| Although many people do not have visible hair loss, hair | | | | the hair follicles and is taken by mouth daily. |
| loss is a natural daily occurrence. Approximately 50 to | | | | Individuals with increased levels of the hormone DHT |
| 150 hairs are lost each day, but most hair regenerates | | | | in the scalp experience a shortening growth phase or |
| because the hair follicle remains intact. If the follicles | | | | thinning of the hair. Proscar lowers the level of this |
| shrink due to heredity, hormones, stress, infection, | | | | hormone, and contributes to the normalization of the |
| certain prescription medication, illness, nutritional | | | | hair growth cycle. Proscar may be used for men only. |
| deficiency or age, the hair is not restored. When | | | | |
| shedding significantly surpasses hair growth, baldness | | | | Improvement may occur with either of these drugs |
| occurs. This Male Pattern Baldness usually begins at | | | | when taken for several months. The most important |
| the forehead or on the top of the head, and | | | | effect of these drugs may be to prevent further hair |
| progresses to the familiar horseshoe-shaped fringe of | | | | loss. The effects last only as long as the drugs are |
| hair. Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments | | | | taken. A more permanent solution is a hair transplant, in |
| are available. | | | | which hair follicles are removed from one part of the |
| | | | scalp and transplanted to the bald area. During this |
| Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is | | | | procedure, the surgeon removes a section of hair |
| important to find the cause so that it can be properly | | | | form the back of the head, near the base of the skull. |
| treated. A doctor usually inspects the hair shafts, and | | | | This area of hair is genetically different because they |
| may perform a biopsy of the skin. A biopsy helps | | | | do not have the gene for hair loss in their follicles. Only |
| determine if the hair follicles are normal; if they are not, | | | | a small scar is left and unless one shaves the back of |
| the biopsy may indicate possible causes. If the doctor's | | | | the scalp is it not noticeable. The donated follicles are |
| examination finds signs of irregularities or other serious | | | | then placed in saline solution, while small incisions are |
| illness, blood tests to identify those disorders may be | | | | made in the areas of hair loss. Each individual donated |
| required. | | | | follicle is placed creating an uneven ordinary hairline. |
| | | | After the hairline is formed, the remaining donor follicles |
| Assuming no diseases, or pathologies there are two | | | | are put where thinned or balding spots occur. |
| medications that can treat baldness effectively. | | | | |
| Minoxidil, originally used to treat hypertension, has been | | | | In the newer hair transplant technique, only one or two |
| shown to stimulate hair growth in adult men and | | | | hairs are transplanted at a time. Although this technique |
| women with a certain type of baldness. The exact | | | | is more tedious, and time consuming, it does not require |
| way that this medicine works is unknown. Hair growth | | | | removal of large plugs of skin and allows the implants |
| usually occurs after the medicine has been used for | | | | to be oriented in the same direction as the natural hair. |
| several months and lasts only as long as the medicine | | | | |
| continues to be used. Hair loss will begin again within a | | | | If satisfactory treatments are not appropriate for your |
| few months after Minoxidil treatment is stopped. | | | | type of hair loss, you may consider trying different |
| Minoxidil is applied directly to the scalp on a daily basis. | | | | hairstyles, wigs, hair weaves, hairpieces, or artificial hair |
| Minoxidil can be used for both men and women. | | | | replacement, or very simply wear a hat.Jay B |
| | | | Stockman is a contributing editor for Affordable Hair |
| Proscar, a medication used for prostate enlargement, | | | | Transplant Surgery Visit for more information. |
| works by blocking the effects of male hormones on | | | | |