Considerations When Selecting Male Hair Loss Treatment
Based on statistics of the American Hair Loss Association, more than 60% of men will experience appreciable hair loss by the age of 35. The statistics become more alarming the older you get, with approximately 85% of men at age 50 having significant thinning of their hair. Knowing that the odds may be against you, it pays to look at male hair loss treatment options sooner rather than later.
There are many myths about what causes men to lose their hair, ranging from stress to wearing hats too often. In fact, androgenic alopecia, commonly called male pattern baldness, is the primary cause of hair loss, and it is based on hormones and heredity. In other words, what you see in the male members of your family is what you are likely to experience. What you have inherited are hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT, a byproduct of testosterone. This hormone causes your hair follicles to shorten and then eventually stop producing hair.
If you desire to keep as much hair as you can for as long as possible, you might want to consider taking action before any loss becomes too obvious. If your genetics seem to indicate that you will have a good head of hair for a long time, then you might choose to wait to begin treatment. Either way, there are multiple treatment options available.
Your first line of defense might be a product that you can buy at your local supermarket, drug or discount store. Options include a special shampoo, which some believe will work on your hair and scalp to minimize fluctuations and inflammation caused by hormones. Another commonly known product claims it will help your existing hair to grow better, though it will not cause hair to grow in areas that are already bald.
If the over-the-counter products do not work for you, the next step might involve seeing your doctor for one of the two prescription drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of hair loss. The first drug approved for this purpose might slow your loss of hair, but it will not cause new hair to grow since it has no impact on DHT. On the other hand, the newer drug lowers DHT levels enough that hair follicles are revived and new hair begins to grow. In clinical trials conducted with this drug, more than 60% of users experienced a substantial increase in growth of new hair. It is the first drug proven effective in treating androgenic alopecia is a majority of users.
Even if you have lost so much hair that you don’t feel a drug will help, there are still other options for you to consider. The first is often called hair replacement, but might more commonly be known as a toupee or hairpiece. You might be surprised to learn that there are now high quality hairpieces available that can look very natural. If that option does not appeal to you, there is also surgical hair restoration. Here you must find a highly specialized doctor, who performs a hair transplant by moving your own hair from the back of your head to the area in need of hair.
Whether you are 35 or 55, and have lost a little hair or most of your hair, there are male hair loss treatment options for you to consider. There is additional information available online to assist you with your search of options to fit your personal situation.
If you are suffering from male pattern baldness, you are probably interesting in stopping hair loss. Male hair loss treatment can be effective when performed according to instructions.
