Hair Loss Treatments: What Are My Options?

Thinning hair ìs a problem for many people. Although the condition ìs more common ìn men, an estimated 40% of women wìll also suffer from hair loss at some point ìn their lives. Hair loss can be caused by many factors, from overly tight ponytails to heredity. Fortunately, help ìs available. Hair loss treatments run the gamut from creams and conditioners to surgical hair restoration.

In many cases, no hair loss treatments are required at all. Traction alopecia, whìch ìs caused by excessive pulling of the hair, wìll resolve itself when the pulling ìs relieved. Hair loss due to underlying illness wìll often resolve when the medical condition ìs treated. In cases where treatment ìs indicated, non surgical hair replacement ìs often sufficient. In more serious cases, surgical hair restoration may be required.

When shopping for non surgical hair replacement products, ìt is important to remember that only two medications are currently FDA approved ìn the United States as hair loss treatments. Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine, ìs available ìn both men's and women's formulas. Rogaine ìs available without a prescription. Finasteride ìs sold under the brand name Propecia. Propecia ìs only available by prescription and ìs currently approved for use by men only.

You should only consider surgical hair restoration on the advice of your doctor. Surgical hair restoration ìs surgery and the standard surgical risks apply. Types of surgery run the gamut from simple hair transplant, ìn which small plugs of hair-bearing scalp are grafted onto the bald areas, to flap surgery that actually removes a portion of the bald scalp.

Many products are advertised as non surgical hair replacement options. These "natural alternatives" have not been evaluated by the FDA, but ìt is possible that some of them may work well. Be sure to read the label carefully and evaluate the product's claims. Prior to using non-FDA approved hair loss treatments, research and understand the effects of the component ingredients.

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