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 transplants

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.