Can hereditary hair loss be cured?
Although there is no definitive cure for hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia, treatments can help slow down or stop the process and sometimes even stimulate regrowth. It is important to consult a qualified professional for a personalised approach.
Hereditary hair loss is also known as androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss. It is the most common form of hair loss in men and women, affecting people worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment by a professional team can help prevent hereditary hair loss from worsening, it may help regrow hair.
What Causes Hereditary Hair Loss?
Genetic hair loss can be caused by several conditions, including alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia and male pattern baldness. Factors like family history of balding, age, significant weight loss, certain medical conditions including diabetes and lupus, stress and thyroid disease. Take a look at the following information:
Alopecia Areata
It is an autoimmune disorder which can cause hair loss because the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, leading to inflammation and hair shedding. This can disturb the normal hair growth cycle and leads to hair shedding. In this, hair loss typically appears as smooth, round patches on the scalp, but it can also affect other areas with hair, such as eyebrows, eyelashes and beard.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness causes hair loss through a combination of genetic predisposition and hormonal influences, leading to shortening of the hair growth cycle. It is primarily a genetically determined condition, meaning individuals inherit this. Hair follicles are more sensitive to androgens. The key hormone in this condition is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which binds to androgen receptors in the hair follicles.
Telogen Effluvium
It is a temporary hair loss condition which occurs when a significant number of hair follicles are prematurely pushed into the resting phase, leading to excessive shedding after a period of stress. Physiological or emotional stress, hormonal changes, certain medications or medical conditions can trigger a large number of hair follicles to enter the telogen phase prematurely.
Moving forward to the treatment options for hereditary hair loss. Although the accurate cure is not defined, many treatment options can slow down the process.
Treatment Options For Hereditary Hair loss: Male Pattern Baldness Treatment
For hereditary hair loss, including alopecia areata and male pattern baldness, there are some popular treatment options which need your attention. Search for male pattern baldness treatment and find a specialist to perform one of these treatments:
Medications
For genetic hair loss medications like topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are approved treatments. These can help slow hair loss and potentially promote hair growth. Here is a detailed version of information:
- Minoxidil is available as a topical solution and stimulates hair growth. It can slow down the rate of hair loss and continuous treatment may be required to maintain results.
- Finasteride is available as a prescription medication and is specifically for men with male pattern baldness. It works by reducing the effects of a hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink.
- Sometimes these treatments require additional treatment or a combination of treatments to work effectively, like minoxidil can be more effective if you combine it with a hair transplant procedure.
Consider a dermatologist for better advice on which one is best for you.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplant can be an effective solution for hereditary hair loss involving transplanting hair follicles from areas resistant to hair loss (donor area) to balding areas, offering a permanent solution with natural-looking results. It is a surgical procedure and has two main procedures, follicular unit strip (FUSS) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). A professional will recommend one based on your condition.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP injections show effective treatment for hair loss as a non-surgical treatment, potentially promoting hair growth and thickening, especially when combined with other treatments.
In this treatment, the individual’s blood is used to treat the area. It is processed to concentrate platelets, which are rich in growth factors that can stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. It extends the growth phase of hair and encourages new hair growth.
Cosmetic Options
Cosmetic options involve using wigs, hair pieces, camouflage sprays and styling techniques. These options are good to cover the areas of hair loss, and sprays can help hide thinning hair and make hair look fuller. Ceratin hairstyles can help camouflage hair loss.
Although these are the temporary treatment options, these can help in some ways to deal with the situation immediately. If you are looking for a permanent solution, a hair transplant can be a reliable one.