As 50 percent of men experience hair loss sometime during their life, the search for the perfect solution is an ongoing process. Balding is a big deal to many men and can be a cause of depression and anxiety for some. Hair loss gives some men the feeling that they are losing control, losing their good looks, or losing their youth.
So what can be done? According to the American Hair Loss Association, there are only two Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs that are effective in the treatment of hair loss in men. To successfully treat hair loss, it is essential to start treatment with an effective product as early as possible.
Here are some of the latest hair loss treatments, how they work, their benefits, and any side effects they may have:
Propecia (finasteride) is an FDA-approved pill that interferes with an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase. Blocking this enzyme has a major role in slowing down genetic, male-pattern hair loss in men.
By blocking this enzyme, a potent androgen known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is lowered by up to 60 percent. The DHT is responsible for causing a shrinkage of the hair follicle that eventually leads to baldness. This is the only drug that has been proven to arrest hair loss progression, and some patients even start to grow back some of their lost hair.
This drug works best in men who are losing the hair on the top of their heads. Women in the childbearing period should never take or even handle Propecia pills.
Reported side effects of Propecia use include allergic reactions, ejaculation problems, erectile dysfunction, impotence, and breast enlargement.
Topical application of 2 or 5 percent Minoxidil (loniten) is available over the counter under the name Rogaine. The exact mechanism of this treatment is still unknown. It is believed to keep the hair root in the growing phase for a longer period of time by directly acting on the cells of the hair root itself, keeping them in the dividing stage and preventing them from resting, so the hair shaft does not fall out.
Minoxidil takes three to nine months to see if it works for you or not. It is generally better to use Minoxidil as a supplementary treatment to Propecia or with men who have not responded to Propecia.
The most common side effects include irritation and flaking of the scalp. If it comes into contact with the skin of the ears or forehead it can cause unwanted hair growth especially with the 5-percent solution.
Hair Transplant
Surgical hair restoration or hair transplants have had a bad reputation in the past because of their unnatural looking results they produced. However, hair transplant procedures have markedly improved since the mid 1990s, and it is now possible to get very natural looking results.
For the time being, it is only possible to transplant hair from a man's own scalp where one or two hairs, their follicles, and the surrounding tissue and skin are removed from the back of the scalp and transplanted into minute slits within the skin of the balding area. This transplanted hair is resistant to DHT, the hormone that caused the hair's to fall out. It is also possible to transplant hair between identical twins.
This only works if the man is suffering from male-pattern baldness, which leaves hair at the back and sides of one's head. It does not work for women with hair loss or for men who are losing hair diffusely from all areas of the scalp as this hair might fall out after transplantation as it is not resistant to the effects of DHT.
It is not possible to transplant hair from another individual as this hair would be rejected by the body, unless drugs that suppress the immune system were taken for life.
Results depend on the density of the hair you have, the degree of looseness of your scalp, the type of hair you have (whether curly, wavy, or fine), and the contrast between your skin and hair color.
The ideal candidate for hair transplantation has a high density of hair, loose scalp, curly or wavy hair, and comparable hair and skin colors.
Side effects of hair transplant are minimal and temporary; these include headaches, minimal bleeding, scalp numbness, swelling, and transitory thinning of pre-existing hair.
Remember to always visit a dermatologist before starting any of these treatments, as they are not fit for everyone.
If you are fine with losing your hair and this is not a source of anxiety for you, then good for you!
The important thing is not to try to hide your bald spot with a comb over or other unnatural means. This only drives more attention to what you are trying to hide. Furthermore, most people do not find it to be appealing at all. It is better to cut your hair short or wear a hat.
It has become very common to see men with completely shaven heads. Many men even shave their heads on purpose without having any hair loss. So if you have the head shape for it, why not go for it? You might even end up looking better than before!