Hair Loss

Hair Loss – what happens?

Hair can start to recede and start to withdraw from the temples and crown at anytime. For some males this process can start as early as the final teenage years, but for the majority of men it happens in their late 20’s and early 30’s. A thinning of the hair may be the first sign, followed by wider hair loss across the crown and temples.

Why does hair loss occur?

Male baldness tends to run in families, the hair is usually lost on the crown and temples. This is due to an over production of a chemical named dihydrotestosterone or DHT, which causes the hair follicles to produce thinner and thinner strands of hair until they eventually stop completely.

Other causes of hair loss include:

• iron-deficiency anemia
• under active thyroid
• fungal scalp infection
• some prescribed medicines
• stress

Hair Loss Treatment

If the cause of hair loss is determined as natural thinning / baldness, there are a range of hair restoration methods available.

During the 50’s and 60’s hair transplanting became a popular hair loss treatment. Though more effective than other hair restoration methods at the time, early hair transplant treatments were unpredictable and often had less than spectacular results.

But through improved research and technology came better results. As the amount of donor hair needed reduced from 20-30 hair follicles for the original hair transplants to a much more manageable 1-4 hair follicles, hair transplantation became one of the best hair restoration methods for ensuring a natural and permanent solution to hair loss.

Other solutions include prescription and over the counter medications like Minoxidil – Regaine or Viviscal which often prove cost effective and a very successful short-term solution.

Regaine is a topical treatment, applied directly to the scalp the product can dramatically stem existing hair loss and in some cases actually promote new hair growth among dying hair follicles.

Viviscal is a hair loss medication in pill form that is also very effective in stopping the rate of hair loss and is favored by some for its convenience.

There is no miracle “cure” for hair loss but current hair restoration methods can provide an effective strategy for managing hair loss.

The best way to establish the cause of hair loss is to consult a trichologist.