The problem is, as things stand, there is not a cure for permanent hair loss types like pattern baldness, for example. However, there are treatments that can help slow down and even halt the formation of hair loss, and support the function of healthy hair growth.
Common Hair Loss Types
But before we look into the treatments available, let’s first look at what the more common hair loss types are in both men and women.
Androgenic Alopecia
Androgenic alopecia, also called pattern baldness, is the most common and well known permanent type of hair loss in men (male pattern baldness), but it can also affect women (female pattern baldness).
Pattern baldness is heredity, and the condition worsens with ageing. Although this hair loss type cannot be cured, medications like finasteride (for men only) and minoxidil can help stump further hair fall, and in some rare cases, potentially regrow some of the lost hair.
However, many people choose to avoid such treatments as they can give negative side-effects.
Seasonal hair loss is a lot more common than many think. Much like seasonal allergies, seasonal hair shedding occurs when a change in temperature puts stress on the scalp and follicles, which leads to strands falling out.
Seasonal hair loss usually occurs during certain periods of the year whereby some people experience a radical increase in hair shedding, most commonly in the autumn months.
Seasonal Hair Loss
Seasonal hair loss is a lot more common than many think. Much like seasonal allergies, seasonal hair shedding occurs when a change in temperature puts stress on the scalp and follicles, which leads to strands falling out.
Seasonal hair loss usually occurs during certain periods of the year whereby some people experience a radical increase in hair shedding, most commonly in the autumn months.
With time, shedding should stabilise back to normal daily levels and normal hair growth will continue, but the reoccurrence of condition makes it an issue that should be treated.
After women go through menopause, some physical symptoms can appear, including excessive hair thinning. Fortunately, unlike genetic hair loss, most hair thinning caused by hormonal imbalances can be treated and reversed.
The majority of women will experience menopausal hair loss, however, not all thinning is caused by this. Growing older also plays a key role in hair loss.
Many women suffer from hair loss post-pregnancy, and although it can be emotionally challenging to deal with, it should be noted that this kind of hair loss is common during the postpartum period and is usually temporary.
As the effects of pregnancy-related hormonal changes on your body slowly subside, your hair will usually return to normal, but some women experience further thinning, which means certain treatments would be required.
In telogen effluvium, which is a stress-related hair loss condition, significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a ‘resting phase’. Within a short space of time, the affected hairs might fall out suddenly.
Hair that is lost as a result of stress or anxiety, will usually start to grow back once the stress levels are back to normal. Stress-related hair loss can usually be countered with rest, meditation, and a healthy lifestyle.
There are many more hair loss types, but the ones mentioned above are the most common in men and/or women.
Menopausal Hair Loss
After women go through menopause, some physical symptoms can appear, including excessive hair thinning. Fortunately, unlike genetic hair loss, most hair thinning caused by hormonal imbalances can be treated and reversed.
The majority of women will experience menopausal hair loss, however, not all thinning is caused by this. Growing older also plays a key role in hair loss.
Postpartum Hair Loss
Many women suffer from hair loss post-pregnancy, and although it can be emotionally challenging to deal with, it should be noted that this kind of hair loss is common during the postpartum period and is usually temporary.
As the effects of pregnancy-related hormonal changes on your body slowly subside, your hair will usually return to normal, but some women experience further thinning, which means certain treatments would be required.
Telogen Effluvium
In telogen effluvium, which is a stress-related hair loss condition, significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a ‘resting phase’. Within a short space of time, the affected hairs might fall out suddenly.
Hair that is lost as a result of stress or anxiety, will usually start to grow back once the stress levels are back to normal. Stress-related hair loss can usually be countered with rest, meditation, and a healthy lifestyle.
There are many more hair loss types, but the ones mentioned above are the most common in men and/or women.
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Treatments for Hair Loss
Now that we have established what the most common types of hair loss are, let us delve into what treatments are available for hair loss in both men and women.
Finasteride
Finasteride, often branded as Propecia, or Proscar, is a medically approved prescription drug for male pattern baldness. This oral pill has shown to be effective is slowing down, and even halting hair loss in men, however, it can come with negative, long-term side-effects, such as erectile dysfunction, impotence, lowered libido, skin rash, increase in breast size, breast tenderness, feminisation, depression and anxiety.
Finasteride has to be taken long-term, or the hair will continue to fall out the moment the user stops taking it.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Effectiveness: Good.
Cons: Potential negative side-effects and it needs to be used long term.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil, most commonly known as Regaine/Rogaine, is the only medically approved topical hair loss treatment. Minoxidil comes in two solutions, 5% for men, and 2% for women, respectively.
