Hang On to Your Hair: 5 Ways to Treat Hair Loss

Most of us don’t think there’s anything unusual when we see strands of hair on our hairbrush, in the shower drain, or on our clothes. After all, it’s common to lose about 50 to 100 strands of hairs a day, according the American Academy of Dermatology. However, dramatically shedding hair (150+ strands a day) or seeing it turn baby-thin can be traumatic. While hair loss is typically thought to be limited to men, the fact is that it can happen to anyone, at any age. In fact, 40 percent of those who suffer temporary or long term hair loss are women. In some cases, hair loss is linked to genetics, but many other factors can play a role. The good news is that there are a number of safe treatments that can slow or even reverse hair loss. It all depends on the cause. Here are some reasons why you might be seeing less hair on your head, and what to do about it.

Finding the Roots of Hair Loss

There are plenty of reasons why hair can fall out or thin. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, also called male or female pattern baldness, a hereditary condition that affects about 50 million men and 30 million American women. When men have hereditary hair loss, they usually develop the tell-tale receding hair line and bald spot on the crown. Women by contrast generally experience a gradual diffuse hair thinning all over their scalp, especially on top of the head. The condition can start any time after puberty, but it often accelerates at menopause. Stress has been linked to telogen effluvium, a condition where more than normal amounts of hair fall out. Hair loss can occur six weeks to three months after a stressful event such as a physical injury, surgery, a car accident, severe illness (including the flu), etc. Emotional stress is less likely to cause hair loss than physical stress, but it can happen, for instance, after the death of a loved one. When the short-term situation passes, hair frequently grows back. Other common causes of hair loss include crash dieting; not getting enough protein, iron (anemia) or B vitamins (especially biotin); too much vitamin A; thyroid imbalance; general anesthesia; blood-pressure drugs, and possibly antidepressants.

What to Try: Medications

Hair loss medicines can slow hair thinning and treat hair loss to varying degrees. For women, the most effective medication to slow the progression of hair loss and even regrow new hair is the topical medication minoxidil, marketed under the brand name Rogaine. To date, Rogaine is the only FDA-approved, once-daily use treatment for hereditary female pattern hair loss or thinning. Available over-the-counter, it’s applied topically to reactivate hair follicles and stimulate hair regrowth. “It’s the single most effective medical treatment for hair loss in women,” says Robert M. Bernstein, M.D., a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University and a world renowned hair transplant surgeon. While Men’s Rogaine has been available for more than a decade in a 5 percent minoxidil formulation, it wasn’t until 2014 that the women’s 5 percent formula was approved by the FDA (it was previously available as a 2 percent formula).

Laser Devices

Devices that emit low-energy laser light are being increasingly marketed for hair growth. Among the devices cleared by the FDA for use by women is the $895 Theradome, a cap that looks like the top of a bike helmet. Users wear it for 20 minutes twice a week. Also being used are laser combs, including the HairMax Advanced 7 LaserComb ($195) which has received FDA approval to treat hair loss and promote hair growth in both men and women. You glide it over your scalp for 15 minutes, every other day, to stimulate hair growth. More recently, HairMax introduced its Ultimate 12 Laser Comb ($495), which you use for eight minutes, three times a week to treat hair loss and stimulate hair growth. One of the most recent studies showing the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for hair loss was reported in 2014 in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. The study, conducted at several U.S. centers, concluded that lasercomb treated subjects had “statistically significant” improvement in hair density. Low-level laser therapy “may provide a promising treatment option,” the researchers stated, adding that further studies need to be conducted.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Used for over two decades for skin and wound healing, PRP is a newer non-surgical therapeutic option for male and female patients experiencing thinning hair. The procedure involves drawing a patient’s blood, much like having blood drawn in a primary care physician’s office. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge and the plasma is separated and removed from the rest of the blood. The platelet-rich component is further concentrated in a second spin. The highly concentrated mixture of platelets, growth factors and bioactive proteins are injected into the scalp, which has been numbed with a local anesthetic. At New York’s Bernstein Medical-Center for Hair Restoration, each treatment takes about a half-hour to 45 minutes and patients receive five treatments during the first year, then quarterly or semi-annually in the second (at up to $1,250 a treatment). Patients with thinning, but not totally bald, areas are considered the best candidates. PRP practitioners say the concentrated plasma can stimulate hair regrowth and make thinning hair thicker by strengthening the hair follicles. However studies so far have been small and more are needed to know whether this is a safe and effective treatment, the American Academy of Dermatology says.

Natural Remedies

Natural oils are often used to prevent hair loss and help maintain healthy hair. The oils nourish the deep layers of skin where hair follicles are located and stimulate tiny blood vessels. In Ancient Egypt, for instance, rosemary oil was combined with a variety of other oils such as sweet almond oil, fir oil and castor oil and massaged into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. In India, a hair tonic made from rosemary and lemongrass in a base of sesame oil has been used to fight hair loss. A 1998 study reported in the Archives of Dermatology found that a applying and massaging a mixture of cedarwood, thyme, lavender and rosemary essential oils promoted hair growth after several months. However, if you opt to use essential oils in hair care, they should not be applied directly to your scalp since they can be irritating. Instead, mix them first in a base oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.

Tricks to Disguise Thinning Hair

Since hair loss treatments can take several months to a year to see results, consider a concealer such as Toppik, which combines color with keratin protein fibers and is sprinkled on top of thinning or balding areas to create a fuller look. “The fibers are fantastic,” says Dr. Bernstein. There are also a number of styling tips to create the illusion of a thicker head of hair. Among them: keep your hair length above the shoulder level and do not over layer it. If you color your hair, remember that dark hair shows balding spots on the scalp more clearly, so consider going with a lighter shade. One of the best things you can do is visit a salon and ask for a stylist experienced with hair loss. With the right cut, you can accentuate the parts of your hair that are the thickest.