Finding the Perfect Hair Loss Treatment: Start by Defining Your Goals

The hair loss treatment market is worth millions of dollars annually. It’s full of products and procedures, each with different ingredients and steps. The average person will soon discover how hard it can be to figure out which ones might work and how long they’ll take to produce results. In fact, many consumers are skeptical of hair loss treatments and products of all sorts.

The fact is that there are a number of quality hair loss treatments, but they may only be effective on certain types of hair loss. This is why it can help for consumers to understand what kind of hair loss they’re experiencing and their goals for obtaining treatment.

For example, some consumers may be experiencing androgenic alopecia. This is also known as Male Pattern Baldness in men and Female Pattern Baldness in women. Androgenic alopecia tends to affect very concentrated areas of the scalp, resulting in patches which are completely devoid of hair.

Male Pattern Baldness is much more common than Female Pattern Baldness. This is likely because androgenic alopecia is caused by an excess of the hormone DHT in the body. This hormone is a by-product of testosterone and an enzyme known as 5 alpha reductase.

Because men’s bodies have far more testosterone than women’s, it stands to reason that more men will suffer from androgenic alopecia. They also tend to experience it more severely than affected women.

Environmental factors also play at least some role in hair loss. Pollution and exposure to certain chemicals and contaminants can result in loss of hair. Loss may be mild to severe, depending on type and length of exposure.

Another common type of hair loss is the result of hormonal imbalances in the body. This kind of loss is especially common in women, particularly during times like menopause and after giving birth. In cases like this, bald “patches” like those that result from androgenic alopecia are rare. Instead, hair loss tends to be distributed throughout the scalp, though some areas sometimes tend to be thinner than others.

If you can better pinpoint your own type of hair loss, the next step is to define your goals. For instance, someone who is experiencing androgenic alopecia and has bald spots will probably want to regrow hair in those places. He or she may also want to stop further loss from occurring.

In these kinds of cases, the user will need to look for a hair loss treatment which can both regrow new hair and also prevent further loss. Not all products and treatments can do this, so it’s important to do careful research before investing in a product or procedure.

On the other hand, someone who seems to be losing more hair than usual (a hairbrush or shower full of lost hairs is a telltale sign) may not need a strong regrowth product containing powerful chemicals. Instead, a better choice may be a good oral supplement containing natural herbs that support a healthy scalp and can detoxify the body. A hair regrowth shampoo, conditioner and/or scalp treatment product may also be wise choices. These can typically be used safely on their own, as a system, and/or as a supplement to an oral product.

Those who prefer to avoid chemicals and topical products may opt for a laser procedure or home appliance. These are thought to dilate blood vessels in the scalp, allowing more blood and nutrients to reach the hair follicles and stimulate new growth.

Finally, those who are experiencing severe, extensive baldness may want to opt for a quick, more sure-fire solution. This may come in the form of a surgical procedure, such as micrograft hair transplantation. These types of hair loss treatments provide immediate, visible results.