Is There A Solution For Hair Loss

Shapiro Md Hair Growth Experts Womens Regrowth Kit $64 Original Price: $80

Chock-ful of hair growth products in your customized kit, youll find a shampoo, conditioner, 2% minoxidil treatment and a leave-in foamer. So, across the board, youre snagging an all-encompassing blend of hair-rejuvenating products.

Not to mention, each formula is free of harsh sulfates and additives.

Can Stem Cells Cure Baldness

One promising area of research into a cure for baldness is stem cells. These are a type of cell that has the ability to transform into other kinds of cells in your body, in order to repair damage to tissue.

A research group in Japan is aiming to develop a hair follicle regeneration technology. Their method involves cultivating stem cells around hair follicles to make them increase in size, thus reversing the miniaturisation of hair follicles that leads to MPB.

In addition, scientists from UC San Francisco discovered that regulatory T cells , a type of immune cell that is linked to controlling inflammation, have a close relationship with the stem cells in hair follicles. If the Tregs arent working properly then that can disrupt the growth cycle and prevent the growth of new hairs. The study was focused on hair loss due to alopecia areata, but its thought the findings could have implications for MPB treatment too.

Meanwhile, a Californian research programme has been successful in growing hair on mice using human induced pluripotent stem cells. These are adult cells that are genetically reprogrammed to act like cells found in a developing foetus. The head researcher, Alexey Terskikh, has founded a company that hopes to license the technology for commercial use.

When Hair May Regrow On Its Own

Yes, your hair may regrow on its own. This can happen if you recently:

• Had a baby

• Recovered from a major illness or had surgery

• Underwent cancer treatment

• Lost 20 pounds or more

• Developed a mild case of a disease called alopecia areata, which causes your immune system to attack your hair follicles

• Got rid of psoriasis on your scalp

Your dermatologist can tell you whether your hair may start to grow again on its own.

Sometimes to see regrowth, you need to make some changes.

Also Check: Can Mold Exposure Cause Hair Loss

Patterns Of Female Hair Loss

Clinicians use the Ludwig Classification to describe female pattern hair loss. Type I is minimal thinning that can be camouflaged with hair styling techniques. Type II is characterized by decreased volume and noticeable widening of the mid-line part. Type III describes diffuse thinning, with a see-through appearance on the top of the scalp.

The Current Hair Loss Treatment Landscape

Before we get into what’s on the horizon, here’s a quick rundown of the major options available now: First, there is surgical hair transplant, which may or may not be done with robotic assistance, and, again, isn’t always an option for women. Another in-office offering is platelet-rich plasma scalp injections, in which platelets are separated out from a patient’s own blood, and then injected back into the scalp, which offers moderate results in some people.

Looking beyond minoxidil , topically you have serums and the like, which mostly get not-so-great reviews from the experts we spoke with, though there are some exceptions. For instance, Samuel M. Lam, MD, facial plastic and hair restoration surgeon in Plano, TX, and the administrative chair of the multimedia committee for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported success with redensyl, a topical he’s found so effective, he formulated his own serum for brows and lashes with it called Folliflo.

In addition to finasteride in the oral category, you have supplements, some of which, like Nutrafol, get namechecked by from experts as beneficial for some. However, Shaver points out, “There is little scientific support behind the ability of vitamins and supplements to promote hair growth unless the patient has a nutritional deficiency that needs to be corrected.”

Recommended Reading: What To Do When You Have Hair Loss

Physical And Emotional Stress

Extreme physical or emotional stress may trigger sudden hair loss in women. Hair loss due to physical or emotional stress is called telogen effluvium. Circumstances that may precipitate this pattern of hair loss include serious illness or injury, surgery, severe emotional upset, blood loss, and weight loss. Sometimes a reaction to medication may trigger this kind of hair loss. Telogen effluvium may last for 6 to 8 months before resolving.

How Do Dermatologists Find Out Whats Causing Hair Loss

To pinpoint the cause of your hair loss, a dermatologist begins by gathering information. Your dermatologist will:

• Ask questions. Its important to know how long youve had hair loss and whether it came on quickly.

• Look closely at your scalp, nails, any other area with hair loss. This exam provides vital clues about whats happening.

