Hair Loss Facts, Tips & Tricks

Facts about hair loss:

• Hair loss is also referred to as balding or alopecia.

• Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the type of balding that is most common in men. This condition is characterized by the reduction in size of hair follicles that, over time, cause balding.

• AGA affect approximately 80% of Caucasian men.

• AGA happens when testosterone transforms into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which destroys hair follicles.

• About 30 diseases nonrelated to genetics cause balding. A few include thyroid disease, diabetes, lupus and anemia.

• Stress can cause hair loss.

• For women, hair loss is common after pregnancy because of a fluctuation in estrogen, during or after menopause, and under severe stress.

• Certain prescription drugs such as blood thinners, antidepressant medication, Vitamin A supplements, arthritis medications, gout medications, medicine for heart issues, and birth control pills.

How can I treat balding?

If you start to notice your hair falling out or thinning, it is best to deal with the situation sooner rather than later. Here are a few ideas to consider if you are wanting to combat balding:

Nioxin

Nioxin is a thickening shampoo & conditioner that works to keep your hair from falling out. While it does thicken each individual follicle, Nioxin does not regrow hair. Nioxin runs for around $40 for a liter of shampoo and conditioner. This is likely to last you between 6 months to a year.  

Ketoconazole

A shampoo that has 2% ketoconazole can be prescribed by your doctor in order to combat hair loss. This shampoo works best for AGA when paired with a finasteride prescription. Ketoconazole works to slow the production of testosterone in order to avoid the production on DHT and retain healthy hair follicles.

Rogaine (Minoxidil)

Rogaine is a topical medication that is bought over the counter for both men and women. Rogaine does work for growing back hair but requires continuous use (application 1-2 times daily) in order to see results. Minoxidil does not work as well on the front areas where balding occurs as it does on the crown. For both men and women, Rogaine costs around $25 per/month.

Finasteride

Finasteride is a medical prescription that is taken orally once a day. In order to see results, it may take up to six months or a year. Finasteride works to block natural hormones in hair follicles in order to reduce hair loss. Finasteride works best with people that still have some hair but are looking to regrow a small about of balding or patches. Finasteride costs between $70-100/ month.

There are more ways to treat balding, but unfortunately there is no concrete solution. A lot of the time finding a successful way to combat balding involves a lot of trial-and-error. I hope you found this article helpful!