Spironolactone
A common cause of baldness and hair thinning in women is the overproduction of male hormones, specifically testosterone. These androgens are the hormones that cause men to have male pattern baldness, but it’s even worse when it affects women. Spironolactone hair growth treatment that a New York expert in hair restoration may recommend as a solution for many women. At Linkov Hair Surgery in Manhattan, Dr. Gary Linkov may recommend a treatment other than spironolactone for hair growth, but if you’re a suitable candidate, you can get it from your primary care doctor. Call for a consultation.
What Is Spironolactone for Hair Loss?
Spironolactone is a medication that’s used for multiple medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure and diseases of the liver and kidney. It’s also become a useful tool to treat female pattern hair loss and androgenetic alopecia, also known as AGA. AGA is a slowly progressive disease. Spironolactone works by slowing down male sex hormone production. Called androgens, these hormones include testosterone.
Androgens contribute to hair loss in women. By slowing down your body’s production of androgens, spironolactone stimulates fuller hair growth. The reduced production of androgens slows the rate of hair loss caused by androgenic alopecia in women. A hair restoration specialist may prescribe the medication after determining that you suffer from androgenetic alopecia, but there are safer treatments.
At New York City’s Linkov Hair Surgery, a top doctor in hair restoration, Dr. Gary Linkov provides other advanced hair loss treatments for women that include:
What Is Androgenetic Alopecia in Women?
Androgenetic alopecia leads to the increased production and activity of androgens in women. While normal in men, in women, an overabundance of androgens produces symptoms that can start any time after puberty, such as:
- Gradual hair thinning over your central scalp
- Unchanged frontal hairline
- Anxiety and depression
- A loss of self-esteem and self-confidence
- Relationship issues
If a top hair loss specialist determines you’re suffering from androgenetic alopecia — or one of its variations, such as alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia, frontal fibrosing alopecia, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia or traction alopecia — you can benefit from spironolactone for hair loss. But Dr. Linkov refers you to your primary care doctor for it, since the medication can affect your electrolytes, which need monitoring while you are on the medicine.
How Does Spironolactone Work for Hair Loss?
Spironolactone is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and an aldosterone receptor agonist. One of the results of taking this drug is reducing the production of testosterone hormones. Once you start taking the medication, your body absorbs the hormone before your liver gets a chance to metabolize it. Spironolactone for hair loss works in ways that include:
- During liver metabolism, spironolactone breaks down into potassium canrenoate and potassium canrenone, which start to slow down the production of androgens like testosterone.
- Spironolactone is safe if taken while you’re under your primary care doctor’s supervision.
- With less testosterone circulating in your body, you experience less hair loss and more of your normal hair growth.
To stop female pattern hair loss, your doctor may prescribe a spironolactone treatment dosage between 100 mg to 200 mg. If you need a higher dose for faster results, ask your doctor before increasing it yourself. Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills to take with spironolactone if you haven’t yet gone through menopause.
How Long Does Spironolactone Hair Growth Take?
Spironolactone for hair growth doesn’t work instantly. Your primary care doctor may advise you to maintain realistic expectations that include:
- Don’t expect improvements right away, as the drug works gradually.
- Your doctor may recommend taking spironolactone in combination with another hair loss treatment medication, such as minoxidil or finasteride. The combination slows hair loss even more, so you notice more hair growth
- If you’re taking a high dose of 200 mg, you may start seeing slight improvements after 24 weeks, which is within six months.
- If you don’t see any improvements in your hair loss in this time, return to the clinic for a review.
- With lower doses, you can expect noticeable results in six to 20 months.
- Don’t use any hair loss treatment medication or combine drugs without your doctor’s prescription.
The patient-centered approach Dr. Linkov and his team use at Linkov Hair Surgery distinguishes the practice’s quality of services. In all his hair loss treatments, your experience comes first. You may start a treatment other than spironolactone for hair loss first.
Why Use Spironolactone to Treat Hair Loss?
Spironolactone is an effective treatment for hair loss. Reasons your hair restoration specialist may prescribe the medication through your primary care doctor include:
Safety The drug is FDA-approved to treat several medical conditions, including hair loss in women.
Effectiveness Studies show Healthcare providers have discovered how spironolactone works in slowing down the production of androgens in women and helping with hair loss. The drug targets the problem and not symptoms. By stopping the production and action of androgens, the medication treats the underlying issue.an increase in hair growth among men using finasteride.
The science After metabolizing in the liver, the drug breaks down into a compound that slows testosterone production in your adrenal gland.
Psychological effect Hair loss is traumatic for women. Using spironolactone to treat hair loss has helped many women handle the stress and anxiety that comes with the condition.
Improved self-esteem Spironolactone stops hair loss. With reduced levels of androgens, you experience better hair growth.
Suitability You can take a simple blood test to confirm if you’re a good candidate for the treatment.
Affordability Insurance covers spironolactone, although the cost is reasonable.
Androgenetic alopecia affects about 30 million women in the country. Many women suffer from hair loss in silence or try costly alternatives when they may be benefit from taking spironolactone. Dr. Linkov and his team have built a strong reputation for surgical and non-surgical hair restoration solutions other than spironolactone.
Am I Candidate for Spironolactone to Treat Hair Loss?
If you’re suffering hair loss, the factors that make you a good candidate for spironolactone hair growth treatment include:
- You experience hair loss before menopause.
- You have female pattern hair loss because of excessive androgen production, which your doctor can determine by reviewing your hair loss history and giving you a blood test.
- You suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hyperprolactinemia or adrenal hyperplasia.
If you can’t benefit from spironolactone, Dr. Linkov and his team have alternatives, including hair transplants for women. Dr. Linkov is a board certified physician who adopts the latest hair restoration methodologies to solve your hair loss problems. If you’re looking for outstanding hair restoration services in NYC, contact one of the best hair loss treatment facilities at Linkov Hair Surgery.
