Treatment for hair loss

Treatment for hair loss is always a challenge, and the success rate depends on the type of hair loss, the causes of hair loss in each particular case, and the severity of symptoms. There are some effective treatments for hair loss. You might be able to reverse hair loss or at least slow it. With conditions like patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss may include medications, light therapy, and surgery.

Medications

If an underlying disease causes hair loss, treatment for that disease will be necessary. If a specific medication is causing hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for a few months.

Medications for the treatment of thinning hair and hair loss are available to treat pattern (hereditary) baldness.

The most common options include the following:

Finasteride (Propecia). This is a prescription drug for men. You take it daily as a pill. Many men taking finasteride experience slowing hair loss, and some may show new hair growth. It may take a few months to tell whether it’s working for you. You’ll need to keep taking it to retain any benefits. Finasteride may not work as well for men over 60.

Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets.

Other medications. Other oral options include spironolactone (Carospir, Aldactone) and oral dutasteride (Avodart).

There are various forms of treatment for hair loss in women, including topical medications such as Rogaine. Other options include light therapy, hormone therapy, or in some cases, hair transplants. Another treatment for hair loss in women is eating a nutritious diet, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also help keep hair healthy.

Topical remedies

Minoxidil (Rogaine). Over-the-counter (nonprescription) minoxidil comes in liquid, foam, and shampoo forms. To be most effective, apply the product to the scalp skin once daily for women and twice daily for men. Many people prefer the foam applied when the hair is wet.

Products with minoxidil help many people regrow their hair, slow the rate of hair loss, or both. It’ll take at least six months of treatment to prevent further hair loss and to start hair regrowth. It may take several months to tell whether the treatment works for you. If it is helping, you’ll need to continue using the medicine indefinitely to retain the benefits.

Possible side effects include scalp irritation and unwanted hair growth on the adjacent skin of the face and hands.

Hair Loss

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or the entire body and can be temporary or permanent. It can result from heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it’s more common in men.

However, it is customary to shed a certain amount of hair daily. Hair falling out more significantly than usual can cause distress and worry.

While male and female pattern baldness is a primary cause of hair loss, there are other reasons. A doctor will want to explore these before recommending the appropriate treatment.

This article examines the leading causes of hair loss in males and females, the treatment available, and home care tips for preventing further loss.

Types of Hair Loss

Below are the major types of Hair Loss

Involutional alopecia

This is a natural condition in which the hair gradually thins with age. More hair follicles go into the resting phase, and the remaining hairs become shorter and fewer in number.

Androgenic alopecia

This type of hair loss is a genetic condition that can affect both men and women. Men with this condition, called male pattern baldness, can suffer hair loss as early as their teens or 20s. It is characterized by a receding hairline and gradual disappearance from the crown and frontal scalp. Women with this condition, female pattern baldness, don’t experience noticeable thinning until their 40s or later. Women experience a general thinning over the entire scalp, with the most extensive hair loss at the crown.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that often starts suddenly and causes patchy hair loss in children and young adults. This condition may result in complete baldness (alopecia totalis). But the hair returns within a few years in about 90% of people with the condition.

Alopecia universalis

This type of hair loss causes all body hair to fall out, including the eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair.

Trichotillomania

This, seen most frequently in children, is a psychological disorder in which a person pulls out one’s hair.

Telogen effluvium

This temporary hair thinning over the scalp occurs because of changes in the hair growth cycle. A large number of hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, causing hair shedding and subsequent thinning. Learn more about what causes telogen effluvium.

Scarring alopecias

Scarring alopecias result in permanent loss of hair. Inflammatory skin conditions (cellulitis, folliculitis, acne) and other skin disorders (such as some forms of lupus and lichen planus) often result in scars that destroy the ability of the hair to regenerate. Hot combs and hair that are too tightly woven and pulled can also result in permanent hair loss.

Symptoms of hair loss

Hair loss symptoms can appear in many different ways, depending on what’s causing it. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect your scalp or whole body.

Symptoms of hair loss may include:

Gradual thinning on top of the head.

This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting people as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede at the hairline on the forehead. Women typically have a broadening of the part in their hair. An increasingly common hair loss pattern in older women is a receding hairline (frontal fibrosing alopecia).

Circular or patchy bald spots.

Some people lose hair in circular or patchy bald spots on the scalp, beard, or eyebrows. Your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.

Sudden loosening of hair.

A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing, washing, or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning but is temporary.

Full-body hair loss.

Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back.

Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp.

This is a sign of ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling, and sometimes oozing.

Causes of hair loss

Doctors don’t know the leading causes of hair loss. However, several factors may influence hair loss:

• Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that happens with aging. This condition is called androgenic alopecia, male-pattern baldness, and female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline, bald spots in men, thinning hair, and the crown of the scalp in women.
• Hormonal changes and medical conditions. Various conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems. Medical conditions include alopecia areata, which is immune system-related and causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections such as ringworm, and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania.
• Medications and supplements. Hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.
• Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the same as it was before.
• A very stressful event. Many people experience general hair thinning several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary.
• Hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause hair loss called traction alopecia. Hot-oil hair treatments and permanents also can cause hair to fall out. If scarring occurs, hair loss could be permanent.
• Medical conditions. Thyroid disease, lupus, diabetes, iron deficiency, eating disorders, and anemia can cause hair loss. When the underlying condition is treated, the hair will return unless there is scarring, as in some forms of lupus, lichen planus, or follicular disorders.
• A low-protein diet or severely calorie-restricted diet can also cause temporary hair loss. Get information about foods that can help prevent hair loss.

