Hair loss can be an embarrassing condition that affects both men and women. Causes of hair loss include hormonal changes, trauma, medication use and improper nutrition. If you are suffering from hair loss, your doctor may present several treatment options to you. Although baldness can not be cured, you do have options to promote new growth on the head. As an alternative to treatment, you can consider wigs and hairpieces that camouflage hair loss.
Step 1
Compare the availability of the hair loss treatments. Minoxidil is the only type of hair loss treatment available over-the-counter. Minoxidil is applied topically to the scalp and helps open up the follicles to encourage new growth. A popular brand example of minoxidil solution is Rogaine. Finasteride, corticosteroid shots and hair transplant surgery are only available through a doctor.
Step 2
Determine the type of medications you can use to treat hair loss. Although minoxidil is approved for use in both men and women, the oral medication finasteride is recommended only for men since it works by blocking the conversion of testerosterone into DHT. DHT is the hormone responsible for shrinking the hair follicles.
Step 3
Look at the costs of the hair loss treatments. Since hair loss is a cosmetic concern, treatment options may not be covered by your insurance company. Treating hair loss topically with minoxidil or orally with finasteride costs much less than hair transplant surgery. During hair transplant surgery, skin containing healthy hair follicles is grafted to balding areas of the skin.
Step 4
Find out the effectiveness of each treatment method. The American Hair Loss Association does not recommend minoxidil as the first treatment method for male pattern baldness since it is only effective in a small percentage of men. According to the organization, finasteride has stopped the progression of hair loss in approximately 86 percent of men.
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