Q: I am a 21 years old male suffering from hair loss for the last four years. I am undergoing treatment for it and using finestride and minoxidil lotion, which has improved my condition a bit. How can hair loss be permanently treated?

A:From the treatment you are taking, it appears you have androgenetic alopecia or the so called male pattern baldness. This can began as early as 17 years of age; the puberty phase during which the production of male hormone begins. Minoxidil and finestride, inhibit the suppressive action of the androgens on the scalp hair, as a result of which hairs start regrowing. However, once these medicines are withdrawn, relapse is expected to occur. Therefore to maintain the regrowth of the hair, one has to continue using these medicines, for as long as is possible.