Hair Thinning & Hair Loss

Androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as pattern hair loss, affects approximately 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States. It is the most common cause of hair thinning and is driven primarily by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent androgen derived from testosterone. DHT binds to receptors in genetically susceptible hair follicles, causing them to shrink progressively with each growth cycle until they eventually stop producing visible hair.

In men, pattern hair loss typically begins with recession at the temples and thinning at the crown, eventually progressing to varying degrees of baldness. In women, the pattern is usually diffuse thinning across the top of the scalp with preservation of the frontal hairline. The process is gradual, often spanning years or decades, which is both a curse (you may not notice until significant loss has occurred) and an opportunity (early intervention can preserve substantially more hair than waiting).

The critical fact about hair loss is that it is far easier to maintain existing hair than to regrow hair from dormant follicles. Once a follicle has been miniaturized for long enough, it may lose its capacity to produce a full terminal hair. This is why dermatologists and hair restoration specialists consistently emphasize early treatment. The sooner you intervene, the more hair you keep.

INA's hair loss protocols use the two most clinically validated approaches: DHT blocking and growth stimulation. Finasteride blocks the enzyme (5-alpha reductase) that converts testosterone to DHT, reducing scalp DHT levels by approximately 70% and halting the miniaturization process. Dutasteride offers stronger DHT suppression for patients with more advanced loss or those who have not responded adequately to finasteride. Minoxidil stimulates blood flow to the hair follicle and extends the growth phase of the hair cycle, promoting regrowth of thicker, longer hairs.

Our Custom Hair Kit combines these approaches for maximum efficacy. Your INA physician evaluates your hair loss pattern, severity, duration, and medical history to determine the optimal combination and dosing. For patients early in the process, finasteride alone may be sufficient. For those with more advanced thinning, a multi-mechanism approach produces the best outcomes. Consistent treatment is essential: most patients see visible improvement within 3-6 months, with full results at 12 months.