Hair loss for men and women can be a major issue if it starts early in life. Men and women can experience temporary or permanent hair loss that only affects their scalps or their complete bodies. There are numerous causes of hair loss in both men and women. It may be caused by inheritance, hormone changes, environmental changes, illnesses, or other factors.
Androgenetic alopecia, often known as male pattern baldness, can be brought on by a skin condition or a scalp infection. For males, there are many hair loss treatment methods that can either stop hair loss or encourage hair regrowth for men.
Despite the fact that hair loss cannot always be stopped, there are several hair loss treatment options and remedies that could halt the condition.
Learn which dietary supplements and specialty tonics have demonstrated some potential in preventing or treating hair loss before you go out and purchase them. Let’s first grasp the various phases of hair growth for men before delving deeply into the 15 best hair loss treatment Methods.
Phases of Hair Growth For Men
Our Hair grows and falls out in a 4-phase cycle of hair growth for men and women. The cycle of hair growth for men and women is actually divided into 4 separate stages, despite the fact that the growth and loss of hair may appear to be a straightforward procedure.
The timing of each phase varies depending on factors like age, nutrition, and general health. That means there are things you can do to make sure your hair grows in a healthy way along the way. Let’s understand the different phases of hair growth for men and women.
1. Anagen (Growing Phase)
The longest phase is the anagen, often known as the growing phase, and it typically lasts 2 to 7 years. 90% of the hair on your head is typically in the anagen phase, according to research.
Fortunately, the different forms of hair have separate anagen phases. For example, the anagen phase for hair in public areas and on the eyebrows is typically shorter than the phase of hair on your scalp.
2. Catagen (Transition Phase)
The catagen phase, also known as the transitional phase, begins after the anagen phase is finished and normally lasts for 10 days. During this stage, the hair follicle contracts and separates from the dermal papilla.
On average, just 5% of the hairs on your head are ever in the catagen phase.
3. Telogen (Resting Phase)
The telogen phase commonly referred to as the resting phase and lasting around three months, is the third stage of hair growth for men and women. At any given time, 10%–15% of the hair on your head is in this phase. During this stage, hair does not grow, but it also does not fall off.
4. Exogen (Shedding Phase)
In general, the exogen phase of hair growth is a continuation of or a component of the telogen stage. Hair is shed from the scalp during the exogen period, and brushing and cleaning are frequently helpful in this process. It’s normal to lose 50–100 hairs daily during the exogen phase. Around 150,000 hair follicles make up your head. Approximately 80–90% of hair is always in the anagen or growing, phase of the hair growth cycle.
What is Hair Loss for Men?
You should not be surprised if you lose 50–100 hairs per day. Because new hair develops quickly to replace the hair that has been lost, this loss is hardly obvious. Hair loss or baldness normally occurs when new hair development abruptly stops and the hair falls out too soon. Androgenic alopecia, male-pattern baldness, and female-pattern baldness are the names for this disorder.
You can see sudden bald patches or gradually diminishing hair on your head, depending on the many causes of hair loss. Although hair loss can happen to everyone, males are more likely than women to experience it. The most common cause of baldness or hair loss for men is hereditary hair loss with age.
Causes of Hair Loss in Men
Both men and women may have hair loss, but it is more likely to happen as a result of heredity, hormonal changes, illnesses, or the natural aging process. There are several causes of male hair loss. Some of them are as follows:
1. Genetics and History of the Family
You are more likely to experience hair loss if one of your family members or close relatives does. Male pattern baldness also referred to as androgenic alopecia, is a genetic disorder that causes people to lose their hair over time.
Male baldness may start when you’re a teenager, depending on your family history. Your hair may get softer, finer, and shorter in addition to becoming thinner. If you identify this cause of hair loss early enough, you may be able to take some preventative measures.
2. Medication Conditions
Hair loss can be brought on by certain medical disorders, such as autoimmune diseases or hormonal issues. Thyroid issues, scalp infections, or trichotillomania (a hair-pulling disorder) can all cause thinning hair or baldness. When the immune system attacks hair follicles, an autoimmune disease known as alopecia areata causes bald patches to appear.
3. Infection and illness
Hair loss can result from ailments and infections as well. Temporary hair loss may also be caused by a severe infection or a high fever. In addition to bacterial diseases like syphilis, these physical injuries may also cause fungal skin infections, which can all lead to balding or thinning hair.
