Hair loss solutions
There are many solutions available today for treating hair loss. Although many solution providers would like you to believe that one solution fits all, it’s not the case. I will discuss the most popular ones.
Medication and Vitamins
The most popular would be Propecia. Originally developed to reduce an enlarged prostate, it was found to prevent hair loss and sometimes grow it back. It is available by prescription only for men. Women should not take Propecia because it can cause birth defects. There are many side effects from taking Propecia.
There are vitamins available all over the internet with “natural” ingredients. Be careful of web sites that promote these products and seem to have no association with the manufacturer. In many cases, they are paid for steering you to that product.
Although medication might work for some people, there are always side effects. Also, if the medication works, you will have to keep taking it for as long as you want to keep your hair. The moment you stop taking it, your hair will fall out again.
Vitamins taken orally can help. But it seems to works mostly for people who's hair loss is due to malnutrition. I recommend vitamins specifically formulated for hair loss. For best results, use with another form of treatment such as Laser Therapy.
Topical solutions
Topical solutions are essentially products that you rub on the scalp. The main purpose of most topicals is to counter act the effects of DHT. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) being the main inhibitor of hair growth. I prefer these methods over pills because they target the affected area. Less potential side effects are associated with topical solutions. The most popular one is Rogaine. But there are many other products that work with natural ingredients such as berry extract. Just like vitamins, these topical solutions should be used with Laser Therapy for best results.
Low Level Laser Therapy
My favorite is Low Level Laser Therapy. This method is not for everyone. Originally introduced in Europe, it has gained tremendous popularity in the past year. One manufacturer of a hand held was approved by the FDA in January 2007 as a product that regrows hair. It has been discovered that the ideal Laser classification for the treatment is Class 3R (or Class 3A) with a wavelength of 650nw.
Now, the reason it’s my favorite is because there are no side effects, it does not involve taking medication, no surgeries, and no pain. Results start showing in as little as 1 month to maximum results in 8 to 12 months.
The reason I say it’s not for everyone is because LLLT does not grow new hairs. Hair loss is gradual. The hair goes through a process of miniaturization where it gets smaller and smaller, so small sometimes that they are invisible without magnification. LLLT helps grow those hairs back to life. The more baby hairs you have, the more results you will see. I would recommend that if you have not been losing your hair for more than 5 years, this is the treatment for you. Usually, a man in his twenties who has just noticed he has thinning hair should do this treatment because it stops hair loss and brings back most of the hair that was lost.
Transplants
Transplants or “hair plugs” has become the most popular solution for hair loss. Just like LLLT, it is not for everyone. You should not have transplants done if you are still losing your hair. The best candidates are usually men in their forties and fifties who have stopped losing hair for more than 5 years. If a man has a transplant done in his early twenties and is still experiencing hair loss, he will need more than one surgery. By the way, transplant surgery is very painful. Ask anyone who’s had it done.
Imagine this, you’re a man, 22 years of age. You spend $10,000 to fill in your front hairline that has been receding for the past 4 years. A year later, it looks good and you’re happy. 4 years later, you’re still receding but not from the hairline. Your hair is getting thinner from the point it was at when you first did the transplant. What do you do? You get another transplant provided that you still have enough hair at the back of your head. If the doctor says you’re good to go, you spend another $10,000. How often can you do this? What if you don’t have enough hair for another transplant? You end up looking like you have a “monk” hair cut. Or you get a hairpiece to cover the bald spot. That’s why you don’t get a transplant until you are sure you have stopped losing your hair for at least 5 years.
Non-surgical Hair Additions
What is non-surgical? It’s the evolution of the toupee. Yes, it’s still around. Very popular I might add. You see, the hairpiece has become so perfect that most people can’t detect it. Who wears this state of the art hairpiece you ask? Probably 1 out of 10 men you meet in a day. Oh, and more than half the leading men in Hollywood Movies. Surprised? How many bald actors do you know? Politicians? News anchor men? Anyone in the public eye cannot be bald. Image is everything. Bald is not beautiful, that’s a myth.
I believe a side note here would be appropriate. Men, your girlfriend or wife is telling you that she likes you bald because she is being nice. When she asks you if she looks fat, what do you say? The truth? I rest my case.
A lot of women do this process as well. More options are available to women than men. Those that have extreme hair loss do the same process as men. Women with moderate hair loss will use a method called hair integration. This combines their existing hair with additional hair similar to hair extensions. The main purpose is to give volume although some use it to gain length as well.
Shampoos
I don’t know of any shampoo that can actually stop hair loss, much less grow it back. Most shampoos that claim being a hair loss solution will slow down the rate of hair loss at best. But for a shampoo to be effective, it needs to penetrate the scalp and reach the hair follicle to remove DHT.
A hair loss shampoo should really be called a scalp cleanser. By removing oily residue from the scalp, especially sebum that has dried up and is clogging the pores, weak hairs have a better chance of growing through the scalp. Obviously, if your hair is weak, a scalp cleanser is not going to be enough. You need products that can stimulate
Conclusion
Make sure you consult with a “full” hair restoration center before you make a decision. If you consult with someone who offers only one solution, how do you know that this solution is the best for you? Only the hair restoration centers that offer all methods of hair restoration will be able to offer you the best solution that fits your needs. There is no “one product fits all”. Everyone is different.
Robbie Turcotte can be reached at HCI Hair Solutions in Orlando, Florida, 407-830-0554. www.hciorlando.com
