Since mankind first put chisel to tablet, human have been fretting over the loss of their hair. Now, for the first time in history, there are a number of effective treatments that will help you better determine the fate of your pate.
What is happening
These are many causes of thinning hair. The most common is male and female-pattern baldness, medically known as androgenetic alopecia, in which hair thing gradually. This is a common male condition, often starting, when a man is in his twenties and continuing through file. Over 180,000 Australians women are also susceptible, although they generally lose far less hair than men. Patttern balness is genetic, but it's a myth that you inherit it only from your mothers's side.
What you do inherit is a sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone produced when testosterone comes in contact with an enzyme in your hair follicle called S-alpha reductase. If you're prone to this type of hair loss, DHT slowly strangles the hair follicles on the sides and back of the head aren't affected by DHT. That's why men are often left with a his fringe of hair.
Patchy baldness, or alopecia areata, is another common form of hair loss. This immune-system disorder causes coin-sized areas of your scalp to suddenly shed hair. It is thought to be related to a genetic predisposition in about 20 percent of cases. When stress causes hair loss, it's called telogen effluvium. This can be brought on by illness, major surgery, a traumatic event or even childbirth. It may take three to six months before your hair starts falling out (so you may not make the connection, but it often grows back after just a few months.
T here are some other, rarer reasons why you might be losing your hair. One condition, called trichotillomania, is an abnormal desire to tug and pull at your hair until it comes out. Another, traction alopecia, comes from wearing ponytails or braids pulled so tight that the hair gets tugged out by its roots. Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes your scalp to become scaly and flaky and your hair to break off. Poor nutrition can also cause hair loss, as can certain medications and chemotherapy. For all these disorders, once the problem is addressed, your hair will regrow.
Treatments
To begin, your doctor will want to perform a physical examination to rule out any underlying health conditions, especially if your hair loss was sudden. If a medical problem, is the cause and it's treated, your hair will grow back. For other types of hair loss, there are a host of treatment options available. Pattern baldness often responds to topical and, in the case of men, oral medication. If that doesn't get the results you want, you can investigate hair
LIKELY FIRST STEPSThese are many causes of thinning hair. The most common is male and female-pattern baldness, medically known as androgenetic alopecia, in which hair thing gradually. This is a common male condition, often starting, when a man is in his twenties and continuing through file. Over 180,000 Australians women are also susceptible, although they generally lose far less hair than men. Patttern balness is genetic, but it's a myth that you inherit it only from your mothers's side.
What you do inherit is a sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone produced when testosterone comes in contact with an enzyme in your hair follicle called S-alpha reductase. If you're prone to this type of hair loss, DHT slowly strangles the hair follicles on the sides and back of the head aren't affected by DHT. That's why men are often left with a his fringe of hair.
Patchy baldness, or alopecia areata, is another common form of hair loss. This immune-system disorder causes coin-sized areas of your scalp to suddenly shed hair. It is thought to be related to a genetic predisposition in about 20 percent of cases. When stress causes hair loss, it's called telogen effluvium. This can be brought on by illness, major surgery, a traumatic event or even childbirth. It may take three to six months before your hair starts falling out (so you may not make the connection, but it often grows back after just a few months.
T here are some other, rarer reasons why you might be losing your hair. One condition, called trichotillomania, is an abnormal desire to tug and pull at your hair until it comes out. Another, traction alopecia, comes from wearing ponytails or braids pulled so tight that the hair gets tugged out by its roots. Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes your scalp to become scaly and flaky and your hair to break off. Poor nutrition can also cause hair loss, as can certain medications and chemotherapy. For all these disorders, once the problem is addressed, your hair will regrow.
Treatments
To begin, your doctor will want to perform a physical examination to rule out any underlying health conditions, especially if your hair loss was sudden. If a medical problem, is the cause and it's treated, your hair will grow back. For other types of hair loss, there are a host of treatment options available. Pattern baldness often responds to topical and, in the case of men, oral medication. If that doesn't get the results you want, you can investigate hair
- A physical examination to rule out any underlying medical or psychological disorder.
- Medications to slow the rate of hair loss and, ideally to help hair grow back.
- Lifestyle changes to nourish your scalp and help you keep the hair you have left.
