Can Hair Loss Treatments Help Thinning Hair?
Hair Loss TreatmentsThinning hair often marks the early stages of various hair loss conditions and affects more than 50% of men and women. If you have noticed that your hair appears thinner, now is the best time to take action and ensure that your hair remains in top condition. If thinning hair is caught quickly enough, it can almost always be fully reversed if the person seeks suitable treatment.
The Difference Between Thinning Hair and Hair Loss
Thinning hair occurs when the hair shaft becomes thinner with each growth cycle. The cause of thinning hair is usually genetic - rising levels of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibit the growth of hair follicles. This leads to Male Pattern Baldness or Female Pattern Hair Loss. Sometimes other hair loss conditions such as Telogen Effluvium or Diffuse Hair Loss can lead to thinning. Once the thinning has progressed to the point where the hairs become vellus (short, light coloured hair which is not always visible to the human eye), the person is said to be suffering from hair loss. If vellus continues to spread, and all of the hair on the top of the head becomes vellus, this is referred to as baldness. This is more common in men than women although some females suffer from baldness if they leave their hair untreated.
Can Treatments Help?
There are only two treatments that have shown sufficient evidence that they are effective in tackling thinning hair and hair loss. These treatments are called Minoxidil (for men and women) and Propecia (for men only). There are various ways of obtaining these products. They can be bought over-the-counter, however if you want to see the best results, they can be tailored to suit your individual condition through a prescription. Minoxidil can be prepared in various concentrations when prescribed by a qualified hair specialist. In addition, it is possible to prepare Minoxidil with added ingredients that have shown to help reduce the effects of DHT. These are called Medroxyprogesterone (MPG) and Azelaic Acid (AA).
There are also a range of hair growth boosters which can be combined with these treatments to improve their efficacy. These include the LaserComb and hair vitamin supplements. If you are investing time and money in your hair, a tailored treatment programme is the safest and quickest way to seeing hair regrowth. It is important to get thinning hair checked out by an expert so you know what is causing it and how best to treat it. So don't let thinning hair get the better of you. Look into suitable hair loss treatments and keep your hair looking the way you want it to.
Sophie is one of the Belgravia Hair Loss Blog's expert authors. The Belgravia Centre is a hair loss clinic and pharmacy in the UK and home to one of the world's leading hair loss websites and blogs - http://www.belgraviacentre.com/