With continued use, minoxidil can help slow down the rate of hair fall and help regrow hair, albeit on a small scale. However, like finasteride (although, not as severe), minoxidil can come with negative side-effects, with the most common being an itchy scalp, dizziness, headaches, skin rash, and even weight gain.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Effectiveness: Average.
Cons: Potential negative side-effects and it needs to be used long term.
Ketoconazole
There has been some research that suggests ketoconazole may help to treat hair loss caused by pattern baldness. Researchers believe that ketoconazole may do this by affecting DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss in men.
Ketoconazole is most commonly used in shampoo/topical form, with Nizoral being the go-to brand. Again, much like with minoxidil, ketoconazole’s effects are minimal, but it can be effective when used in conjunction with other hair loss treatments.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Effectiveness: Average.
Cons: Not effective on its own.
Hair Supplements
Hair supplements do not get the full credit they deserve, but the reality is, they can be an excellent treatment for early stages of hair loss in men and women.
A good multi macro-extract hair supplement, like HR23+, can go a long way in encouraging hair growth, because it contains a range of key ingredients that benefits the hair.
Hair supplements are also a safe and natural alternative to the harsh prescription drugs, which means you can treat hair loss without ever needing to compromise on your health.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Effectiveness: Good.
Cons: Needs to be used long term.
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Keratinocyte Growth Factor
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is an active ingredient that may help promote hair growth. KGF utilises the nutrients that contain prebiotics, polysaccharides and antioxidants to protect the cells that make hair. With continued application, KGF can help prevent hair loss and encourage the healthy function of hair growth.
The most common form of KGF is in a topical solution, like a serum, with a recommended application of around 4–5 times per week, long term.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Effectiveness: Average.
Cons: Needs to be used long term.
Micro Needling
Most commonly done as an anti-aging skin treatment, micro needling has also shown to be an effective method of treatment for hair loss. Micro needling is a process of making wounds in the skin, which is thought to regenerate the health of the hair follicles by the creation of protein and collagen during the skin’s recovery phase.
With continued use of micro needling devices, such as derma rollers and derma stamps, hair loss can be prevented, and hair regrowth can also occur.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Effectiveness: Good.
Negatives: Needs to be used long term.
Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a process whereby some bloody is extracted from one part of the body, and then transferred/injected into the scalp area, in order to increase bloody flow in the scalp.
Although some doctors use PRP to encourage the growth of thinning hair and promote the growth of transplanted hair, it is not yet a proven hair loss treatment, and more tests are needed to establish exactly how effective this therapy is.
Cost: Expensive.
Effectiveness: Relatively unknown.
Cons: Not enough evidence to suggest it is effective for its high price.
Hair Laser Growth Therapy
According to various studies, hair laser growth therapy treatment appeared to be safe and effective for hair growth in both men and women. Hair laser growth therapy treatment has shown to increase the rate of hair growth in over 30% of men and women, however, the results are minimal.
Hair laser growth therapy treatment sessions can be done at professional hair clinics, or alternatively, the process can be done at home, with purchased devices like hair laser combs and brushes.
Cost: Expensive.
Effectiveness: Average.
Cons: Not effective enough for its high price.
Hair Transplantation
For more severe stages of baldness, hair transplantation can be a good option. Hair transplantation surgery is a process whereby the follicles from the donar area are extracted and then reinserted into the bald areas of the scalp.
Hair transplantations can be very effective, however, in most cases, the patient will have to have a number of transplants over time. A good hair transplant is not a guarantee, as many factors play a key role in this, such as the patient’s donar area, their stage of hair loss, and their hair loss type.
Cost: Expensive.
Effectiveness: Varies from person-to-person.
Cons: The procedure is expensive, and does not guarantee successful results.
Conclusion
There is no cure for baldness, however, science has come a long way in recent years, and now there are a wide range of viable treatments that can help slow down and even stop hair loss in both men and women.
It should be noted that the earlier hair loss is treated, the more chance there will be of maintaining healthy hair for a longer period of time. More advances stages of hair loss will often require more expensive, surgical procedures, therefore it is important to tackle the issue as early as possible.
Whether hair loss is treated with prescription drugs, safer alternatives, or surgical procedures, results will always vary from person-to-person. So, until there is a cure for hair loss, treating it will always be an unpredictable process.
 and women (50 percent) experience some form of hair loss by the age of 40. Some cases are more severe than others, but...){kind=link}
My transplants are guaranteed! Dr Paul Spano
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! Always start with non-medical treatments, and then work your way onto medications IF the hair loss still progresses.
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