Best treatment for hair loss in men

It can put a damper on your mood when you start experiencing hair thinning or bald spots on some areas of your scalp. As subtle as they may be, hair loss in men can create drastic physiological, emotional, and social impact, such as lower self-esteem and productivity.

It is impossible to turn back time when you start losing hair. But what you can do is to take preventive measures to reduce the amount of hair loss or treat hair loss problems in men using different approaches – surgical, medical, or natural treatments.

Before booking an appointment with the nearest TCM clinic or scalp centre, find out about some of the modern treatments that can help to mitigate male hair loss and the importance of choosing the right treatment for your hair loss problem.

Types of hair loss in men

Hair loss can happen to anyone at any age, with up to 25% of men reporting hair loss onset from as early as 21 years. It most often comes in the form of bald spots, hair thinning, leading to receding hairlines.

Some common types of hair loss include:

Androgenic Alopecia (male pattern baldness)

Generally known as male pattern baldness, androgenic alopecia is one of the most common types of hair loss in both men and women, due to genetic predisposition. The characteristics of this type of hair loss include a receding hairline and thinning areas on the scalp, usually from the crown of the head and the frontal scalp.

Dermatologists will use the Norwood scale to determine the density of hair loss.

Telogen Effluvium

The hair’s life cycle consists of 3 phases – namely the anagen (growth), catagen (transition) and telogen (resting/shedding) phase. Telogen effluvium is the second common type of hair loss in men, and it can be caused by several factors that triggers a shortened duration between the hair’s growing and resting phase, leading to thinning areas on the scalp.

These factors may include environmental factors, hormonal changes, poor nutrition or certain medications. For severe cases of telogen effluvium, hair loss may also occur in areas like the brows or genital areas.

Involutional Alopecia

Then there is natural hair loss as we grow old. Like wrinkles and fine lines, the natural occurrence is inevitable, and hair thinning that comes with age is called involutional alopecia. By the age of 60, about 66% of men will experience hair loss.

Causes of hair loss in men

There are many factors that can trigger these types of hair loss, the common ones including:

Genetics

Androgenetic alopecia affects 50% of men by the time they turn 50, and it can be irreversible. It is the inherited genetic factor that triggers male pattern baldness. The cause for the genes that are passed down is still unknown and currently, there is no cure for androgenetic alopecia.

Medical conditions

Hair fall can be a symptom of prolonged stress or illness, especially after a surgery or a severe infection that affects the skin. This type of hair loss is characterized by thick tufts of hair that break easily from the scalp with a slight tug, or large amounts of hair found on a hairbrush.

Hair loss can also be caused due to hormonal imbalance, such as in expecting women or mothers after childbirth. If left untreated, hair loss can become permanent.

Medication side effects

Aside from medical conditions, medicine or drugs can also cause unpleasant side effects such as hair thinning or balding. Medications such as beta-blockers, warfarin or cancer medications often trigger hair loss.

Natural hair loss remedies for men

For those of us who prefer a natural and holistic approach to acute medical problems, some popular home remedies have been long practiced for their effectiveness in treating mild hair loss problems. Studies have shown that applying the juice of an onion twice a day can help in hair regrowth in more than 50% of participants.

Another natural alternative is taking saw palmetto (the fruit of a palm tree) orally. This drug has been known to prevent further breakdown of the testosterones, a hormone that is abundant in men and crucial in preventing hair loss.

Hair loss treatments for men

While hair loss is irreversible, it is not irreparable. Understanding the causes behind your hair loss can go a long way in finding a suitable treatment to help restore healthy hair. Even with severe hair loss problems, several treatments in Singapore are effective in rejuvenating your hair follicles and the scalp, which can stimulate hair growth as well.

Some hair loss treatments include:

Hair transplants

In cases of severe hair loss such as those caused by medications or a prolonged illness, it can take quite a bit of time to undergo natural remedies or treatments – which will be explained later in the article – to promote hair regrowth.

Surgeries may be more effective in this case, and with today’s advanced medical capabilities, scalp surgeries or hair transplants can often be done as an outpatient treatment.

This means you can walk in for your surgery and be done in a couple of hours. Speak to your personal doctor or medical professional on the surgical options that you have, and get to know the side effects that may arise, including itching on the scalp, bleeding, or dry skin.

Laser treatments

One of the most popular hair loss solutions, laser treatments or therapy have been proven to provide benefits for both the hair and the scalp. When searching for a solution for your hair loss problem, it becomes necessary to dig into the root of the problem (no pun intended).

For most cases, hair loss is an inevitable symptom of overwhelming stress, ageing, or is an inherited trait – which boils down to impaired hair follicles or a hostile growth environment (scalp).

The upside to laser treatments is that you will not have to worry about going under the knife. Many aesthetic clinics offer laser treatments to reverse the effects of ageing or hair fall, and in under 60 minutes, you can rejuvenate your scalp to promote hair regrowth, stimulates the hair follicles to generate new, healthy hair cells as well as increase the hair’s life cycle in the growing phase.

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

If neither of the above options sound appealing to you, consider topical prescription medications to aid in your hair growth journey. An example is Rogaine (medical term: Minoxidil), which can be bought over the counter (OTC) with a doctor’s prescription.

It has also been reported that with prescription drugs, side effects may vary for individuals. Check with your doctor or the pharmacist on some of these side effects, and determine if this option is the right one for you.

Consult a hair loss specialist and get an assessment

While it can be difficult to keep to a rigid schedule or to cultivate a habit with one or more of these hair loss treatments, remember that with natural and non-surgical remedies, it takes time and patience to see results.

Schedule a consultation with our hair loss specialists today to find out your best options to reduce hair loss for men.