To find the hair loss treatment that will work best for you, it's wise to seek the advice of a doctor or dermatologist who specializes in hair-loss issues. Your doctor can conduct a medical history exam, perform blood tests, examine your scalp and check your hormone levels to determine the cause of your hair loss and what treatment will help it, explains the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Types
There are several types of treatments for hair loss. Medications for hair loss, which can be applied topically, injected or taken orally, include minoxidil, finasteride, corticosteroids and cortisone, and anthralin. Laser therapy may stimulate hair growth for some people. Other people find that lifestyle changes, including avoiding tight hair styles or heat styling, can slow or stop hair loss.
Time Frame
Few hair-loss treatments show quick results. According to the MayoClinic.com, it may take up to 12 weeks to see results from using minoxidil and several months to see results from finasteride. Corticosteroid injections can show improvement within about four weeks, while anthralin may need up to 12 weeks to start working. Laser treatments don't usually show results for about six months, says New York City dermatologist Marc Avram in "O, The Oprah Magazine."
Function
Hair-loss treatments usually serve two purposes: They slow or halt hair loss while stimulating growth of new hair to replace what has been lost, explains the American Academy of Family Physicians. For some types of hair loss that are caused by infections, treating the infection can halt hair loss. If your hair loss is caused by a hormonal imbalance, your doctor may prescribe medication to adjust your hormones.
Considerations
If you've already lost a significant amount of hair and medications and other treatments don't stimulate hair growth, your doctor may recommend surgery. According to the MayoClinic.com, two types of surgery may be recommended to treat hair loss. In a hair transplant, a surgeon removes small plugs of hair from the sides and back of your scalp and transfers them to areas with significant hair loss. In a scalp reduction, a surgeon removes part of your scalp to tighten the scalp to hide bald areas.
Warning
Though some doctors may prescribe finasteride off-label for women who have gone through menopause because of its effectiveness, women of child-bearing age should avoid using finasteride because it comes with a high risk of birth defects. In fact, even handling finasteride tablets can cause birth defects, warns MayoClinic.com.
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