Hair Loss Treatment

 

Is Hair Loss Treatment The Cure?

Hair loss, either temporary or permanent, has no cure. Many times temporary hair loss will begin re-growing hair once the cause is eliminated, such as drugs or medical treatments, and even male pattern baldness has been known to suddenly start re-growing hair. And although there is no cure, there are hair loss treatments that have shown promise to resume hair growth.

Products allowed legally to advertise themselves as a hair loss treatment must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which shows it has completed satisfactory clinical trials to perform as promised and that any side effects from using the product are properly documented and warnings are available. Products such as Rogaine and Propecia are advertised to help stop hair loss as well as grow new hair.

Rogaine is touted as treatment for Androgenetic alopecia, male pattern baldness, and has been shown to re-grow hair within four months. As a liquid, the over the counter hair loss treatment is massaged into the scalp twice a day and hair growth has been shown to stop when product usage is stopped. The new hair is typically shorter and thinner than other hair, but generally long enough to be blended in with existing hair.

Danger To Women Found In Some Treatments

Propecia, in pill form available by prescription has not been approved for use by women and is warned to pose danger to women of child-bearing age. Absorption of the drug by pregnant women is expected to cause serious birth defect in male fetuses. The hair loss treatment effectiveness of the daily pill has shown to significantly slow the hair loss process and in many cases has sparked hair re-growth in about two years.

Corticosteroids have shown to slow hair loss and many doctors use monthly injections into the scalp to help reverse the effects of Androgenetic alopecia. It has also been prescribed in pill form or in creams to be used between injections, but their use has not been proven as an effective hair loss treatment.

Anthralin is a tar-like substance rubbed onto the scalp and washed off daily. Typically used to treat skin ailments is has also shown promise in hair re-growth. Another hair loss treatment available is hair transplants, a surgical procedure where hair follicles are removed from one area and transplanted into another area of the scalp.

If you cannot find a hair loss treatment that works for you and surgery is not an acceptable, or affordable method, for you, the age-old hair loss treatment that has been around for many years are wigs and hair pieces.

 

Hair Loss Treatments: How to Find the Best Treatment for You

Hair loss can occur in both men and women for a variety of reasons. Genetics, hormones and some medications can all contribute to this condition. If you are noticing that your hair is thinning, or if you are discovering some bald patches on your scalp, it might be time to consider your options in hair loss treatments. The good news is that there are many choices in this arena, including topical solutions, medications and some surgical procedures. If you would like to pursue a hair loss treatment, the first step that you need to make is into your doctor’s office for an exam and guidance as to which treatment might work best for you.

Various Topical Hair Loss Treatments

There are a couple of topical hair loss treatments available, and these fall under the commercial names of Rogaine and Drithocreme. Rogaine contains minoxidil in either a two or five percent solution. Minoxidil can be rubbed into the scalp to stop current hair loss, and in some case actually regrow hair. This medication works only as long as it is used, which means that hair loss will resume once you are no longer applying the ointment. Drithocreme is a tarry substance that is most often used to treat psoriasis, but it can also be an effective remedy for controlling hair loss in some people.

Medications for Hair Loss Treatments

Finasteride, which is also known as Propecia is an oral medication that is sometimes used as a hair loss treatment for men. This medication works by inhibiting the hormone DHT, which is known to shrink hair follicles and contribute to hair loss. In order for this medication to be effective you must continue to take it, since ceasing the medication will result in the hair loss resuming. Finasteride has not been approved for women, and has in fact proved to be highly dangerous to the unborn child of pregnant women. Corticosteroids can also be used as a hair loss treatment, and are most often given by injection for this type of condition.

Surgery for Hair Loss Treatment

There are two types of surgery available for hair loss treatment, and these include hair transplants and scalp reduction. Sometimes a combination of these two procedures is done for maximum results. Surgery for hair loss treatment can be a painful process that has risks associated with it, so the decision to have surgery should be weighed very carefully. If you are concerned about thinning hair, talk to your doctor today about the hair loss treatments that are available to you.