Do you spend a fortune on anti-aging skin care products? Did you let your neighbor bully you into joining a walking club so you can tone that saggy belly? Why have you paid attention to every other aspect of your appearance, yet ignore the growing bald spot on the top of your head? Let’s face it; all the anti-aging theories in the world won’t eradicate the one thing that truly shows your age the most – thinning hair.
If you’ve been debating about whether or not you want to fix your hair loss problem, now is the time to make a move. Hair restoration efforts work infinitely better if you start them early.
Restoration for Temporary Hair Loss
Luckily, a lot of hair loss issues are temporary. There are a myriad of factors that can instigate temporary hair loss:
- Shock to the system like a death in the family, surgery, car crash, or metabolic disturbance
- Hormonal changes or imbalances associated with the onset of menopause (at this point you won’t be worried about the effects of pregnancy or birth control!)
- Hair treatments like dying, tinting, bleaching, or straightening that are used in excess or used incorrectly
- Poor nutrition (like an inadequate consumption of protein and iron) and unhealthy dieting techniques (fad diets, crash diets, and eating disorders)
- Side effect of medication or illness (like diabetes, lupus, and hyperthyroidism)
Your doctor can help you find a hair restoration option for this temporary situation. He or she may prescribe an alternate medication that won’t have hair loss as a side effect. Your doctor may recommend a daily vitamin supplement to help with your condition. Or, you doctor may simply advice you to remain calm and let time rectify the situations you can’t control.
Restoration for Permanent Hair Loss
Unfortunately, there is one type of hair loss that is permanent. As of now, there is no cure for male and female pattern baldness.
For males, the first signs of pattern baldness emerge as a receding hairline and/or thinning at the crown. Females generally experience thinning at all areas of the scalp.
There are a lot of unanswered questions about male and female pattern baldness. For the most part, doctors believe it is a genetic issue. It is said that certain scalps are genetically-prone to baldness. The condition causes the growth cycle to shorten. Hairs are rooted superficially and aren’t as thick or sturdy as they once were. Eventually, the follicles deteriorate and fail to produce hair at all.
There are two ways to restore hair health. The first mode is referred to as non-surgical hair restoration. Non-surgical hair restoration usually involves medication. The FDA has approved an oral pill (finasteride) and a topical cream (minoxidil).
The second method is called surgical hair restoration (or hair transplantation). Hairs naturally grow in small groupings of one to four hairs (called a follicular unit). The most technologically advanced hair transplant relocates these natural groupings in a procedure called follicular unit transplantation. During this procedure, hairs are removed from a healthy donor site – generally the back or sides of the scalp where growth is plentiful. Then, these individual follicular units are relocated into the recipient site (or balding area).
No matter which restoration method is right for you – whether it be simple lifestyle changes, topical medication, or surgery – start the process as soon as possible. The earlier you acknowledge the problem and get help, the more successful the treatment process will be.
About The Author:
Guest blogger Dr. Mary Tejada works at a clinic that specializes in Tampa hair restorations. She regularly helps patients find a hair loss treatment for their temporary or permanent situation.
