Treatment Options for Overcoming Hair Loss

Many people who experience baldness feel completely alone, when in fact about 80 million people worldwide experience some degree of hair loss. While there are many causes and factors that influence hair loss, male pattern baldness is the most prevalent. Did you know 90% of men are inflicted with some type of hair loss by the time they are 50-years-old? You are not alone. Additionally, while many people think of men when they heard ‘bald,’ women also suffer from female pattern baldness.

The technical term for male pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia, is the primary cause of male hair loss due to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which all men have. Additionally, factors such as diet, sickness, and other environmental factors may impact hair loss. If you suffer from hair loss, there are various treatments and solutions for you, but the only permanent option to restore hair is a hair transplant.

Products

A cosmetic option that is heavily marketed is the use of thickening shampoos and conditioners that can be used for those who suffer from hair loss. Thickening products work by coating the hair, giving a fuller appearance, but they do not actually regrow hair. This may be an acceptable option for those with minor thinning of the hair.

Topical Solution

Two popular topical solutions, Propecia and Rogaine, claim to combat hair loss by slowing down the hair loss process and re-growing hair. While these treatments work for some people, they are not effective solutions for everyone and work best in the earliest stages of hair loss.

Laser Treatment

New laser treatments, such as the LaserComb, combat hair loss with a low-level laser light that generates the regrowth of hair follicles. To use this device, you run the comb through your hair for 20 minutes. There is also a new version of this technology, which is a laser light helmet, which is more effective and less demanding. With the helmet, high concentrations of the laser light are applied to the areas of the scalp affected by hair loss.

With hair loss being a progressive condition, more than likely, any of the above treatments will only be a temporary fix for hair loss. Hair restoration surgery is the only permanent solution for hair loss. Both men and women can have hair restoration surgery and it involves taking healthy hair from a donor area and transplanting the healthy follicles onto the affected areas. Each hair grafts will usually contain 1-4 hairs. Since the hair from the donor area is not prone to balding, it provides exceptional results since it is providing permanent hair to the balding areas. Good candidates for a hair transplant will need to have a healthy donor area. If you are completely bald, this procedure will not be an option for you.

If you are experiencing some thinning hair or balding you would like to know the cause, you can contact the experienced hair loss physician, Dr. Yates. He will be able to determine what is causing your hair loss and will let you know what your options are for treatment.