Every man risks losing his hair; however, some lose it faster than others. What a pain! The follicle shrivels and becomes incapable of growing anything. This hair loss is androgenetic alopecia (inherited characteristic), often called male pattern baldness. Almost 50% of all men over the age of 50 are affected. You can prevent your hair from falling out as you age; using treatments and solutions for hair restoration in Pasadena can help.
Medication alternatives: Prescription and over-the-counter medications
The FDA has approved the drugs to treat male pattern baldness and thinning hair:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine®): Minoxidil is applied to the scalp as instructed, typically once or twice a day. As indicated, after you use minoxidil, it can accelerate hair growth and prevent additional hair loss. When paired with another hair loss medicine, minoxidil is more effective. Most people notice some regrowth when using minoxidil, but it takes time to see benefits, usually 3-6 months. If you notice regrowth, you need to continue to use it daily. After you cease to use, your hair begins to fall out again. Also, it can aid with early hair loss, but it cannot regenerate a full head of hair.
- Finasteride (Propecia): Finasteride is employed to treat male pattern baldness in men, which affects up to 80% of Caucasian men. Finasteride medication reduces hair loss and provides around 30% improvement after six months of treatment, lasting effectiveness as long as the drug is taken. Finasteride is a medication that you take regularly. You can only obtain it with a physician’s recommendation. Furthermore, while finasteride is most effective on the crown, it might minimize hair loss throughout the scalp.
It may even take up to a year to notice improvements from minoxidil and finasteride, and you may have to continue taking them to preserve the benefits.
Hair transplant
Follicular unit extraction and follicular unit transplantation are the standard hair transplant methods. Both hair transplant treatments are surgical procedures, which may be costly and uncomfortable. There are also hazards, including infections and scars. You may also need to undergo repeated hair transplant procedures to achieve the desired results. The more “traditional” approach is follicular unit transplantation (FUT). It entails removing some skin from the rear of your head with a lot of hair, detaching the follicles from that strip of skin, and then reinserting the hair follicles into the realm of your scalp where you are losing hair. Also, hair follicles are taken directly from the head and replanted to bald parts of the scalp during follicular unit extraction.
Is hair loss treatment effective?
Most people find relief with hair loss treatments like over-the-counter and prescription drugs, as well as home cures. However, they do not work for everyone. For instance, rogaine is most successful in patients with hereditary baldness within the back of the head, right under the crown. Hair transplants are frequently more effective than over-the-counter products. Additionally, they can be less helpful if you have widespread thinning or baldness or if your hair loss results from chemo or drugs.
If you lose hair suddenly, schedule an appointment with Sasaki Advanced Aesthetic Medical Center or book online today for restoration.
