Hair Restoration and Replacement

With Americans spending more than 3.5 billion dollars a year on hair restoration treatments, it appears that it is something that many people are concerned about. Hair loss can be very demoralizing for both men and women when it happens. There are, however, treatments that can effectively halt hair loss and promote further hair growth. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of hair loss treatments that claim to do help but actually don’t.

Before you rush off to buy a hair restoration treatment, take time to review things thoroughly. And remember too, what might be the best hair loss treatment for one person may not work that well on another. While some find that a natural hair loss treatment will work, many resort to using the following medical treatments.

Hair Restoration Products

Male hair loss treatments can differ from the treatment used for females, although some treatments can be used by both males and females. One of the prime treatments used for males with male pattern baldness is the prescription drug, Propecia. Originally this drug was used to treat prostate problems in men, however during the course of taking the drug many men noticed a reduction in hair loss and actual hair re-growth in some instances. This drug effectively treats male pattern baldness in most of the men who take it.

Minoxidil, applied topically, can also help reduce hair loss though it is not as effective as Propecia at treating male pattern baldness. It does help halt hair loss to some extent and when combined with other treatments can make a difference.

Women Hair Restoration

When it comes to female hair loss treatment, there are not as many options available as there are for women, primarily because the common drug used to treat male pattern baldness, Propecia, is not recommended for women.

One of the more common treatments for women is again using Minoxidil, which according to studies actually seems to work better for women than it does for men, especially if the hair loss is diffused over the scalp and not localized to one position. While only 2% Minoxidil has FDA approval, physicians often prescribe 5% in cases where it will be used under their supervision.

Other medication prescribed for women, normally used to treat other illnesses or conditions, can also help with female balding. Spironolactone, usually prescribed for its diuretic effects, and Cimetidine which is used to help treat stomach ulcers can both block the action of androgens and thus help prevent hair loss in females.

By far the most common prescribed treatment for women after menopause is hormone replacement therapy, such as taking estrogen and progesterone pills or applying hormone cream topically. This is very effective for women who’s hair loss is due to hormonal changes.

Hair Restoration Systems

If you don’t want to be hassled with buying products to apply to your head everyday or you are worried about the side effects of drugs there are two other options. The first is hair restoration surgery. This involves removing living hair follicles from one area of the head and inserting them into the bald spot of the scalp. This hair restoration procedure is fairly expensive but it does work well.

The other option is to get a hair replacement system also known as a hair piece or toupee. With new manufacturing techniques and attachment systems they are almost completely unnoticeable. Whatever hair restoration treatment you choose to go you deserve to have a full head of hair once again.