Trying to get ahead of hair loss and make sure you keep your strands thick and healthy? Here are some of the most common treatments for hair loss.
Getting used to the sight of a brush full of hair? If there’s more hair stuck in your comb or on the floor than what you’re used to, you should know you’re not alone. Hair loss is quite common in both men and women. Unfortunately, it’s not just age that takes all the blame. Stress, losing weight, an underlying illness and even vitamin deficiencies can derail our hair goals.
But if you’re worried that you’re losing more strands than the hundred hairs a day considered normal, you should talk to a doctor or a trichologist (a specialist in hair and scalp problems). Hair loss treatments do exist and can be very effective. Here are some of the possible remedies that may help keep hair fall in check.
Eating well can be easily overlooked while we’re busy chasing the latest hair treatment craze. But the cure to hair loss could be sitting in our fridge. The cells responsible for making lustrous, shiny hair possible depend on a good supply of key nutrients to get the job done. Protein from eggs, iron from meat and vitamin C from delicious berries that help the body absorb iron are some of the most important additions you can make to your daily diet. Add a good source of vitamin A as well (present in carrots or sweet potatoes) and you might start seeing less hair stuck in your brush.
Consider vitamin supplementsIf you’re struggling to get all the different hair nutrients into your meals, multivitamin supplements for hair are also available. Biotin and folic acid have important functions in cell regeneration and provide the energy the body needs, making them good components of any supplement you choose. No supplement can guarantee that your hair will decide to grow strong and shiny, but making sure all the nutrients needed are there for the magic to happen is a good starting point for any hair loss treatment routine. Find out more about the best vitamin for hair growth with our easy-to-follow guide.
Stress doesn’t do our hair any favours either. Practicing healthy habits such as meditation, daily walks, exercising and getting plenty of sleep might do the trick. Finding effective ways to alleviate stress and aiming for a balanced diet are the key lifestyle changes that may save your hair (and your budget) in the long run.
Essential oils are sometimes lumped together with treatments for hair loss. Whether they provide more hair shine than hair growth, it’s not yet clear but studies1 in mice are promising. So don’t be surprised if the specialist you’re asking for advice offers peppermint oil, rosemary oil or lavender oil as possible solutions, especially if you also have a dry scalp. Some of these oils come in different concentrations or need to be mixed with a shampoo and conditioner. So, it’s important to make sure you read the directions before applying the any oils to your scalp.
One of the best ways to stimulate hair growth might be the good old head massage. Don’t think you have to go to a professional for this. Just make sure you press your fingertips on your scalp as you wash your hair to help encourage blood flow to the hair follicles.
Your doctor might recommend an anti-thinning shampoo to help with your hair loss. Although you can find many over-the-counter solutions, if you need a stronger formula, a prescription will be required.
You may have heard of Minoxidil (also known as Rogaine) as the go-to solution for hair loss. Talk to your doctor about this as a possible treatment before giving it a go. According to the NHS these hair loss treatments can be expensive and might not work for everyone.
Another hair fall treatment that your health practitioner might mention is laser therapy. The procedure is designed to help with circulation and could give hair follicles a boost to grow more hair. Research2 shows that it could work as an effective solution in certain cases. As with any hair treatment, the benefits and risks should be carefully weighed with a specialist.
Stimulating your scalp to grow more hair might require help from multiple tiny needles. The procedure knowns as micro needling involves repeatedly puncturing the skin on your scalp with small needles to regenerate hair follicles. Whether this is the right solution for you depends on many factors, including the cause of your hair loss and how far it has progressed. But initial research3 into the benefits of micro needling for hair loss looks promising.
Hair transplant is a surgery that involves removing hair from other places on your scalp and transferring it to the problem areas where hair loss is visible. There are many things to think about before making this big decision: choosing a qualified surgeon, weighting benefits and side effects as well as the transplant costs which can be quite high. Your doctor will be able to guide you through the process or offer an alternative solution if that’s available. So, make sure to ask them for help and advice before making up your mind.
Although hair loss is a common headache for many of us, remedies do exist and they could prove successful. Just make sure you’ve got the support of qualified professionals before venturing out into the big world of hair loss treatments. And remember, no matter the route you choose to take, the first signs that the solution works are usually months away.
Next, discover some of the best tips to help you grow hair faster with our easy-to-follow guide.
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