|
 Hair
Loss
Causes of Hair Loss
Treatments for Hair Loss
Treatment of Hair Loss
There is no 'cure' for baldness. However, treatments are
available to slow hair loss and promote hair growth.
Medications available to treat hair loss have varying rates of
success. As well, the success of any medication depends on
many factors, including the cause of hair loss, how an
individual responds to treatment and the extent to which hair
loss has occurred. The less profound the degree of hair loss,
the more likely an individual is to respond to hair loss
medications.
Medications available to treat hair loss
Although there are many treatments on the market today, very
few have clinically proven results. For this reason, only a
handful of medications have been approved by the FDA. These
FDA medications include:
1) Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar)
This medication is taken orally, in pill form, daily. The
outcomes of this treatment include a slowing of hair loss and
for many, new hair growth. Results often take several months
to become apparent. Finasteride works by inhibiting the
conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT
is a hormone that shrinks hair follicles and is an important
variable in male hair loss. Potential side effects of
finasteride include dimished sex drive. Finasteride is not
recommended for women and dangers exist for women of
childbearing age. The drug has been linked to birth defects in
male fetuses. Women should not take finasteride under any
circumstances.
2) Minoxidil (Rograine)
This non prescription medication is used for the treatment of
both androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata. It comes in
liquid form that is rubbed onto the scalp twice daily. It has
been proven to promote hair regrowth and slow hair loss.
Often, new hair growth shows an increased thinness and
lightness than older hair. Potential side effects of minoxidil
include irritation and dry scalp.
Both Finasteride and Minoxidil quit working when an individual
stops taking the medication. Neither product is recommended
for children or teens, or for the treatment of nonhereditary
baldness
3) Cortisone (Cortone)
Cortisone injections to the scalp can be used to treat
alopecia areata. The injections are only mildly uncomfortable
and are usually carried out once a month. Cortisone pills are
another treatment for alopecia areata.
4) Surgery
Hair transplants and scalp reduction surgery are two surgical
methods offered to treat androgenetic alopecia.
a) Hair Transplant
Hair transplants involve taking 'plugs' of skin from the
back or side of the scalp, containing a number of hairs, and
implanting the plugs into the bald sections of the scalp. Hair
transplant usually requires several transplant sessions over
time, as hair loss occurs.
b) Scalp reduction
Scalp reduction involves decreasing the area of bald skin
on your head by removing a portion of it. This allows hair
covered areas of the scalp to cover an increasingly large part
of the scalp. Some of these methods create 'flaps', where
parts of scalp with hair are folded over regions of bald
areas. Often, scalp reduction is combined with hair
transplants to achieve a more natural looking hairline.
The downside of surgical procedures to treat hair loss include
the costs and the potential pain involved. Potential side
effects can occur, including infections and chronic head pain.
Always choose surgical approaches carefully and consult with a
number of doctors and patients for their recommendations.
5) Wigs
For those who do not achieve any positive results using other
treatment methods, wigs can be the most effective solution.
Fortunately, wigs have come a long way over the past few
decades. Excellent quality and very natural looking wigs are
available today.
The American Academy of
Dermatology offers excellent resources and articles concerning
all types of
hair
loss, treatments and causes. For information about
treating hair loss with Propecia, read about
Propecia &
Merck & Co., Inc. |