4. Stress
Hair loss and stress may be connected. According to some research, long-term or persistent stress may increase a person’s risk for a number of health issues, including hair loss. Long-term stress has also been associated with hair loss, however, the causes weren’t fully understood.
15 Best Hair Loss Treatment options for men
There are effective hair loss treatment options for men and women that you can choose to enhance your hair growth. In rare circumstances, it might be able to stop hair loss altogether or at least slow it down. However, this will depend on what is causing the person’s hair loss in the first place.
Some of the best hair loss treatment options for men and women are-
1. Hair Transplant Surgery
In the most common type of permanent hair loss, only the top of the head is affected. A hair transplant, or restoration surgery, can make the most of the hair you have left.
Hair is removed from the hair-bearing area of the body and transplanted to the bald area of the head during a hair transplantation or hair restoration for men performed by a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. There are one to numerous hairs in each hair patch (micrografts or mini grafts). A larger strip of skin with numerous hairs is sometimes taken for transplantation. Although there is no hospitalization required for this procedure, the pain associated with this men’s hair loss treatment may be reduced by giving you sedative medication.
Follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction are the two most common hair transplant methods. To achieve the desired result, you may need to undergo both hair transplant treatments.
Remember that both hair transplant procedures are surgical, which means they can be costly and sometimes uncomfortable. The two most common hair transplants or hair restoration procedures are:
a. Follicular unit transplantation (FUT)
The more “traditional” method is FUT. It involves scraping out a little bit of skin, usually from the back of your head, where there is a thick growth of hair. After that, a surgeon takes the follicles out of that skin strip. The hair follicles are then reinserted into the area of your scalp where you are losing hair.
b. Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
A minimally invasive procedure for hair restoration called follicular unit extraction (FUE) is well-known for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA). In FUE, a surgeon takes out hair follicles from the scalp and transplants them to the areas of the scalp that are bald.
2. Laser Treatment
According to research, low-level laser therapy can stimulate hair follicles and the scalp to stop hair loss and encourage hair growth in people who experience other types of hair loss. A few studies have shown that it also improves hair density.
The effectiveness of laser hair restoration therapies is supported by a small number of studies. However, a 2016 assessment by Trusted Source found that when used to treat male pattern hair loss, LLLT is both safe and effective.
3. Medication Options
Treatment of the specific disease is required if it is the underlying cause of your hair loss. Your doctor may advise you to stop using a particular drug if it is the cause of your hair loss after using it for a few months. When used as a hair loss treatment for men and women, medication options can have both favorable and unfavorable effects.
There are medications available to treat pattern (hereditary) baldness. The most typical options include:
a. Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Minoxidil is available without a prescription over-the-counter in liquid, foam, and shampoo formulations. For best results, use the product twice daily for males and once daily for women on the scalp skin. Foam that is applied to wet hair is preferred by many people.
Many people use minoxidil-containing products to either stop hair loss in their tracks or to help people regrow their hair. To stop additional hair loss and to begin hair regrowth, a minimum of six months of treatment is required. It can take a few more months before you can see if the treatment is having an effect on you. You must take the medication continuously indefinitely to maintain the benefits if it is working.
It may potentially have certain adverse effects when used. Side effects may include scalp irritation and unwanted hair growth on the skin around the face and hands.
b. Finasteride (Propecia)
Men are advised to obtain a prescription from their doctor before using this medication as a hair loss solution for men. You can take a tablet of it every day. The hair loss of many men using finasteride slows down, and some even report fresh hair growth. Before you can determine if it’s working for you, it can take a few months. To keep any benefits, you must continue taking it. For males over 60, finasteride might not operate as well.
Reduced sex drive and sexual function, as well as an increased risk of prostate cancer, are rare side effects of finasteride. Women who are or could become pregnant should refrain from handling broken or crushed medications.
It may take up to a year to notice improvements from minoxidil and finasteride, and you must continue taking them to preserve the benefits.
Lifestyle Changes
4. Quit smoking
Smoking may cause hair loss because nicotine, which is bad for hair, is present in cigarettes and other smoking-related products. The nicotine actually causes the blood vessels to narrow over time, which might make it challenging for blood to reach your hair follicles. As a result, your hair follicles become damaged and eventually quit producing hair.
A 2020 study (Trusted Source) shows that males who smoked reported having some degree of hair loss, compared to under half of the non-smokers. Quitting smoking will improve the condition of your hair and let the natural growth cycle return. Smoking-related hair loss is curable and reversible once all pollutants have been removed from your body. When you stop, your body begins to repair and operate properly, and your hair grows back.
