Male pattern baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia) is estimated to affect about 50 million people in the United States. It starts with thinning hair that starts from the forehead in an M-shaped pattern. Over time, this hair loss will continue to the top of the head, and the hair on the sides and back of the head often falls out, which eventually leads to baldness. If you experience this and feel uncomfortable about it, there are several treatments you can do to treat this hair loss problem.
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Method 1 of 3: Examining Treatment Options
Step 1. Understand how this hair loss problem occurs
Although androgenic alopecia is often associated with male hormones (androgens), the exact cause is still unknown.
- Baldness in men is caused by genetic inheritance, and the androgen hormone that is closely related to baldness is dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
- Increased levels of DHT in hair follicles are thought to be able to shorten the hair growth cycle and delay the growth of new hair.
- Over time, the hair follicles will stop the growth of new hair; while the follicle is still alive, it is actually still capable of growing hair.
Step 2. Try Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Minoxidil is a topical drug that has passed the FDA test (Food and Drug Administration in the United States) and is able to treat male pattern baldness. This drug can be a solution that can stimulate hair follicles to grow new hair again. You just have to apply it to the scalp.
- Minoxidil can slow down the hair loss process. Some men who use this drug claim that their hair can grow back. However, the loss usually returns if the drug is discontinued.
- The side effects of using Minoxidil are itching, skin redness, acne, burning, inflammation, and swelling.
- Cases of serious side effects that indicate that too much Minoxidil has been absorbed by the body include blurred vision, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and an irregular heartbeat.
Step 3. Ask your doctor if you should take finasteride
Finasteride (marketed under the brand names Propecia and Proscar) is a pill that is usually more potent than Minoxidil. The way it works is by combining the enzymes that convert the hormone testosterone into DHT.
- Finasteride slows down the hair loss process only as long as it is taken. If you stop taking this drug, the loss will return within a year.
- The side effects of using finasteride are fever, cold sweats, dissociation, dizziness, itching, stinging, swelling in the legs, arms, and face, and weight gain.
Step 4. Hair transplant
During the hair transplant process, a small section of hair is transferred from the scalp to the bald area. This process is usually done in several sessions. It is expensive, but very effective and the results are permanent.
- Before the procedure, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the scalp.
- During the procedure, one part of the scalp that is still hairy (donor area) is moved to the bald area, then the exposed donor area is sutured shut again. Then, a small part of the scalp taken from the donor area was inserted into the bald part.
- Thousands of hairs are transplanted in one session.
- Hair transplants can cause sores and bleeding. In fact, there is also a risk of infection.
Method 2 of 3: Improve Hair Health
Step 1. Consume foods that can prevent hair loss
Lack of intake of certain nutrients can be the cause of hair loss. Extreme diets can also trigger a lack of intake of macronutrients needed by the body (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) as well as intake of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). And the lack of these ingredients can make the body sick, and one of the effects is hair loss. To maintain healthy hair and body health in general, add the following foods to your daily diet:
- Red, yellow, and orange vegetables and fruits (such as carrots, sweet potatoes, chilies, and cantaloupe. These foods are rich in vitamin A and beta carotene. Some studies have shown that vitamin A can stimulate cell growth, including hair follicles.
- Fish that contain omega 3 fatty acids and acids (such as salmon and sardines).
- Yogurt and other foods that are rich in vitamin B5 can increase blood circulation to the scalp, so as a result, hair can grow faster.
- Spinach is a vegetable that is rich in vitamin A, iron, folate, and vitamin C. These vitamins and minerals can help maintain healthy hair and scalp.
- Make sure your protein needs are met by eating lean meats (such as chicken and turkey), low-fat dairy products, and protein-rich vegetables (such as beans). Hair is made of a protein molecule called keratin. Therefore, foods that contain protein are needed to treat hair.
- Foods that contain vitamin B7 (also known as biotin), can also promote hair growth. These foods are eggs, cereals, dairy products, and chicken.
- Foods rich in zinc, such as shellfish, lobster and cereals should also be included in your diet, because zinc deficiency can trigger hair loss.
Step 2. Drink plenty of water
If your body is not hydrated, your skin and hair cells will not be able to grow properly. So, to maintain healthy hair, drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.
- Make it a habit to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Try more if you have finished exercising or in hot weather.
- Caffeinated drinks (such as coffee, tea, and soda) can trigger dehydration. So, consuming these drinks can cause an imbalance in the amount of water in the body. Reduce caffeine to just 1-2 times each day. The rest, drink water, fruit juices, or herbal teas without sugar.
