Lots of people learn to live with loss of hair or even with complete baldness. At the same time there are is an equal, even more, number of people looking for ways to re-grow hair. When it comes to hair loss, men have to struggle more than women. In males it is typically due to a specific gene that triggers hair loss and by the time they cross thirty almost one third of all males start experiencing varying degrees of male pattern baldness. Female hair loss is relatively rare but alopecia can attack them as well. Female hair loss follows a different pattern but some women may also experience male pattern baldness. People who are undergoing cancer treatment, especially with chemotherapeutic drugs usually experience tremendous hair loss due to the adverse effects of drugs. People who are susceptible to scalp disorders like fungal infections, ringworm and other skin diseases should take extra care of their hair to avoid hair loss. Hair loss may also be due to improper hairstyles involving pulling hair tightly. Sometimes a poor diet may also lead to loss of hair.
There are also other causes of hair loss. Iron deficiency is a common cause of thinning of hair but not known to cause baldness. Radiotherapy for treating certain types of cancers affecting the scalp can also lead to hair loss. Spot baldness or alopecia areata on the other hand is an autoimmune disorder. An underlying disease like hypothyroidism may also lead to substantial hair loss. Medically, hair loss is conventionally treated with Minoxidil, a vasodilator used for treating severe hypertension that has hair growth as a side effect. Other drugs used for hair loss include anti-androgens like Finasteride and Dutasteride. Ketoconazole is normally used for treating hair loss for its anti fungal and stimulating hair growth effects.
Although effective, these are serious drugs. Finasteride is typically prescribed only for men and should not be used by pregnant women or those planning conception since it can cause birth defects. However, it has been suggested that Finasteride can also treat women loss of hair.
Some doctors prescribe Finasteride for women under the condition of strict adherence to birth control measures. Loss of hair treatment is basically targeted at preventing hair loss because it is nearly impossible to re-grow hair from inactive follicles unless you go for a hair transplant.
Implantation hair loss treatment involves minor surgical procedures. Healthy hair follicles, usually from the back of the head, are picked and transplanted on areas of baldness. Since the hair at the back of the scalp is genetically protected hair transplantation can prove to be a lifelong treatment.
Another treatment that can help in stimulating hair growth is through laser therapy, which involves the use of a laser device to direct low level laser energy at the scalp. In some cases one may have to live with loss of hair if even hair transplantation is not possible.