A wide variety of causes and solutions exist for hair loss. You might try various procedures, supplements, topical remedies or alternative treatments to promote hair growth. Because hair loss can occur due to very different causes, you must consult your physician before trying any treatment.
Causes
You might experience hair loss due to certain medical conditions, certain medications or treatments, hormonal imbalances, infections and even psychological disorders or prolonged stress. A ringworm scalp infection, harsh hair-care practices or nutritional deficiencies may cause hair loss, says the University of Michigan Health System. Diseases of the thyroid, as well as lupus, syphilis, cancer and diabetes can cause hair loss. Chemotherapy and medications like blood-thinners or those that treat gout, depression, heart problems and hypertension may lead to temporary hair loss. Women sometimes lose hair from hormonal imbalances due to oral contraceptives, childbirth or menopause, the Mayo Clinic notes. Different types of alopecia cause hair loss, such as pattern baldness or “androgenetic alopecia,” the autoimmune disease “alopecia areata,” or “cicatricial alopecia” caused by scarring of the hair follicles. In rare cases, hair loss occurs due to the psychological disorder called trichotillomania, in which a person compulsively pulls out his or hair.
Conventional Treatments
Certain prescription medications can help to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. Minoxidil is a topical hair-loss treatment, while finasteride is an oral treatment that’s typically prescribed for men, not women. You might consider scalp injections of corticosteroids to treat alopecia areata, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Anthralin creams or ointments applied to the scalp might stimulate hair growth, particularly in people with alopecia areata. You can also undergo certain procedures like strip or flap grafts, scalp reduction surgery or hair transplants. A treatment that combines the medication psoralen with ultraviolet A light therapy is also sometimes recommended for alopecia areata.
Supplements
You might need to take iron and protein supplements if your hair loss is due to a nutritional deficiency, the Mayo Clinic says. You may take 50 mg of beta-sitosterol supplements twice daily to treat pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. This supplement is sometimes combined with 200 mg of saw palmetto taken twice daily to treat pattern baldness in men, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have alopecia areata, taking 300 mcg of biotin supplements each day with blue-green algae or other trace minerals could help. Talk with your physician before taking any supplements to treat hair loss.
Alternative Treatments
You might use certain herbal remedies or alternative therapies to treat hair loss. If you have alopecia areata, you might try aromatherapy massage with certain essential oils like lavender, thyme, rosemary and cedarwood mixed with grape-seed and jojoba oils. A double-blind study published in the Archives of Dermatology in 1998 found that massaging the scalp with these essential oils promoted new hair growth in 44 percent of the test subjects with alopecia areata over the course of seven months, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Applying a .1-percent melatonin cream to the scalp might help in treating pattern hair loss in women, according to a 2004 double-blind study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. A small study published in the same journal in 1991 also found that hypnotherapy could help treat alopecia areata.
Warnings
Using the medicine finasteride or “Propecia” isn’t recommended in women and could decrease sex drive or cause erectile dysfunction in men, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Most medications or topical ointments for treating hair loss aren’t safe during pregnancy. Essential oils can cause allergic reactions or skin irritations. Most importantly, keep in mind that the most effective treatment for your hair loss will depend on the underlying cause. You must obtain a proper diagnose from your doctor of what’s causing your hair loss before you begin any treatment regiment.
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