Hair loss is a condition that affects millions of Americans today. Since we’ve learned the causes for hair loss are primarily genetic, many alopecia sufferers have resorted to quietly resenting their parents, investing in more hats, or shaving what’s left in the hope they can pull off a look like Bruce Willis’s or Sinead O’Connor’s. However, increased research into the causes and treatment of alopecia has led to the development of some rather effective hair loss solutions for today’s market.
How Does Hair Loss Occur?
For those with bald parents or grandparents, you may occasionally worry about being stricken hairless, suddenly and hopelessly, but hair loss is a very gradual process. While hair loss is certainly more likely if you have balding relatives in the immediate family, understanding how it happens could help you prevent hair loss before it gets the best of your hairline.
Hereditary predisposition aside, hair loss occurs due to the interaction of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with our hair follicles. Our sebacious glands and hair follicles have an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. When DHT binds to hair follicles that are genetically susceptible to balding, the hair follicle is further weakened and the result is ‘miniturization’ (progressive thinning of the hair with each hair growth cycle).
What Are the Best Treatments for Hair Loss?
Treatment options for adults with alopecia are numerous and range from topical creams and gels, to hair restoration medications to, the latest, hair transplant surgery. Here is a breakdown of some of the best products and treatments available today:
Topical and Oral Medications
- Anti-Inflammatories– Tricomin, Folligen, Proxiphen etc.
- DHT Blockers– Propecia® (Finasteride), Provillus, Revivogen, Crinogen, Progesterone creams etc.
- Growth Stimulators– Rogaine® (Minoxidil) is the most popular hair growth stimulator, but Tricomin, Folligen, and Proxiphen also have properties that encourage new hair growth
- Superoxide Dismutase– Tricomin, Folligen, Proxiphen etc.
Alternative Hair Restoration
- Hair Transplant Surgery
- Hair Therapy Program– REVVup Hair Therapy, Extreme Hair Therapy (EXT), etc.
- Laser Hair Restoration– Low level laser therapy (LLLT), HairMax laser comb, Rezultz laser comb, etc.
- Hair Replacement Systems– Customized wigs and toupees
Hair loss prevention and treatment has come a long way with these advancements in restorative methods, but it can still be hard to decipher which option is the best fit for you. On average, topical and oral medications like Rogaine and Propecia benefit patients who are in the beginning stages of hair loss, whereas hair transplant surgery is the top choice for individuals with advanced pattern baldness.
Say goodbye to unnatural or unattractive hair plugs! Modern hair transplant surgery utilizes patients’ own hair, transferred from the sides or back of the head in a process called micro-grafting or follicular unit transplantation. Hair transplant surgeons relocate the hair onto areas of the scalp where it’s needed most, and arrange it to mimic natural growth patterns, thus creating a fuller, more organic-looking hairline.
How do I Choose?
The easiest way to learn which hair restoration treatment is best for you, is by deciding what your hair restoration goals are, and by setting up a consultation with a hair loss specialist. They can determine what stage of hair loss you’re in, and inform you of which treatment options will give you the best results, whether it be hair transplant surgery, Rogaine, Propecia, or Hair Therapy programs.