility, increasing the nutrition of hair follicles, and improving the surface structure of the hair. In the event that a person is exposed to environmental factors that cause hair thinning and hair loss, then Revalid's reception slows down this process. It is necessary to use Revalid one capsule 3 times a day, it should be taken before meals or during meals. The duration of the course of treatment is two to three months, repeated courses are prescribed by the doctor and determines their duration.

In the event that the patient is rapidly losing hair, then a double dosage is indicated. It is prescribed 2 capsules three times a day, but only during the first month, and then returns to the usual dosage. Revalid is produced by the Israeli company Teva, and the cost of a package of 90 capsules, designed for 1 month of treatment, is, on average, 1,335 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

A big plus of Revalid is the evidence base, it is widely used by dermatologists and trichologists in their work. The components are selected in such a way that it can replace many other vitamin complexes, and separately the means that contain yeast. However, this drug is contraindicated in case of concomitant diseases caused by fungi, in the presence of an intense inflammatory process on the scalp, and also in the event that alopecia is of a hormonal nature. Of the side effects, allergic reactions are most common, and against the background of a doubled dosage, sometimes the patient begins to worry about bloating and abdominal discomfort, and in this case, you need to switch to the usual dosage – 1 capsule 3 times a day.

Evicent – yeast with sulfur

Rating: 4.7

The name itself – 'yeast with sulfur' means that the predominantly active components are B vitamins, which are part of the yeast, as well as organic sulfur. This drug is quite widely used in trichology, and is available in a variety of forms. This is a hair lotion, one bottle of which costs about 300 rubles, a shampoo, a 150 ml bottle of which costs 350 rubles. This complex preparation is also produced in the form of a foam for washing (the price is 330 rubles for 160 ml), in the form of a balm-rinse for hair, at a price of 280 rubles for 150 ml. There are also tablets for oral administration.

Each tablet contains dry purified brewer's yeast, purified sulfur, B vitamins, niacin, or vitamin PP. This drug is used in the complex treatment of baldness, has an antioxidant effect, and saturates the appendages of the skin with sulfur and vitamins. Evisent yeast with sulfur helps to strengthen keratin and improve the trophism of both the hair shaft itself and its bulb. Evisent yeast with sulfur is used for adults, 3 tablets three times a day, with meals. One pack of 100 tablets, designed for 11 days of use, costs about 300 rubles. Thus, a monthly course will cost about 1000 rubles. These tablets are produced by the domestic enterprise Yeast Technologies.

Advantages and disadvantages

The disadvantage of Evisent, which is available in tablets, is the inconvenience of use. Three tablets three times a day, or 9 tablets a day, respectively, equals 270 tablets per month. However, this form of release is not provided. There is a package of only 100 and 60 tablets. Therefore, this inconvenience causes a decrease in patient adherence to treatment, and the transition to other remedies for baldness. Yes, there is a proven efficacy of this drug in the treatment of alopecia, which is confirmed by clinical trials at the Russian Academy of Postgraduate Education, Roszdrav. However, this is effectiveness in complex treatment, that is, when, in addition to Evisent, other drugs were also used. There is no data on the specific effectiveness of the tool. Therefore, it should only be used in a complex manner, as a vitamin and mineral remedy. Alone Evicent is unlikely to cope with alopecia, despite the abundance of forms produced: both inside and for hair care.

Dihydroquercetin (Taxifolin Baikal)

Rating: 4.7

It is known that quercetin and its derivative dihydroquercetin are the most potent plant antioxidants of all bioflavonoids. The most highly pure and highly active of all types of dihydroquercetin is monocrystalline dihydroquercetin, or Taxifolin Baikal. It is able not only to improve capillary blood circulation in the deep layers of the scalp, but also is able to stabilize the cell membranes of the hair follicle structures, and the hair root area. Membrane stabilization is achieved by blocking free radical oxidation and reducing lipid peroxidation processes. It is known that these processes underlie cellular aging, and if they are caused by various external factors, for example, an excess of ultraviolet radiation, then it is they that trigger the mechanism leading to non-hormonal baldness.

