Baldness Treatments, Cures and More

Baldness is a medical condition that affects some 25% of men in their 20’s and an astounding 2/3 of all men after the age of 60. Male-pattern hair loss and baldness does not have any intrinsic side effect aside from hair loss so many consider it a cosmetic medical condition, but for those who suffer from it, its effects it can be devastating with social and psychological consequences.

Male baldness treatments have been around for thousands of years. From the Ancient Egyptian remedy of pigeon droppings to the early 20th century use of electro-shock treatments on the scalp, mankind has been searching for that one elusive cure for baldness. But it wasn’t until recently that we actually knew what caused male pattern hair loss and baldness.

Male-pattern baldness is a result of a gene in the body that converts large quantities of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). This DHT hormone, though helpful during fetal development, is devastating to hair follicles, causing them to become damaged and shrunken. The usual life of a hair follicle is 5 years, 4 of those spent growing and the last year being stagnant, but follicles that are damaged fall out and are not replaced by new follicles. This is why male pattern baldness is gradual but irreversible in its later stages.

Baldness Treatments range from the medicinal to the surgical. FDA- approved medications like Rogaine and Propecia can provide effective short-term relief from baldness and have been a popular baldness remedy for years. Rogaine is a topical solution that has proven to be one of many effective baldness treatments in that it helps follicle regrowth but works for only about 60% of all patients. Propecia, on the other hand, is very effective in stemming existing hair loss but is most powerful when used in the early stages of male-pattern hair loss and baldness. Unfortunately both medications are temporary in nature, as results cease once use of the medication has been discontinued.

Until science comes up with a baldness cure the closest we may have in baldness treatments is the hair transplant. Once the domain of artificial-looking rugs and patches of irregular clumps of hair, the transplant is now the most effective and permanent remedy for baldness. By transplanting hair follicles from healthy areas of the scalp, like the back and sides, to areas in need of help, such as the temples and the top of the scalp, procedures like Follicular Unit Transplantation can provide male pattern baldness sufferers with a powerful strategy for dealing with this pesky medical condition that, though free of other side effects, can drastically affect the quality of one’s life.