By the age of 30, half of all men have already begun to lose the thickness in their hair. Some men have hairlines recede, while others develop a bald spot. Some men experience both or complete baldness. Half of all women will also experience some form of hair loss by the age of 50.
While your genes certainly play an important role, many doctors are starting believe genes don’t get the final say. In fact, there are two treatments for retaining the rest of your hair and even recovering some of what’s been loss: foams/lotions and pills.
Hair Loss Prevention Requires Treatment
The earlier that accepted methods of treatment are administered, the more effective they’ll be. Unfortunately, massaging your scalp and avoiding stress have not been shown to actually prevent hair loss. Instead, anyone serious about hair loss prevention should investigate in the following types of treatment:
- Foams and Lotions – “Minoxidil works well for men who don’t want to take a pill and who want to stall or prevent hair loss,” advises Dr. Adam Penstein of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Lake Success, N.Y. Minoxidil has been shown to enlarge hair follicles and help stimulate hair growth. Impressively, 7 out of 10 men who have tried the product have indicated hair regrowth after at least 4 months of use.
- Pills – Finasteride, a compound made popular by Propecia, blocks enzymes that convert testosterone into a hormone that is believed to be the main cause of male pattern hair loss. Finasteride slows down hair loss significantly and some men even regrow hair.
Minoxidil and finasteride can be used together for even better results. Neither of these treatments, however, create a cure for baldness. They only serve to keep it from getting worse. Once you stop taking the product, hair loss will resume, and it may even be faster than before.
How is Hair Loss Prevention Different for Women?
Female-pattern hair loss has a strong genetic component that can be inherited from the father or the mother. Unlike the patterns that men exhibit of receding and spotting, women lose hair with a visible thinning over the crown. As such, one of the earliest signs that women notice is that their ponytail is smaller.
As of now, minoxidil is the only approved topical treatment for female-pattern hair loss, as approved by the FDA. Using it once per day has been shown to regrow hair in 81% of women.
There’s no need for women to alter their hair care regimen in order to attempt to prevent hair loss. Changing habits with coloring, washing or perming will not impact the hair loss process.
Some studies have indicated that iron deficiencies in women have the potential to cause hair loss. This is not conclusive, but supplements such as biotin and zinc may help.
We Are Your Hair Loss Prevention Experts
Struggling with hair loss is common and treatments are available to help. We encourage you to find out more about the variety of options available to treat hair loss in men and women. It’s important to consult with an experienced and trained restoration professional.
To learn more about which treatment option is right for you, schedule a Frank & Honest Hair Consultation or contact our team in New York City or Columbus, Ohio.