Therefore, it is Taxifolin Baikal, which is produced by special technologies of deep processing of Siberian larch, that is able to stop diffuse baldness and improve the course of other forms of alopecia. This drug is available in capsules, each capsule contains 60 mg of highly pure monocrystalline dihydroquercetin. The average course of treatment is from 1 to 2 months, taking one capsule a day. One package for a monthly intake at retail costs about 950 to 1350 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

This bioflavonoid is well tolerated, there are no symptoms of overdose. But it must be used as part of a complex therapy, since in some cases the suppression of increased cell aging only leads to slowing down baldness, ideally to stopping it, but this process must not only be stopped, but also reversed so that new hair grows in place of bald patches . Therefore, Taxifolin should be used in conjunction with local agents, drugs for pathogenetic therapy of baldness, and in this case, the treatment of alopecia will be complete. Its deficit is also considered a relative disadvantage: almost all of the Taxifolin Baikal is exported to other countries due to high demand and high efficiency. Still, in large cities of the Russian Federation there are representative offices of the Siberian Kedr company, which produces this drug, and you can try to purchase it through a network of representatives.

Means for improving microcirculation

It is known that no matter how highly effective and unique any drugs for the treatment of alopecia are, they must not only enter the systemic circulation, in cases of ingestion, but also be delivered to the right place. If the funds are applied topically, then they are absorbed transdermally, or percutaneously, as doctors say, that is, through the skin. But if they are taken orally, or are administered parenterally (intravenously, intramuscularly), then they must get strictly to the destination. And this is done not only by the large vessels of the arterial link, but also by the smallest part of the circulatory system, in which the exchange between blood and tissues takes place. These are capillaries.

Therefore, in the event that there is poor capillary blood flow in the layers of the skin, then drugs simply cannot be delivered to the hair roots and have an effect. There is a special group of drugs that refers to drugs to improve microcirculation, and they are actively used for the treatment and prevention, including various forms of alopecia. They do not cope with hair loss at all, their role is to improve microcirculation so that other drugs have their full effect. This rating includes the most effective and popular drugs from this group, which are used, among other things, in the complex therapy of alopecia.

Capsicum tincture

Rating: 4.8

This tincture, strictly speaking, has no official indication for the treatment of baldness, or alopecia. But it is known that many drugs used in the treatment of a disease are good for other diseases as well. At the same time, the manufacturing company is not at all going to change the indications, and to include them in the instructions, since for this you need to start all over again: launch full-scale clinical trials, re-register, and only then change the instructions. All this translates into very big money. But you can do without this if the product is already selling very well, and people are aware of its additional indications for use.

Such a remedy is a simple tincture of capsicum. This drug, which is available in the form of a solution for external use, and it contains capsaicin. Capsaicin is a substance secreted from hot peppers that causes burning and redness (flushing). The indications include diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica, back pain. This remedy is rubbed into the painful area several times a day. But if you rub it into the areas of baldness, then it will also have a local irritating and analgesic effect.

The most important therapeutic ingredient will be skin irritation. As a result, a stronger blood flow into the capillary bed will be provided from the deep layers of the skin. This allows you to significantly intensify metabolic processes, and improve the nutrition of the deep structures of the hair. In the event that such local irritants are used in complex therapy while taking special drugs for the treatment of alopecia, then a faster effect can be expected from their use. The cost of such funds is low: pepper tincture – from 45 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The disadvantages are obvious: this is a slight discomfort and a burning sensation after application, there may be an individual intolerance, as well as side effects in the form of an allergic reaction. Also, this tincture of pepper and others like it is not a remedy for reducing alopecia and new hair growth. But on the other hand, in the complex treatment of baldness, these funds improve capillary metabolism, which means that the likelihood of delivery of active substances to the necessary hair structures increases. Therefore, they need to be used while taking medications for baldness.

