There are a few medical conditions of a cosmetic or aging concern shared by both males and females and one of them is hair loss. Alopecia, hereditary hair loss, male pattern baldness, and female pattern baldness are all types of hair loss that can be detrimental to a person’s mental well-being and self-confidence, even if a full head of hair is not threatening to physical health.
In the past, there was a lack of hair loss treatments. Most people had to simply live with issues with loss of natural hair and reversed hair growth or cover it with wigs, toupees, or other hairpieces. Severe hair loss might have been dealt with in quite drastic and invasive ways, like full-on hair transplants for male pattern hair loss in particular.
While being an effective treatment, hair transplant surgery, which involves plug-ins of human hair cells, is a very invasive surgical procedure that is expensive, lengthy, and requires significant downtime and extensive recovery time.
In this modern age of advanced cosmetic surgery and dermatology, however, there are plenty of over-the-counter and non-surgical treatment options available to people who want to experience new hair growth and an improved hairline without resorting to hair transplantation or hair restoration surgery.
Causes of Hair Loss
Sometimes, the cause of hair loss or type of hair loss gives a clue to the best type of treatment. This might be confirmed by a scalp biopsy or by diagnosis from a clinical trichologist (hair specialist). Any physician recommending prescription medication will certainly want to be cognizant of the cause.
Androgenic Alopecia
The main cause of hair loss in the USA is androgenic alopecia. A hereditary condition, it affects more than 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States and is more commonly known as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.
Telogen Effluvium
This type of hair loss occurs when the normal hair cycle stalls. The follicles reach a resting phase and do not grow into hair shafts. Hair also falls out. Generally, hair thins but full baldness doesn’t occur.
Anagen Effluvium
This is rapid hair loss as a result of medical treatment, such as chemotherapy. The treatment is potent to kill cancer cells but can also cause hair follicle production to cease. Healthy hair growth usually restarts after treatment finishes.
Alopecia Areata
Occurring suddenly and without warning, hair falls out and new hair stops growing as a result of the body’s immune system attacking healthy tissues. Such an autoimmune condition can lead to patchy hair loss or total hair loss.
Tinea Capitis
A fungal infection also known as scalp ringworm, this condition usually only affects children. Antifungal medication can cure the problem.
Cicatricial Alopecia
This is a rare type of hair loss also known as scarring alopecia. There are numerous causes but in all, hair follicles are destroyed by inflammation and are replaced by scar tissue. The destruction means hair follicle growth does not start up again.
Hair Shaft Abnormalities
Hair loss or visible thinning occurs because of problems in the individual hair shafts rather than the follicles. Possible causes are loose hair (easy to pull out), Trichotillomania (psychological pulling out hair) and traction alopecia (tight ponytail ties, etc).
Hypotrichosis
In this rare genetic condition, very little hair grows on the head and body from birth onward. Many sufferers of hypotrichosis are bald before the age of 25.
Other
Hair loss can occur due to a one-off traumatic or stressful event, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, and reactions to medications and supplements.
Doctors and medical practitioners see many patients with hair loss and can offer a wide range of solutions depending on the cause, and severity of hair loss, and whether it is permanent or temporary hair loss.
Thinning hair is the least severe of all types of hair loss and there are several treatment options. Here are some of the best non-surgical hair restoration treatments for encouraging hair regrowth that you might be advised to undertake by your dermatologist or hair follicle professional.
Platelet Rich Plasma
PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a revolutionary and non-invasive method of restoring hair that involves utilizing the client’s platelets derived from a blood test sample.
Unlike traditional surgical procedures, this innovative technique harnesses the power of growth factors and proteins to jumpstart the body’s natural healing process and promote hair growth. This is one of the most cutting-edge treatments available right now thanks to recent developments in the hair loss sector.
ExCell & PepFactor Therapy
Before & After A ExCell & PepFactor Treatment On Client, at Z Center For Cosmetic Health.
