Hair Loss Treatments: How to Find the Best for Your Pattern
Hair loss can occur due to various factors such as genetics, hormones, environmental factors, stress, and autoimmune disorders.
Takeaways
The best hair loss treatment depends on the cause as follows:
TABLE: Hair Growth Treatment Success Probabilities
HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY | RED LIGHT THERAPY | MINOXIDIL | FINASTERIDE | |
ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA | High chance of success if there is enough donor hair and candidate is in good health | Very high chance of success, no side effects | Very high chance of success, medium side effects | Very high chance of success, high side effects |
ANAGEN EFFLUVIUM | High chance of success if there is enough donor hair and candidate is in good health | Very high chance of success, no side effects | Very high chance of success, medium side effects | Very high chance of success, high side effects |
TRACTION ALOPECIA | Good chance of success if behavior (pulling hair) stops first. | Very high chance of success, no side effects | Very high chance of success, medium side effects | Very high chance of success, high side effects |
TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM | Surgery adds to stress and so is counterproductive | Very high chance of success, no side effects | Surgery adds to stress and so is counterproductive | Unproductive because the candidate must be in good health |
CENTRAL CENTRIFUGAL CICATRICIAL ALOPECIA | Surgery adds to stress and so is counterproductive | Red light therapy cannot grow hair if the follicles are scarred over | Unproductive because Minoxidil requires follicle health | Unproductive because finasteride requires follicle health |
ALOPECIA AREATA | High chance of success if there is enough donor hair and candidate is in good health | Very high chance of success, no side effects | Very high chance of success, medium side effects | Very high chance of success, high side effects |
Best Treatments for Hair Loss
TABLE: FDA-Approved Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth
Device | Image | Session | Schedule | View |
HairMax LaserBand 82 |  | 1.5 minutes | Three times per week | |
HairMax LaserComb 12 |  | 11 minutes | Three times per week | |
HairMax PowerFlex Laser Cap 272 |  | 7 minutes | Three times per week | |
iRestore Professional |  | 25 minutes | Three times per week |
Hair Loss Types
Genetic and Hormonal Hair Loss
Androgenic alopecia is hair loss associated with genetic and hormonal factors. Several subtypes describe where the hair is lost and how much comes out at a time.
Androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) is primarily a genetic condition caused by a problem with the androgen hormone. Although autoimmune conditions do not cause androgenic alopecia, they can make it worse. For example, thyroid disease and lupus often accompany pattern hair loss.
Androgenic alopecia commonly occurs after puberty and worsens with age.
With androgenic alopecia, hair comes out in clumps of three or four at a time. The hair brush accumulates lost hair that the hair follicles do not replace.
Androgenic alopecia occurs in men and women, which is why it’s also referred to as “male pattern hair loss” and “female pattern hair loss.”
Environmental Hair Loss
Environmental hair loss refers to hair loss conditions caused by external forces. These include damage from chemotherapy and radiation, damage from hot hair devices that burn and cause scarring on the scalp, tight hairstyles that pull on the hair, and stress-related hair loss.
Anagen Effluvium (Toxic Damage)
Chemotherapy and radiation cause anagen effluvium.
They damage the hair follicle during the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle.
Toxins, drugs, and radiation damage the hair follicle cells.
Chemotherapy and radiation target healthy as well as rapidly dividing cells.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) (Multiple Causes)
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring on the top of the head that can lead to permanent hair loss. CCCA is most common in women of African descent.
The exact cause of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is unknown, but it is believed to be related to genetic and environmental factors.
Studies suggest that CCCA may have a genetic component, as it appears to be more common in certain ethnic groups, such as African American women.
Environmental factors such as hair relaxers, hot combs, and braids may also contribute to the development of CCCA.
These hair-styling practices can lead to scalp inflammation and scarring, which may eventually cause hair loss.
In addition, some researchers believe that CCCA may be related to hormonal changes, as it appears to be more common in postmenopausal women.