Troxevasin

Rating: 4.7

Troxevasin is the popular, trade name for troxerutin. Troxerutin is an angioprotective substance, and predominantly acts on the venous and capillary beds. Along the way, Troxerutin has anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, most of this agent is known as an angioprotector for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities and hemorrhoids. But the action of troxerutin is systemic. It reduces the permeability of the capillary walls, the sweating of a part of the plasma from the capillary to the tissue, and reduces the volume of unnecessary fluid movement. Troxevasin is successfully used in the complex treatment of diabetic retinopathy, as well as ischemic retinal lesions. It is also used in the complex therapy of alopecia, or alopecia. The capsules must be taken orally during meals. Average dosage – 2 capsules per day (300 mg per capsule). The course of treatment is 1 month. The Bulgarian pharmaceutical company Balkanpharma produces Troxevasin in capsules, and the cost of one package of 50 capsules is, on average, 400 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

A big plus of Troxevasin is the ability to influence the restoration of the damaged structure of the capillaries, on their inner layer – the endothelium. But this effect is non-specific, and has nothing to do with the treatment of alopecia. Therefore, Troxevasin, both in capsules and in the form of a gel, can only be used in complex therapy, and especially in case of complaints about impaired capillary blood flow. Such complaints include, for example, a feeling of chilliness of the scalp, and its low temperature.

Xanthinol nicotinate

Rating: 4.7

Xanthinol nicotinate is used in various fields of medicine. It has an antiplatelet effect on platelets, is an agent that protects blood vessels, a corrector of microcirculation. It also belongs to vasodilators, and is able to slightly expand the capillaries. The mechanism of action of Xanthinol nicotinate is in the blockade of adenosine receptors and phosphodiesterase. This causes an increase in the concentration of cAMP in the cell and stimulates the synthesis of important compounds causing the effects. It is used not only for alopecia, but also for such serious diseases as vascular encephalopathy, Raynaud's disease, acute arterial thrombosis, acute thrombophlebitis, Meniere's syndrome.

With alopecia, it is taken orally, but, according to the doctor's prescription, a parenteral course (in injections) can also be prescribed. One tablet contains 150 mg, it must be taken orally, after meals, the usual dosage is one tablet three times a day, for 2 months. One package of 60 tablets, designed for 20 days of use, costs about 137 rubles. This medicine is produced by a domestic chemical pharmaceutical plant in the city of Usolye-Sibirskoye.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of Xanthinol nicotinate is its high activity associated with blocking free radical oxidation, vasodilation, and improved capillary blood flow. Also, a big plus will be its effectiveness in the treatment of such serious diseases as ischemic stroke, thrombosis and embolism, as well as severe trophic skin disorders. But this drug also has side effects. Most often, this is a feeling of heat and redness of the skin of the upper body, and especially the head and neck. But this side effect can be very beneficial in reducing the symptoms of alopecia, as it causes increased blood flow to the scalp. But treatment with this remedy must necessarily be prescribed by a doctor.

Pathogenetic therapy

In conclusion of the rating for the treatment of baldness, let us consider the so-called pathogenetic therapy. It is this group that is used to treat adrenogenetic alopecia. Loss of hair in the frontal and parietal regions is usually a sign of this hormone-dependent baldness. In this process, there is an excess of male sex hormones in the body, or a high sensitivity of specific receptors to these hormones. It is possible that the cause is a violation of hormonal metabolism associated with a hereditary predisposition. This group of drugs includes drugs of systemic action – antiandrogens. Their task is to reduce the influence of male sex hormones. In this series, there is also a separate agent that is not an antiandrogenic drug. This is Minoxidil, which was created as a drug to lower blood pressure.

Antiandrogens have side effects. Most often – this is temporary erectile dysfunction, up to impotence, a significant decrease in libido, in rare cases – the occurrence of gynecomastia, that is, an increase in male mammary glands, as well as an increase in the blood of the 'female' pituitary hormones: follicle-stimulating and luteinizing. Antiandrogens were developed for the treatment of prostate malignancies, but are currently used to treat androgenic alopecia in men.

