Treatment For Hair Loss
Most hair loss does not need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it’ll grow back
- a normal part of getting older
Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress. But most treatments are not available on the NHS, so you’ll have to pay for them.
No treatment is 100% effective.
Medical Treatments To Arrest Hair Loss And Promote Regrowth
If your hair loss is severe or continues over 6 months, then seek help from your dermatologist or hair specialist. There are many FDA approved medications and treatments that control hair fall effectively. Medications such as Minoxidil, Finasteride and cyclical vitamin therapy for hair loss have proven benefits. In addition to this, hair loss treatment such as PRP hair treatment and meso-therapy give very good hair regrowth.
Post COVID-19 hair loss is usually caused by telogen effluvium and lasts for around 6 months. Except in cases where it becomes chronic telogen effluvium, where it lasts longer. Supportive care and lifestyle changes can be effective in controlling hair fall. Medical help can control the hair fall faster.
Are There Certain Medications Procedures Or Home Remedies That Can Help Resolve Or Prevent Thinning Hair
Its very patient-specific, starting with the over-the-counter medications. There is an over-counter-medication called minoxidil or Rogaine, and there are multiple different formulations out there. This can be used to stabilize the hair loss, and you can potentially get some regrowth and some thickening of the hair.
There are also prescription medications such as finasteride and dutasteride. Finasteride has been around for much longer and is actually approved for hair loss. These prescription medications require some degree of monitoring because they can have side effects, like sexual dysfunction in men.
With over-the-counter options, there are men and women formulations, but then most of the prescription medications are primarily used in men. For women, there are some additional medications like spironolactone , but the efficacy is not great.
And the final thing thats out there are these light devices, whether in the form of caps or otherwise, which have shown some degree of efficacy in stabilizing hair loss and promoting regrowth.
In terms of home remedies, the first thing is, do no harm. You have to evaluate the home remedies and make sure theres nothing thats potentially harmful. But given that there is no data, its very hard to support one versus another.
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Your Options For Restoring Lost Hair
If youre bothered by the appearance of large bald spots or severe hair loss, a hair transplant may be your best option to regain hair youve lost. Dr. Mikell has experience in a range of hair transplantation procedures, and he can help you determine if a hair transplant is right for you.
A hair transplant involves taking small grafts of scalp and hair from elsewhere on your head and moving them to areas without hair. Typically, Dr. Mikell uses hair from the back of your head and transplants the grafts to the crown and front.
Hair transplants are considered surgical procedures, and it could take up to two years before you see the full results of your transplant treatments.
Dont let alopecia hinder your confidence. Partner with Dr. Mikell and our team to find a hair loss treatment that fits your needs. To learn more, book an appointment over the phone with Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry today.
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What Causes Hair Loss After Permanent Hair Dyeing
Hair loss after hair dyeing is common due to the manipulation of the hair shafts during the dyeing procedure. Permanent dyeing involves rubbing the dyestuffs into the hair and scalp and then rubbing the hair and the scalp with rinsing with water to remove the extra dye. A conditioner is then rubbed onto the hair to decrease hair shaft swelling and neutralize hair pH followed by rinsing again. This is four rubbing and rinsing sequences that will easily remove any telogen hairs that have loosened.
There are other instances, however, where hair dyeing can precipitate hair loss due to hair shaft weakening. Hair dyeing requires hydrogen peroxide to swell the cuticular scale and open up ports for the permanent dyestuffs to enter the hair shaft and undergo the oxidation/reduction reaction required for production of the artificial hair color. These openings are somewhat closed when the ph neutralizing hair conditioner is applied following dyeing to reverse the hair shaft swelling, but the hair shaft remains more porous than virgin hair. This porosity results from and precipitates further protein loss weakening the hair over time with continued washing and grooming. The porosity of the hair shafts is increased when the hair is bleached or lightened. This is why brown hair dyed blond tends to experience more hair loss from breakage than brown hair dyed brown. The amount of peroxide and ammonia in the hair dye will determine the degree of hair weakening and subsequent loss.
