The reason you’re experiencing hair loss, and more importantly, your treatment options

By Deepa C. Lingam, MD

Hair loss affects so many people, but the fact that so many suffer from it doesn’t make it any less emotional. People are utterly devasted when they start losing their hair, and as a dermatologist, I’ve even seen it affect the quality of life of my patients.

Every single day, I consult with those who’ve made the decision to seek professional help for their hair loss in hopes of regrowing it as soon as possible. It’s up to me to help them figure out why they’re losing their hair in the first place, and if at all possible, provide them with the proven solutions to help them get it back.

Hair loss: finding the root of the cause

Depending on the type of loss the patient is experiencing, a dermatologist may need to utilize a number of diagnostic methods, and many will start by getting a detailed clinical, medical, and family history. We’ll also perform a thorough physical exam to see where the hair loss is occurring on the scalp and may also do some lab work to check for any nutritional deficiencies.  

Common causes of hair loss include:

• Genetics
• Hormone imbalances, including thyroid disease
• Nutritional deficiencies, including anemia
• Physical stressors such as childbirth
• Certain hair grooming practices

The most common types of hair loss

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, androgenetic alopecia, or heredity hair loss, affects 80 million people across the country. To say it’s a common condition may be an understatement.

Another form of loss we see frequently is telogen effluvium, which is triggered by physical stressors such as childbirth, major surgeries, or serious illnesses.

The best treatment options for hair loss, including PRP

We really have a range of treatment options, all of which are long-term, and I always tell my patients that combination therapy is best. You can use all of these treatments at the same time and really achieve dramatic results in a matter of months.

• Rogaine: For quite a while now, this topical liquid solution has been the go-to treatment for both men and women.
• Propecia (for men): For some men, this oral prescription medication can be extremely helpful in regrowing the hair since it can lower DHT levels, a hormone that can shrink the hair follicle and lead to baldness.
• Spironolactone (for women): Also an oral prescription medication, this anti-androgen drug lowers testosterone and other “male hormones” that are known to cause hair loss in women.

There are also a couple of new treatments that have shown a lot of promise:

• Low laser light therapy combs and brushes: Using laser technology, these have shown to be a non-invasive and pain-free way to stimulate hair follicles and regrow hair.
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy: While injecting the patient’s own platelet-rich plasma back into the scalp, the PRP that’s rich in growth factors works to stimulate hair growth over time.

Taking the next step

When you postpone seeing a dermatologist about your hair health, you’re delaying getting those worrisome questions answered: Is this normal? Do I have a vitamin deficiency? Is it just genetics?

Getting a diagnosis and starting a proven treatment plan as soon as possible is really going to give you the best results in the long run. That’s why it’s so important to not put it off any longer and finally do something to keep the hair you have and start getting back the hair you’ve lost.

Contact Center of Surgical Dermatology for Hair Loss Treatments in Westerville, OH
Center of Surgical Dermatology is the largest medical and surgical skin treatment and wellness facility in Central Ohio. Since 2007, our board-certified Dermatologists, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons, and caring professional staff have provided patients with the treatment they can trust in an environment second to none. Learn more about our state-of-the-art Dermatology Center before booking your appointment today.