If you're noticing more and more hair sliding down the shower drain, you can slow the "drain" without resorting to painful hair transplants. "There are a lot of nonsurgical alternatives," nationally recognized dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Beer tells Newsmax Health in an exclusive interview.
"The easiest and most widely available is minoxidil," he said. "It works to promote hair growth and prevent future loss. It is effective in both men and women and is available without a prescription."
Latisse, a product that grows eyelashes, could be an alternative. "It's FDA-approved for lashes, but people are starting to think about using it for the scalp," says Dr. Beer, who teaches dermatology at the University of Miami and has a private practice in Palm Beach, Fla. Currently, clinical trials are underway to determine if it grows hair on the scalp the same way it grows eyelashes. "I think that has a lot of promise."
"Some of the newer lasers have shown promise for growing hair," he says. "I have seen data showing that some re-growth occurs, but I have yet to see a patient where it actually made a significant difference." In general, widely available laser combs don't impress Dr. Beer. "They have nice marketing, but I've yet to see a patient come in and say, 'Look how much hair I've grown with my laser comb.' My opinion is that they can't hurt, and they may help some, but there is no way to tell which patients will benefit.
"Several oral medications are available to help grow hair in men," he says, adding that the best treatment may be Propecia coupled with topical minoxidil in a concentration of 5 percent.
Women with thinning hair should try to discover why they are losing hair. With men, it's usually a genetic reason, but women should pay more attention to iron and hormones. "Hair loss could be due to iron deficiency, thyroid disease, metabolic problems, or an increase in male hormones," says Dr. Beer. "All can cause you to lose hair, and all are treatable." If there's no correctible cause, he often gives women iron supplements, which tend to cause hair growth, or medications such as minoxidil (Rogaine).
"There are many different reasons why people lose their hair, and many of these are treatable," says Dr. Beer. "If you are having hair loss, I recommend seeing a dermatologist who can help sort out the cause and treatment options for you."
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