Everyone experiences normal hair loss, or shedding, and approximately 10 percent of scalp hair is resting or falling out at any given time, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Hair loss that exceeds this amount or results in noticeable thinning or balding is not considered normal. Hair loss affects both men and women, according to the American Hair Loss Association, with 60 percent of sufferers being male. Knowing what treatment options exist will allow you to make decisions about how to deal with your hair loss.
Medication for Men
About 95 percent of all hair loss in men is due to androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, according to the American Hair Loss Association. High levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, play a significant role in male pattern baldness, and medications designed to treat hair loss in men work by lowering levels of DHT in the body.
Finasteride is FDA-approved for the treatment of androgenic alopecia and can lower DHT levels by as much as 60 percent when used daily. Minoxidil is a topical drug that can help regrow hair and slow hair loss, but Drugs.com warns that the beneficial effects generally fade after stopping the medication. The New Zealand Dermatological Society states that using a shampoo that contains ketaconazole, an antifungal with anti-androgen properties, may also decrease DHT levels and stop hair loss associated with seborrheic dermatitis.
Medication for Women
As in men, the most common cause of hair loss in women is androgenic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss. In women, however, the hair loss affects the entire head, resulting in a diffuse thinning of the hair. Hair loss treatment options for women include topical application of minoxidil, daily use of oral medications, such as finasteride, spironolactone, or cimetidine, and treatment with hormone-replacement therapy. Hormone replacement with a combination of estrogen and progesterone may be particularly useful for hair loss that begins following menopause. Using a ketaconazole-based shampoo may also be beneficial.
Hair Replacement
Hair replacement is not a permanent solution to hair loss, but it is a good option for men and women who cannot take medication and do not desire surgery. Hair replacement options include wigs and other hairpieces and strand-by-strand insertion systems. The American Hair Loss Association explains that unfortunately, three-fourths of men and women are dissatisfied with the quality of their hair replacement system and the service at hair replacement salons. In some cases, however, it is possible to create toupees and wigs from the remaining hair on the head so that the hairpiece looks natural.
Surgical Hair Restoration
Surgical hair restoration is, in many cases, a permanent solution for hair loss. Surgical hair restoration, or transplantation, involves taking DHT-resistant hair follicles and tissue from unaffected areas of the scalp and grafting them onto balding areas. The grafts are typically harvested from the rear of the scalp. Hair restoration is more effective in men than in women, however, as women tend to experience a general thinning of the hair that makes grafting and surgical restoration difficult. The use of modern techniques can increase the effectiveness of transplants in women when adequate donor hair is available, according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.
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