This article reveals all you need to know before choosing your weapon to fight against hair loss.
Hair loss isn’t desired by anyone. However, to what extent it affects you depends entirely on how your relationship with your hair is. This article will help you choose the most suitable method for you to fight hair loss.
Why are you suffering from hair loss?
In order to choose the optimum treatment, you first need to identify why you are losing hair, especially if over-the-counter methods have been unsuccessful and you haven’t consulted a professional recently. There can be various reasons for hair fall, such as:
It’s in your genes
This is one of the major reasons for hair loss. It is fairly obvious that nothing much can be done about it. It doesn’t happen suddenly but takes its sweet time instead. The patterns are predictable in both males and females.
You have a medical condition or your hormones are going frenzy
Immune system-related medical conditions can affect the quality of your hair and lead to hair loss. Conditions that mess with your hormones such as pregnancy and thyroid problems may also lead to temporary or even permanent hair loss.
Your medication or supplements are not suiting your follicles
If you are on medication for cancer, depression, high blood pressure, cardiac system-related conditions, hair loss is one of their common side-effects.
You excessively style and/or dye your hair
Heating tools break and damage your hair. Dyes change the texture of your hair and do just the same. If done in a moderate amount and frequency, they won’t largely threaten your hair quality. However, if you overdo it, there is a high chance of these products becoming the reason behind your hair loss.
Life has been stressing you out way too much
If something shocking and/or traumatizing happened to you, you may suffer from your hair thinning for the few months following the event. Don’t worry too much; such hair loss is usually temporary.
What are the different types of treatments available?
Minoxidil, Folixil
This is one hair loss treatment you can try. It talks about three different products. The first product mentioned has to be used consistently and can be found over-the-counter. If you aren’t willing to consult a professional already, this may be suitable for you. The second one, a supplement, takes a few months to show results but supports strong and healthy hair. You should opt for it if you are patient enough to wait for that long to reach your desired hair. The third product is shampoo which cannot be used alone but has been backed by scientific research. This is for you if you’re willing to invest in more than one product at a time and research-backed products mean something to you.
Pros
(Minoxidil) Over-the-counter, easily obtainable
Professional consultancy not required
(Folexin) Strong, healthy hair
Backed by scientific research
Cons
(Revita Shampoo) Cannot be used alone.
Might not be in stock always, difficult to get your hands on.
(Folexin) Takes a long period of time to show results.
Side-effects
Irritation
Eczema
Abnormal hair growth in various parts of the body
Laser Devices
Many people opt for laser devices. They stimulate hair growth, but there is not many official data about the extent of their efficiency. If you are looking for something that you can easily do by yourself at home alongside not costing you an arm and a leg, you can give this a shot. They are available in various options, such as in the form of combs or helmets. This means it will be convenient for you to move around and use it whenever you want.
Pros
Repairs and regenerates scalp cells
Improves blood circulation to the scalp
Cons
Expensive
Time-consuming
Results take time to show up
Side-effects
Blistering, crusting, and scarring of scalp tissue
PRP (Platelet-rich Plasma) Therapy
If surgery isn’t an issue for you, platelet-rich plasma therapy could be an option. First, your blood will be drawn. Then it will be processed to be separated into three layers and injected back to areas of your scalp that specifically require care. This increases blood flow to your hair follicles and thickens the hair shaft, which might stimulate natural hair growth. PRP therapy, however, is best avoided if you are on blood thinners, smoke heavily, and/or have a history of substance abuse. You will need three treatments in a 4–6 week period. Maintenance treatments are also required every 4–6 months. The procedure is quite costly. You should opt for it only if you are willing to spend hefty sums of money and continue treatment for long lengths of time.
Pros
Growth of hair is stimulated
Helps prevent male/female pattern baldness
Cons
Risk of injury to blood vessels of the scalp
Scarring
Calcification at places where it has been injected
Expensive
Time-consuming
Not suitable for those with immune-deficiency diseases
Side-effects
Infection may occur
Negative reaction to anesthesia
Hair Transplants
If you are willing to resort to surgical options, another procedure you may look into hair transplant. There are various types of transplants available nowadays, and the technology used in the procedures has enormously improved over the years. Keep in mind that hair transplants are an extremely expensive procedure. They are pretty time-consuming as well. You will probably need multiple sessions to fully restore a head full of hair. This should be your last resort after making sure no other method is going to work for your hair. Please invest time and resources into researching well about the professional you will consult. Going under the knife is no small thing.
Pros
Will certainly result in hair improvement.
State-of-the-art technology
Cons
Surgical method
May cause scarring
Extremely expensive
Time-consuming
Have to carefully choose a suitable doctor
Side-effects
Risk of infections
Drainage of pus or crusting
Aching, itching, and swelling of the scalp
Inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis)
Bleeding
Not being able to feel surgical sites.
Surgically transplanted hair not coordinating with existing natural thin hair
Everyone’s feelings towards hair loss are different. This means that their desired outcome when resorting to treatment is also different. So no choice is wrong. Go for whichever option aligns most with your hair goals without any hesitance.