An alternative to PRP, our ExCell treatment uses a combination of 2.5-5 billion exosomes, stem cells, and growth factors along with peptides to rejuvenate and regenerate the skin and scalp. PepFactor for the Scalp contains copper peptides and additional growth factors which can be used alone, or in combination with our ExCell treatment. Both products are paraben-free, steroid-free and hypoallergenic. The technology and ingredients are patented and clinical trials have proved its efficacy.
ExCell and PepFactor serums are applied topically and using micro-infusion, a minimally invasive micro-needling procedure. Exosomes will signal hair cells to regenerate and repair themselves. Stem cells, growth factors, copper peptides and antioxidants encourage younger-feeling, thicker hair growth. A series of treatments is needed. There is improvement within just four weeks, with results becoming truly visible from 3-6 months after the first treatment.
Low-Level Light Therapy
Low-level light therapy is a non-surgical hair restoration technique that uses low-level laser power to stimulate the growth of stem cells in the hair follicles. This is a procedure that was introduced in the early 1960s, and it has been consistently effective for hair loss ever since. LLLT is a treatment that is approved as being safe and effective for both men and women, with very few side effects.
Scalp Micro-pigmentation
Scalp micro-pigmentation is a kind of hair replacement treatment that involves using body-safe ink to create the illusion of the presence of real, natural hair. You can think of this treatment almost like you would a tattoo, or permanent makeup tattoo, as it uses ink to form the various shades, dots, and dimensional depths that help to very believably mimic the appearance of shaved hair.
As the treatment focuses on creating the illusion of shaved hair, it is much more commonly chosen by men rather than women who might be looking for an alternative that helps with longer locks.
Topical Hair Loss Products
There is a large number of topical hair loss products that can come in various forms such as foams and liquids, and these are designed to be applied directly to the scalp. The products should be treated and used in the same way that you would use shampoos and serums, with some of the most popular including:
- Topical anthralin – a solution usually recommended for people who are suffering from alopecia areata (patchy baldness).
- Topical tretinoin – a product that consists of Retinol used in combination with minoxidil, recommended for those with male and female pattern baldness.
- Topical minoxidil – a medicine that is available over the counter in the vast majority of pharmacies, and used for common hair loss afflictions including male/female pattern baldness and alopecia areata.
In general, the effects of using these kinds of topical treatments can be expected to start becoming visible after a few months of repeated and regular use. Something to stress, however, is that just because they are available over the counter, you should not start using them without first consulting a doctor about your hair loss worries. For some people, using topical products will not help, and they may cause unwanted side effects.
Hair Regrowth Tablets
Various non-surgical hair restoration options in pill form essentially work from the inside out! One of the most common and popular forms of this particular treatment is Propecia (also known as Finasteride).
For some people who are dealing with a range of illnesses and medications, it might be the case that their medicines are causing hair loss in the first place, and in these situations, a variety of supplements are often recommended to try to help including vitamins and minerals.
For hair loss that has been deemed to be hereditary, there is also the option of pills containing DHT-blockers that can serve as a way to prevent the early onset or additional loss.
Maintaining A Healthy Diet
One of the most important aspects of hair health and hair growth that needs to be mentioned is simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle and healthy diet.
Because the hair has a constant growth cycle, any lack of specific vitamins and/or minerals in your diet can be a hindrance to the natural process.
Some of the best dietary tips for promoting healthy hair include never skipping breakfast, staying as hydrated as possible, making sure that you get enough protein, consuming lots of foods that are rich in iron, and being careful about the quality of dairy products that you eat regularly.
If you are interested in any of the above-mentioned treatments or others that may be available, contact the Z Center for Cosmetic Health. This renowned clinic in Sherman Oaks is run by a board-certified surgeon and offers treatments in a professional, high-quality clinical setting. Book an initial consultation appointment, and a member of the expert team will advise you on the best treatment options.