While a hair transplant is undoubtedly one of the best ways to restore hair, there are many non surgical solutions that you can try before considering one.
The first step is to determine whether you are leading a healthy life style or not. An unhealthy lifestyle can be responsible for your hair loss. Improve your overall health by exercising, drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and taking supplements. It is also important to reduce stress, since stress can worsen hair loss. Give yourself a daily scalp massage to increase blood flow to your scalp, and try supplements such as omega oils, biotin, ginkgo biloba, saw palmetto, green tea or royal jelly to help the hair growth. Eating the proper amounts of protein and iron can also reduce hair loss.
There are many products available on the market promoted to stop hair loss and promote hair growth. Some of these products have side effects and it is important to consult a doctor specializing in hair loss before taking any medication of any kind.
Finasteride, sold as Propecia and Proscar, is a prescription hair loss treatment that inhibits follicle killing DHT. The only proven way to stop the hair loss process is to lower DHT levels and Finasteride can accomplish this. It works well for both men and women, although pregnant women cannot take it. The American Hair Loss Association recommends Finasteride for men wanting to treat their baldness.
Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine or Loniten, is another medication for hair loss and is rubbed directly onto the scalp and also works for both men and women.
Low androgen birth control pills, as well as estrogen and progesterone pills can be used to treat hair loss. Ketoconazol, which is available as a topical treatment by prescription, can also be used to help treat hair loss. Nizoral shampoo contains Ketoconazole. And alopecia areata can be treated with steroid injections such as triamcinolone. Other medicines that can treat hair loss include Spironolactone sold under the name Aldactone, Cimetidine also known as Tagamet and Dutasteride marketed as Avodart.
While there are a variety of medications to choose from, it is important to understand that drugs work by stopping hair loss and re-growing hair, but when you stop taking them the hair loss resumes. A hair transplant is the only solution that will keep the new hair for life.
Consider trying wigs or hairpieces as they are an alternative to a hair transplant. A hair piece should look natural and blend with your existing hair. Or you can try laser therapy to reduce hair loss, as it can stimulate the hair follicles.
Be sure to consult a doctor specializing in hair loss to determine the underlying cause to your hair loss, and whether any of the aforementioned solutions might be right for you.
Though there are many non surgical alternatives to try, a hair transplant is the only permanent solution to restoring the hair.
Photo via Hair Transplant Seattle
