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Balding, hair thinning and hair loss are problems which most men and many women will have to face at some point in life. Often losing hair is the cause of intense stress. People fear that hair loss will make them less attractive and they associate going bald with getting older. Hair loss in women and early-onset male hair loss cause particular distress. Yet despite this, and despite the huge number of companies researching products to prevent baldness, we still know relatively little about the cause of hair loss.
The most common types of male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness are comparatively well understood, in that we know when they are most likely to happen and can trace some of the genetic associations. Male-pattern baldness usually occurs later on in life, though hair thinning may start as early as the twenties. Female-pattern baldness usually occurs after the menopause, with hormone changes a probable cause of hair loss. However, there are several other less common types of baldness which can occur earlier in life.
Toxic alopecia is a form of balding which occurs in response to stress. This stress can be psychological or physiological - for example, stress caused by chemotherapy. Toxic alopecia may just be temporary, but it is difficult to deal with because going bald causes stress in itself. The early appearance of grey hair can also be caused by stress.
Alopecia areata is a disease of unknown origin which can cause hair thinning and hair loss across all areas of the body, but usually from the scalp. It causes patchy balding but does not leave scars. Scarring alopecia involves one of several different conditions which destroy hair follicles and replace them with scar tissue, causing permanent and irreversible balding. Menopausal changes and lupus erythematosus can both be the cause of hair loss of this type. Nonscarring alopecia is much more amenable to treatment.
Whatever the cause of hair loss in a given situation, you can bet that most people will seek a hair loss solution. But what kind of hair loss remedy is most likely to work? In many cases, hair loss shampoo will reduce the frequency of loss, being kinder to thinning hair. Some people find that they can successfully take vitamins for hair loss. Vitamins for hair loss are especially useful in treating women's hair loss, since female hair loss is likely to be caused by hormonal changes which are susceptible to treatment. However, since male-pattern baldness is the most common form of hair loss, most of the products on the market are aimed at tackling male hair loss.
In most cases, whatever the cause of hair loss, rapid balding is not inevitable. If you're going bald, it's worth taking your time to find the right hair loss solution. Face up to the problem soon enough, and you can stop hair loss.
Women can become prematurely bald as well when they suffer from alopecia, a disorder which causes an inordinate amount of their hair to fall off. Lastly, cancer victims and those undergoing chemotherapy generally have problems with baldness because the chemicals used to treat their diseases tend to have an adverse effect on hair. People who had just experienced a tragedy may also suffer from hair loss, and this condition is called telogen effluvium.
People who are suffering from scalp disorders should also take the proper medication for their condition as a dirty scalp can ultimately lead to hair loss. An improper diet may also be the root cause of premature hair loss. Use of strong chemicals on hair, such as those found in hair color treatments and other cosmetic procedures, may also lead to hair loss.
Treatments Available for Baldness
Although there are certainly natural or herbal methods for which people can attempt to reverse hair loss, the most effective methods are still medical based.
Finasteride is a drug that's available in the market and has been clinically tested and proven to have positive effects on hair loss. Rogaine is a topical drug that’s also sold in the market today with positive results.
Studies made on the effectiveness of this solution have shown that people taking Rogaine have an 80% chance of preventing more hair loss. Rogaine however doesn’t have the power of regrowing hair cells that had already shut down and may take a few months before it can turn out results. Because Rogaine is a powerful topical solution, it may not always be applicable to use for some individuals, especially those with sensitive scalps. The latter however can use Rogaine foam instead, which is a milder version of its antecedent.
Propecia is a medication that can only be acquired if your doctor specially prescribes it for treatment of hair loss. It has been known to be effective in resuscitating hair follicles and causing them to grow and produce once more by reducing the baldness-causing effects of the male hormone responsible for male patterned baldness. It has also been shown that the younger men starts using this medication, the better results they can expect.
Medication sold in the Internet and which do not contain the seal of approval of the Food and Drug Administration because use of them could lead to more hair loss instead of the reverse.
Transplant surgery is also effective to reverse hair loss. In this procedure, hair follicles may be taken from a donor and then transplanted to the patient. If hair samples are taken from the patient, these would be taken from parts of the head which still have an abundant amount of hair growing. These samples are then transplanted to areas where signs of baldness are showing. This procedure however is quite costly, and it’s why only a few people are able to benefit from it.
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