According to the Foundation of Hair Restoration, "androgenic alopecia" which is genetic pattern hair loss, is the cause for the vast majority of hair loss cases. This occurs when there is a genetic predisposition to hair loss and the presence of the predominantly male-hormone dihydrotestosterone, DHT. Your susceptibility to androgenic alopecia increases with age. Genetic progressive pattern hair loss can be treated and even stopped in many cases. If non-surgical FDA-approved treatments are not enough, a hair restoration surgical procedure will restore your hair.
Causes
Dr. Victor Hasson and Dr. Jerry Wong, both members of the Independent Coalition of Hair Restoration Physicians, which is considered to be the "gold-standard" for quality of a hair restoration surgeons, claim that only about 1 percent of hair loss is caused by conditions other than androgenic alopecia. Certain hair follicles, generally follicles on the frontal hair line and top of the head, are susceptible to DHT. When DHT attaches to these follicles, the hair is shed prematurely and the follicle shrinks. When the hair regrows, it is thinner and finer than before.
FDA-approved Treatments
Dr. Joesph L. Williams, a hair restoration physician recommended by the Hair Transplant Network and a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, states that there are two FDA-approved treatments for hair loss. Consult your doctor before using either of these treatments.
Minoxidil is a topical solution for men and women and is the oldest of the two FDA-approved medications. Dr. Williams reports that Rogaine, or minoxidil, has been clinically proved to work and has a 64 percent success rate stopping hair loss and re-growing hair.
Finasteride is an oral solution and is only for the treatment of male pattern baldness. It should not be used or even handled by women. Dr. Williams explains that Propecia or finasteride blocks the formation of DHT in order to stop hair loss and re-grow hair. Williams reports that 83 percent of men stop their hair loss and 66 percent of men regrow hair with finasteride.
Expert Insight
Dr. Robert Bernstein, clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University and member of the Independent Coalition of Hair Restoration Physicians, claims that finasteride and minoxidil will work on the hair line and not just the vertex of the scalp. Bernstein notes that the very first clinic trials of minoxidil and finasteride observed just the crown area of the scalp. He encourages adult men to use both treatments for at least an entire year before evaluating their effectiveness and considering a hair transplant.
Hair Transplant
A surgical hair transplant or hair restoration procedure is the only way to regrow your hair and add density to thinning areas permanently. Even though they advocate the non-surgical treatments, Dr. Victor Hasson and Dr. Jerry Wong state that hair transplants are the "the only effective means of reversing hair loss." Hair transplants are permanent will not fall out because the hair follicles are taken from the back and sides of the head, where hair is not affected by DHT. These hairs grow for a lifetime and will survive indefinitely.
Potential
A hair transplant is a permanent hair regrowth solution that provides a sufficient result for most people. Some people, however, desire more density than their "donor area" can provide. The "donor area" is the area on the back and sides of the scalp that are not prone to hair thinning from DHT. Dr. Robert Bernstein says that a potential future solution to this is "hair cloning" or "hair multiplication." Healthy donor area follicles are taken and genetically replicated to produce identical healthy hairs. In theory, these cloned hairs are of endless supply and can be transplanted to give you the full density that you desire.
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