No one wants to lose their hair. A few extra hairs on the brush in the morning can cause panic in anyone. Causes are many and, till recently, cures were expensive and painful; or worse, useless. However, there’s good news. Loss of hair doesn’t need to cause the anxiety and dread it used to.

Hair loss, or alopecia, is caused mainly by genetics. Over 90% of men who experience hair loss, or male pattern baldness, are being adversely affected by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. There is no way to replace DHT, but certain medications are formulated to slow down the speed of its loss.

Many medications on the market actually list loss of hair as one of their top side effects. Other causes can be a long debilitating illness. When we are sick for a good period of time, our bodies begin to dictate where our nourishment goes. The heart and brain get “fed” first. If there isn’t enough left to send to the hair follicles, they will wither away and release hair. And anyone who has been unlucky enough to have undergone a round or two of chemo will be able to attest to how quickly hair falls out afterwards.

Researchers have been working for years to perfect treatments and cures. Some work well, others work on certain individuals only, and still others are fairly successful but outrageously expensive.

Treatments vary. There are topical ointments and shampoos, oral medications, hair transplants and variations of this procedure, laser treatments and light therapy. Other off-the-wall procedures pop up here and again and these include hypnosis, head massages, herbs, meditation, and procedures akin to medieval quackery.

Only a few decades ago, the only and best remedy was some pretty antiquated hair transplants. Success was not overwhelming. Infections and total failure were more common. These were expensive and painful to say the least. Very few patients enjoyed long term success. Some lost all their new hair and the money for the surgery. Procedures did improve along with associate pain and even costs. Long term success rates increased and severe infections that resulted in hair loss decreased drastically. However, these new surgical procedures are still surgery and they still come with risks that include everything from allergic reactions to the anesthesia, to tissue rejection.

It’s important to consult your doctor to determine exactly why your hair is falling out. He can perform tests to rule out a serious illness. If the tests reveal perhaps a hormone imbalance, the problem can be treated and chances are, hair will return naturally.

If the doctor finds no pathology to deal with, he may recommend staring with procedures that carry a low risk threshold – ointments and pills. After charting your results he may suggest something more intense depending on your response to the treatments you have been using.

Before deciding on a surgical solution such as a full blown transplant, discuss the pros and cons with either your doctor or a board certified dermatologist with this type of experience. Don’t just head to a hair transplant center asking for advice. No one gets turned away. Be safe, be careful. It’s not dying over a few strands of hair!

Look over these key loss of hair treatment resources and educate yourself before deciding on a course of action. Click here.

categories: loss of hair,loss of hair growth

Tags: Hair Loss, loss of hair, loss of hair growth