The loss of hair can negatively influence a person’s self-esteem and self-image. For women especially, society has created certain ideals that everyone wants to conform to; having beautiful, lustrous hair is one. That is why hair restoration for women is so important.  If you are or know a woman facing hair loss, there are options that can remedy the situation, including over the counter products, hormone treatments, and surgery.

Everyone has probably seen the commercials for hair restoration products that claim to magically re-grow hair in no time. Be careful which products you choose though; Rogaine and Propecia are the only two that have attained the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration. They are often effective, but there is one big disadvantage; once a person starts using them, they will have to continue using them for the rest of their lives. If they stop, hair growth will conclude and hair loss will resume.  Also, be aware that Propeica, based on the drug Finasteride, is not approved for females because of the possibility of birth defects.

Hormone treatments are an alternative that many women find attractive. Hair loss is caused by the presence of male hormones, including testosterone, in a woman’s body. By undergoing anti-androgen therapy, women may be able to reduce hair loss. Medications that may be effective include birth control pills and low-dose oral corticosteroid. These choices are not right for everyone, yet have proven effective in some cases.

Surgery is perhaps the most drastic choice, but can offer more permanence than other options. There are different types of hair restoration surgery; some have proven more viable for women than others. Hair transplant surgery is common in men, but not suggested for most women. This is because men usually experience pattern baldness, while women tend to have thinning of the hair all over the head rather than in one spot. In a hair transplant surgery, hair is taken from areas where healthy hair that is unaffected by baldness is located; since women experience weakening of hair all over the scalp, there is no place to take hair from. Hair flap and scalp reduction surgeries are other choices that may provide better results for women. Hair flap surgery is a good solution for a receding hair line; strips of the hair and skin are cut out and sewn into the bald spot. In a scalp reduction procedure, the scalp is made smaller, which diminishes the appearance of bald patches. Like any other surgery, hair restoration can be painful; it is important to assess the risks before deciding to have any procedure.

Regardless of which method is chosen, getting back lost hair is not easy. Every woman should consult a doctor before undergoing any of the aforementioned treatments. For many, hair restoration can be beneficial; choosing to restore hair can greatly restore a woman’s confidence in herself and allow her to enjoy life more freely.

Out of all the products out there, Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, has to be one of the most effective. Made from herbs found within our natural environment this treatment is guaranteed to bring about a natural recovery of your hair. This product helps to resuscitate hair growth when you rub it into your hair by repairing damaged hair follicles. The effects are not immediately felt but with a little patience, you should see your hair begin to reshape within a few months of regular use. However, there are a few side effects.

Sometimes your hair might take a totally different color from what it used to be. The good thing about this is that you can avoid this by consulting with a dermatologist. Whilst you can buy this without a prescription, it is safer to just consult with a professional on compatibility. In addition to this side effect, the texture of your hair can also change, though not too significantly.

Anthralin is yet another topical treatment that is again rubbed onto your scalp. Unlike Minoxidil, this cream is purchased with a prescription letter from a recognized medical practitioner. This is because it is used to treat a specific type of hair loss caused by alopecia areata. Anyway, typical side effects are irritation on the scalp, mild rashes and sometimes a weakening of hair texture. However, this treatment is unlike other treatments when it comes to who can use it.

Generally, you are advised against using this if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The reason for this is that the chemicals it contains can be toxic to a newly formed or breastfed baby. Therefore, be sure to remember this before prioritizing on how you look outdoors.

Avacor is the last treatment solution I will deal with in this article. In as much as this might sound like the movie ‘Avatar’ it is not equally as nail biting and invigorating, the opposite can also occur. In many ways, this is actually a topical solution that blocks out DHT and detoxes the body, both at the same time. Like the rest of the products I have mentioned here, it triggers the natural growth of hair that is crippled by DHT.

Potential effects of using this product are irritation on the scalp, nausea, weight gain and the excessive growth of hair in certain areas of the body. Generally new hair loss treatments are more effective than before. It is for this reason that you should consult a dermatologist and find out how best you can counter the effects of hair loss.

The US FDA has only approved two drugs for the treatment of hair loss in men and one for hair loss in women. If a product doesn’t have one of these ingredients then it probably is not very effective. There are some natural products which mimic these drugs to a certain extent but they do not seem to be as effective as the original approved drugs themselves.

The first pharmaceutical is known as Finasteride. This is taken in a tablet form each day and actually slows down the cause of the baldness. The vast majority of men who experience hair loss do so because of a condition known as Male Pattern Baldness. This is caused by a hormonal factor called DHT which actually bonds with the individual hair follicles and causes them to slowly stop producing hair shaft material. Finasteride works to limit the amount of DHT in the blood supply and thus allow the hair to continue to grow.

The second approved treatment for hair loss is called Minoxidil. This is applied in a topical solution which means it is rubbed into the scalp. This drugs works to counteract the affects of the DHT as opposed to limiting its production. Originally Minoxidil was developed to treat high blood pressure but it was quickly determine that it also had a positive effect on Male Pattern Baldness.

Women can also be affected with pattern baldness although in this case it is referred to as female pattern baldness. Of these two approved drugs the only one suitable as hair restoration for women is Minoxidil. Finasteride has the nasty side effect of causing birth defects.

If the hair restoration product you are using does not contain one of these two ingredients then it probably will not be very effective.

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.

Another option is to start off with the cheaper and easier to use products first, and then work your way up to more costly solutions or the ones that requires you take more time to apply it, if your first options don’t work. You should also consider your lifestyle, and what would best fit both your schedule and your budget, as not all restoration hair products are cheap!

Hair regrowth products generally fall into a few different categories. Firstly there are hair restoration shampoos and conditioners, such as Revita or Nizoral. The active ingredient, Ketoconazole, found in these shampoos both prevents hair loss and in some cases stimulates new hair growth. Topical creams and lotions can also be helpful in preventing hair loss, although these are generally not as easy to use and apply as shampoos are.

Finally, there is medication available for men only, which actually stimulates new hair growth. Propencia, an oral medication, has actually been proven to inhibit the hormone that is behind hair loss in men however it is not suitable for women to use. No medication for women encourages hair growth alone, though some medication such as contraceptive pills or other hormone treatments have been known to do so.

No matter what the advertisements say, the only permanent solution for hair restoration is having hair grafts. While shampoos, topical treatments and medication for men may work, it is highly unlikely that they will restore your hair growth to the thickness it was when you were young.

They also take some time to begin working. Many people become frustrated if they don’t see immediate results and stop the treatment prematurely. Be prepared to wait months in some cases before you begin to see tangible results. Remember too that while hair replacement products may stimulate some hair growth, and have been proven to prevent further hair loss, in order to keep this up you will have to use these products for the rest of your life. Once you stop using the shampoos or any other hair restoration products, you may find that you once again begin losing hair.