• Non-Surgical Hair Loss Treatment Options

    There are many options for treating hair loss from non-surgical methods to surgical methods. The first step in determining the right treatment for a patient is to determine the cause of the hair loss. Some causes of hair loss are related to medical conditions that must be treated for the hair loss to resolve. Failure to treat these conditions can cause worsening and permanent hair loss. Therefore a consultation with a hair loss physician, dermatologist, or a primary care physician is necessary before any treatment is undertaken. Once the cause of hair loss is determined, there are surgical and non-surgical methods for hair loss treatment, depending on the cause.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition plays a big role in keeping hair healthy and growing. Some of the important vitamins, minerals, and diet considerations include:

    DietVitaminsMinerals
    Balanced Fat IntakeVitamin AZinc
    Proteins/Amino AcidsB-Complex Vitamins (including folic acid, thiamine, and biotin)Iodine
    • Methionine
    Vitamin CSelenium
    • Cysteine
    Vitamin ECopper
      Calcium
      Silica
      Iron

    As always, moderation is key as taking some vitamins and minerals in excess can lead to hair loss. For daily recommendations of intake, visit the US Department of Agriculture’s nutrition website at http://www.nutrition.gov.

    Herbs

    People for thousands of years have been looking for treatment for hair loss. Ancient Chinese and Indian medical systems have herbs which were and still are used to treat hair loss. It is reported that the father of medicine, Hippocrates, even used a mixture of chemicals including bird dung to treat hair loss. While some of these herbs have science and studies to indicate that they may help to treat hair loss, it is always adviseable to speak with a physician before undertaking any treatment plan. Some of the treatments can interfere with other medicines which are taken.

    Medications

    There are currently three medications approved by the US FDA for treating hair loss: minoxidil, finasteride, and bimatoprost.

    Topical minoxidil (Rogaine®) and oral finasteride (Propecia®) are the only treatments for male patterned baldness that have been approved by the US FDA. Their use is indicated in men older than 18 years with mild to moderate hair loss. Several well controlled studies have proven the efficacy of these medications. After 3-6 months of use, slowed hair loss, stabilization, or increased scalp coverage can be appreciated with either medication and results are clearly evident by 1 year. Dense regrowth is uncommon and neither medication can regrow hair in completely bald areas. Early intervention, when thinning is first noticed and hairs are incompletely miniaturized, produces the best results. Treatment must be continued indefinitely to maintain the benefits. Stopping treatment results in a return to pretreatment status by 6 months with minoxidil and by 12 months with finasteride. Minoxidil is available as both an oil and foam. Both are available over the counter. Finasteride is only available by prescription.

    For female pattern baldness, 2% topical minoxidil is the only FDA-approved medication. Its use is indicated in women older than 18 years with mild to moderate hair loss. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use minoxidil.

    The latest treatment approved for hair loss by the US FDA is bimatoprost (Latisse™). The medication was originally approved as a treatment for glaucoma under the trade name Lumigen®. Latisse is approved for growing eyelashes of the upper eyelids. Currently, Latisse is only available by prescription from a physician. Side effects are mild and include irritation and redness. Discoloration of the skin have been reported but usually resolve after the medication is stopped. Discoloration of the iris has been reported with Lumigen® but not in the initial studies with Latisse™ but can be permanent. It can take several months to see results and once the medication is stopped, the results will disappear. For more information, consider a consult with Dr. Verret.

    Low Level Laser Therapy

    Recently, low level laser therapy (LLLT) has gained popularity as a non-surgical treatment for hair loss. The technology has been used for quite some time with success to aid in wound healing and treat chronic pain. Some of the initial studies into LLLT 50 years ago showed that it could cause hair growth but the side effect was forgotten for many years. There are several LLLT devices in use including those for home application and those which can be used in a physician’s office. Though several studies have demonstrated improvement in hair growth with the technology, none to date have demonstrated the increase in hair growth in placebo controlled studies (comparing using the technology to doing nothing). For more information about LLLT, please check out Dr. Verret’s article on LLLT or the chapter in his book, Patient Guide to Hair Loss & Hair Restoration, on LLLT.

    Hair Replacement Systems

    Hair replacement systems, often referred to as toupee’s or wigs, can be a good option for patients with extreme hair loss, those with a temporary hair loss, or those wishing a quick solution. Hair systems can appear very natural but can often cost large sums of money. It must be remembered that hair systems will require replacement at regular intervals (often every 3-6 months), routine maintenance, and require specialized fitting. For more information about hair replacement systems, please read Dr. Verret’s articles on hair replacement systems, the chapter in his Patient Guide book, or view the video on hair replacement systems.