There are many possible causes of balding and hair loss, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Each cause could require a different form of treatment. A condition called alopecia could be behind balding, or the cause could be genetic if your mom, dad, siblings, aunts and uncles have experienced hair loss as well. You could also be damaging your hair by wearing hats or pulling hair back, causing it to break off and fall out. Hormones could be another culprit, since changing hormone levels can make your hair fall out. Whatever the cause of your hair loss, there are ways that you can make hair grow back or replace the hair that you've lost.
Step 1
Restore hair growth with medications. Rogaine (minoxidil) is a topical hair-loss treatment that is available over the counter for both men and women, according to the Mayo Clinic. Available in a foam or liquid solution, apply the medication to the scalp twice each day to restore hair growth and help stop future hair loss, notes Mayo. Propecia (finasteride) is an oral prescription hair-loss medication that is only used to treat hair loss in men with male pattern baldness (which is genetic).
Step 2
Treat hair loss with corticosteroids. Cortisone can be injected into the scalp each month to treat alopecia areata, a common cause of hair loss. Oral corticosteroid medications are another option to treat severe hair loss caused by alopecia areata, according to Mayo. Corticosteroid topical treatments, such as creams and ointments, generally aren't as effective as other corticosteroid hair-loss treatments.
Step 3
Apply anthralin topical treatments. Anthralin is a hair-loss treatment solution that can be applied as an ointment or a cream to the top of the scalp each day, then washed off, according to Mayo. Anthralin can promote the growth of new hair when baldness occurs from alopecia areata, but Mayo says it may take as long as 12 weeks for hair growth to occur.
Step 4
Undergo surgery. Hair transplant surgeries may be recommended to treat hair loss that can't be treated by medications or other treatments, according to Mayo. Small pieces of skin that contain hair can be transplanted from the back of the head to the scalp to treat androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) so that hair will grow where it has been lost, according to Mayo. Another surgical technique, called scalp reduction, removes part of the scalp where skin is stretched and hair is lost, then scalp skin with hair is pulled over the area.
Step 5
Correct hormone imbalances and health problems. Irregular thyroid function (either underactive or overactive) affects hormone levels, which in turn can result in hair loss. Treating a thyroid condition can also treat hair loss, according to the AAFP. Treating fungal infections that strike the scalp and managing autoimmune diseases like diabetes and lupus can also treat hair loss, notes the AAFP.
Tips and Warnings
- Taking care of your hair by avoiding pulling it tightly back and frequently wearing hats can help prevent hair breakage and hair loss.
- See your doctor or dermatologist if you are concerned about your hair loss.
Things You'll Need
- Rogaine
- Propecia
- Corticosteroids
- Anthralin cream/ointment
- Thyroid medication
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