You can spend all your hard earned money on various skin care products to prevent or irradiate wrinkles on your face. You can hit the gym every day to stop once-toned muscles from becoming saggy. But nothing says, “you’re getting up there in years,” like the shiny bald patch on the top of your head.
What is happening?
Do you wake up every morning with more and more hairs on your pillow? Do you watch your precious locks swirl down the shower drain? There are a variety of reasons why your hair is so anxious to part with your scalp.
First, there are a number of health conditions or disorders that cause hair loss – diabetes, lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disease), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), hypervitaminosis A (abundance of vitamin A), syphilis, and tinea capitis (ringworm of the hair) are just a few.
Second, there are temporary situations that sometimes cause hair loss, the most common instigators being malnutrition, shock (like a car accident or death of a loved one), and stress.
Lastly, your loss of locks could be attributed to androgenic alopecia (commonly referred to as male pattern baldness). This type of hair loss occurs in a well-defined pattern with thinning above both temples and at the crown.
Why me?
If your hair loss is linked to a disease or other health condition, you may be able to reverse the effect. Talk to your doctor about what is happening. You may learn the medication you are taking for your condition is what causes the hair loss. In that case, a different prescription may help.
Hair loss that is a result of a traumatic event should rectify itself in due time. Once the trauma has passed, a normal hair growth cycle should resume. Likewise, if you are able to restore a healthy, nutritious diet, your temporary hair loss will pass.
However, androgenic alopecia is a whole different ball game. You’re not going to be happy to hear this, but male pattern baldness is permanent. Hold your breath, because the bad news is still coming – doctors don’t know why this type of hair loss occurs. Sure, they have some ideas, but there is still a lot of unknown associated with androgenic alopecia.
How do I proceed?
If you are afflicted with androgenic alopecia, you have two options: non-surgical restoration or surgical restoration.
Non-surgical hair restoration includes everything that…well…doesn’t involve surgery! While pulling out the Bic and going bald is an option, most men opt for medication. Right now, there are two FDA approved hair loss medications – finasteride (oral pill) and minoxidil (topical cream). While these options do generally help prevent future hair loss and can sometimes restore hair growth, they are only temporary fixes. If you stop taking the medication, hair loss will resume.
Surgical hair restoration is more commonly referred to as hair transplantation. As of now, hair transplantation (or follicular unit transplantation) is the only permanent “cure” for hair loss. This procedure involves moving healthy hairs from one part of the scalp to the balding area. Donor hairs are usually taken from the back and sides of the scalp where hair growth is more plentiful.
There are two types of follicular unit transplantations: strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction. A strip harvest is pretty self-explanatory; a strip of scalp is removed and individual follicular units (natural grouping of one to four hairs) are removed for transplantation. A FUE is less gruesome. Individual follicular units – instead of a big strip of skin – are dissected and transplanted.
When should I start thinking about hair restoration?
Now! Hair loss treatment methods work infinitely better if you start them early.
Just because you are getting up there in years doesn’t mean you need to broadcast your age with a giant bald spot. Do something about it! Schedule a doctor’s appointment. Check if hair loss medications can help your condition. Consult a hair transplantation specialist to see if that is the best option for you. Restore your luscious locks of youth!
Guest blogger Dr. Mary Tejada regularly helps men in Tampa find a hair loss treatment that is a good fit for their lifestyle.
