The Most Effective Hair Loss Solutions
Hair loss is distressing and can be downright devastating. If you are one of the more than 85 million Americans experiencing hair loss, you want answers right now. Here are several treatments, both tried and true and the newest, innovative options, all available at Midwest Dermatology.
Treatments You Can Do At Home
You may need an appointment to “get to the root” and determine the cause of your hair loss, but not all treatments have to be done at a physician’s office.
- If your hair loss is caused by non-genetic factors such as pregnancy, it may just fix itself.
- Over-the-counter minoxidil, sold as Rogaine® is a topical hair growth solution used once or twice a day. When used alone it can result in hair growth, but it is often more effective when combined with other hair loss treatments. Hair growth can start within three to six months of use, but that new hair will fall out again if minoxidil is discontinued.
- Scientifically proven hair growth supplement Viviscal Professional®, is the newest treatment that has patients and celebrities buzzing. It consists of known supplements like Biotin, but it’s star ingredient is Amino Mar marine complex, a blend of shark powder and mollusk powder.
The science behind Viviscal is real and many people see a combination of new hair growth and thicker, faster-growing hair. You may find the standard Viviscal in stores, but Viviscal Professional is only available through select doctor’s offices, including Midwest Dermatology and online at MidwestDerm.com.
Prescription Medications
Male and female pattern baldness and hair loss can be treated effectively with medications prescribed by Midwest Dermatology.
- When genetic pattern baldness is the cause of your hair loss, Finasteride (Propecia®) is a good choice. This drug reduces levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), now suspected by scientists to be the main culprit behind pattern baldness seen in men with receding hairlines and women with thinning parts. Finasteride is an oral medication taken by mouth once a day. It works by stopping hair from falling out, so it’s best to start right taking it as soon as you notice the signs of pattern baldness. In addition, Finasteride stimulates new hair growth usually seen after four months of taking the medication. Once you stop taking Finasteride, you will lose this new hair.
- For women who have female pattern hair loss, Spironolactone may be an option. Studies have shown a 40% or more reduction in hair loss and 31% increase in thickness when Spironolactone is taken by women. This drug has side effects including birth defects, so it must NOT be taken by women who are or may be pregnant. Patients taking Spironolactone must be supervised via regular visits with a Midwest Dermatology physician.
Dermatology Procedures
Hair loss can also be effectively treated at Midwest Dermatology with new developments in hair replacement.
The most exciting recent development in treating hair loss uses all natural growth and healing factors that are found in your own body. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) involves drawing a small amount of your blood, placing it into a machine that separates it into parts, and then injecting the plasma, which contains high levels of growth factor, into the area with hair loss. The entire procedure takes less than an hour and usually doesn’t require any downtime. You will need to return for repeat injections. Most patients return once a month for three months and then once every three to six months for maintenance.
Within the first few months of PRP treatment, you may notice that you are losing less or minimal amounts of hair and see an increase in your hair density. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are showing exciting outcomes for our patients, many who have not found other forms of treatment to be tolerable or successful.
To schedule a consult and get started with PRP treatment, call any of our six office locations or schedule an appointment on line at https://midwestderm.com/book-appointment/.
Once popular hair transplants and related surgical procedures that are NO LONGER OFFERED at Midwest Dermatology are still a solution for some patients, but you should know that there is considerable cost and downtime associated with these procedures. Improvements over the hair transplants of 40 years ago have been made and do create a more natural hairline than the “Barbie doll” plugs of the 1980s. But with a plethora of options available, most people experiencing hair loss look to other, less invasive solutions.
The best solution to hair loss often starts with a diagnosis of the cause and a consultation to determine which treatment, or combination of treatments, is right for you. Call any Midwest Dermatology office at (402) 933-0800 or book an appointment online to stop hair loss before it affects you one day longer.