What’s the Best Treatment for Hair Loss?
It’s normal to lose hair over time and throughout your life, but it can be discouraging when it feels like nothing works to restore it. We still have a lot to learn about the best ways to treat hair loss, but there are a few options that show promise with the right approach. Your first step is meeting with a board-certified dermatologist, and here’s what to know about hair loss treatment and what you can expect.
When Should I Consider Hair Loss Treatment?
It’s normal to lose hairs every day – even as much as 300. These are constantly replaced by your body’s natural regrowth cycle, but this process can begin to slow as you undergo the hair loss process. The result is a thinner appearance to the hair over time, although hair loss can also happen suddenly for various reasons. It may even be temporary and require no treatment. Your dermatologist can determine what may be causing it, but in any case, hair restoration is most effective when you start early in the hair loss process. Often, a steady package of treatments can help slow hair loss and regrow hair that has already been lost.
Are There Different Types of Hair Loss?
The clinical term for hair loss is alopecia, and it can refer to both hair loss that affects the hair shafts themselves or the follicles in the skin that produce hair. When hair loss affects the hair shafts, it’s often the result of structural damage from hair treatments or infection. When hair loss affects the follicles, it’s often caused by scalp conditions or even autoimmune disorders.
What Causes Hair Loss?
There are many different causes of hair loss, but there are a few that are more common.
Aging
Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss, and it affects a majority of middle-aged men and women. Male-pattern baldness is usually characterized by a receding hairline or thinning on the crown of the head. On the other hand, women tend to experience thinning of the hair overall and even widening of the hair part.
Medical Conditions
There are many different medical conditions that can cause hair loss as a side effect. These usually include things like anemia, autoimmune diseases, vitamin deficiencies, and problems with the thyroid. One medical condition that specifically causes hair loss is alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the hair follicles. Some scalp infections can also cause hair loss.
Other Causes of Hair Loss
There are some other causes of hair loss, including:
- Illness
- Hormonal changes before, during, and after pregnancy
- Medications or supplements
- Diet and poor nutrition
- High-stress levels
- Hairstyles or hair treatments
Hair Loss Treatments
There are a variety of hair loss treatments that can (and should) be combined for best results. These include medications that can be either topical or oral. You may need a prescription for certain ones while others can be purchased over-the-counter. There are also some laser treatments that can be used regularly to stimulate hair growth in the follicles. These are usually medical devices that are used at home in combination with medications. Finally, hair transplant surgery is one of the most drastic options that can produce long-term results with the help of your dermatologist.
Which One Is Best for Me?
Each person’s hair loss is unique and requires a customized approach. During a consultation with your dermatologist, you can discuss your best options and which combination of treatments will work best for your goals. It’s important to keep in mind that hair restoration works best when started early, so meet with your dermatologist as soon as you notice signs of hair loss.
Schedule a Consultation
The best way to learn more about your options for hair restoration is by meeting with our expert team. To get started, we invite you to contact our Chicago office by calling or filling out our online form.