Propecia, Alfinal, Penester (finasteride)

Rating: 4.9

To explain it very simply, finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone in the body into its active form, dihydrotestosterone. It is depending on the concentration of this hormone metabolite that the loss of sensitive hair occurs. Since DHT inhibits the function of the hair roots, finasteride blocks an enzyme called type 2 5-alpha reductase, which transforms the hormone. The course of treatment with finasteride should be quite long, the first successes associated with the cessation of hair loss and the regrowth of new ones are usually noticeable only 4 months after regular use.

The effectiveness of treatment with this agent should be assessed after a year, and the maximum effectiveness develops only 2 years after constant use. Finasteride should be used daily, one tablet, at a dosage of 1 mg per day. One of the most effective drugs created specifically for the treatment of alopecia is Propecia, created by Merck Sharp and Dome. The cost of one package of 28 tablets, designed for almost a month's course, is about 6,000 rubles, which is certainly very expensive.

Advantages and disadvantages

It is important to understand that finasteride does not eliminate the cause at all, but only blocks the action of hormones on the hair follicles. That is why, after stopping the treatment, the grown hair falls out again, within about a year, and baldness progresses. In addition, finasteride and all of its analogues are not used in the treatment of female pattern baldness. What to do with other finasteride preparations? It is known that Alfinal, Penester, Proterid are not so expensive. So, a similar package of Proterid (28 tablets) will cost only 652 rubles.

Why is Propecia so expensive? Because for the treatment of baldness, tablets of 1 milligram are needed, and the amount of active substance in tablets for the treatment of prostate diseases is 5 times more – 5 mg. Of course, for a sophisticated Russian, this is not a problem: you can divide a Proteride tablet into five equal parts, and it will last for 5 days – here are 5 Propecia tablets. If you succeed, then you will save a very significant amount: one package of Proterid will last for 4.5 months. If you use the original Propecia, then you will spend about 27 thousand rubles for the same time, or 40 times more. But in no case should you take finasteride preparations in a high dosage for baldness, and take 5 mg tablets, despite their lower cost. This will lead to significant side effects. Finasteride should be treated with alopecia under medical supervision.

Minoxidil

Rating: 4.9

And finally, we will describe the winner of the rating – the drug Minoxidil. The fact is that this agent as a hair growth stimulant is present in a huge number of various parapharmaceutical agents. These are various solutions of Minoxidil. These include Regaine, Alerana, Alopexy Azelofelin, Pregaine and many others. If you see sprays and effective baldness shampoos, such as Generolon, Cosilon, Revasil – all this will be minoxidil. Of course, in addition to Minoxidil, a variety of ingredients are possible, for example, in shampoos – hop or mint oil, grape seed extract, burdock oil, perfume composition. But the only active ingredient with proven effectiveness in any formulation will be Minoxidil.

By its nature, Minoxidil activates potassium channels and dilates blood vessels, but hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth, was a side effect of using such an antihypertensive agent. Since 1997, over-the-counter products have been available overseas that contain no more than a 5% minoxidil solution.

How to use Minoxidil? First, you need to wash and dry your hair, and you need to dose the drug by pressing the bottle. Depending on the type of tool, 7-fold pressing is quite enough, but this is exactly what is indicated in the instructions. This drug is usually used in the morning and in the evening, the agent is applied at the beginning in the central zone of alopecia, and then spreads along the periphery. After that, you need to wash your hands. During treatment, you can not increase the daily dose. Usually a 5% solution is used twice a day in men, and in women, a 2% solution is used to treat alopecia. The recommended course is about 24 weeks, or almost half a year. The cost can be cited using the example of Generolon spray. The price of one package of 60 ml of 5% spray for men is, on average, 770 rubles, and 2% spray for women is 610 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

This remedy restores hair growth, but quite often, after cancellation, they fall out again. In addition, minoxidil is effective in no more than 30% of people. This drug is not used until the age of 18, during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, because women also have various types of baldness. In some cases, when applied topically, itching and dryness of the scalp, allergic reactions, peeling, taste distortions are observed.

---

Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.