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If You Want To Treat Your Hair Loss, These FDA-Approved Products Could Help

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by Cassandra Seale and BDG Commerce

Most men will experience some form of hair loss in their lifetime — according to the American Hair Loss Association, two out of three men will have experienced hair loss by the time they’re 35. And while some men embrace baldness and look damn good doing it, others may not be ready to grab the clippers so quickly. And there is no shame in that either, but it can be a frustrating journey. The market is crowded with products that over-promise and under-deliver and may leave guys feeling like their money is going right down the drain along with their hair. That’s where Keeps hopes to come in.

Founded by two friends experiencing hair loss and struggling to find an effective treatment, they built a site that’s dedicated to helping men navigate and treat hair loss by providing solutions curated by dermatologists and hair loss experts. Keeps even connects users with doctors and specialists who can offer guidance, answer questions, and prescribe treatment — all of which the folks at Keeps work to provide at affordable rates (plans start at just $10 per month).

What You Need To Know About Hair Loss

Before diving into what types of solutions Keeps offers, there are some things that are important to keep in mind. First, Keeps is focused on treating male pattern baldness (medically known as androgenetic alopecia). It’s the most common form of hair loss for men and it’s genetic. It’s not the only cause of hair loss though. If you’re experiencing sudden, unexplained hair loss or hair loss that is accompanied by itchiness or pain, it may be a sign of a different medical condition and you should talk to a licensed physician.

Additionally, you should know that there’s currently no cure for male patterned baldness. There are products, which are available through Keeps, that are FDA-approved and clinically proven to help treat symptoms, and these treatments can help with hair regrowth but they’re the most effective at preventing and slowing hair loss. That means the sooner you start, the more hair you’ll be likely to keep.

What Hair Loss Solutions Keeps Offers

In terms of products, the selection at Keeps is pretty lean — the folks stocking Keeps’ virtual shelves are focused on only providing solutions that work. Everything Keeps offers is selected by dermatologists and hair loss experts.

FDA-Approved Treatments

The two most notable products Keeps offers are prescription-only finasteride (aka generic Propecia) and over-the-counter minoxidil (aka generic Rogaine). Finasteride and minoxidil are the only two FDA-approved products that are clinically proven to prevent hair loss.

Finasteride, which is taken as a daily pill, slows or prevents receding hair lines and promotes hair growth.

  • Best for treating hair loss at the hairline, crown, and vertex
  • Taken as a daily pill
  • FDA-Approved
  • Prescription required
  • Find out more about potential side effects and who should and shouldn’t take finasteride.

Minoxidil, which is applied topically, slows hair loss and promotes hair growth specifically at the crown.

  • Best for treating hair loss at the crown and vertex
  • Available as a foam or liquid drops to apply topically twice a day
  • FDA-Approved
  • Find out more about potential side effects and who should and shouldn’t take minoxidil.

Hair Care Products

To enhance your treatment regimen, you can choose from expert-formulated, follicle-nurturing products including a shampoo, a conditioner, and a pomade each of which either help make your hair look and feel thicker or actually promote growth.

How Keeps Works

To get started with Keeps, you’ll need to create an account and complete a short consultation which includes a medical questionnaire and uploading some photos. A quick quiz will suggest what products could be the right fit for the type of hair loss you’re experiencing. You can then select and purchase any non-prescription products and a licensed doctor will review and confirm any prescriptions.

All products are shipped to your door in three-, six, or 12-month increments. This quarterly-based shipment plan is actually part of how Keeps is able to keep the costs so low. It’s also really convenient since, if you are taking finasteride or minoxidil, you’ll only see results as long as you are using the treatments, so having them shipped on a subscription basis will be one less thing for you to have to remember.

Once you begin your treatment program, Keeps provides ongoing support and guidance. After your first month a doctor will reach out to you for a follow-up and you can text or email a specialist about any questions that may arise over the course of your hair-care journey.