However, more research is needed to understand this condition’s underlying causes better.
Traction Alopecia (Pulling Damage)
Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension or pulling on the hair follicles.
This condition is often associated with certain hairstyles that stress the hair, such as tight braids, cornrows, weaves, and extensions.
Over time, this constant pulling can damage the hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
Depending on the severity of the condition, several treatment options are available for traction alopecia.
Mild cases may be treated by simply changing hairstyles to reduce tension on the hair.
Medications like Minoxidil may be prescribed in more severe cases to stimulate hair growth.
Hair transplant surgery may sometimes be necessary to replace lost hair.
Traction Alopecia is not typically considered a psychological problem where hair pulling is a symptom.
Rather, it is a physical condition caused by external factors such as tight hairstyles or hair extensions that put constant tension on the hair follicles.
However, hair pulling can be a symptom of a psychological condition known as Trichotillomania, characterized by the urge to pull out one’s hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp hair.
Trichotillomania is a complex disorder that often requires a combination of therapy, medication, and behavioral interventions for successful treatment. It is essential to differentiate between
Traction Alopecia and Trichotillomania, as the treatment approaches for these conditions, are very different.
Telogen Effluvium (Stress Hair Loss)
Telogen effluvium is a stress response that causes hair loss. It is often triggered by pregnancy, medication, or surgery.
In telogen effluvium, the hair follicles enter the resting phase prematurely, and the hairs that are already in the telogen phase are shed before they can enter the anagen phase (growth phase) again.
This results in hair shedding and thinning, but it usually resolves on its own once the underlying cause is addressed.
Telogen effluvium triggers include:
- surgery
- illness
- childbirth
- anxiety
- depression
- hormone disorders (thyroid and polycystic ovary syndrome)
- medications (chemotherapy, anticoagulants)
- nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, and biotin)
Autoimmune Hair Loss
Alopecia areata is a group of hair loss syndromes in which the immune system damages the hair follicle.
The body develops antibodies against its hair molecules.
That results in hair loss or hair thinning.
Alopecia areata defines where hair loss occurs and how much hair is lost.
Alopecia areata totalis is complete hair loss on the top of the head caused by the same autoimmune disease.
Alopecia areata universalis is hair loss throughout the entire body, including pubic and axillary hair, caused by the same autoimmune disease.
Diffuse alopecia areata (incognita) is a thinning hair loss.
The other alopecias involve hair loss in patches.
Diffuse alopecia is a loss of hair with some healthy hair remaining on the head.
Alopecia areata ophiasis is hair loss on the sides and lower back of the head.
Alopecia barbae is hair loss on the beard or mustache area.
Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss treatments include the following. Each of the different types of hair loss is best reversed with varying combinations of these therapies:
- topical medications
- oral medications
- low-level laser therapy (red light therapy)
- hair transplant surgery
Topical medications
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical medication for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia.
It works by stimulating hair growth and prolonging the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.
Oral medications
Finasteride is an oral medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in men.
It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to hair loss.
Finasteride has serious side effects that we wrote about here: Warning: Your Hair Loss Rx is a Sexual Side Effect Nightmare
Red Light Therapy
In the hair clinic industry, “red light therapy” is usually called “low-level laser therapy.”
They are the same treatment with different names. In science, this is also known as photobiomodulation (using light to create healthy change).
Red light therapy (low-level laser therapy) uses red and infrared light to generate ATP, the body’s biological batteries.
This stimulates the hair follicles, which emerge from their dormant stage to grow hair again. Treatment takes about six months to see significant results.
Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery involves transplanting hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another.
It is a more invasive treatment option but can produce long-lasting results.
The procedure involves transplanting hair follicles from a donor site, typically from the back or sides of the head, to the areas of hair loss.
Hair transplant surgery can provide long-lasting, natural-looking results, but it is a surgical procedure that carries some risks and potential side effects.
