Treatment Options – Men's Tip No. 4

Treatment Options – Men’s Tip No. 4

There are three primary types of treatment for hair loss: prescription medication, surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments.
Make sure to check with your doctor or dermatologist before starting any medication but some of the options you may discuss appear below.

Prescription medication

Minoxidil

Rogaine is a popular brand name for a drug containing Minoxidil. Rogaine is applied topically and must be used for at least a few months for results to be seen. It is available in regular strength (2%) and extra strength (5%). About 30% of men who use Rogaine report an improvement in their hair loss, with some experiencing hair re-growth and others only reporting an end to further hair loss (Source: Rogaine data sheet). However, Rogaine can only help those with balding on top of the head. Users who experience positive results must continue treatment indefinitely. Some slight side effects from Minoxidil may be experienced.

Finasteride

Propecia is a popular medication containing finasteride in capsule form that treats balding on the front and crown of the head only (it has not been proven effective for hair loss near the temple area). The pills must be taken on a daily basis and if discontinued, the hair loss will reappear. In a study of participants who had taken Propecia for a five year period, 48% of men had noticed increased hair growth, and 42% had reported a stop to their hair loss, while 10% lost further hair (source: Propecia package insert (pdf). Women are advised to not handle finasteride tablets. Users may experience infertility and sexual side effects

Surgical Procedures

Hair Transplants

If the thought of a hair transplant conjures up the image of unsightly, unnatural-looking hair plugs, think again! Hair transplant surgery has come a long way and doctors are now able to get a natural-looking hairline and density. Thanks to the Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation (FUE) technology, hair can now be transplanted one follicle at a time for true-to-life results. Hair transplants last a lifetime: however, they can be very costly and much research is needed on behalf of the patient in order to find a qualified surgeon and get successful results.

Non-surgical Treatments

Laser treatment

A relatively new treatment on the market is the non-invasive Low Laser Light therapy. Manufacturers claim the energy from the laser light repairs damaged hair follicles by increasing blood flow and metabolism in the cells. This can be a costly procedure having minimal documented results however, the popularity of laser hair treatment is growing.

Infrared, Electric Pulse and Steam Treatments

There are a myriad of other alternative treatment technologies on the market: however in many cases, there is not enough information available on the effectiveness of the treatment to warrant it a reliable option. Before embarking on any course of alternative treatment, always do thorough research.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics by nature are temporary but can have an amazing effect when properly applied as anyone who has enjoyed seeing the transformation of an ordinary woman into a raving beauty knows. Well their are cosmetics for hair loss too, check out my next blogpost for the advantages and limitations of each class of products.

Look Good, Feel Great!