• Test the health of your hair. Gently pulling on your hair tells your dermatologist a lot about how your hair is growing and whether its prone to breaking.

If your dermatologist suspects that the cause of your hair loss could be a disease, vitamin deficiency, hormone imbalance, or infection, you may need a blood test or scalp biopsy. These tests can be done in your dermatologists office.

Once your dermatologist has this information, its often possible to tell you whats causing your hair loss.

Sometimes, your dermatologist needs more information. This might be the case if someone has more than one cause. For example, a woman may have had a baby a few months ago, and this may be causing obvious hair shedding. She may also have early hereditary loss, which isnt so obvious.

No one hair loss treatment works for everyone

Once your dermatologist finds the cause, your dermatologist will tell you whether treatment is recommended. Sometimes, your hair will regrow on its own, making treatment unnecessary.

Recommended Reading: How To Prevent Hair Loss For Teenage Guys Naturally

When To See A Doctor

Talk to your doctor if you find your hair loss distressing. You should also talk to your doctor if you notice a sudden and significant hair loss, as this may be a sign of an underlying condition. Remedies your doctor may recommend include:

• Prescription medication like the liquid treatment minoxidil â commercially known as Rogaine â or pills like Aldactone , Avodart , Carospir , and Propecia
• Laser treatment, newly approved by the FDA

Show Sources

How To Cover Minor Hair Loss

Once youve spoken to your doctor about a plan thats right for you, it will still take time to see noticeable regrowth. In the meantime, you may be interested in covering up any balding or hair thinning.

Luckily, root sprays exist that blend in with your hair color to conceal your scalp. Though it may not match your hair color perfectly, its a great quick fix.

If your hair loss is more pronounced, consider making an appointment for a wig consultation. Makers like Noah Scott create beautiful units with a natural-looking hairline.

Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here.

Also Check: Can Your Hair Grow Back After Thinning

About Laser Devices For Male

Several laser devices are now available to treat hair loss at home. The FDA has cleared some. If you see FDA cleared on the packaging or within information about the laser, this means the FDA recognizes the laser as a safe treatment.

The requirements for getting FDA cleared are much less stringent than for getting FDA approved.

Nutrients And Supplements For Hair Loss

Eating a nutrient-rich diet can keep your hair healthy, too. And whilehair supplements wont cause hair growth, they can help your strands grow stronger. The combination of fish protein, vitamin C, zinc, biotin, and niacin in Viviscal supplements encourages the body to produce healthier, thicker strands, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Nutrafol is another hair supplement to consider, according to Dendy Engelman, MD, board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City. This uses highly concentrated botanicals to address every stage of the growth cycle. It has excellent clinical studies to support its efficacy. I recommend it daily to my patients,she recently told Prevention.

OLLY Hair, Skin & Nails supplements also contain a blend of biotin, vitamin C, E, and keratin protein to help you fight free radicals that damage hair follicles. You can also take a biotin supplement alone, which helps the body break down fats and carbohydrates to grow stronger strands.

Read Also: Why Does Hair Thin With Age

Is Coconut Milk Helpful For Reducing Hair Fall

Yes, it is helpful. Coconut milk is replete with many hair-nourishing nutrients that can help rejuvenate your hair follicles and strengthen your hair roots.

Hair strands that are firmly rooted into the scalp are less likely to break or fall out. Besides combating excessive hair loss, regular application of coconut milk may also help relieve dandruff, repair hair damage, and stimulate faster hair growth. However, more studies are needed to determine the exact efficacy and mechanism of coconut milk in reducing hair loss.

Why Hair Falls Out

Hair grows and eventually falls out as part of its normal cycle. It can build up on hair brushes, pillows, or shower drains.

Most people will not notice the natural hair loss that occurs daily. Hair thickness and the hairline usually remain the same.

People are more likely to notice excessive hair loss. This is a good time to take action as it may be due to an underlying condition. Symptoms of excessive hair loss include:

• sudden loss of hair
• noticeable thinning

There are several possible reasons for excessive hair loss.

One of the most common causes is due to genetics. According to a 2019 review, pattern baldness affects up to 50% of men and women.

Commercial products could help to slow and treat this type of balding. One example of these products is Rogaine.

