What is Hair Loss?
Hair loss can be an extremely sensitive condition for men and women alike. About 25% of men begin losing hair before they reach 30 and two thirds before the age of 60. The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic. Hair loss in women is increasing and some struggle to come to terms with the condition.
Androgenetic alopecia. In men (male pattern baldness) it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. The hair above the ears and at the nape of the neck is unaffected. In women (female pattern baldness) it is often linked to hormonal changes. The hair loss is generally more uniform over the entire scalp.
Alopecia Totalis. This is when the hair on the scalp is completely lost.
Alopecia Universalis. This is when hair on the entire body is lost.
Traction Alopecia. This is hair loss due to constant tension on the scalp. This is mainly affects women and caused by tight ponytails.
What can cause hair loss?
Although it is widely understood that hair loss is a genetic condition, there are many illness that may result in loss or thinning of the hair. Anaemia can be caused by a low level of iron in the body. Iron is needed in the body to maintain healthy haemoglobin level. Haemoglobin carries oxygen around the body to the tissues. The lack of oxygen supply to the scalp can result in hair loss. Stress can also play a major part in hair loss. Pregnancy will also affect hair production. Following the birth, hormone levels change very quickly and hairs that were growing beyond their normal lifespan at this time and begin to fall out. This can sometimes appear to happen all at once and can be very worrying to the new mother.
What treatments are there for hair loss?
Minoxidil is a topical cream that works best on the crown of the head and applied two times a day. It costs around £59.95 and may take up to 4 months to notice improvements.
Propecia is a drug that is to be taken daily. The side effect of Propecia is impotence. If you stop taking the drug it can be reversed. Propecia costs about £35 for a months supply and will take up to 6 months to notice any significant change. Propecia is unsafe for women of childbearing age to take or handle. There is evidence however that it may help to restore hair in older women. Both are better used as a method to keeping and strengthening the remaining hair than growing more.
Surgery is also a means of dealing with hair loss. Hair Transplantation involves taking hair from the back and putting it on the front. This is non reversible and does carry the risk of infection and scarring. Scalp Reduction involves cutting away the bald area and stitching the remaining healthy areas together.
Laser Comb Therapy is a product that is offered through many hair care specialist salons for you to use at home. It is a comb that utilises low level laser therapy to speed up hair growth and strengthen existing hair. It should be used for around 15 minutes, three times a week and can be used in conjunction with Minoxidil or Propecia. It costs around £245 for a compact device or £335 for a premium device.
Clinical treatments for hair loss
Clinical treatments can take place on a fortnightly, monthly or quarterly basis. Some of the treatments that a salon may offer you are steam scalp treatment, ultra violet and infra red therapy, laser and massage. Treatment sessions stimulate activity to the scalp and encourage hair growth.
Alternative treatments
Traditional hair pieces are also popular. Although they don't treat the problem, they can help with the confidence issues that can occur when dealing with hair loss. Hair extensions can also be an option to help thicken the hair. Hair extensions and hair pieces can loosen with time and the quality can vary according to price.
In order to treat hair loss effectively we would recommend that you see an experienced Trichologist.
You may also want to see Hair Loss Horrors, Hair Extensions, or Hair Transplants.