| gh many people do not have visible hair loss, hair loss | | | | works by blocking the effects of male hormones on |
| is a natural daily occurrence. Approximately 50 to 150 | | | | the hair follicles and is taken by mouth daily. |
| hairs are lost each day, but most hair regenerates | | | | Individuals with increased levels of the hormone DHT |
| because the hair follicle remains intact. If the follicles | | | | in the scalp experience a shortening growth phase or |
| shrink due to heredity, hormones, stress, infection, | | | | thinning of the hair. Proscar lowers the level of this |
| certain prescription medication, illness, nutritional | | | | hormone, and contributes to the normalization of the |
| deficiency or age, the hair is not restored. When | | | | hair growth cycle. Proscar may be used for men only. |
| shedding significantly surpasses hair growth, baldness | | | | Improvement may occur with either of these drugs |
| occurs. This Male Pattern Baldness usually begins at | | | | when taken for several months. The most important |
| the forehead or on the top of the head, and | | | | effect of these drugs may be to prevent further hair |
| progresses to the familiar horseshoe-shaped fringe of | | | | loss. The effects last only as long as the drugs are |
| hair. Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments | | | | taken. A more permanent solution is a hair transplant, |
| are available. | | | | in which hair follicles are removed from one part of |
| Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is | | | | the scalp and transplanted to the bald area. During |
| important to find the cause so that it can be properly | | | | this procedure, the surgeon removes a section of |
| treated. A doctor usually inspects the hair shafts, and | | | | hair form the back of the head, near the base of the |
| may perform a biopsy of the skin. A biopsy helps | | | | skull. This area of hair is genetically different because |
| determine if the hair follicles are normal; if they are | | | | they do not have the gene for hair loss in their |
| not, the biopsy may indicate possible causes. If the | | | | follicles. Only a small scar is left and unless one shaves |
| doctor's examination finds signs of irregularities or | | | | the back of the scalp is it not noticeable. The |
| other serious illness, blood tests to identify those | | | | donated follicles are then placed in saline solution, |
| disorders may be required. | | | | while small incisions are made in the areas of hair loss. |
| Assuming no diseases, or pathologies there are two | | | | Each individual donated follicle is placed creating an |
| medications that can treat baldness effectively. | | | | uneven ordinary hairline. After the hairline is formed, |
| Minoxidil, originally used to treat hypertension, has | | | | the remaining donor follicles are put where thinned or |
| been shown to stimulate hair growth in adult men | | | | balding spots occur. |
| and women with a certain type of baldness. The | | | | In the newer hair transplant technique, only one or |
| exact way that this medicine works is unknown. Hair | | | | two hairs are transplanted at a time. Although this |
| growth usually occurs after the medicine has been | | | | technique is more tedious, and time consuming, it |
| used for several months and lasts only as long as the | | | | does not require removal of large plugs of skin and |
| medicine continues to be used. Hair loss will begin | | | | allows the implants to be oriented in the same |
| again within a few months after Minoxidil treatment is | | | | direction as the natural hair. |
| stopped. Minoxidil is applied directly to the scalp on a | | | | If satisfactory treatments are not appropriate for |
| daily basis. Minoxidil can be used for both men and | | | | your type of hair loss, you may consider trying |
| women. | | | | different hairstyles, wigs, hair weaves, hairpieces, or |
| Proscar, a medication used for prostate enlargement, | | | | artificial hair replacement, or very simply wear a hat. |
