Consumers are flooded with hair loss prevention products and miracle cures. Unfortunately, most of the potions out there just don’t work.

And sadly, millions of men and women are plagued by hair loss. It can do serious harm to your self-esteem, making you self conscious about performing everyday tasks, such as a trip to the store.

In men, it is called Male Pattern Baldness (or MPB) while, in women, it is called Female Pattern Baldness (or FPB). Thousands of dollars are spent annually on hair loss prevention products. MPB and FBB are caused by genetic traits, as well as hormonal imbalances and serious health issues. In men, the hormone DHT (or dihydrotestostrone) is usually to blame. DHT shortens the Anagen, or growth phase, which shrinks hair follicles.

Unbelievably, by the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will experience some sort of hair loss. MPB accounts for more the 95% of hair loss in men. Women make up to 40% of hair loss sufferers. The psychological affects of losing your hair can be devastating, with the sufferer feeling unattractive. These emotional turmoils and stress can possibly turn into physical issues later on in life.

Hair loss seems to be more acceptable, sometimes even expected, in men. Women, on the other hand, are usually ignored and told by their doctors that it’s not that big a deal, making the emotional toll that much more serious. Luckily, more and more companies are making hair loss prevention products for women.

The good news is there are many choices out there. The bad news is not many of the solutions are ideal. You could always go the wig route, or you could get hair extensions but both of these have obvious drawbacks and are not permanent. There is laser hair therapy and hair transplant surgery, but those can be costly, as well as painful.

There are a number of creams and shampoos on the market as well. Go to any supermarket and you’ll likely find a shelf full of hair loss prevention products. However, the product you choose must have the right ingredients to be effective.

Minoxidil is one of those ingredients. It is clinically proven to inhibit DHT in men, and has been approved by the FDA to help treat hair loss. Men usually require a higher dose then women. For example, products for men contain 5% Minoxidil, while products for women contain only 2%.

Dietary supplements can also help. The ingredients to keep an eye out for are vitamins such as B6 (which supports many of the body’s functions, including hair growth) and Biotin (supports healthy hair, skin, and nails), minerals such as Magnesium (which works with calcium to promote hair growth), Nettle Roots (which has been used for centuries as an ingredient in shampoos and hair tonics) and Horsetail Silica (which has been used since Greek and Roman times).

Thinning hair doesn’t have to be permanent, take time to find right combination of hair loss prevention products as soon as possible to increase your chances to regrow your hair and maintain a nice head of hair.