The big problem of the male population is the appearance of baldness. Is there any treatment that can improve this condition or some prevention measures?
The causes of male pattern baldness are genetics, scalp infections, hormonal changes, drugs, skin diseases, and natural triggers (stress, surgeries, etc.). There are several therapies to stop hair loss, as well as to stimulate its growth, but it is always a good idea to consult your doctor before self-medicating.
Hair loss can start at any age , including puberty or even adolescence. It usually affects the temples and the upper part of the scalp first, spreading slowly backwards. Sometimes it only affects a small portion of the hair, such as the receding hairline or the crown, but other times, especially when hair loss has started at a young age, all hair is lost except for the sides and top of the scalp (male pattern baldness). Heredity greatly affects the speed, age and degree of development.
Sometimes it is possible to prevent hair loss by taking adequate nutrition, using appropriate combs and brushes, as well as avoiding excessively demanding hairstyles and actions such as shaving (or plucking) and curling it. Unfortunately, preventing it is not always an option, so those who suffer from baldness can consult their doctor to see what therapy may be the most appropriate for them.
Treatment of specific causes
In the event that baldness is not due to genetic inheritance, the problem that causes this hair loss must be solved.
It is possible that it is due to a specific treatment that has hair loss as a side effect, in which case, after consulting with your doctor, said treatment could be modified or interrupted. Let’s not forget that some cancer treatments have hair loss as a side effect, in such cases it is not advisable to stop treatment.
Other times, baldness can also be due to hormonal disorders, mineral deficiencies, or excess vitamin A, so solving these alterations could solve the problem.
When hair loss is due to alopecia areata (hair loss in rounded, irregular patches), or cutaneous lupus erythematosus, lichen planus pilaris, or alopecia fibrosans (types of scarring alopecia), it is usually treated with corticosteroids injected into the skin or applied topically to the scalp.
Pharmacotherapy
Baldness can sometimes be treated effectively with drugs.
Minoxidil is a drug that is commonly used to treat high blood pressure. After being used for this purpose, it was discovered that, as a side effect, it caused excessive hair growth, so it appeared as an option to use it in the local treatment of male pattern baldness. The use of minoxidil can not only prevent hair loss, but also increase hair growth if used correctly (applied to the scalp twice a day).
Side effects of minoxidil include skin irritation, redness, itching, yellow or white scaling on the scalp, allergic contact dermatitis, and excessive body (including face) hair growth.
Finasteride is another drug used in the treatment of male pattern baldness. In this case, it is a drug originally created for prostate cancer, but it was also shown that it slowed down hair loss and promoted its growth, which is why it began to be used for this purpose.
Side effects of finasteride include decreased libido, increased breast size, and some erectile dysfunction, as well as decreased PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels, which can make it harder to detect prostate cancer .
There are other alternative treatments , such as low-level laser therapy, or autologous platelet-rich plasma injection.
permanent solutions
Hair transplant is the only surgical method that exists in this area. It consists of extracting hair follicles from the back of the head and placing them on the scalp of the bald area. Hair transplant can have complications, like any operation. Complications include large scarring and bleeding.
Some cases of baldness can be permanent , and if you cannot access a hair transplant, wigs can always be used. In recent years, its quality has improved considerably, and this method offers a huge advantage, since it gives you the possibility of solving the problem with non-medical and non-pharmacological methods. Another very good option is to hide the “thinning” of the hair with camouflage powders, hair loss correctors, or micropigmentation (tattoo that simulates real hair) of the scalp.
How hair loss affects someone can vary from person to person. Some men seek medical help, while others opt for a hairstyle befitting the existing condition. Of course, hair loss also has a psychological effect on the person, who can develop a lack of self-confidence, which can lead to depression. All this affects the quality of life, and if a person with baldness reaches this point, it is advisable to seek medical help.
In summary, there are many causes of hair loss, and it is not always preventable, but many times its progression can be slowed down. If you are concerned about hair loss or if it occurs suddenly, you should contact a doctor, who will try to determine the cause and the best therapy, which can often be a combination of different treatments.
References:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2022). American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/hair-transplantation-and-restoration/safety
Badri, T., Nessel, T. A., & Dinesh Kumar D. (2021). Minoxidil. NIH: StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/
ReFreepik (sf). Flat-hand drawn hair loss concept [Free Vector]. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/freepik Levinbook, WS (2020,). Alopecia (pérdida de pelo). Manuales MSD. https://www.msdmanuals.com/es/hogar/trastornos-de-la-piel/trastornos-del-pelo/alopecia-p%C3%A9rdida-de-pelo?query=alopecia
Zito, P. M., Bistas, K. G., & Syed, K. (2022). Finasteride. NIH: StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/
