As a diverse condition Hair loss affects diverse people including both men and women with various treatments available. Medication, surgery and concealers are three top options on the market today.

Medication

                There are two main hair growth stimulating medications on the market today; minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is a topical solution approved to treat male pattern Hair Loss (androgenetic alopecia)^1,2.

Minoxidil is primarily used to maintain current growth but can also promote hair growth³. There is significant scientific research to support the idea that minoxidil use leads to more hair and higher hair growth rates³. Some reported adverse or undesired effects of minoxidil include itching (pruritus), inflamed skin (contact dermatitis), increased hair shedding and “peach fuzz”-like regrowth^3–6. However, the new foam formulation may help reduce the incidence of pruritus and contact dermatitis. Topical minoxidil should be applied for a minimum of three months, and preferably six months, to see results.

Another drug that promotes hair growth is finasteride. This oral therapy is approved by Health Canada and the FDA for male-pattern hair loss^7,8. Finasteride can help stabilize hair loss⁹. In a systematic review of 16 studies conducted with finasteride and dutasteride, finasteride (1 mg and 5 mg) treated patients displayed superior hair growth as determined by photographic assessments as compared to untreated patients¹⁰. The adverse effects of these medications can include sexual dysfunction ^11–13 (REF) Another oral agent called dutasteride has not been approved for hair regrowth although it is used for this purpose. It may be more effective than finasteride; however, it has a longer half-life and this may be a disadvantage if a patient develops side-effects such as sexual dysfunction.

Hair Transplant

A hair transplant can also help achieve natural-looking hair growth. During a hair transplant, hair from the back of the scalp are removed and implanted into balding areas¹⁴. There are two main hair harvesting techniques that are available today; the ‘strip’ method and the follicle unit extraction (FUE) method.

The strip method is considered the standard harvesting method used frequently in hair transplant surgeries¹⁵. During the strip method, a section of skin containing viable hair follicles is removed from the back of the scalp. This strip is then cut into grafts and implanted into desired balding area¹⁶. This procedure will result in a linear scar in the donor area that can be easily covered with long hair¹⁶. Strip harvesting is perfect for those with large balding areas as this method can yield lots of viable, high quality  grafts in just one sitting¹⁶.

As an alternative to strip, the FUE harvesting method does not create a linear scar. During FUE individual follicular units are harvested and then implanted into balding areas¹⁶.  FUE is recommended for small balding areas and is a great option for those that prefer shorter hair styles¹⁷. Not all patients are candidates for this technique as there are specific criteria (e.g., adequate donor supply) that need to be addressed before harvesting is performed¹⁷.

Some reported adverse or undesired effects with hair transplant surgeries include transient postoperative swelling (edema) especially if the front of the scalp is transplanted, numbness, and scarring¹⁸. Most adverse effects are temporary however, as with other surgeries, scarring is unavoidable. These scars, as stated previously, can be concealed with longer hairstyles. With transplant of the crown of the scalp frontal facial edema is minimal or non-existent.

Concealers

                Hair transplantations can be ill-advised in rare complicated hair loss conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa (a connective tissue disease)¹⁹. Concealers or camouflaging agents can be alternative options to hair transplants. The goal of concealers is to help make the scalp less visible by reducing the color contrast between the scalp and the remaining hair follicles²⁰. Scalp tattooing and hair thickening fibers are among the many camouflaging agents currently available. Microscopic hair fibers can be sprinkled to target areas to help conceal hair thinning and/or hair loss. Additionally, hair-thickening fibers, colored to match your specific hair color, can also help camouflage hair loss²¹. Scalp micropigmentation (SMP), a tattoo applied to the scalp, is a more permanent option²². The stippling effect performed with this type of tattoo can mimic shaven hair follicles²².

If you’re unsure about what option best suites you ask your doctor or our hair transplant physician or specialist for more information.

     Article by: Sarah Versteeg MSc, Mediprobe Research Inc. 

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