5. Massage of the Scalp
Scalp Massaging is one of the best hair loss treatment options for men which is cheap and scalable. Scalp massage is a popular alternative healthcare technique that helps to increase blood circulation and relieve stress. As a result, it stimulates blood flow to the hair follicles, which promotes hair growth and reduces hair loss.
A small study from 2016 found that healthy Japanese males who received daily scalp massages for 4 minutes resulted in thicker hair at the end of the trial.
6. Reduce or Alleviate Stress
Losing hair due to stress is a possibility. Stressful living may contribute to hair loss. There is a good probability that after your stress levels return to normal, whatever hair you lost as a result of stress or worry will begin to grow back. Consider focusing on raising your general health and well-being while lowering your stress levels. In a few months, any hair that has fallen out as a result of stress should regrow naturally.
Things You should do to reduce Stress:
- Laugh More
- Try Yoga and Meditation
- Try to interact with others.
- Get enough sleep
- Listen to Music
7. Balanced Diet
According to some studies, hair loss is caused by a lack of nutrients like iron, biotin, riboflavin, vitamin D, and B12, as well as other vitamins and minerals.
Eating or maintaining a balanced diet rich in these minerals and vitamins may help encourage hair growth if you are experiencing hair loss caused by an inadequate diet or by a decreased intake of nutrients.
Taking a balanced diet is one of the most inexpensive hair loss solution for men and women. Ensure that you are including a range of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and unsaturated fat in your diet while following a balanced diet for hair loss treatment. For optimum outcomes, remember to drink enough water along with this balanced diet.
Alternative Remedies For Hair loss Treatment
8. Onion Juice
A small 2014 study showed that Onion juice applied to the hair and scalp can give extra sulphur to encourage strong, thick hair, reducing hair loss and encouraging hair growth. Onion sulfur may aid in promoting collagen synthesis. In turn, collagen promotes the formation of hair and healthy skin cells.
9. Hibiscus
Hibiscus is known to promote the growth of new hair follicles and enhance the production of keratin, according to some research. As a key component of the protein known as Keratin, which nourishes, fortifies, and binds the hair roots, hibiscus is high in amino acids. As a result, You can use hibiscus as a female and male hair loss treatment method.
10. Biotin
Biotin helps speed up follicle growth by stimulating the creation of keratin in hair. You may boost your hair’s health, strengthen it, and add shine by taking vitamin B7 on a daily basis. Additionally, biotin aids in the prevention of a number of health issues, including dandruff, itchy scalp, and hair loss.
Vegetables, seeds, nuts, seafood, meat, and eggs are the best natural sources of biotin.
11. Oils
If you choose other hair loss treatment options like a laser, hair transplant, etc., hair loss treatment for men and women might be pricey, but if you don’t have enough money to spend and want a cheap hair loss cure, choose oils.
Oils are essential for defending hair against everyday damage. Hair swelling and drying caused by hygral tiredness are decreased by frequently oiling hair.
According to some evidence from a 2014 mouse research, peppermint oil may promote hair growth. To improve blood flow to the scalp, rosemary oil has also been used for centuries.
12. Bhringraj
The sunflower family includes the species known as bhringraj (Eclipta alba), often known as a false daisy. It is regarded as a herb that promotes hair growth in Ayurvedic medicine.
Bhringraj, according to studies, stimulates blood flow to the scalp and roots, which encourages hair growth. The hair follicles are stimulated by this oil, which promotes hair growth.
13. Consult a Doctor to treat the underlying symptoms
In addition to your genetics, hair loss can also be brought on by some medical problems. There are many medical conditions that could lead to hair loss for men and women. Some medical diseases that may also contribute to hair loss are celiac disease, lichen planus, lupus, diabetes, trichotillomania, syphilis, scalp psoriasis, etc.
Make sure to visit a doctor to get the underlying conditions treated if you have one of these disorders or if you are having other symptoms like hair loss as a result of these medical conditions. As your condition gets better, your hair loss should also get better.
Bottom Line
Anyone can have hair loss on their head, although males are more likely than women to do so. Hair loss is typically nothing to worry about, but sometimes it may indicate a medical concern. If you lose hair frequently, you should consider your hair loss treatment choices.
You may wish to try one of the many hair loss treatment options available. These consist of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, hair implants, and natural therapies. Consult your physician beforehand. They can assist you in determining the root of your hair loss and the most effective course of action.