Step 3. Relieve stress
Although cases of androgenic alopecia have nothing to do with stress, stress can still cause hair loss. So, to maintain healthy hair, avoid factors that can trigger stress. Hair loss caused by stress is characterized by the following conditions:
- Telogen effluvium condition, in which many hair follicles do not work to grow new hair, so the hair will fall out a lot in a month.
- Trichotillomania, which is a type of stress that causes you to have the urge to pull your own hair. Stress here can be triggered by pressure, loneliness, boredom, and frustration.
- Alopecia areata, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss.
- Unlike the case of androgenic alopecia, hair loss caused by stress is not permanent. If you can control stress, hair can grow back.
Step 4. Try to be more active by exercising
Some health disorders and medical conditions of a person usually cause hair loss that has nothing to do with androgenic alopecia. If you are experiencing hair loss problems, visit a doctor to get a diagnosis of the cause of hair loss.
- Hormonal imbalances and changes (such as during pregnancy, after childbirth, and during menopause) and thyroid conditions can cause temporary hair loss.
- Scalp infections, caused by ringworm, can cause itching of the scalp and hair loss. However, the hair will grow back once the infection is cured.
- Other disorders, such as lichen planus or certain types of lupus and sarcoidosis, can cause permanent hair loss.
Method 3 of 3: Using Natural Medicines
Step 1. Try using garlic
Although more research is needed on this, the water in garlic can grow hair in patients suffering from alopecia areata. In a small study, 20 of 23 patients with alopecia areata managed to regrow lost hair by applying garlic liquid to their skin twice a day.
- Although the study was conducted on patients with alopecia areata, you may be able to try it too even if you have androgenic alopecia.
- Take the liquid garlic by grating the garlic and squeezing the liquid.
- Apply the liquid garlic to the scalp twice a day for 30 minutes, then rinse. Try this therapy for at least 6 weeks to see results.
Step 2. Try scalp massage therapy
Massaging the scalp can increase blood flow to the hair follicles, which can strengthen the hair roots. However, this method has not been clinically tested; Is it able to reduce or prevent hair loss?
- Use coconut oil, almond oil, or other oils such as castor oil, olive oil, and amla oil (a type of berry from India). You can also add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to the mixture.
- Apply the oil to your hair and scalp, then massage gently. Do it at least once a week.
Step 3. Try using a fenugreek concoction
Fenugreek (also known as methi or fenugreek) contains ingredients that can stimulate hair growth and improve the quality of hair follicles.
- Mix one cup of fenugreek seeds with water. Soak overnight.
- After that, grind or mash the seeds until they form a paste. Then, apply it to your hair and scalp.
- Cover your head with a shower cap. Leave it for 40 minutes. Then, rinse your hair. Do it every morning for a month.
- However, like other natural therapies, this method has not been clinically tested whether it can reduce or prevent hair loss.
Step 4. Try another method
There are many methods of treatment from natural ingredients that you can try at home. However, please keep in mind that most of these methods are not clinically tested, so they may not work. Always consult a doctor if you have any doubts about natural remedies.
- Try using aloe vera gel, which can increase the pH level of your scalp and improve hair health. Apply aloe vera gel to the scalp, massage gently, and leave for 1 hour. rinse. Do it 3-4 times a week.
- Use liquorice, which has ingredients that can relieve irritation on the scalp. Combine ground liquorice (1 tablespoon), turmeric powder (1/4 tablespoon), and one cup of milk. Apply this mixture to the bald area, cover your head and leave it overnight. Rinse the next morning and repeat 1-2 times a week.
- Try using Chinese hibiscus flowers which can promote hair growth, treat dandruff, and thicken hair. Mix the flowers with coconut oil, heat until the flowers are black, then squeeze to collect the oil. Apply to the scalp before going to bed and leave it overnight. Rinse the next morning. Do this several times a week.
- Other natural ingredients that you can use are red beetroot, flax, and coconut milk.
Tips
- You can optimize the results of Minodixil by dyeing your hair 2-3 weeks after treatment. Minodixil usually grows thin hairs initially, and dyeing the hair will create a contrast between the hair and the scalp, making the newly grown hair appear thicker. This is a common technique for making before/after photos.
- There are many types of baldness, and each type is triggered by different things. Consult your doctor before trying natural home remedies.
- You might try using toupee. Toupee is a small wig that is used to cover the bald area of the head.
Warning
- If you are using any of the medicines mentioned above, make sure you know how to use them properly and the side effects.
- Never use natural ingredients if you have an allergy to one of the ingredients.
