Helpful Information About Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss affects people from all walks of life. Most people will experience hair loss naturally as a result of aging, but a significant portion of the U.S. population will find themselves dealing with the symptoms far earlier than they would feel comfortable with. Indeed, according to the American Hair Loss Association approximately 85% of men will experience significant hair thinning or loss by age 50, while 80% of women will experience some form of it by age 60.
While many learn to live with this affliction, many others would instead prefer to keep their hair one way or another. From cosmetic solutions such as wigs and hair pieces, to medical options like topical and oral treatments or hair restoration surgery, many hair loss sufferers express interest in regaining their former appearance. Its no surprise then, that the hair loss treatment industry generated close to 4 billion USD in 2019.
And yet, despite the evidence that many would prefer to keep their head of hair, there is a surprisingly small number of options for combating and reversing the hair loss process. Perhaps due to the fact that hair loss is not a life-threatening condition, it is possible that it has not been taken as seriously as other afflictions, even though it has been documented that it can have significant psychological effects on those who face it.
How Does Hair Growth Shampoo Work
When it comes to a hair growth shampoo, you have two options: prescriptions or over-the-counter treatments. Prescription shampoos like ketoconazole are anti-androgenetic, which means they prevent two hormones associated with triggering hair loss from activatingtestosterone and dihydrotestosterone by targeting hair growth at the site of the follicle and helping to interrupt the hormone cycle locally that causes thinning, Schweiger explains.
Best Vegan Hair Growth Supplement
The Naturelo Whole Food Multivitamin for Women isn’t technically sold as a hair growth product it’s better.
Pros: Blend of dermatologist-approved vitamins and minerals, good for all-over health, vegan
Cons: Not specifically designed to aid in hair growth
There’s a sea of vegan supplements out there that promise to grow your hair faster and stronger but for the top choice in this guide, I went with a regular multivitamin. Hear me out: many of the vegan hair growth supplements on the market primarily contain overwhelming amounts of biotin and little else.
But, “More isn’t necessarily better,” said Dr. Friedler. “You only need about 2500 micrograms or 2.5 milligrams . If you’re taking more than that, you’re just peeing it out.”
Instead of taking a gummy that contains more biotin than your body can actually use, Friedler recommended that folks who are concerned about hair loss take a multivitamin that includes iron, vitamin D, and vitamin A. Naturelo’s multivitamin is one of few vegan/vegetarian supplements on the market that includes those three as well as biotin.
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What Are The Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
What causes hair loss?
- Hair style: Your style of hair can cause hair loss when your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Over processed scalp hair .
What causes anagen effluvium hair loss?
- Toxic substances, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some medications. These cause sudden hair loss that can occur anywhere on your body. It happens to hair in the growth stage. Sometimes, this type of hair loss can be permanent if your hair follicles are damaged.
What causes telogen effluvium hair loss?
- Extreme physical stress or shock to your body: This causes temporary hair loss. This category includes events like losing a lot of weight, surgery, anemia, illness and having a baby.
- Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc.
- An abnormal thyroid.
- Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A.
- Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.
What causes FPHL ?
- Genes: Your familys genes can cause thinning of hair along the top of your head.
- Aging: Hormone changes as you age can cause balding.
- Menopause: This type of hair loss often gets worse when estrogen is lost during menopause.
There are also some conditions that affect hair loss:
How Do I Know If I Have Hair Loss
Signs of hair loss can greatly vary from person to person, but you may notice more hair collecting in your hairbrush or in the shower drain, or thinning hair on your scalp. A dermatologist can help you understand if you have hair loss, excessive hair shedding, or both, along with identifying the underlying causes.
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Can Hard Water Cause Hair Loss
Even though there are no studies that show that hard water directly causes hair loss, water that is too loaded with minerals can lead to hair that breaks more easily. If you live in a region where the water is very hard, it is easy enough to install a shower head that softens the water to counteract this possible problem, Kwak told us.
Why You Should Trust Us
Every brand and product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Healthlines brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:
- adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements, per Food and Drug Administration regulations
- is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices established by the FDA
- is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
- is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust, such as having its supplements validated by third-party labs
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article uses the terms women and men to refer to a persons sex assigned at birth.
