Hair loss can be confusing and actually may not be detected. Dr. Glenn Charles, hair restoration physician and senior member of The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, ISHRS, reports that you will not notice that your hair is thinning until 50 percent of the density has already been lost. At the same time, if your hair is shedding, the actual follicles might not necessarily be miniaturizing. If you think your hair may be thinning, it would help to become familiar with your options to restore your hair and prevent future loss.
Cause of Hair Loss
Dr. Ken Siporin, board certified plastic surgeon and hair restoration physician recommended by the Hair Transplant Network, states that the hormone dihydrotestosterone, DHT, is the main culprit of hair loss. Certain hair follicles are sensitive to DHT, particularly follicles on the frontal hair line and the top of your scalp. Dr. Siporin describes DHT's role in progressive hormonal pattern baldness, "DHT attacks the hair follicles by binding to receptor sites on the surface of the follicles' cells. This interaction causes healthy thick hair to thin, becoming smaller and smaller in diameter, until the hair dies."
Effective FDA-approved Treatments
Dr. Siporin states that there are two non-surgical hair restoration treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. Rogaine, or the generic minoxidil, is a topical solution that men and women can use to help restore their hair. Minoxidil is applied two times daily. Minoxidil has been used in clinical trials for over 15 years, according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.
Propecia, or the generic finasteride, is an oral treatment for men. It is specifically designed to lower DHT levels to slow or prevent male pattern baldness. Dr. Siporin reports that 1 mg of finasteride taken daily was effective in slowing hair loss in 90 percent of men. Sixty five percent increased their hair density. Dr. Siporin considers finasteride to be "very effective" at treating hair loss. Both finasteride and minoxidil are treatments that you must remain on for a lifetime to retain their benefits.
Expert Insight
Since hair grows and rests in cycles, actually determining if your hair density is decreasing is tricky. Dr. Siporin describes this cycle. "Anagen" is the growth phase. This cycle lasts from three to 10 years. Siporin notes that "at any one time, 90 percent of your hair is in the anagen phase." The next phase is the "catagen" phase where the hair will naturally shed, this phase lasts two or three weeks. The last phase is the "telogen" phase, where the hair follicle goes into hibernation. An estimated 10 percent of your hair will always be in the telogen phase. Various medications or medical conditions, such as a thyroid disorder, will cause hairs to enter the telogen phase earlier than usual. This will correct itself once the medication is discontinued or the condition is treated. A hair transplant is not needed because hair follicles are "sleeping" and have not miniaturized.
Solution
The FDA-approved hair restoration treatments are effective, but only a hair transplant procedure is a permanent solution. Dr. Siporin's website describes this procedure. Hair that is not subject to miniaturization from DHT is removed from the "donor area" and placed in regions where hair is thinning or lost. After the procedure, the transplanted hairs will shed, but the transplanted follicles will remain intact and will begin to grow after three months. A full result is noticed in a year. The transplanted hairs will not thin because their follicles are resistant to DHT.
Potential
A surgical hair transplant will offer a lasting, permanent solution for most people. Others, however, many desire additional density that their donor areas can not accommodate. Dr. Robert Bernstein, hair restoration surgeon recommended by The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, or IAHRS, explains that a potential solution to this will be to clone existing hair that is resistant to DHT. In this process, healthy hair follicles can theoretically be multiplied, providing a limitless supply of hair to achieve your desired density.
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