Articles and Info about male hair loss

Hair loss is typically an aesthetic concern rather than a health issue, but the problem should not be overlooked. Sometimes, the condition might be a symptom of an underlying disease. One of the world’s most renowned organizations which deal with hair loss treatment and prevention is the American Hair Loss Association (AHLA). In the past few years, its experts have developed a set of highly-efficient and widely affordable hair loss treatment methods, outlined briefly below.

The real breakthrough in the treatment of men’s hair loss came with the invention of the 5-a-reductase inhibitors such as Propecia. Propecia Finasteride was originally developed by Merck pharmaceuticals as a drug intended for the treatment of prostate gland enlargement. However, hair growth was observed as an unexpected side effect, while the medicine was clinically tested on men.  Following additional research and clinical trials, on December 22, 1997, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a 1miligram dose of Finasteride for the treatment of the male pattern baldness. Researchers have found out that Finasteride’s hair-raising effect is due to its ability to inhibit Type II 5-alpha-reductace: an enzyme that converts testosterone into a more potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In turn, this substance causes an androgenic alopecia in men.

For individuals who don`t respond well to Finasteride treatment, AHLA experts recommend Minoxidil: the first ever drug to be officially approved by FDA as means to cure the male pattern baldness. Like Finestride, the effect of minoxidil was discovered as an intriguing side effect: the medicine was initially developed for the treatment of high blood pressure. Interestingly enough, the volunteers who participated in the clinical trials of minoxidil, started growing hair in some of the most unexpected places such as their cheeks and the back of their hands, and some even grew hair on their foreheads. Some researchers suggested that minoxidil should be applied directly on the balding areas of the scalp. This idea really worked, more or less, depending on the extent of hair loss. However, skeptics saw its effectiveness in hair loss treatment as marginal because the medicine had no effect on the hormonal process related to hair loss. Moreover, the long term results after the course of treatment were often quite discouraging,

At present, the surgical treatment of hair loss has hidden pitfalls. Most important is the fact that only a handful of surgeons and surgical staff are qualified to perform surgical procedures which require a high level of aesthetics and artistry. The second issue is that a hair transplant may only be inserted by harvesting patches of DHT resistant hair, taken from the back of the patient’s own scalp. Alternatively, hair may be transplanted between identical twins who have the same genetic makeup, but hair transplanted from another donor will be rejected or patients should take anti-rejection medications for life.
Non-surgical hair replacement is a wonderful option for those who suffer from significant hair loss but do not want to undergo hair transplant surgery in order to regain their pre-balding appearance. Before purchasing a hairpiece, several facts should be taken into consideration: the hair system (also referred to as hairpiece) is based on the foundation of a prostheses in which the hair is either tied or injected. The base of the hair system is made either from polymers or meshes. The hairpiece is made of mesh fabric which provides natural and undetectable hairline. It is more comfortable to wear in comparison to those made of polymers. At the same time, meshes are less durable and more expensive than polymers. The hairpieces made of polymeric materials (either silicone or polyurethane) are less expensive and more durable than those made of mesh fabrics. Yet sometimes, they are really uncomfortable to wear.

The best hairpieces are individually-tailored, out of excellent-quality human hair which is matched to the hair of the client and its color, texture, and thickness.