Hiding hair loss with a
comb over Head One method of hiding hair loss is the
comb over, which involves restyling the remaining hair to cover the balding area. It is usually a temporary solution, useful only while the area of hair loss is small. As the hair loss increases, a comb over becomes less effective. Another method is to wear a hat or a hairpiece such as a
wig or
toupee. The wig is a layer of artificial or natural hair made to resemble a typical hair style. In most cases the hair is artificial. Wigs vary widely in quality and cost. In the United States, the best wigsthose that look like real haircost up to tens of thousands of dollars. Organizations also collect individuals' donations of their own natural hair to be made into wigs for young
cancer patients who have lost their hair due to
chemotherapy or other cancer treatment in addition to any type of hair loss.
Eyebrows Though not as common as the loss of hair on the head, chemotherapy, hormone imbalance, forms of hair loss, and other factors can also cause loss of hair in the eyebrows. Loss of growth in the outer one third of the eyebrow is often associated with
hypothyroidism. Artificial eyebrows are available to replace missing eyebrows or to cover patchy eyebrows. Eyebrow embroidery is another option which involves the use of a blade to add pigment to the eyebrows. This gives a natural 3D look for those who are worried about an artificial look and it lasts for two years.
Micropigmentation (permanent makeup tattooing) is also available for those who want the look to be permanent.
Medications Treatments for the various forms of hair loss have limited success. Three medications have evidence to support their use in male pattern hair loss:
minoxidil,
finasteride, and
dutasteride. •
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a nonprescription medication approved for male pattern baldness and alopecia areata. In a liquid or foam, it is rubbed into the scalp twice a day. Some people have an allergic reaction to the propylene glycol in the minoxidil solution and a minoxidil foam was developed without propylene glycol. Not all users will regrow hair. Minoxidil may also be taken orally although this route of administration is not approved by the FDA. The longer the hair has stopped growing, the less likely minoxidil will regrow hair. Minoxidil is not effective for other causes of hair loss. Hair regrowth can take 1 to 6 months to begin. Treatment must be continued indefinitely. If the treatment is stopped, hair loss resumes. Any regrown hair and any hair susceptible to being lost, while Minoxidil was used, will be lost. Most frequent side effects are mild scalp irritation,
allergic contact dermatitis, and unwanted hair in other parts of the body. •
Finasteride (Propecia) is used in male-pattern hair loss in a pill form, taken 1 milligram per day. It is not indicated for women and is not recommended in pregnant women (as it is known to cause birth defects in fetuses). Treatment is effective starting within 6 weeks of treatment. Finasteride causes an increase in hair retention, the weight of hair, and some increase in regrowth. Side effects in about 2% of males include decreased
sex drive,
erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory dysfunction. Treatment should be continued as long as positive results occur. Once treatment is stopped, hair loss resumes. • There is some tentative evidence that
anthralin may be useful for treating alopecia areata. •
Hormonal modulators (
oral contraceptives or antiandrogens such as
spironolactone and
flutamide) can be used for female-pattern hair loss associated with
hyperandrogenemia.
Surgery Hair transplantation is usually carried out under
local anesthetic. A surgeon will move healthy hair from the back and sides of the head to areas of thinning. The procedure can take between four and eight hours, and additional sessions can be carried out to make hair even thicker. Transplanted hair falls out within a few weeks, but regrows permanently within months. • Surgical options, such as follicle transplants, scalp flaps, and hair loss reduction, are available. These procedures are generally chosen by those who are self-conscious about their hair loss, but they are expensive and painful, with a risk of infection and scarring. Once surgery has occurred, six to eight months are needed before the quality of new hair can be assessed. • Scalp reduction is the process of decreasing of the area of bald skin on the head. In time, the skin on the head becomes flexible and stretched enough that some of it can be surgically removed. After the hairless scalp is removed, the space is closed with hair-covered scalp. Scalp reduction is generally done in combination with hair transplantation to provide a natural-looking hairline, especially those with extensive hair loss. •
Hairline lowering can sometimes be used to lower a high hairline secondary to hair loss, although there may be a visible scar after further hair loss. • Wigs are an alternative to medical and surgical treatment; some patients wear a wig or hairpiece. They can be used permanently or temporarily to cover the hair loss. High-quality, natural-looking wigs and hairpieces are available.
Chemotherapy Hypothermia caps may be used to prevent hair loss during some kinds of
chemotherapy, specifically, when
taxanes or
anthracyclines are administered. It is not recommended to be used when cancer is present in the skin of the scalp or for lymphoma or leukemia. There are generally only minor side effects from scalp cooling given during chemotherapy.
Embracing baldness Instead of attempting to conceal their hair loss, some people embrace it by either doing nothing about it or sporting a
shaved head. The general public became more accepting of men with shaved heads in the early 1950s, when Russian-American actor
Yul Brynner began sporting the look; the resulting phenomenon inspired many of his male fans to shave their heads. Male celebrities then continued to bring mainstream popularity to shaved heads, including athletes such as
Michael Jordan and
Zinedine Zidane and actors such as
Dwayne Johnson,
Ben Kingsley, and
Jason Statham. To a lesser extent, female baldness can also be neutrally and positively interpreted in various parts of the world. For example head shaving is not uncommon among Black women, Buddhist nuns, lesbians and some feminists can represent a release from superficial and restrictive appearance norms.
Alternative medicine Dietary supplements are not typically recommended. Many people use unproven treatments to treat hair loss.
Egg oil, in Indian, Japanese,
Unani (Roghan Baiza Murgh) and Chinese
traditional medicine, was traditionally used as a treatment for hair loss. == Research ==