Treatment of alopecia or hair loss depends upon the hair loss cause. Not all cases of hair loss are the same because hair loss occurs from a number of causes. The most common is androgenetic baldness, which is progressive thinness of hair or male pattern baldness. It is commonly seen in males above 50 but some women may also experience male pattern baldness. A lot of research has been done on androgenetic alopecia and the general conclusion is that it is linked to a genetic predisposition. It runs in families and related to excess of androgens, the male sex hormone that is produced in the testes and responsible for typical male sexual characteristics. More than half the male population experiences androgenetic alopecia in varying degrees by the time it reaches 60. It is characterized by a rapid cycle of hair growth and hairs are shed earlier than they normally do. As a result, hair gets shorter and thinned. Male pattern baldness may present as a receding hairline, loss of hair on the sides or total baldness. Female pattern baldness is rare and follows a different pattern with hair loss being more significant on the front, temples and at the top.
Another cause of hair loss is known as alopecia areata, which is immune mediated disease and affects nearly 2% of the population. It is commonly seen in children and young adults and presents as patchy baldness. Commonly seen on the scalp it may also affect other hairy areas. The hair follicles are still alive and there is always a hope of re-growth. Mild cases are normally treatable but it may take months to years. Hair loss may also be caused by a psychological compulsion to pull one's hair and sometimes by voluntary hairstyles such as tight pigtails and braids. It may also be caused by burns to the scalp by caustic hair products and hot hair irons.
An underlying disease including hypothyroidism and fungal infections too can cause hair loss. It may also be a result of certain medications. Testosterone booster tablets and chemotherapy are the two main culprits of medication related hair loss. Hair loss treatment in such cases is possible either by stopping medication or finding other suitable alternative treatments.
For effective treatment is imperative to understand what causes hair loss. Preventing hair loss is easier than re-growing hair from inactive hair follicles. Hair grows in a typically cycle of growth, regression and resting phases. At any pint of time, almost 90% of the hair follicles are in the growth stage and 10-14 % in resting phase.
Baldness treatment has mainly been in the domain of over the counter treatments. Presently there is a more realistic approach to treatment of hair loss. Major work has been done in establishing the effect of hormones on hair loss and the role played by genetics. Instead of hunting for treatments it is better to first establish the hair loss cause.