The American Hair Loss Association revealed that approximately two-thirds of men experience some degree of hair loss by the time they are 35. By age 50, as many as four-fifths of men experience loss and thinning, and seek some form of hair loss treatment.

If you are a young person who has noticed a receding hairline or is just worried about balding, this article is for you.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Most hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness, and fortunately, it is a mere symptom of getting older. However, male-pattern baldness can sometimes be a hereditary trait that comes from your parents. Trichologists at groclinics.com.au suggest that other causes of hair loss include certain medications, too much vitamin A, or not enough protein. Telogen effluvium, or sudden heavy shedding, can also be caused by illnesses or stress. One good news is that if your hair loss is not a result of male-pattern baldness, it often reverses itself.

Male-Pattern Baldness: How It Occurs

A receding, M-shaped hairline is a surefire sign of baldness. The next thing is that the locks on top of your head start to thin – exposing a bald spot. Ultimately, the two locks meet, and a horseshoe pattern of hair forms around the sides of your head.

Available Hair Loss Treatments

●     Minoxidil

While there is no verified cure for male-pattern baldness, some medications are known to slow it down. The most popular is minoxidil.

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter treatment. It decelerates the speed of loss and sometimes helps to grow new hair.

Minoxidil, initially invented to treat high blood pressure. However, its developers revealed that one of its side effects is excessive, unwanted hair growth. Pharmaceutical companies immediately saw an opportunity to use minoxidil for male baldness.

It has now become the most reliable contemporary treatment for male-pattern baldness. If used as recommended, one will see evidence of improvement within eight months. Simply massage the foam or solution into your scalp once or twice daily for best results.

Some users experience an increase in hair shedding during the first few weeks of treatment, but this is temporary. As long as there is no itching or burning of the scalp, the treatment is safe and recommended.

●     Finasteride

Finasteride was initially developed to combat prostate cancer. It works by reducing the amount of a hormone called DHT in the scalp. DHT causes hair follicles in the scalp to become thinner. Hence, by lowering the levels of DHT, hair regrowth is made possible.

There are cases of people who have been able to grow new hair while using finasteride. Some hair specialists believe it is more potent than minoxidil. It is perfect for treating male-pattern baldness at the crown and the middle of the scalp.

Finasteride is taken orally and often called by its brand name, Propecia. However, the FDA-approved medication is only obtained by prescription. But these days, Finasteride is easily ordered online after a virtual consultation with hair specialists.

NB: adult men should only use finasteride. Never be used by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and should be kept away from minors.

●     Nanoxidil

Nanoxidil is quite similar to Finasteride. It is a good bet for persons who experience scalp sensitivity or dry scalp. Nanoxidil is manufactured with retinol to promote scalp health and azelaic acid to block DHT.

Although it is a reasonably new product, it has proven very potent in treating hair loss due to its smaller molecular weight, which allows it to penetrate the scalp faster, resulting in a better absorption rate. It has also been revealed to increase the hair density.

●     Hair Transplant Surgery

This works only for people with male-pattern baldness. The surgery involves taking hair follicles from the back of the head where they are resistant to DHT and moving them to the scalp. A hair surgeon will move healthy hair from the sides and back of your head to the top. The entire process can be expensive, and you may have to do it more than once before it works. Usually, when it starts working, you will lose most of the hair the doctor moved, but new hair will grow back. Then, six months from the surgery, everything will get back to normal.

●     Therapy

Therapies for hair loss include a series of drugs, creams, shampoos, and ointments. It also includes consultations with hair specialists. In addition, many companies conduct research and offer hair treatment services for people with male-patterned baldness. They usually help work out the most proper treatments based on each person’s needs.

●     Wigs and Hairpieces

For people who fancy non-medical ways to treat hair loss, wigs and hairpieces are perfect for concealing hair loss. They are also quite trendy. Some influential world figures are known to use wigs and hairpieces before coming on live TV.

We hope you found an option you’re willing to explore amongst the ones we’ve provided. But, more importantly, we hope you found something that fits into your financial capacity. Make sure you don’t break the bank.