It didn't take long to avoid wasting thin hair

Hair loss normally doesn't cause pain, but it may be emotionally distressing whenever you realize your hair is thinning, especially if you could have spots between the hairline and your scalp. But you’ll be able to see by looking. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat thinning hair and stop the issue from progressing.

Why is your hair thinning?

There are two common conditions for many age-related hair loss.

This variety of hair loss could be a results of genetics or age-related hormone changes. It occurs progressively, in patterns specific to men and girls. “In men, the frontal hairline recedes, or it may thin at the temples or on the crown of the head. In women, it may involve most of the scalp, or affect certain areas. such as the midsection, temples, and frontal scalp area,” says Dr. Huang. “But in androgenetic alopecia, women don't go bald the way men can.”

Another common variety of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium. This variety of thinning occurs suddenly, often as a response to emotional or physical stress. “This can happen after you have a high fever, urinary tract infection, or surgery. Bleeding can also occur as a reaction to an underlying medical condition or to taking a new medication,” says Dr. Huang. Dr. Huang says.

Where to go for help with hair loss Your primary care doctor can determine whether your hair loss is brought on by an underlying condition, medications, hormone changes, or aging. A physician may order blood work or prescribe treatment. If you should see a specialist, see a board-certified dermatologist who makes a speciality of treating hair loss and is acquainted with the various options available to assist with hair regrowth.

Protecting your hair

The variety of treatment your doctor recommends will rely upon the explanation for the hair loss. Telogen effluvium resolves by itself or once the underlying cause is treated. “Telogen effluvium usually improves in three to six months,” says Dr. Huang.

For individuals with androgenetic alopecia, the goal of treatment is to grow hair follicles, so hair follicles thicken and your hair appears to be at its thickest. The following treatments may help.

Conditional medications The FDA has approved over-the-counter minoxidil (Rogaine) as a hair loss treatment for each men and girls. It helps in thickening the hair follicles and helps in growing hair. It is available in a liquid or foam that’s applied to the scalp. “If you have a lot of hair, the liquid form may be easier to apply. But more people experience irritation with the liquid than with the foam,” says Dr. Huang. “And you have to use it on a daily basis for at least nine months to see improvement.”

Oral medications. Recent studies show that taking minoxidil as a pill, which has been used for a long time to treat hypertension, is protected and effective for treating hair loss. “We've seen an increase in the use of oral minoxidil for hair loss over the past year,” says Dr. Huang. “It's helpful for people who aren't getting enough benefit from topical minoxidil, or for people who have an irritated scalp.”

Other oral medications to treat hair loss include finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and spironolactone (Aldactone). “Oral medications can have side effects,” says Dr. Huang. “For example, oral minoxidil can cause low blood pressure or heart rate. Therefore, we carefully tailor treatment regimens to individual patients.” develop from,” says Dr. Huang.

Platelet-rich plasma injection. In this procedure, large amounts of your individual blood components are injected into your scalp to stimulate hair growth. Each treatment can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500, Dr. Huang says. You normally repeat the method monthly, for 3 months, and follow-up treatments are needed yearly. The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma for hair regrowth has not yet been proven.

Laser light treatment. Devices that emit low-level LED laser light can promote hair growth. They can be found (over-the-counter) in combs and helmets that you just frequently use in your house. Prices range from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

Supplements. Supplements are sometimes expensive, and there is no such thing as a solid evidence that they cause hair growth. “But if they won't interfere with your medications, it's probably OK to try them,” says Dr. Huang.

And with any of those treatments, the secret is to start out them as soon as you notice hair loss. Once the follicles stop working, the one option to revive your locks is hair transplant surgery.

Photo: © Peter Cade/Getty Images