Causes of hair loss in women?

Below are some of the common causes of hair loss in women

• Hairstyle: Hairstyle is one of the leading causes of hair loss in women. When your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or cornrows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
• Vitamin deficiency.
• Dieting (rapid weight loss).
• Restrictive diets.
• Over-processed scalp hair (breakage).
• Menopause: This hair loss often worsens when estrogen is lost during menopause.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

• Why am I losing so much hair?
• Why am I losing my hair?
• Why am I losing hair?
• What is the cause of my hair loss?
• How many strands of hair am I losing per day?
• What type of hair loss do I have?
• Will my hair loss be permanent?
• What’s the best treatment for me?

Natural treatment for hair loss

Natural treatment for thinning hair and hair loss is another treatment for hair loss that has been proven effective. Natural treatment for hair loss has many benefits. They are more effective, have no or minimal side effects, and are less expensive.

Below are the most common methods of natural treatment of hair loss

Home remedies for hair loss

Home treatment for hair loss is easy to achieve. It is a natural treatment for thinning hair and hair loss, effective without known side effects. Below are different approaches to home treatment for hair loss

• Fenugreek seeds are also one of the common home treatments for hair loss, which helps to reduce baldness. Grind some fenugreek seeds, add water, and apply this paste to the head. After 40 minutes, wash your hair and try this paste for a month; this is one of the very effective remedies.
• Try powerful scalp rubbing with your fingers after washing your hair with cold water. This is also an effective home remedy that helps reduce hair fall.
• You can also rub the scalp areas with onion and apply honey, a natural remedy.
• Mix an egg yolk with honey properly and apply this solution for ½ hour. After, wash your hair with cold water. This will also help you to get rid of hair fall problems.
• You can also make home-based shampoo for hair. Take five tablespoons of curd, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and one tablespoon of gram raw powder. Apply this shampoo on the head and rinse after an hour. These will also be beneficial remedies to reduce hair fall.
• You can also wash your hair with apple cider vinegar and sage tea; this will help you to maintain long and healthy hair.
• Tea tree oil is an effective home remedy for hair loss that kills lice and bacteria that attack the follicle and cause hair fall. Apply tea tree oil regularly.
• Essential oils for hair loss, like almond oil, lemon-based oil, olive oil, and mustard oil, can be applied to hair regularly. Essential oils for hair loss help to avoid hair falling.

Vitamins for hair loss – the most effective method of treatment if hair loss occurs due to avitaminosis

Vitamins for hair loss are another effective natural treatment of hair loss. Vitamin for hair loss helps support the production of sebum on the scalp. Sebum is a natural oil that helps the strands grow. Vitamin B is another natural treatment for thinning hair and hair loss because it gives the strands their texture and prevents split ends and breakage. Vitamins C and E are also important to have healthy hair.

Diet for hair loss – a vital part of any form of treatment 

Diet for hair loss is an essential part of any natural treatment for hair loss that is also effective. The proper diet for hair loss supports average hair growth. A healthful diet typically contains various foods, including various vegetables and fruits.

These provide essential nutrients and compounds that help keep skin and hair healthy.

Homeopathy for hair loss – #1 natural hair loss treatment

Homeopathy for hair loss is prescribed depending on the underlying cause and based on the individual’s temperament and homeopathic constitution. Homeopathy for hair loss promotes hair regrowth and reduces the intensity of hair loss.

Listed below are homeopathic remedies for hair loss

• Thuja Occidentalis: For hair loss due to dry, white, scaly dandruff, Thuja is the best remedy. This remedy is prescribed for dryness and thinning hair. This helps in hair growth and makes it lustrous.
• Natrum Muriaticum: This acts well when hair loss is experienced after childbirth. In such cases, hair loss occurs from your head’s frontal area (bregma). It can also be prescribed to women suffering from hair loss due to anemia (iron deficiency).
• Lycopodium Clavatum is effective for treating hair loss after delivery, after menopause, or hair loss due to ovarian dysfunction. It is also prescribed when hair loss is witnessed from the vertex first, later on, the temples, including graying of hair.

Natural treatment thinning hair and hair loss in Philadelphia.

Natural treatment for hair loss using acupuncture, homeopathy, medicinal herbs, and reiki is very practical, and the success rate of those treatments is usually 20-25% above average numbers in the industry.

Philadelphia Holistic Clinic is the #1 naturopathic clinic in the city and suburbs, directed by the medical doctor Victor Tsan. You will receive any form of holistic healing at the clinic, and the protocol will be customized for your particular medical condition.

To schedule an appointment for holistic evaluation and meet Dr. Tsan, contact our office at (267) 403-3085 or use our online application.

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