How to Read Up on Hair Loss Treatments

Genetics play a significant role in hair loss and one need only look at their grandparents to glimpse their follicular future. As more men (and women) in their 30s and 40s start losing hair, treatments are popping up everywhere. They won't all work and it's wise to learn how to evaluate hair loss treatments before you open your wallet and start losing more than your hair.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Draw columns on a piece of paper and make a chart to track the different treatments you may try. List the name of each treatment vertically down the page. Have separate horizontal columns for the date you begin the treatment, the date you end the treatment, your opinion of the outcome and the total cost of the treatment. Be sure to leave room for daily or weekly progress notes.
2. Determine your goal before you begin. Is it to simply slow hair loss? Or do you want hair re-growth? Your answer will determine which treatment options will work best for you. Now it's time to start educating yourself as to what options are available.
3. Understand there are factors beyond your control that could affect how well some hair loss treatments will work. If you take certain medications, especially those having to do with blood pressure control, you may experience a different outcome than what's shown in company literature or on television infomercials.
4. Educate yourself fully as to what each option can and cannot do. Some hair loss treatments work quicker than others and only you can decide if you have enough patience to wait. Some treatments have side effects that you may not wish to endure. Be honest with yourself and make sure your expectations won't exceed reality.
5. Ask your doctor if combining a couple of treatment options might work best for you. Surgery is an invasive option, carries the most risk and should be used as a last resort. Ask medical professionals about holistic alternatives, such as acupuncture, or technologically-advanced treatments, such as hair cloning.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, talk with someone who has personal experience with one of the hair loss treatments you are considering. Websites can provide basic information and doctors can write prescriptions, but hearing from people who have actually tried a treatment can really help you make up your mind.
• Sometimes hair loss isn't just genes doing their thing. It can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Consult a physician before undergoing any kind of chemical warfare against your scalp.