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What Can I Do To Help With My Hair Loss
An over-the-counter biotin supplement can help some patients with hair growth. Doses of 3-5 mg daily are recommended. Taking a daily multivitamin will also ensure that our body has all the nutrients it needs to grow hair.
You could also try minoxidil, an over-the-counter product typically recommended by dermatologists for hair loss. This can decrease shedding and increase the rate at which hair regrows. Using a medicated antidandruff shampoo will also ensure that there is a healthy environment on the scalp to regrow hair.
The most important thing is to see a dermatologist as soon as you notice that youre shedding more hair than usual or first notice thinning. Beginning treatment as early as possible is crucial, but many people wait until their hair loss is very advanced to seek treatment and, at that point, it becomes much more difficult to treat.
Dr. Kelly Tyler is a board-certified dermatologist and gynecologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She specializes in treating dermatologic disease in pregnancy, vulvar disease and dermatologic surgery.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia may occur as a result of hair products or styling techniques that damage hair follicles. The use of hair relaxers, blow dryers, curling irons, and hair extensions can cause central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, as can the process of creating a permanent wave, or a perm.
The frequent application of oils, gels, or pomades can also cause this condition, which may be reversible if you stop using these hair products or styling techniques. Our dermatologists may recommend taking medication to help hair grow back.
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Physical Trauma: A Shock To Hair Follicles
When your body is under serious physical stress, the natural cycle of hair growth and resting can be disrupted, resulting in hair loss, often in the form of thinning hair strands may come out in clumps. Any shock to the system, such as being in a severe accident, undergoing surgery, experiencing burns, or becoming very ill, can also shock the hair follicles, resulting in up to 75 percent of your hair falling out, sometimes months after the fact.
If Youre Getting Radiation Therapy To The Brain
People with brain tumors often get stereotactic radiosurgery if the cancer is in only one or a few sites in the brain. Side effects depend on where the radiation is aimed. Some side effects might show up quickly, but others might not show up until 1 to 2 years after treatment. Talk with your radiation oncologist about what to watch for and when to call your doctor.
If the cancer is in many areas, sometimes the whole brain is treated with radiation. The side effects of whole brain radiation therapy may not be noticeable until a few weeks after treatment begins.
Radiation to the brain can cause these short-term side effects:
- Headaches
- Trouble with memory and speech
- Seizures
Some of these side effects can happen because radiation has caused the brain to swell. Medicines are usually given to prevent brain swelling, but its important to let your cancer care team know about headaches or any other symptoms. Treatment can affect each person differently, and you may not have these particular side effects.
Radiation to the brain can also have side effects that show up later usually from 6 months to many years after treatment ends. These delayed effects can include serious problems such as memory loss, stroke-like symptoms, and poor brain function. You may also have an increased risk of having another tumor in the area, although this is not common.
Talk with your cancer care team about what to expect from your specific treatment plan.
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Medication For Hair Loss
Minoxidil, or Rogaine, is a topical medication that is used to treat female pattern hair loss and male-pattern baldness. It was initially developed as a blood pressure medication and was used off-label to treat hair loss until it became FDA-approved for that purpose. Minoxidil can slow the progression of hair loss. Most women who use the medication experience regrowth of hair. The medication needs to be used continuously to maintain results. Other types of treatment work for different kinds of hair loss. Corticosteroids help suppress the immune response that damages hair follicles in people who have alopecia areata. Once the follicles recover, hair can grow back. If nutritional deficiencies underlie hair loss, eating a healthy diet with adequate and protein and nutrients can help you regrow hair. Certain medical problems may trigger hair loss. Adequately treating these conditions may help restore hair growth.
