Hair typically thins as you age. Hair loss. or alopecia, usually develops gradually. Male and female-pattern baldness occurs when the body slows the production of new hairs, but several treatments are available for a thinning hair.
Considerations
Baldness typically affects more men than women. Some men might experience thinning of hair as early as their teens and 20s. Approximately 25 percent of men will notice signs of hair loss by age 30 and more than 60 percent will be completely bald or have a distinctive balding pattern by age 60, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Symptoms
Male-pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia usually begins with a thinning hairline at the sides and balding at the top of the head, notes MayoClinic.com. Female-pattern baldness is usually limited to a general thinning of hair throughout the scalp. Complete baldness is rare in women.
Prevention/Solution
Air drying your hair, avoiding ponytails and other tight hairstyles along with eating a healthful diet can help maintain the health of your hair and possibly diminish the appearance of a thinning scalp, according to MayoClinic.com. Hair pieces can be a safe and inexpensive way to cover hair loss.
Minoxidil, brand name Rogaine, is an Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter topical solution to stimulate hair growth and slow hair loss in men and women. Minoxidil is applied to scalp twice a day.
Anthralin, brand name Dritho-Scalp, is a tar-like substance that's massaged into the scalp daily to promote hair growth. Corticosteroids can be injected into balding patches of hair to encourage new hair.
Hair transplants are often seen as a last resort for hair loss when topical solutions have failed, notes MayoClinic.com. The procedure typically involves removing small plugs of hair from the back of the head and implanting them in thinning areas of the scalp.
Side Effects
Irritation of the scalp is a possible side effect of Minoxidil. Anthralin can also cause irritation and possibly staining the area of the scalp being treated. Soreness, tissue damage and skin discoloration may result when corticosteroids are injected into the scalp. Infection and slight scarring are possible with hair transplants.
Time Frame
Minoxidil and Anthralin must be applied to the scalp daily for 12 weeks before new hairs appear, notes the UMMC. A series of corticosteroid injections scheduled four to six weeks apart is generally necessary before new hairs are noticeable. Hair transplants normally require a series of treatments to achieve desire results.
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