ROCHESTER, Minnesota, Aug 7: Hair loss often is caused by a combination of heredity and aging, says Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist. Treatments that may slow that type of hair loss and help regrow hair, including over-the-counter therapies such as shampoos, are available. And they can be effective.
On average, people lose about 50 to 100 hairs every day. Because new hair grows in at the same time, this hair loss usually doesn’t cause noticeable thinning of scalp hair. The cycle of hair growth, shedding and regrowth can be disrupted for several reasons. Family history, medical conditions and medication, and hormonal changes all can lead to hair loss. Stress also can cause hair loss.
Heredity typically affects pattern balding. This type of hair loss usually happens slowly and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men, and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women. If your hair loss follows these patterns, it’s likely hereditary. Over-the-counter remedies are a reasonable first step to combat this type of hair loss.
Dr. Davis says a common hair loss treatment available over the counter is a medication called minoxidil. It comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms. Products with minoxidil can help many people maintain the hair they still have, and it can regrow up to about 10% of lost hair. Dr. Davis adds that oral minoxidil can also be prescribed for both male and female patients as a treatment option.
The extra-strength liquid form of this medication is what’s typically recommended for patients with pattern baldness. It can be used by men and women. The liquid is easier to apply directly to the scalp than the foam, which often is absorbed by the hair. The shampoo isn’t ideal because many people don’t have time to shampoo their hair twice a day, and the force of shampooing can stress the hair, causing additional hair loss.
To retain the benefits of the medication, it is recommended to continue using it regularly. If you stop using it, the hair you’ve regrown may fall out, and you’re likely to return to the rate at which you were losing hair before you began treatment.
Another way to help reduce hair loss is to be gentle with your hair. You can try to decrease shampooing to two or three times a week. Use a light touch when brushing and combing, especially when your hair is wet. A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair. Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails. Try not to twist, pull or rub your hair. Avoid harsh treatments such as curling irons, straightening irons and hot-oil treatments.
Prescription treatments also are available for pattern balding hair loss. The medication finasteride has been shown to effectively regrow men’s hair. For women, hormone therapies that help balance the levels of estrogen and testosterone often can maintain hair and decrease loss.
If over-the-counter remedies and self-care steps aren’t enough to decrease your hair loss, or if you’re concerned that your hair loss may be the result of a different underlying problem, such as a medication you take, talk to your healthcare provider or make an appointment to see a dermatologist.