Saying which treatment is best for hair loss is like saying which strength training regime is best for getting a leaner body. The answer will vary according to the individual characteristics of each person, and not one answer is true across all cases.
That said, with hair loss, there are a few possible answers to choose from. There are several different types of hair loss, and finding out which type you have is key to treating it.
Types of Hair Loss
There’s not one but many types of hair loss (alopecia) that depend on what exactly is causing it. The type of hair loss you have will determine which treatment is the best for you. The types of hair loss are the following:
- Androgenetic alopecia. Better known as “male pattern baldness” when it happens to men and “female pattern baldness” when it’s for women. The cause of this comes from certain genes inherited by either of the parents. These said genes make you sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink.
- Alopecia areata. This is an immunological disorder in which your body attacks its own cells thinking they are a disease. Your hair follicles are one of its common targets. The hair loss is reversible once the disorder is under control.
- Traction alopecia. It happens due to the constant strain of the hair. Certain hairstyles and hair-relaxing products when used for a long time can cause damage due to the constant pulling of the hair follicles. Hair loss from this is permanent.
- Anagen effluvium. It’s the complete loss of hair in the body. It happens due to certain chemicals or chemotherapy medications. Stopping the medication is enough to let the hair grow again.
Once the doctor determines which type of hair loss you are suffering from, you can know if it is reversible or not and choose the treatment accordingly.
Temporary Hair Loss Treatments
There are only a few medications that can reverse hair loss:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine). It is an over-the-counter medication that nourishes the hair, facilitating growth. Also, it comes in liquid or foam form to be applied in the balding area. It takes 4 to 8 months of continuous use to see the new hair.
- Propecia (Finasteride). It is a medication that prevents dihydrotestosterone from binding with the hair follicles, effectively stopping its shrinking and, thus, baldness. It only has an effect on men.
- Spironolactone. This is only for women. It slows down the production of androgens in the body, preventing the formation of DHT and stopping the balding process.
Propecia and Spironolactone both have many side effects that you should be aware of before taking them. Consult our specialists before undergoing any treatment.
Permanent Hair Loss Treatment
Only hair transplant procedures can treat permanent hair loss. And the follicular unit excision (FUE) method is the latest of them.
In this method, our surgeon takes healthy follicles from the back of your scalp for grafting into the balding area via microincisions. The surgeon places the grafts following the hair’s growth pattern, giving natural-looking results.
Our surgeons are highly experienced in performing this procedure. An FUE hair transplant is the permanent solution that puts hair back in your scalp and restores your youthful looks. Contact us to see if the procedure is right for you.