Let’s Talk Hair – Treatments and Advice

Research into hair loss treatments is a rapidly evolving and exciting field. Personally, I’m glad to know that many men are taking action when their hair loss begins to negatively affect issues like their self-esteem, confidence at work or within relationships. We need to break down the stigma associated with men being seen to openly care about losing their hair. There’s no shame in taking action if you want to – it doesn’t matter what friends or colleagues may be doing.

Having said that, it’s important to be mindful of the difference between a cosmetic or styling product which will improve your hair aesthetically – and an active medical treatment. Yes, a cosmetic product may make your hair look thicker or more voluminous, but this is very different from an active medical treatment. An active medical treatment for hair loss will help prevent the worsening of hair loss – and potentially stimulate new hair growth too!

It’s important to be mindful of the difference between a cosmetic or styling product which will improve your hair aesthetically – and an active medical treatment. Yes, a cosmetic product may make your hair look thicker or more voluminous, but this is very different from an active medical treatment. An active medical treatment for hair loss will help prevent the worsening of hair loss – and potentially stimulate new hair growth too!

Here are the best of the new crop of treatments designed to help combat your hair loss. Just a note here too – many of these treatments are not mutually exclusive. Often combining treatments can provide the most effective results.

There are only two scientifically-approved medications licensed for the treatment of male pattern balding.¹ These are topical Minoxidil and oral Finasteride. Both have good results and good reputations in the medical community.

As with all hair loss treatments the primary goal is to stop hair thinning and hair loss from getting any worse. So the best results are seen in men who treat male pattern baldness (MPB) early. Although the main aim of treatment is preventative, a significant proportion of men who continue treatment do experience increased growth and thickness of their hair.

Finasteride

Finasteride works by blocking DHT. DHT is an androgen (type of male hormone) which can minimise hair follicles and cause male pattern baldness (MPB). Finasteride is an anti-androgen, which was originally developed to treat enlarged prostate. It works by blocking the alpha reductase enzymes and reducing the amount of DHT produced.

• Patients who had MPB and were taking Finasteride medication for their prostate incidentally noted an improvement in their hair. This is how Finasteride became one of the most successful hair loss treatments.
• Finasteride 1mg is taken daily and is effective in up to two thirds of men who take it.
• Be patient. You generally need to wait around 3 months before seeing the improvements to your hair. The peak effect is often seen at 2 years.

As with all hair loss treatments the primary goal is to stop hair thinning and hair loss from getting any worse. So the best results are seen in men who treat male pattern baldness (MPB) early. Although the main aim of treatment is preventative, a significant proportion of men who continue treatment do experience increased growth and thickness of their hair.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil works in a number of ways: it increases blood flow to the hair follicle and stimulates resting hair follicles to move into the next growing (anagen) phase. Minoxidil also extends the time hair follicles remain in anagen, which means that over time, hair fibres become longer and also thicker.²

Minoxidil provides best results when used for thinning on the crown and in the early stages of MPB, according to research.³

• Minoxidil stabilises hair loss in up to 80% of cases with a proportion of users also experiencing increased growth and thickness of their hair.
• Minoxidil, like all other treatments for hair loss, needs to be continued long term in order to maintain its effect. It is, however, both an effective and safe treatment.
• The usual dose for MPB is 5% twice daily. You may have to wait up to four months to see results  – so take a long-term approach.
• The risk of Minoxidil being absorbed into the bloodstream and affecting blood pressure is very low. There are some side effects, including scalp irritation, so if you experience this then see your GP.

Low level laser therapy or LLLT is a non-surgical treatment first discovered in the 1960s. It involves exposing tissues to low level of red or near Infrared light.

• Medical applications of LLLT are wide and include reducing pain and inflammation, and promoting tissue repair and regeneration.
• Early studies undertaken on mice to investigate the safety of LLLT incidentally showed that the treatment caused photo-biostimulation of hair growth in mice.
• LLLT has the potential to stimulate resting hair follicles into the growing (anagen) phase of the growth cycle, prolong the length of anagen and enhance cell division in the growing hair follicle – overall improving length and diameter of the hair fibres.
• The exact mechanism of how LLLT works remains unknown but it is believed that the specific wavelength of light in LLLT increases the metabolism of hair follicle cells, stimulates hair follicle stem cells and enhances blood flow to the follicle.⁴

Otherwise famously known as the ‘vampire facelift’ after Kim Kardashian posted an image of herself on social media having had the treatment done for facial rejuvenation.

• PRP is based on using the multitude of growth factors in your own blood to stimulate hair growth. The process involves taking a blood sample (like having blood tests done at the doctors) which is then spun in a specialised centrifuge machine to separate the layers of blood.
• The layer called plasma contains platelet cells, which release growth factors when activated.
• The same cells help to stop bleeding from a cut and start the healing process. So essentially PRP is moving a concentrated source of the body’s own healing factors to the scalp, by injecting the plasma fraction of blood to areas of thinning.
• Although PRP was first in use several decades ago it’s use specifically for treating hair loss is relatively new. Whilst PRP may be helpful for some patients more research is needed to define standardised treatment protocols for optimum results.

Hair transplantation has gained significant popularity in recent years, especially with many notable public figures openly sharing before and after photos.

• The back of the scalp is known as the ‘permanent area’ as hairs in this location are not sensitive to the effects of androgens and are therefore not affected by MPB.
• Hair transplantation is the process whereby hairs from the permanent area of the scalp (at the back) are removed and implanted into the affected areas of thinning areas on the crown and/or hairline.
• It is a general misconception that hair transplantation provides a one-off definitive treatment for MPB.
• Even after a successful hair transplant it is generally advised that maintenance treatments (usually minoxidil and/or finasteride) should be taken long term to prevent thinning of the hairs which are not yet affected by MPB.