Hair Loss Treatment
Hair loss causes
Hair loss is a common problem faced by men, women, as well as children, due to various reasons like heredity, medications, food habits, type of water used for bathing etc. Excessive hair loss from the scalp in males results in baldness and many males experience it mostly from the age of 30 years and beyond. The male hair loss is mainly due to the excessive production of male hormones and in females it may be due to some medical conditions. Hair loss is medically termed as alopecia and is treated according to the cause of the hair loss.
Permanent baldness or androgenetic alopecia and temporary baldness or alopecia areata cannot be cured completely even though there are a few treatments available which help in promoting re-growth of the hair. Depending on the cause of hair loss, severity of hair loss and the body’s response to the hair loss medication, the success of the hair loss treatment will vary from person to person. The treatment will be more effective in the earlier stages of hair loss and the medication has to be taken without fail.
Hair loss drugs
Many varieties of drugs are available in the market claiming to be very successful in treating hair loss. But the fact is that only a few topical or over the counter medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating hair loss and they are:
Minoxidil or Rogaine
This medication is approved for treating androgenetic alopecia as well as alopecia aerata and is available in liquid form which is rubbed on to the scalp twice a day to prevent further hair loss and to promote re-growth of the hair from the follicle. The size of the newly grown hair will be thinner and shorter than the existing hair, but will help to hide the bald areas on the scalp. This medication is available in different concentrations like 2% solution or as 5% solution and has to be regularly applied on the scalp for better results. The drawback of this medicine is that the hair growth will be stopped once the medication is discontinued and in some people it may also cause scalp irritation.
Finasteride or Propecia
Finasteride is a medication that is in the form of pill and will show positive results if taken for a longer period. Finasteride works well for hair loss treatment in men, but has negative effects on females and hence is not used for treating ladies, especially women in their reproductive age. In men, finasteride prevent hair loss by inhibiting the formation of dihydrotestosterone from testosterone, which causes the shrinkage of the hair follicles. Rarely, finasteride causes reduced sexual desire in men and re-growth of hair stops as soon as the medication is discontinued.
Corticosteroids
Another method of hair loss treatment includes injecting corticosteroids into the scalp of the affected person. This method is particularly effective in treating temporary hair loss or alopecia areata and has to be taken every month. Cortisone containing pills, creams as well as ointments is also used in treating hair loss but is less effective when compared to the cortisone injections.
Drithocreme or Anthralin
Antharalin is a drug capable for producing hair growth and is prescribed by doctors to treat temporary hair loss which is caused mainly by scalp infections like ringworm, fungus or due to dandruff. This medication is available as cream or ointment and has to be applied to the scalp followed by thorough cleansing of the hair and scalp.
Surgical procedures
In some people drugs are not very effective in treating hair loss and hence can opt for hair transplants or scalp reduction surgery. In this procedure the dermatologist implants pieces of skin containing hairs from the areas of the scalp which is not affected by hair loss. More than one transplant session may be needed for treating permanent hair loss. In scalp reduction, the part of the scalp without hair is removed surgically. Hair transplants and scalp reduction procedures can be combined in hair loss treatment to get better and long lasting results.
