Fighting hair loss - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

By Jane Harrison, RD, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
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Our society values hair as a feature of beauty and youth. Some people also express their individuality and style with their hair. That's why losing hair can sometimes affect a person's self-esteem and create anxiety.

Genetics accounts for 95 percent of male and female hair loss in this country. For women, hormonal changes, such as those during menopause, can also lead to thinning hair. Accidents, burns, cancer treatments, and disease can trigger hair loss, too.

Start by talking to your doctor about treatment options if your hair loss bothers you. If the cause is a disease or cancer treatment, your doctor can help you understand what to expect and how to best manage this condition. Often these types of hair loss are temporary and need no treatment.

Treatment options
There are no magical elixirs that can restore your hair to the glory of your youth. The following may be treatment options, though, if your hair loss is due to male or female pattern baldness, or certain other causes.

Medications
The effectiveness of any medication will depend on the cause and extent of the hair loss. Each person is different. Ask your doctor if there is a medication that's right for you. These have been approved by the FDA:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine). This popular over-the-counter drug can be used by men and women. Rubbed directly onto the scalp, it works best on areas where some hair remains. You may see hair re-growth, a slower rate of hair loss, or both. You must use minoxidil daily or the re-grown hair will be lost within 90 days of stopping the treatment.
• Finasteride (Propecia). This oral prescription treatment is only for men. It slows hair loss and stimulates hair re-growth, mostly on the top and middle-front of the head. Finasteride should not be used or handled by women, especially those of childbearing age. It can cause birth defects.
• Corticosteroids. For patchy hair loss, cortisone can be injected into affected areas. This is usually done monthly.

Surgical procedures
Surgery may be considered if other methods have failed.

Hair transplants involve moving grafts of healthy hair from the back or sides of the scalp to balding or thinning areas. One outpatient session includes about 50 grafts on average.

Scalp reduction is a technique in which bald areas are reduced or eliminated. This is done by removing several inches of the bald skin, then pulling the hair-covered sides together and suturing them.

• Scalp flap is less invasive than a reduction. Here, a flap of hair is swung from a hair-covered area of scalp and grafted into a bald area near it.

Often, these methods are combined when there is extensive hair loss.

Considerations when choosing a surgical procedure
Surgical treatments for hair loss are often costly and can be painful. Possible risks include infection and scarring. You'll also want to consider these factors:

• You must have healthy hair at the back and sides of your head. Hair color and texture may affect the results, as will the skill of your doctor.
• You may need multiple visits. Sessions for grafts (or plugs) are spaced apart to allow blood circulation for healthy hair growth. Also, some grafts may not take.
• Newly transplanted hair will fall out after surgery. Hair usually starts to re-grow in 3 months. Grafts should continue to produce hair for the rest of your life.
• It may take 2 years to see the final result from a full transplant series.
• Mild side effects may include some swelling and bruising around the eyes after 2 or 3 days.

Dermatologists and plastic surgeons are most likely to offer these surgical procedures. Some family-practice doctors may also have this expertise. Make sure to review a doctor's credentials, training, and the number of times he or she has performed the procedure you want. Ask to see before-and-after pictures of actual patients so you can see what the outcomes typically look like. But remember that your results may not be the same.

View the original Fighting hair loss article on myOptumHealth.com