Surgical Hair Loss Treatment

By Carl DiNello

An increasingly popular solution to hair loss is the surgical hair loss treatment. These surgical treatments have proven to be very successful alleviating the appearance of baldness.

Some popular examples of surgical treatments that can help with hair loss are:

Scalp Reductions - This surgery involves the removal of small balding areas from the scalp. Today, this method is considered out-of-date, and potentially very dangerous. There is also a high risk of infection, as well as the potential for an unnatural appearance after the surgery.

Scalp Lifts - This procedure takes a large hairy section of the person's scalp, and rotates it into the area that is bald. This is actually a more radical form of scalp reduction requiring hospitalization and can result in a permanent numbing of a portion of the scalp.

Hair Transplants - This is a micrograft procedure that fills in bald patches on the head with hair follicles that are taken from a hairy part of the scalp. Several hundred “hair plugs” may be necessary to cover the balding area. These new hair plugs may themselves fall out, but new hair will be stimulated to grow over the next several months.

None of these procedures offers a full head of hair and an instant fix, as each of these hair loss surgical treatments requires some time, and multiple visits to the surgeon before the results can be fully appreciated. In fact, it will typically take a number of months before the procedures will produce noticeable, and long-lasting hair growth on a person's head.

For someone who has suffered a great deal of hair loss as a result of an accident involving scalp injury, the most common surgical procedure to restore hair is scalp reduction. Serious injuries like this may require a section of the scalp to be removed with the edges that surround the removed patch of skin then being pulled together and sewn.

While this drastic type of treatment for hair loss may seem to provide the quickest results, and at one time was quite common, it is now used primarily when serious scalp injury has occurred. The great majority of people who have suffered hair loss now opt for the less extreme treatment of micrografts. Although the results using this hair loss treatment are quite a bit slower, this method will result in the most natural looking regrowth of hair.

Effective Hair Loss Baldness Treatment Options

By Patricia Hammond

Hair loss is a very common occurrence, with more than 60 million Americans suffering from it. Since baldness is inherited, a lot of people think that there is no hair loss baldness treatment available for them. The good news is that there are several ways that deal with hair loss problems.

There is a hair loss baldness treatment available for different people. However, the first step in dealing with hair loss is to consult with a doctor and to get a complete medical examination. This is one way of knowing the precise cause of hair loss and determining the best hair loss baldness treatment. Hair loss in men and women can be due to heredity, illness, malnutrition and side effects from medications. The only way to know the cause of baldness for every individual is to consult with a physician.

Hereditary baldness is a condition that medical practitioners don’t have the capability to treat yet. But there have been hair loss baldness treatment options available in the market that can deal with the problem effectively, whether the problem is due to genetics, illness, drugs or malnutrition. Two of these medications have been approved by the FDA. They are dutasteride and finasteride.

Many people consider dutasteride as the most advanced hair loss baldness treatment to suppress dehydrotestosterone (DHT), the main cause of hair fall among men. Dutasteride has shown that it is capable of inhibiting the two kinds of enzymes that convert testosterone into DHT. Generic Dutasteride works by reducing the size of the enlarged prostate and diminishing the levels of DHT by 90% at two weeks and 93% at two years.

Finasteride (propecia) is another hair loss baldness treatment that stops hair loss. Propecia is the brand name being used in hair loss treatments that contain finasteride. Finasteride has been proven in scientific studies to prevent hair loss. Finasteride works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, which is an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. In theory, propecia stops the conversion of testesterone into DHT, thereby preventing DHT from binding to the follicles. Propecia is considered one of the best hair loss treatments. The medication is specifically good for people with minimal loss of hair as users are able to keep their hair without further hair loss advancement.

Propecia is undoubtedly one of the best hair loss treatments because it has proven to work and is also very convenient. Just pop in a small pill everyday and there is no need to mess with the hair. It is particularly good for those with minimal hair loss because users can be confident of keeping their hair without further progression of hair loss.

Another FDA-approved hair loss baldness treatment is minoxidil 2% solution. Minoxidil is considered an effective hair loss baldness treatment since it is efficient in recruiting hair at the follicles, especially when taken together with DHT inhibitors like propecia.

These are three products that are part of an increasing trend towards natural hair loss baldness treatment products that counteract the effects of DHT. Aside from the three medications, other methods for treating hair loss include acupuncture, aromatherapy and even hair transplants.

Female Hair Loss Treatments

By Jennifer Bailey

Hair loss is a condition that affects both sexes. Although to a lesser degree compared to males, females also experience hair loss. In fact, it has been found that hair loss in females is more widespread than was previously believed with over 25 million Americans suffering the symptoms and effects of hair loss and the stress it causes. The emotional and psychological effects of hair loss are also far greater in women than in men since hair is considered an essential part of an attractive and positive image.

