There can be six different types of hair loss. Ranging in reasons for hair loss from genetics to tight hairstyles like braids, cornrows or pulling it into a bun, knowing what type of hair loss you have can help doctors determine a treatment.
PREVENTION
Anyone concerned about thinning hair in the future should adopt natural hairstyles and gentle shampoos, according to Dr. Natalie Hone with The Skin People of Bellaire.
“You want to avoid things that are going to hurt the hair shaft. You want to maintain it hydrated and, without a lot of the products that are going to make it a little bit thicker and, just damage it, damage the roots,” Dr. Hone explained.
TREATMENT
Minoxidil
If you notice male or female pattern baldness, no matter how long ago it started, there is something for everyone to try.
Dr. Hone said most people should start with the over-the-counter shampoos and foams with minoxidil. The brand name more people recognize is Rogaine.
Medication
Dr. Hone said recent medications that have made it onto the market have great data to show they work well.
Platelet Rich Plasma
PRP is injections on the scalp.
“What we do is we draw your blood, we spin it. We get all that platelet rich plasma which is filled with growth factors and all these wonderful ingredients that we then inject onto the scalp, and it helps. It creates a great environment for the hair that’s there to grow really well,” Dr. Hone said. “You have to do, usually about three sessions. The procedure is a little bit uncomfortable, but it’s very quick and you get thickening of the hair, and it could be up to about 30%.”
Hair Transplant
“Transplant is a procedure that is done where hair is inserted onto the scalp and it’s natural hair that will then grow as part of your own hair,” Dr. Hone said. “It works really well as long as you have the right diagnosis. So, if you have female pattern hair loss under genetic alopecia, the genetic types. This a great type of treatment.”
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
“There are biologic medications for specific types of hair loss. If there’s absolutely no hair, there actually could be options for you. So best thing is to get evaluated and we can find a solution,” Hone said.
SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements like vitamin D, Iron and biotin may help with hair loss. You can get your vitamin D levels checked by your doctor and depending on those results, they can instruct which dosage to take.