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Genetic hair loss may seem irreversible. But advancements in medicine can help restore hair on your scalp. These include pharmaceutical interventions in the form of Minoxidil and Finasteride, surgical options including Follicular Unit Extraction and Transplant, and advanced treatment options like PRP and LLLT.
If genetic hair loss runs in your family, you must feel it’s only a matter of time before it catches up to you. But this kind of hair loss is not completely out of your control. You cannot change your genes, but you can get your hair back on your scalp. Read on to know how advanced genetic hair loss treatments help your hair follicles grow.
A healthy scalp and a head full of hair, whether long or short, can make an individual feel good about themselves. But receding hairlines or bald patches can lower one’s self-confidence.
Many men and women experience genetic hair loss after age 20. However, times have changed, and so has the answer to the question: Can genetic hair loss be reversed? What was earlier considered ‘bad genetics’ and irreversible is now a conquerable challenge. Now, you don’t have to struggle with genetic hair loss your whole life. Modern treatment methods cannot cure hereditary baldness, but they can help your hair grow back.
What is genetic hair loss?
Genetic hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia (AGA), indicates your hair follicle’s hypersensitivity towards dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone slowly downsizes hair follicles from the anagen growth phase to the telogen resting phase, causing them to shrink and become thinner. Eventually, the hair follicles become so miniaturised that they are barely visible, leading to baldness.
While we know that hair loss is inherited, there is little information about the exact pattern of inheritance. In men, the first signs are a receding hairline or hair loss at the temples, which gradually leads to complete baldness. Women don’t undergo complete baldness. However, they may experience hair thinning diffused throughout the scalp or a wider part line in the hair.
Can genetic hair loss be reversed or stopped?
Genetic hair loss cannot be cured, but you can slow it down and partially reverse it with the right approach -
- Strengthen your hair follicles to prevent hair thinning.
- Lower the DHT levels naturally to protect your scalp.
- Use holistic, natural, or medical treatments.
The earlier you start, the better your chances of preserving and strengthening your hair.
Genetic hair loss treatment options (when natural remedies are not enough)
Do note that follicles don’t disappear all of a sudden – they weaken first, and this is your window to act.
When we talk about reversing genetic hair loss, we aren’t drawing castles in the air. FDA-approved and advanced solutions are making heads turn as they help with hair regrowth.
Medical treatments
Pharmaceutical interventions include the use of FDA-approved preventive medications -
- Topical minoxidil was initially developed to help control blood pressure. It boosts blood circulation, thereby supporting a growth environment for hair follicles. It is available as a liquid and foam solution at 2% (recommended for women to prevent facial hair growth) and 5% (recommended for men) concentrations.
- Finasteride stops the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. Controlling DHT levels thereby facilitates follicular growth. This drug is only prescribed to male patients and is reserved for post-menopausal women under careful medical supervision.
- Spironolactone, primarily used to treat female pattern hair loss (FPHL), is used as an antiandrogen. It inhibits the 17a-hydroxylase and desmolase, thereby decreasing testosterone production in the adrenal gland.
Advanced treatments
For individuals who do not wish to undergo surgical treatments, several advanced hair restoration techniques have gained popularity.
- Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) therapy – PRP treatment harnesses the body’s natural healing capabilities to promote hair growth. A few droplets of blood are drawn out, centrifuged to separate the plasma and platelets, and injected into the infected areas of the scalp.
- Micro-needling – This technique creates thousands of microscopic punctures in the scalp, boosting collagen production, and enhancing the absorption of topical treatments.
- Low-level laser therapies – Laser devices emit different wavelengths of red light that penetrate the scalp tissue and stimulate hair follicles. It increases ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) production, improves blood flow to the scalp, and encourages hair growth.
Surgical options
Surgical options have made a world of difference in genetic hair loss treatments. There are two main types of hair surgeries to restore hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia -
- Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a hair transplant procedure that harvests healthy hair follicles from one area of the scalp (typically the back of the head) to the affected areas. This procedure involves minimal scarring and paves the path for more natural-looking hair.
- Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is a hair restoration technique where a strip from the back of the head is cut and dissected into individual follicular units, which are transplanted back into the balding areas.
Prevention strategies: Can you slow down genetic hair loss
Preventive strategies, when combined with these effective treatment methods, can help in slowing down genetic hair loss.
- Use sulphate-free shampoos to preserve your scalp’s natural oil.
- Apply lukewarm oils (rosemary or pumpkin seed oil) with a carrier oil (coconut or jojoba) and massage them onto your scalp to boost blood circulation.
- Avoid tying your hair too tightly, as it can tug at the roots.
- Avoid heat-styling techniques, such as straighteners, curling irons, or hair dryers, which can cause more hair breakage.
- Avoid dyeing or bleaching, as those chemicals do no good for your hair.
- Consume a healthy and nutritious diet, rich in proteins, nutrients, Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, potassium, magnesium, vitamins, and minerals.
- Drink enough water, get 8-9 hours of sound sleep, and practice yoga or meditation to lower your cortisol levels.
How to care for and maintain your hair?
Can we stop genetic hair loss? No. But once you have stabilised your hair growth with any of the treatments mentioned above, consistent hair care is necessary to maintain your hair’s strength.
- The aforementioned procedures and methods typically take 4-6 months to show visible results. Therefore, it is imperative to stay consistent with medications and treatments.
- Adhere to healthy habits that promote hair growth.
- Monitor changes over time. If the hair loss doesn’t stop after undergoing all these treatments, visit a healthcare specialist.
For improved hair follicular growth using all natural sources, you can consider Traya’s Ultimate Hair supplements Combo with the power of two. This science-backed solution combines Ayurveda, Allopathy, and Nutrition with authentic ingredients such as Biotin, Bhringraj, Ashwagandha, Guduchi, Arjuna, Pumpkin Seed extract, and Green Tea Extract.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the initial signs of hair loss?
The initial signs of hair loss include -
- Finding more strands in your comb, shower drains, and your pillowcase
- Excessive hair shedding, causing a wider part line
- Receding hairline, starting at the temples, that deepens into an M-configuration in men
- Losing your hair volume and density with observable thinning throughout the scalp
- Bald patches appearing on the scalp
2. When should you seek medical intervention?
Get in touch with a dermatologist in the following cases -
- Scalp inflammation, irritation, or reddening
- Continuous hair loss even after undergoing these treatments
- Asymmetric thinning that doesn’t follow the genetic pattern
3. How does stress impact genetic hair loss?
Stress is not directly linked to genetic hair loss. However, it can aggravate it by pushing more hair into the shedding phase.
4. Are natural DHT blockers effective?
Natural DHT blockers, such as saw palmetto or pumpkin seed extract block 5-alpha-reductase enzymes that convert testosterone into DHT. However, they are mild and less effective than medical treatments.
5. Are modern hair loss treatments safe for long-term use?
All the modern hair loss treatments, such as Topical Minoxidil and Finasteride, are FDA-approved and are used under strict medical supervision.
6. Can women use the same treatments as men?
With the exception of Finasteride, treatments, such as Topical Minoxidil, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and PRP are suitable for both men and women. Topical Finasteride is prescribed to women only after menopause, as it can have harmful effects on pregnancy.
References -
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