- Price range: $$$$
- Dose: 4 capsules per day
- Active ingredients: biotin, iodine, zinc, selenium, collagen, sensoril, ashwagandha, saw palmetto, curcumin extract, full-spectrum palm extract, hyaluronic acid, L-cysteine, L-lysine, L-methionine, keratin, horsetail, Japanese knotweed extract, black pepper extract, capsicum extract, and vitamins A, C, and D
Nutrafol offers subscription-based hair growth supplements designed to help support hair growth and prevent thinning.
According to the companys website, the capsules contribute to thicker hair, lashes, and brows and reduced shedding.
Keep in mind that there is a risk of bias, as researchers in both studies were employed by Nutraceutical Wellness LLC.
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The 5 Best Vitamins For Hair Loss Prevention Based On Research
Is your diet affecting your hair? If you arenât getting enough of certain key vitamins and minerals, you may be at risk for hair loss. Find out which foods you can get these important nutrients from, and make sure you talk to a medical professional before you take a supplement. When it comes to vitamins, more is not better, and sometimes too much can be harmful.
Hair Loss Products That Show Promise
Have you seen other products that claim to work? Here are a couple of at-home devices that have shown potential at improving menâs hair lossâbut scientists need to do more research to make sure they work well. Talk to your dermatologist before you buy either of these types of devices. Ask them to recommend ones that have the best chance of being safe and effective for you.
Laser devices. Laser caps and combs have shown hints of promise at treating hereditary hair loss, but the juryâs still out as to who would be most likely to get results from them, and what if any long-term side effects there are. The devices are worn at home stimulate blood flow and hair follicles to promote regrowth. For example, a 2019 study in the journal Lasers in Medical Science found that a laser helmet device was effective at treating hereditary hair loss, but the study included only 20 men.
Derma roller. This type of device has many tiny needles that prick your scalp. At-home versions of it come with the risk of making certain health conditions worse, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Even when a dermatologist does the professional version of this procedure for you, called microneedling, it can feel uncomfortable, and youâll need multiple sessions to see results. Microneedling is often used along with other hair loss treatments, like steroid shots, minoxidil, or platelet-rich plasma.
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How We Chose The Best Hair Growth Products
We consulted Francesca Fusco, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York City, Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York City, Keith R. Durante, M.D., a microvascular hair surgeon and founder of myhair.health,Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, professional hairstylist Lucy Flint, as well as gathered top picks from Anabel Kingsley, brand president and consultant trichologist of Philip Kingsley, and Meena Singh, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at KMC Hair Center in Kansas City, and countless customer reviews to find the best hair growth products available.
Disclaimer: Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing and be sure to consult your doctor before taking new supplements in any situation, as they can interfere with medication.
Supplements For Hair Loss
Some micronutrients play a critical role in the hair follicle cycle by facilitating hair cell turnover, constituting and dividing follicle bulbs, and producing matrix cells. Thus, a deficiency of these essential vitamins and minerals can impede hair growth or damage the hair structure.
For instance, not getting enough protein, biotin, and vitamins D, A, E, B12 can make your hair dry, damaged, and brittle, triggering greater hair loss while inhibiting new hair formation.
In such cases, you must first try to compensate for these nutritional deficiencies by consuming a wholesome diet. If you fail to derive enough nutrition from foods alone, you may consider taking supplements but only after consulting your doctor.
People often make the mistake of starting hair-growing supplements to treat or prevent alopecia, despite the presence of an underlying nutritional deficiency. This mindless action is merely a result of advertising and the availability of a wide variety of products and does not carry any scientific guarantee.
In fact, excessive intake of certain nutrients such as selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin E can prove counterproductive and can further increase hair loss. Moreover, these supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, consult a doctor about the efficacy and safety of these supplements before trying them.
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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.
Revitalash Cosmetics Thickening Shampoo
It was only a matter of time before the makers of cult classic brow and lash growth serums launched a hair line targeting thinning hair. Revitalash’s plant-infused formula cleanses the scalp to unclog follicles and stimulate growth, protects against environmental stressors, and works to thicken strands of hair for impressive body. But the true test: Reviewers note that they’ve seen results in as little as a few months, and even their hairdressers have noticed their new growth.
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Best For A Long Warranty: Illumiflow 272 Pro Laser Cap
This cap has 272 laser diodes, a rechargeable battery pack, and a baseball cap that houses the diodes.
