Hair loss is often a progressive condition. In an era that can cure cancer and other life-threatening diseases, hair loss prevention remains an imperfect science. The good news, in recent decades scientists have determined the primary cause of the hair loss, treatment to help prevent it and a permanent solution to replace lost hair. There are many safe and effective ways to prevent hair loss and restore balding or thinning areas.
Cause
While hair loss can be caused by a host of medical conditions, The Foundation of Hair Restoration reports that "androgenic alopecia" is responsible for 95 percent of cases. Androgenic alopecia occurs when excess levels of the male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), attacks hair follicles that are not genetically programmed to withstand the hormone. Hairs fall out prematurely and become thinner over time.
Effective Treatments
The FDA recommends 5 percent minoxidil for adult males and 2 percent minoxidil for females. The International Association of Hair Restoration Surgery or IAHRS states that minoxidil has been used for more 15 years in medical research. While the exact "way" of the medication works remain slightly vague, minoxidil is thought to boost blood flow to the areas of the scalp affected by hair loss.
Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication that is swallowed one time a day for the treatment of pattern hair thinning.The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) reports that finasteride may lessen DHT amounts by close to 60 percent. Furthermore, the American Hair Loss Association recommends finasteride as "the first line of attack" for adult men fighting to starting to treat baldness.
Ketoconazole is the main ingredient in Nizoral and Revita shampoo and is clinically tested to help treat thinning hair in males. In a Belgian university study published as "Ketoconazole: effect of long-term use in androgenic alopecia" available in the 1998 version of the Journal of Dermatology, doctors found that ketoconazole enhanced hair thickness as much as two percent strength minoxidil. The doctors concluded that ketoconazole shampoo could be valuable in the general treatment of of male pattern hair thinning. Ketoconazole can be used as treatment for alopecia by men and women.
Expert Insight
Dr. Robert Bernstein, senior member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery and renowned hair restoration surgeon, reports that finasteride and minoxidil probably will be helpful on the temples as well as the crown. The doctor suggests on BernsteinMedical.com, that although finasteride and minoxidil was clinically tested to restore areas of thinning hair on the the crown, finasteride is likely begin to regrow scalp hair on hair line as long as there is some hair remaining.
Misconceptions
Dr. Robert Bernstein states on Bernsteinmedical.com some of the most popular misconceptions about hair loss.
Bernstein states that it is a misconception that genetic hair loss only comes the genes on your mother's side of your family. Dr. Robert Bernstein claims that hair loss it can come from your mother's side, your father's side or both.
Bernstein states that it is a misconception that having large amount of hair fall out is a sign of genetic baldness. Dr. Bernstein claims that visible hair thinning is caused by hair follicles becoming thinner or "a process called miniaturization" when normal hairs are replaced by thinner hairs.
Bernstein states that is a misconception that only men suffer from genetic hair loss. Bernstein claims that over 40 percent of women suffer from significant thinning throughout their lifetime.
Permanent Solution
While androgenic alopecia treatments probably will help decrease progressive androgenic alopecia and regrow scalp hair in many males and females, only a hair restoration surgery offers a lasting foolproof treatment. The Foundation for Hair Restoration details how the transplant works. Hair is used at the "donor area" which carries hair which are not prone to androgenic alopecia. The unaffected hairs are transplanted to places wherever hair has become bald. The permanent hairs stay growing thrive for a forever.
References
- Foundation for Hair Restoration: Permanent Hair Transplant Methods
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery: More About Minoxidil for Hair Loss
- Bernstein Medical: Can Propecia or Rogaine Improve Receding Hairline Or Front Of Scalp?
- Bernstein Medical: Hair Loss Myths
- PubMed; Dermatology; Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia; 1998



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