Pattern baldness occurs slowly with aging. Some more immediate causes of hair loss include:

Also Check: What Causes Black Women’s Hair Loss

How To Treat Hair Loss And Thinning Hair Respectively

The workup for hair loss or diffuse thinning typically starts with a series of blood tests, Mack explains. With blood work, I am able to figure out if the hair loss is related to a systemic condition like a vitamin deficiency or thyroid disease.

If the blood work is normal, she recommends a small scalp biopsy to determine the state of the hair follicles .

That said, there isnt one best treatment for hair loss. Speak with your doctor to find out whats best for you.

How Much Hair Loss Is Normal

Hair loss is a common phenomenon occurring every day. People may lose up to 100 strands of hair each day. However, individuals with a family history of hair loss may lose more hair, often causing bald spots in men.

Around half of all people experience hair loss by the time they turn 50. While fairly common, hair loss may alter the way you look, making it a problem. Nevertheless, there are many ways to help combat hair loss.

Also Check: How To Fix Thinning Hair Part

What Ingredients To Look For In Hair Growth Products

Below, Mack details the main ingredients to look for in products to help combat hair thinning and hair loss:

• Minoxidil: This ingredient is found predominantly in serum formulations but may also be found in shampoos at varying concentrations.
• Finasteride: As a dermatologist, Mack prescribes Finasteride orally for many of my male patients suffering from hair loss secondary to androgenetic alopecia. Plus, there are more natural renditions of this formula to consider.
• Red Clover Flower Extract: This natural herb contains a very high level of isoflavones a type of phytoestrogen. The phytoestrogens are plant derived molecules similar to female estrogens. This extract has been shown to help with hair loss associated with hormonal changes in women.
• Saw Palmetto: New, exciting research is pointing to saw palmetto as a natural alternative to preventing/minimizing hair loss. The research suggests that saw palmetto is a natural blocker of dihydrotestosterone , the molecule known to shrink hair follicles promoting hair thinning/hair loss.

Genetics Underlying Male Pattern Baldness

A study led by the University Edinburgh in the United Kingdom discovered 287 genetic regions involved in male pattern baldness. Many of the genes that the researchers identified were linked with hair structure and development.

We identified hundreds of new genetic signals, said Saskia Hagenaars, a Ph.D. student from the University of Edinburghs Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology. It was interesting to find that many of the genetics signals for male pattern baldness came from the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers.

Not only could the teams findings help to predict a mans likelihood of experiencing severe hair loss, but they could also provide new targets for drug developments to treat baldness.

You May Like: Will Vitamin D Help With Hair Loss

What Is Generalized Hair Loss

This is an overall hair thinning without specific bald spots or patterns. While this type of hair loss may not be noticeable to others, often the individual will feel their hair is not as thick or full as it previously was. Common conditions in this category are

Under normal conditions, scalp hairs live for about three years they then enter the telogen or resting phase. During the three-month telogen period, the hair root shrivels up into a small “club,” then the hair falls out. It is therefore normal to lose about 100 hairs every day, more of them on days when shampooing loosens the hairs that are ready to fall out. The body then replaces the hairs.

Sometimes people who worry about losing their hair start noticing hairs on their pillow or in the sink, not realizing that they’ve always been there. A close look at these will usually reveal the club at the end, showing that these hairs are shed normally.

• Normally, about 10% of scalp hairs are in the telogen phase.

Several circumstances produce a “shock to the system” that alters the hair growth rhythm. As a result, as much as 30%-40% of the hairs can cycle into telogen. Three months later, hairs come out in a massive shedding , especially near the front of the scalp. These include

• severe illness,
• severe emotional stress or loss.

How Can I Stop Hair Loss And Regrow Hair Naturally

Hair is said to be our crowning glory. So it can be heartbreaking to see your glorious mane thinning day by day.

Of course, some hair loss is natural. Most people tend to lose about 100 strands a day. But if your hair loss is dramatic, or constantly breaking, you may need to visit a dermatologist to rule out any health conditions.

But if your hair loss is mild, you may be able to stimulate growth by making simple changes to your diet and hair care routine.

You May Like: Does Metformin Cause Hair Loss