One of the causes of female hair loss is not really hereditary genes but the temporary problems in metabolism that commonly accompanies conditions such as pregnancy, stress, medications, anorexia, surgery, infection and other serious medical problems. Taking certain drugs will also negatively affect hair with effects ranging from dryness and brittleness to falling hair. Meanwhile, female pattern baldness results in considerable thinning of the hair, though not in a degree more commonly seen in males. Another cause of hair loss in women is the declining level of estrogen.

Like in men, effectively treating hair loss in women starts with determining the cause. Usually, if the hair loss is caused by a temporary medical problem such as those cited earlier, the symptoms will simply stop as soon as the cause ends. Other treatment of hair loss in women includes medications such as Finasteride, which is in tablet form and works by blocking the circulation of androgen. Minoxidil is also one of the most common prescription hair loss medications available.

There are also a variety of new medications that are introduced to the market. Hair transplantation, a surgical operation still remains as the most effective way to treat serious hair loss and with natural-looking results. Researchers and doctors are also continuously searching for new drugs or techniques to help prevent and treat hair loss in women.

Your Hair Loss Treatment Options

By Judy Wellsworth

Are you or someone close to you experiencing hair loss? If so, there are many great options out there to assist with the problem. This is not a new problem that people are experiencing, but technology has lead to many more solutions to it. Many of the hair loss treatments are very successful. Don’t give up the fight and settle with living without great hair.

While many hair loss treatments are effective, there are also many out there that aren’t going to work. While many of these products vanish from the market over time, there are many more waiting to take its place. Keep in mind that most hair loss issues have a medical connection yet the treatments are expensive and medical insurance won’t cover the cost. This often leads many individuals to seek out other options on the market.

The various hair loss treatments are available in a variety of forms including topical solutions. Some of them work very well, but those that do are expensive and that can affect your budget. However, many people find this is a very worthwhile expense. Be careful though not to become a victim of buying products that don’t come with a guarantee.

Over time, the cost of a particular hair loss treatment is likely to drop. The problem is that they don’t offer a permanent solution so you continually have to purchase them. You can look into various permanent hair loss solutions though including laser treatments and surgeries. Not everyone is a good candidate for these procedures though as it depends on the reasons why you are experiencing hair loss. It is a good idea to discuss your hair loss with your doctor. They can help you with a proper diagnosis so that you can find the best possible treatment for you.

Finding The Perfect Hair Loss Remedy For You

By Helen Hecker

A bit of trivia - the term bald derives from the English word balde, which means white or pale, or the Celtic word - ball, which means a white patch or blaze, as on a horse's head. It is normal to shed a little hair each day but men, women and children may all experience excessive hair loss. Each hair on the scalp grows less than half an inch each month.

Many women notice hair loss about three months after they have had a baby; during pregnancy high levels of hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out and when the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts up again. Hair loss may occur if the male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance; correcting the hormone imbalance may stop the hair loss. And hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, especially thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows.

About three or four months after an illness or a major surgery, you can suddenly temporarily lose a large amount of hair; this hair loss is related to the stress of the illness. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" that can result in hair loss ranging from one area to every hair on the entire body. Some drugs or medications can cause hair loss, which improves when the medicine is stopped; medications that can cause hair loss include blood thinners, gout medicines, chemotherapy drugs used for cancer, too many vitamin A supplements, birth control pills and antidepressants.

Temporary loss of hair can occur in the areas where sebaceous cysts are present for one week to several weeks in length. Correcting a hormone imbalance may usually prevent further hair loss. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine or you may find you really don't need the medicine after all.

Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make this therapy very questionable. Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil (called Rogaine in the U.S and elsewhere as Regaine) are drugs that have reported having shown some success in partially reversing loss but one needs to consider the side effects. Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness; it is usually considered an extreme measure.

While drastic, broad spectrum anti-androgens such as Flutamide are sometimes used topically; Flutamide is potent enough to have a feminizing effect in most if not all men, including growth of the breasts. The topical application of Ketoconazole, which is both an anti-fungal and a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, is often used as a supplement to other approaches. Studies done on subjects of various ages suggest that weight training alone may increase testosterone in studies where aerobic exercise only was compared to either weight training or a moderately sedentary life.

Propecia is available with a prescription; it comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it's working. Minoxidil is a very expensive drug, costing one hundred dollars per month or so, for daily treatment. Be aware there are side effects and serious side effects sometimes with the drugs that are commonly used for hair loss.

Try lying on a slant board with your head down for 15 minutes a day, but clear it with your doctor first. Massage your scalp every day. Also try using double-strength herbal sage tea as a hair rinse or apply to scalp every day as a tonic.

Garlic oil remedy for hair loss: at bedtime, puncture a couple of garlic pearles, squirt the oil on the scalp, massage, cover with a shower cap, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Rub vitamin E oil into your scalp nightly. For the onion juice and honey remedy for hair loss: prepare a hair-growing elixir by combining 1/4 cup of onion juice with one tablespoon of honey; massage the scalp with this mixture every day.

