Understanding the Disadvantages of Hair Treatment

Hair loss is a situation that affects a big percentage of adult men and some women The single most general reason is identified as androgynous alopecia, better known as man style baldness. Certain medical conditions and/or treatments can also result in hair loss of a temporary or permanent nature. This is why understanding options in hair loss treatment is so important to those of us suffering from thinning hair.

The first, and most often used, hair loss treatment consists of topical application of the drug minoxydil. Originally sold by prescription under the trade name Rogaine, this medication can be massaged into the scalp and will slow or stop hair loss in most cases. Some have even reported that thin patches have begun to fill back in. Today, this medication is available at most drug stores as an over the counter preparation.

A second option to be considered by men is an oral medication known by its trade name, Propecia. This pill is still a prescription only medication for the treatment of hair loss and has been shown to be very effective at stopping or reversing the progression of male pattern baldness.

This option is not available to females, however, due to the risk of certain birth defects developing in fetuses now being carried or later conceived if this drug is handled by a female of childbearing age.

Another common solution that many find to be more satisfactory in treating hair loss is surgical transplantation of hair follicles from one part of the head with thick growth to the areas where hair is thinning.

Generally, hair follicles are harvested in a narrow strip taken from the back of the head and separated into plugs containing two or three live follicles. These plugs are then inserted into the scalp in areas where the hair is thinning and act to replace the hair that has been lost.

The last resort in the fight against hair loss is to accept that going bald is inevitable and to embrace it by shaving the head. In many cases, this actually looks better on a man than attempting to hide his thinning hair or to undergo surgical treatment that may or may not be completely successful.

There are several options available to individuals who are suffering from hair loss. Understanding these options and any risks associated with each one is the only way for us to make informed decisions about what route we wish to take in obtaining hair loss treatment.