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Baldness Treatments
We do not die with the same bunch of hair that we were born with. As we grow up, our hair keeps regenerating, shedding and growing. When we become old, we begin to lose hair. It is a natural process that that starts at the age of about 50. However, some people start losing hair much earlier resulting in baldness. Treatment is now widespread irrespective of age and gender. What was once considered “for men only,” is now found among women and children also. Hair loss occurs due to various reasons: endocrine conditions like severe diabetes or thyroid disease, iron deficiency anemia, kidney and liver diseases, genetic factors, side effects of certain medication like chemotherapy, hormonal imbalance etc.
Now, the question is: is baldnes treatment possible? The answer is
yes if one’s hair loss is due medication, hormonal imbalance,
thyroid problems or some underlying cause such as diabetes. Years
of research have led to the appearance of certain drugs that have
proved successful for hair loss. Among these drugs are minoxidil (more
popularly known as Rogaine)
and finasteride (known as Propecia). Minoxidil, which is available
in any chemist’s shop without doctor’s prescription, is
effective in treating male pattern baldness when applied to the scalp.
To get finasteride, one needs a doctor’s prescription. It is
available in the form of pills to be taken by men only as it is not
suitable for use by women. One will have to wait up to 6 months before
he/she can tell if one of these two medicines is working.
If your doctor finds that a hormone imbalance is the cause of your baldness, he/she would suggest a course of appropriate drugs to solve the problem. If excessive quantity of DHT (a component of the male hormone) is the reason of your hair loss, you are likely to be put on drugs that form a part of antiandrogen therapy. In the case of women, the this baldness treatment is called CPA (cyproterone acetate) with ethinyl-estradiol. The therapy in most cases continues for one year.
Hair transplant
Hair transplant is a surgical method for the treatment of balding
and hair loss. It is often also referred to as medical
hair restoration. In this surgical operation, parts of the scalp
from the sides and back of the head where the hair grows well are
extracted first. Then, it is implanted on those regions of the head
that are going bald. Hair
can re-grow because the hair follicles in the side and the back
of the head are immune to hair loss problems. This treatment for baldness
costs about $15,000 and takes 1-2 years to complete. Hair weaving,
on the other hand, is a cosmetic method that attaches extensions of
natural or synthetic hair. In tissue expansion method, silicone bags
are inserted beneath hair- bearing skin to expand the tissues. This
is then transferred to the bald areas on the head.
Laser
hair replacement, although classified more as restoration of hair,
involves using lasers to declog existing follicles and increase blood
flow, and is now approved for use.
More informational resources:
Official Rogaine
Website