Raw apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth. The olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss: use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a shower cap and shampoo in the morning. Fingernail buffer for hair loss: strange as it may sound - three times a day or so, for about five minutes, buff your right fingernails with the fingernails of your left hand; this is supposed to stop hair loss, encourage hair growth and prevent hair from graying - some report that it does work.

Polygonum Multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure for hair loss; whether or not the plant itself is useful, the general safety and quality control of herbs imported from China can be questionable. Resveratrol, from grape skins, is a lipase inhibitor and by decreasing the body's ability to absorb fat through the intestinal walls, it reduces the total fat and calorie content of a person's diet. One patient reported that he used virgin coconut oil on his hair and scalp for a year and during that time his hair became thicker and he hade more of it on the top of his head where he had been receding a bit; coconut oil is good as a hair gel too.

Treatment for alopecia can be slow and sometimes not very successful; the more hair that is lost, the more you may have to work to get it back and in some cases may not be able to; but try as many of the natural non-invasive treatments and remedies as possible. Concentrate on boosting your immune system in order to give your hair the best chance at growing. Treating hair loss from the inside may be the best hair loss treatment for you.

Best Hair Loss Products

By Ricky Lim

There are many hair loss products available in the market and the best treatment for an individual depends on the cause of the hair loss. If you use the correct medication for the type of hair loss you are experiencing then you will experience positive results.

Products like minoxidil work by blocking dehydrotestosterone (DHT) which is the leading cause of hair loss. Minoxidil is proven most effective for this condition but if you use it for other types of hair loss then it is not effective. There are also different concentrations of minoxidil and the lower solutions do not need prescriptions. You need to consult with a doctor to know the minoxidil concentration that your condition requires. Higher concentrated solutions require prescriptions. Other DHT blockers in the market are zinc oxide, Crinagen and Bayberry.

For other types of hair loss, there are other medications that can be used. Hair loss due to hormonal balance for example, can be cured by hormone replacement therapy. Patients can take estrogen pills or anti-androgen pills. These pills may stop and reverse the hair loss in menopausal women.

Many hair loss supplements contain several active ingredients that stop hair loss and provide nourishment to the hair follicles. The creams may contain zinc, vitamin B6, Saw Palmetto, Calcium and other nutrients. Hair loss due to inflammation as a result of dermatitis and other medical conditions are treated with anti-inflammatory medications such as solutions with licorice extract, or tea tree oil. These medications maintain the healthy condition of the scalp.

Patients must remember that there are no overnight solutions to hair loss problems. All the medications require patience as it takes at least three to six months before significant improvements become noticeable. Also, these medications require continued use. Hair loss recurs after you stop using the medication medication.

5 Ways to Stop Hair Loss

By Windel Briggs

For many people, the problems caused by thinning hair and eventual hair loss can mean unimaginable frustrations. Hair growth problems are actually caused by many different factors. Hereditary male pattern baldness and lifestyle choices are just two issues that could be the cause of your hair loss.

If you are already suffering from male pattern baldness you might think that there is nothing you can do. However, there are ways that you can combat hair loss.

1) Avoid using strong chemicals - Most people are very much concerned about their overall appearance. They often use hair chemicals in their daily routines that help improve the appearance of hair in the short term.

However, there are some chemical based products that may cause hair growth problems. If you are using a specific brand of shampoo, you can try finding out the ingredients of that product. If it has strong chemicals such as formaldehyde, then immediately change your brand.

2) Change your overall lifestyle - Lifestyle choices are some of the main causes of thinning hair. If you are a heavy smoker, try to quit at least for a short period of time. Smoking constricts the blood vessels of the body as well as the small channels leading to hair follicles.

Smoking could cause hair loss drugs to lose their effectiveness. It could potentially cancel out any good results you can get from a hair loss treatment.

If the blood vessels are always stressed out, chances are vital nutrients will not reach your hair roots for proper nourishment. Also, if you are the type of person who does not exercise, you might consider doing so on a daily basis. Exercise accounts for numerous health benefits as well as preventing hair growth problems.

3) Limit outdoor activities - Exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can weaken hair follicles. Spending a few minutes outside in the summer won't damage your hair. However, spending too much time in the sun could damage your scalp and hair follicles.

4) Avoid using hair accessories - Clips, head bands and ponytail accessories create a stressful condition for hair. Hair strands may be pulled and stretched uncontrollably, resulting in damaging physical effects.

5) Consult a medical professional - If all the above preventive ways do not provide a significant solution for hair loss, you may try visiting a hair care professional for further solutions. Many hair experts as well as dermatologists can recommend you medications and treatments to prevent and stop hair loss.