Is hair loss and male baldness really such a huge issue?
It is, if you consider the statistics. According to Statista, the market value of the international industry for hair loss treatments is estimated at 2.8 billion in the year 2017. Companies selling hair growth options are diverting huge amounts to the research and development of new pills, creams, shampoos, and other products that can possibly give customers the full head of hair they dream of.
Hair Loss is More about Youth, Vitality, and Confidence
Male baldness, hair loss, the bald pate, and receding hairlines take away more than a person’s self-confidence. Given that thick, luxurious hair is a sign of good health, youth, vitality, and well, fertility, most men are open to trying just about any solution to reverse the dreaded hair loss. But, regaining a full head of hair is one project you might want to approach with caution.
Of the tons of products and brand names available out there, most of them have side effects that you may need to be prepared for. Whether the products are over-the-counter, prescription, herbal formulations, or the latest autologous PRP injection for hair loss, it is advisable that you do your research before you pull out that credit card.
Here’s what you need to know about the top hair growth options available today.
1. Minoxidil (Sold Under the Name Rogaine)
Minoxidil or Rogaine is possibly one of the most commonly known hair growth option for male baldness. This solution is available in lotion or foam form and you won’t need to get a prescription to buy it. Approved by the FDA, Rogaine should be used twice a day. Take the prescribed amount in your hands and apply over the scalp. At 16 weeks, you should be able to see slower hair loss and a renewal of hair growth.
What You Need to Know – As WebMD tells you, this treatment works only so long as you continue to apply the lotion or foam. Further, you can expect side effects like redness and burning or stinging sensations in the application area. Rogaine can potentially enter your bloodstream through the scalp skin and cause other adverse effects like chest pain, hair growth in unwanted areas such as the face or body, unexpected weight gain, fainting, and fatigue. In rare cases, it can cause allergic reactions.
2. Finasteride Sold Under the Name Propecia
Propecia is an oral hair growth option only for male baldness and available on prescription. By taking the tablets every day, men can stimulate the development of new hair follicles and also lower hair loss. However, like the Mayo Clinic warns, the formulation is so potent that pregnant women should avoid allowing broken or crushed tablets coming into contact with their skin.
What You Need to Know – In case you opt for these supplements, your doctor will warn of possible side effects like an increased risk of prostate cancer along with lowered sexual function and libido. You may also want to be prepared for swelling hands and feet, headaches, dizziness, skin rashes, and weakness among other effects.
3. Hair Grafting Performed Under the Name Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
You might consider hair grafting a surgical procedure. Doctors harvest plugs of hair follicles from the hair-dense areas such as the sides or back of the head. Next, they place the follicles in the bare spots and sew them in place. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) aims to distribute the hair more evenly so that the bald spots are less prominent. Typically, the success rate of this hair growth option for male baldness in the hands of an experienced high-grade specialist is a minimum of 95%. Women can also sign up for this procedure with effective results.
What You Need to Know: Given that FUE is a surgical procedure, you can expect pain and swelling in both, the extraction and implant sites. In addition, you may need to get multiple treatments to achieve the results you’re looking forward. Scarring and weakening of the follicles are other adverse effects to prepare for. The National Center for Biotechnology Information talks about an overall thinning effect with more of the scalp showing through.
A Safer Hair Growth Option – PRP Hair Loss Treatments
If you’re looking for a hair growth option that won’t cause any of these side effects but is also effective, you may want to try the latest, upcoming treatment for male baldness, PRP therapy. This therapy not only works to reverse hair loss but also stimulates the growth of new hair follicles along the existing hairline. The serum used in PRP injections is extracted from a sample of your blood making it absolutely safe to use with no possible allergic reactions. Doctors administer the treatment by injecting the serum at depths of 1 mm into various sections of the scalp or may opt to use microneedling.
PRP therapy works by promoting the growth of new blood vessels in the scalp. With the fresh infusion of nutrients and oxygen, the scalp and hair follicles are nourished so they don’t reach the shedding stage. Users that have tried this treatment have also talked about how their hair seems thicker with a richer texture and coloring. These are all signs of a healthy, well-nourished scalp.
What You Need to Know: One of the first questions you’ll likely have is what are the side effects of PRP therapy? It will interest you to know that PRP for hair loss treatments rarely have any side effects and are safe to use.
The verdict is clear! In place of chemical lotions, foams, pills, and painful surgery for male baldness, you may want to opt for a minimally invasive hair growth option that promises great results but is not likely to do you any harm.