Pattern Hair Loss
Invest in your hair, it is the crown you never take off
What is pattern hair loss?
In pattern hair loss there is increased hair shedding of gradual onset accompanied by conversion of long, thick and dark hairs to short, thin and light-coloured hairs. It is an extremely common problem affecting men as well as women.
Is the pattern of hair loss the same in men and women?
No. Men tend to start losing hair from the frontal area early in the process. In women the frontal hairline is usually preserved. Men also tend to lose a lot of hair from the temporal areas. Women, on the other hand, lose hair mostly from the crown. Men may develop areas of complete baldness but women generally lose hair in a more diffuse manner.
Are tests necessary?
Sometimes thyroid tests, blood iron level tests and in some women DHEAS and testosterone levels may be needed.
Which medicines have been approved by USFDA for treating pattern hair loss?
Topical minoxidil in men and women and oral finasteride in men only have been approved by USFDA for treating pattern hair loss.
What else may work?
Spironolactone and oral contraceptives may be helpful in women with hair loss accompanied by hyperandrogenism.
Topical ketoconazole has been tried in men and women and found to be useful.
Trials have been conducted with dutasteride tablets in men with pattern hair loss. It may be a more potent suppressor of 5-a reductase than finasteride.
Both finasteride and dutasteride are also available as topical applications either alone or in combination with minoxidil.
Some studies have reported good results with botulinum toxin injections into the scalp.
Low level laser light, in particular a brush-like device, has received USFDA approval for pattern hair loss treatment.
Topical latanoprost 0.1% has also been found to be useful.
Serena repens extract, growth factor injections, platelet-rich plasma injections, fractional erbium-glass laser and adipose-derived stem cells have all been tried in pattern hair loss and found to be effective in different studies.
Surgical treatment in the form of hair transplantation has been available for several decades now.
Finally hair-weaving techniques and hair pieces are available for those patients who have not responded to or are unwilling to try all of the above.
Why is research into pattern hair loss considered important?
Not only does pattern hair loss affect the patient psychologically, the condition may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack, an increased incidence of enlarged prostate and an increased chance of kidney stones.