Cancer Treatment Is A Trigger
Radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer are some of the common causes of hair loss in women. Both therapies harm hair follicles in addition to killing cancer cells. People undergoing cancer treatment often experience dramatic hair loss as a result of these therapies. They may wake up with clumps of hair on their pillow or they may lose large amounts of hair in the shower. Rapid hair loss in women often starts within 2 weeks of beginning treatment. It may be worst between 1 to 2 months into therapy. The scalp may be extra sensitive during this time. It may be irritating to wash, brush, and comb hair. The good news is that once cancer treatment is over, hair tends to grow back.
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What Can I Do About Traction Alopecia
To protect your hair from traction alopecia and prevent further damage:
- Ask your stylist to create looser braids or dreadlocks.
- If you have braids, remove them after three months.
- If you wear a weave or hair extensions, remove them after eight weeks.
- If you have relaxed or dyed hair, make sure these treatments are applied by a professional. If you still notice breakage or hair shedding, avoid chemical treatments completely.
- Minimize heat styling, including hair dryers, flat irons and curling irons. These wear out the hair and can lead to major hair loss.
What Are The Warning Signs Of Hair Loss
It can be hard to tell if youre losing hair especially if your hair loss happens gradually.
Instead, you may notice that your ponytails dont feel as thick, or that your scalp is more visible.
If youre unsure, ask your stylist if they have noticed any differences. This is especially important for women who are experiencing hair loss in areas that are difficult to see without someone elses help, such as the top of the scalp.
If you or your stylist suspect hair loss, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Generally, the sooner you act, the more hair you can save.
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What Steps Can I Take To Prevent Or Slow Hair Loss
Unfortunately, certain types of hair loss are genetic, and very little can be done to prevent them. Genetic types of hair loss include alopecia areata and female pattern hair loss.
But other types of hair loss can be brought on by stress and a poor diet. Do your best to eat a balanced diet, and find ways to take care of your mental health.
For added benefit, stay up to date with your routine checkups. Anemia, low levels of vitamin D and abnormal thyroid hormones can all affect the health of your hair. Simple bloodwork from your primary care physician can determine if these conditions are contributing to your hair loss.
Black women in particular are prone to a type of hair loss called traction alopecia, which is caused by heat, chemicals and tight styles that pull at the hair root, including some braids, dreadlocks, extensions and weaves.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
In men, hair loss can begin any time after puberty and progress over the course of years or decades. It starts above the temples and continues around the perimeter and the top of the head, often leaving a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp. Many men with male pattern hair loss eventually become bald.
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Is There A Way To Slow Or Prevent Baldness Once You Notice Hair Loss
Whether or not hair loss can be stopped depends on the diagnosis. In certain conditions, such as hormonal or familial hair loss, treatments can be expected to halt progression of the shedding or regrow some but not usually all of the lost hair.
When hair loss is due to an underlying medical condition, such as a thyroid disease, iron deficiency or anemia, the hair will regrow when the condition is treated.
In cases like telogen effluvium, a sudden type of hair loss that happens typically three months after a stressful event or illness, the hair loss is completely reversible without any treatment.
Unfortunately, there are some types of hair loss in which the follicle becomes scarred or closes off, and hair can no longer regrow in those areas. In these cases, the goal of treatment is to prevent further scarring and preserve the hair that is left.
What Causes Hair Loss
There are many different types of hair loss with a variety of potential underlying causes. Several medical conditions are associated with hair loss in women. Common causes include thyroid problems and hormone imbalances. Wondering how to stop hair loss in women? When the underlying cause of hair loss is diagnosed and treated, hair loss may stop, and hair may grow back. Stress, nutritional factors, and genetics may also play a role in hair loss. Severe physical stress such as going through childbirth, surgery, or suffering a serious illness may precipitate a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. This is a condition in which stress forces large numbers of follicles to enter the resting phase, and after a few months, hair will fall out.
Sometimes doctors are not able to determine what is causing hair loss. Other potential causes of hair loss include radiation therapy, cancer, kidney failure, liver failure, medication side effects, and autoimmune disease. If you are experiencing new or increasing hair loss, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
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