Final answer:
Specialty shampoos and medications like finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil are designed to treat various scalp and hair problems, including dandruff, hair loss, and fungal infections. Ketoconazole shampoo is sometimes used for androgenic alopecia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The treatment of scalp and hair diseases or problems involves a variety of specialized products and medications. Specialty shampoos are formulated to address issues like dandruff, color-treated hair, and allergies among others, and may contain active ingredients designed to treat specific conditions. For instance, baby shampoos are usually made to be non-irritating to young children’s sensitive skin.
When it comes to hair loss treatments such as male pattern baldness, medications like finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil have shown moderate success. They are often more effective at preventing further hair loss rather than regrowing hair, and may be used individually or in combination for better results. Ketoconazole shampoo, when used with oral 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride or dutasteride, has also been employed off-label to treat androgenic alopecia.
Treatment for fungal skin infections, such as athlete’s foot or jock itch, often includes over-the-counter creams and powders, while more persistent conditions may require prescription oral medications. Drugs like minoxidil have interesting histories, as they were initially developed for unrelated uses in this case, treating high blood pressure before their hair growth-promoting effects were discovered.