The company states that it has designed this product to sit higher on the scalp than other laser products to ensure it covers the most common areas of hair loss.
Illumiflow does not appear to have a BBB or Trustpilot page.
The company offers a 5-year warranty, which Illumiflow claims is the best in the industry.
Pros and cons
All five reviews on the companyâs website are positive, with customers stating that their hair feels thicker and stronger after using this product.
However, the company does not appear to have a BBB or Trustpilot page and does not have any ratings below 5 stars on its own website.
Price: The Illumiflow 272 Pro Laser Cap costs $999.
What Causes Hair Loss
Hair loss is more common than you think and can happen to anyone. According to Dr. Eric Schweiger of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC, causes range from androgenetic, or hormone-related hair loss, stress-related hair loss, also called telogen effluvium, and dandruff. Medications, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, excess styling, and autoimmune disorders can also cause hair loss and thinning.
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Best Budget: Kirkland Signature Minoxidil 5% Extra Strength Topical Solution
Walmart
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Faulty dispenser
Addressing hair loss can get expensive because most treatments require at least six months of use before you see results. But Kirklands Minoxidil 5% Topical Solution makes the process affordable. The topical is formulated with a key ingredient that stimulates resting hair follicles to resume hair growth: 5 percent minoxidil. The product is also unscented, which is great for anyone looking for a product that will not overpower their other hair care products.
Like other topicals, it is important to apply the product directly to the scalp after washing your hair so it can target the hair follicles. Apply the formula to areas of the scalp with the most hair loss and then massage throughout the entire scalp. You should see results after six to 12 months of use, which can be frustrating, but consistency is key when using these types of hair-growth products.
Type: Topical | Frequency of Use: Twice daily | Key Ingredients: 5% minoxidil
Best Budget Hair Growth Product
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Solution for Hair Density is a fan favorite, with users across the internet proclaiming its efficacy.
Pros: Affordable, effective for many, no minoxidil-related side effects
Cons: Can cause oiliness, less clinical backing
Skincare line, The Ordinary, is a favorite among beauty enthusiasts for its affordable products with clearly-labeled concentrations of active ingredients, rather than mystery blends and lofty claims. It’s little surprise, then, that its hair density serum would be a hit as well.
It doesn’t contain any of the active ingredients that have been clinically tested and FDA-approved to treat hair loss, like minoxidil or finasteride. But the ingredients it does contain Procapil, Redensyl, and Baicapil, as well as caffeine and biotin, among others have shown some promising results in limited studies.
It can’t boast the same, robust support from independent clinical trials the way Rogaine, a much older product, can but anecdotally, users on review sites and TikTok rave about the increased hair growth they’ve seen. And it may be a good alternative for people who experience unwanted side effects from minoxidil products.
From a user standpoint, the only real drawback is that it can make fine hair look oily, even when applied before bed and given the whole night to sink in. For that reason, I personally only apply it on nights when I’m already planning to wash my hair the next day.
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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.
Do Expensive Hair Growth Products Work
A products effectiveness really depends on the brand and its ingredients and a more expensive product doesnt automatically mean that it is more effective.
Factors like the cost of ingredients, the perceived popularity or luxury of the brand name. Not only that, but the products target audience can increase or decrease the price completely independent of how effective it actually is.
When looking for effective hair regrowth products, consider the ingredient and if those ingredients have been clinically proven to help regrow or thicken hair.
For example, minoxidil has been proven to support hair regrowth for many people and is more likely to give you the results you are looking for than an untested ingredient.
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Fable & Mane Holiroots Pre
Sibling duo Nikita and Akash Mehta infuse their Indian heritage into each product in their hair care line, Fable & Mane. Using vegan ingredients and Ayurvedic remedies, the company focuses on treating the scalp or, shall we say, addressing the roots. The pre-wash hair treatment oil features a cocktail of natural ingredients to restore damaged locks and promote scalp circulation.
The HoliRoots formula includes ashwagandha, which is purported to help the body adjust to stress castor oil, which is rich in ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid believed to enhance hair follicle health and dashmool, a mix of 10 dried roots used in Ayurvedic medicine.
The product has a 5-star average rating on the companys website and a 4.4-star average from Sephora shoppers.