- Hair transplants weaves or wigs to achieve more immediate results.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
- Does it make a difference whether my hair is falling out or breaking off?
- Are there any medications I'm taking that could be causing my hair loss?
- Do you think the hair loss could be the result of a hormone imbalance?
- Could there be long-term effects from taking hair loss medications every day?
- Is it possible that I could be shampooing too often?
Treatment Options
MEDICATIONS
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Topical minoxidil Regrows top-of-head hair in 40% of people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finasteride Quite effective; best used at early stage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cortisone--topical, intralesion Treats patchy balness (alopecia areata)
or orally
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drithocreme/PUVA Topical cream plus ultraviolet A radiation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antifugals Combat ringworm-related hair loss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antidepressants Treat obessive-compulsive behaviour.
PROCEDURES
-----------------------------------------------------------a----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hair transplatnation Can produce healthy, growing hair.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't smoke Smoking is linked to hair loss.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Handle hair with care Use mild shampoo; comb gently.
NATURAL METHODS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aromatherapy May help with alopecia areata.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saw palmetto A natural alternative to the drug finasteride.
replacement surgery. When ringworm is the cause, antifungal creams will clear it up. Patchy baldness can be treated to a large extent with cortinsone creams and injections, or oral cortisone. And for immediate results, you can opt for a wig or hairpiece.
TAKING CONTROL
Medications
Two drugs are currently approved by the Therapeutic and Drugs Adminstration to treat pattern baldness. The first is topical minoxidil, often sold under the brand name Regaine Topical. It's available without a prescription and can be used by both men and women. It comes in two strengths--a 2 percent and a 5 percent concentration (the 5 percent solution is said to grow more hair more quickly). Minoxidil does have its limitations only about 40 percent of people applying it twice a day for a year will have moderate to dense hair growth and it works only on the top of the head. You also have to use it indefinitely; any new hair it produces usually falls out within three months of stopping the drug. It's also very expensive.
MEDICATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topical minoxidil Regrows top-of-head hair in 40% of people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finasteride Quite effective; best used at early stage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cortisone--topical, intralesion Treats patchy balness (alopecia areata)
or orally
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drithocreme/PUVA Topical cream plus ultraviolet A radiation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antifugals Combat ringworm-related hair loss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antidepressants Treat obessive-compulsive behaviour.
PROCEDURES
-----------------------------------------------------------a----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hair transplatnation Can produce healthy, growing hair.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't smoke Smoking is linked to hair loss.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Handle hair with care Use mild shampoo; comb gently.
NATURAL METHODS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aromatherapy May help with alopecia areata.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saw palmetto A natural alternative to the drug finasteride.
replacement surgery. When ringworm is the cause, antifungal creams will clear it up. Patchy baldness can be treated to a large extent with cortinsone creams and injections, or oral cortisone. And for immediate results, you can opt for a wig or hairpiece.
TAKING CONTROL
- Go for the bald and bold look. Perhaps more so now than ever before, a clean-shaven head is not only acceptable for men, but fashionable and attractive.
- Consider camouflage. For women, a short haircut or one that's layered can hide thinning hair. Or if you're showing more scalp than you're comfortable with, invest in a wig, or for men, a hairpiece.
- Think about joining a support group. It's not for everyone, but it can be a good way to meet others who are going through the same thing. Don't under-estimate the psychological impact of losing your hair. It's tough for men, and it can be devastating for women.
- Get a yearly physical. A number of studies have found that men who started losing their hair early in life are at greater risk for heart disease.
- Shop around for a surgeon. If you're considering hair transplants. Ask to see at least a dozen different before-and-after photos. Find out if the surgeon will give you a list of names and phone numbers of some patients he's worked on. And investigate his reputation with other doctors.
Medications
Two drugs are currently approved by the Therapeutic and Drugs Adminstration to treat pattern baldness. The first is topical minoxidil, often sold under the brand name Regaine Topical. It's available without a prescription and can be used by both men and women. It comes in two strengths--a 2 percent and a 5 percent concentration (the 5 percent solution is said to grow more hair more quickly). Minoxidil does have its limitations only about 40 percent of people applying it twice a day for a year will have moderate to dense hair growth and it works only on the top of the head. You also have to use it indefinitely; any new hair it produces usually falls out within three months of stopping the drug. It's also very expensive.
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