Baldness is a hot topic in the world of science. Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most frequent type of progressive hair loss condition in men. If you are here to find the best way to treat male pattern baldness, chances are you are a victim of this condition. Before we look at the solutions, let’s throw some light on the cause.
What Causes Baldness?
Hair loss in men begins above both temples and gradually recedes to form an “M” shape. Hair thinning is also common near the crown, which can lead to partial or total baldness. Male pattern baldness is a congenital condition that may be linked to sex hormones in men. Hair loss in men can begin as early as puberty. By the age of 35, two-thirds of males are affected, and by the age of 50, about 85% of men are affected.
Genetics, or having a family history of baldness, is one cause of male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness has been linked to male sex hormones known as androgens as well. Androgens play a variety of roles, including controlling hair growth.
Male pattern baldness that is inherited normally has no negative effects. However, more serious reasons include type of medication taken, thyroid disorder, cancer or other serious health conditions. See your doctor immediately if you notice hair loss after starting a new drug or if it’s accompanied by other symptoms.
What’s the Best Treatment Out There?
According to medical documents going back to 1550 BC, in order to stop the balding process, ancient Egyptians tried massaging anything from pulverized donkey hooves to hippopotamus fat into their scalps. These days Minoxidil and Finasteride are used to treat this condition. They are known as the best way to treat male pattern baldness. However, both are only slightly successful at slowing down the pace of hair loss and cannot entirely stop it. Furthermore, both medicines have negative side effects, with finasteride being unsuitable for women and being known to cause erectile dysfunction.
Apart from these two drugs, here are some treatments you can try (they suit people with all sorts of budgets):
1.Use an Oil-Rich Conditioner
Oils increase the tensile strength of hair and they can make hair less likely to snap when combed or styled, which is especially helpful for thinning or hair that snaps easily. Derms suggest using a conditioner that contains natural oils.
Coconut oil has been proved to penetrate the hair and make them stronger from the inside out. Just don’t go crazy with the pure coconut oil. You will have to over-shampoo your hair to get it out, and then you’ll have to dry it out and this will erase all benefits.
2.Take Supplements
We are about to drop a truth bomb! Biotin (which hairstylists and celebs have praised for years) isn’t considered the go-to supplement for hair growth. Biotin has always been supposed to help grow hair, but little to no research exists to support its use.
Instead, consider adding vitamin D to your diet. A vitamin D shortage can worsen hair thinning and make it nearly impossible for any over-the-counter treatment to restore hair loss. Dermatologists recommend taking 5,000 international units of D3 each day. Low iron and zinc levels have also been linked to temporary hair shedding as well.
Red ginseng has been shown to help with hair regrowth in a few trials. It can have an anti-apoptotic impact on hair, which means it inhibits cell death and allows hair follicles to grow for extended periods of time so you might as well try that.
Of course, you must talk to your doctor before taking any of these supplements. A lab test can determine whether you need a supplement or not.
3.Rinse with Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo
You can also count on volumizing shampoos to lift your hair and make it appear fuller. However, recent research suggests that shampoos containing the antidandruff component called zinc pyrithione can help prevent hair loss caused by dandruff.
After shampooing, apply a conditioner that doesn’t contain silicones as silicones can make the hair look flatter especially when applied near the roots.
4.Use a Scalp Tonic
Serums or tonics containing peptides or procyanidins such as niacinamide can help promote general scalp health while also reducing inflammation, which is a primary cause of hair loss among some men. Some dermatologists also say that Minoxidil penetrates the scalp more effectively with the help of scalp tonics, which can reduce irritation. So, it has two benefits!
5.Apply Hair Fiber
Hair fiber is the best (and easiest) approach to conceal baldness. They’re small, charged threads that cling to your hair (until your next shampoo). They are available in a variety of colors, making it easy to select one that matches your hair.
6.Go For Rosemary Essential Oil
Research shows rosemary oil helps increase hair development. Mixing a drop or two of this essential oil into your shampoo before massaging it into your scalp can do wonders.
7.Settle for a Hair Transplant
If you have tried all the methods mentioned above and nothing worked for you much, this is the best way to treat male pattern baldness.
Your dermatologist or hair-replacement surgeon will take single hair follicles from the back of the head, towards the nape of the neck, where your hair is fullest. This treatment starts at $5,000 and goes up. After the follicles have been removed, they are re-implanted into a thinning area of the scalp. The surgery takes three to six hours, and newly implanted hair normally starts growing on its own three to twelve months following treatment.
The traditional hair transplantation method involved the removal of an entire strip of scalp, but this new follicle-by-follicle approach heals more naturally and allows patients to get great hair that seems as dense as they did before they started losing it. So, you might want to give this a try if your baldness is extreme and you can afford the treatment.
No matter what treatment you choose, it’s important to be consistent and patient until you see results. Good Luck!