Hair Loss Cure

The best hair loss cure, or the best way to solve a hair loss problem, is to consult an expert. Your dermatologist or trichologist will diagnose the problem and guide you in treating it.

Most of the time it is relatively easy to find a hair loss cure if you are losing your crowing glory. If the problem is non genetic in nature, then the hair loss cure may be quite straight forward. If it is gene-related, then treatment may be a bit tricky. For instance, if you suffer from one of the most common causes of hair loss - which is Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA for short), then you have a major problem because there is basically no cure for AGA at present. As the name implies, AGA involves both genetic and hormonal factors. The only so-called hair care cure or treatment for AGA at the moment includes (a) for men - finasteride, minoxidil, hair transplant or a hairpiece, and (b) for women - minoxidil, spironolactone, cyproterone acetate, hair transplant or a hairpiece.

Androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (or male pattern hair loss) affects about 40 per cent of men by age 40, and about 50 per cent by age 50. Its characteristics in men include a receding hairline and/or hair loss on the top of the head. In women, there is an overall thinning of the hair. It is caused by a genetically determined sensitivity to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT shortens the growth phase of the hair cycle, causing follicles to shrink and produce finer hairs. The production of DHT is regulated by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase.

Do take note that if you are genetically programmed to lose your hair, and you do nothing to resolve your condition, there is little chance of keeping your hair over the long term.

Other types of hair loss

Other types of hair loss include alopecia areata - characterised by circumscribed, non-scarring hair loss in one or more areas of the body, often due to an autoimmune process; telogen effluvium - heavy, short-term shedding of hair due to a disturbance of the hair cycle (stress-induced hair loss); traction alopecia - hair loss due to prolonged traction on the hair such as hair styling which is too tight; anagen effluvium - significant acute hair loss most commonly caused by chemotherapy or radiation and scarring alopecia - localised permanent damage to hair follicles and accompanying hair loss with a variety of causes including fungal infections, inflammation, burns and trauma.

Hair loss cure available

Ancient hair loss cure or remedies included rubbing snake oil on the heads (practiced mostly by the Egyptians) to acupuncture by the Chinese.

There are two medical drugs that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as hair loss cures (or treatment of hair loss). The first is finasteride, taken once daily, which has been proven to prevent further hair loss as well as restore hair follicles to their normal size (for more info, read "finasteride medication"). The second is a topical application of minoxidil twice daily on the affected scalp area. Minoxidil is basically a hair growth stimulant which works for both men and women (for more info, read  "treatment using minoxidil ")

The efficacy of topical minoxidil and finasteride has been demonstrated through controlled clinical testing. Finasteride has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, with side effects limited to the rare occurence of reversible sexual dysfunction.

Other treatments include hair extensions or hair scalp surgery. Surgery can be both painful and expensive but it is permanent - and often an option preferred by the rich and famous.

There are three types of surgery - hair transplantation where active follicles from the back of the head are removed and replanted onto the bald areas; scalp reduction where a piece of the bald scalp is cut out and then is joined to the hair covered scalp and over the bald area; and flap surgery where an area of hair-bearing scalp is turned on axis to lie over the top of the head.

However, do take note that whatever method is chosen, results do not take place overnight. Best results are often seen after two years because hair follicles undergo a relatively long dormancy period in between growth cycles. Furthermore, hair only grows at the rate of about 2.54cm per month in non-thinning areas, and considerably lower in the thinning areas. Since it generally takes several cycles of growth, fallout and regrowth - with hair getting progressively thicker and longer each time - it takes quite a while for positive results to be apparent.

Final word of advice - when undergoing any hair loss cure programme, make sure you are eating right and avoid junk food, and also practice good hair care. Consumption of the right nutrients have been proven to not only speed up hair regrowth but also produce healthy hair growth (note: for indepth info on the necessary nutrients and also hair care, do read "vitamins for hair loss" and "hair loss prevention tips ". 

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