Physician’s Review - The Efficacy of the Latest Hair Loss Treatments By W. Darren

Baldness is a very common sight these days. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 66% of the male population in the United States will develop a certain kind of hair loss condition during their lifetime. Fortunately, there are many kinds of hair loss treatments that are available these days. There are oral medications and topical drugs that those with hair loss condition can use to fill in the bald gaps in their head. However, it should be noted that up to now, there is still no cure for a baldness condition.

Topical and Oral Medications

For men and women who are still not in the advanced stage of balding, there is still some hope. Dr. Neil Sadick, clinical associate professor in the department of dermatology at Cornell University Medical College notes that people who are still in the early stages of balding still have many options. Dr. Sadick further says that if the hair follicles of a person are still not dead, they can be saved through the use of some drugs and simple medications.

At present, there are two hair loss treatment drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) – Finasteride and Minoxidil. Finasteride is a drug commonly used by men with hair loss problems. It is taken on a daily basis, in the form of a pill. Based on the reports published by the New England Journal of Medicine, 66% of men who took Finasteride had an improved condition two years after medication use. These men reported that they had “improved scalp coverage, with higher hair counts and longer, thicker hair.” However, there is a small percentage of the study respondents who noted that they experienced a decrease in sexual drive.

In the case of Minoxidil, Dr. Sadick points out that this medication is for people who are quite more comfortable with foams, creams, and shampoos. Minoxidil should be applied twice a day, directly onto the scalp of the balding person. When used regularly, visible results can be seen after two or three months of use. However, Dr. Sadick explains that this drug does not produce efficient results in all men. It also has a common side effect which is skin irritation.

According to Dr. Sadick, hair loss treatment drugs should be taken regularly. Once the patients stop using the drugs, the deemed benefits will wear out. Thus, patients should take the drugs “without interruption” in order to make sure that the benefits are maintained. He also notes that “since few insurance plans cover the drugs… hair-transplant surgery is probably more cost-effective”.

Hair Surgeries…

In the present hair loss transplant that is being used these days, surgeons take hair follicles or “skin grafts” from the back or side portion of the person’s head. These grafts are then transplanted into the balding portion of the head. Basically, the number of grafts and hair follicles that will be transplanted largely depends on the area where hair is quite sparse. The most common complaints of this process is the “unnatural” appearance of the transplanted hair. Fortunately, there is now some advancement made to correct the artificial look. In addition to that, new forms of surgeries are being tested and developed.

In a study that was published in Nature magazine, researchers discovered that it was quite possible to develop hair follicles from cells that were “donated”. They were able to prove the hypothesis from transplanting some hair follicle cells from an arm of a male scientist to the arm of a female scientist. Just a few weeks after the transplantation process, the female scientist grew thicker hairs – much like that of the male scientist’s – in the transplant area.

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