Hair Loss Treatments: How to Find the Best for Your Pattern

Hair loss can occur due to various factors such as genetics, hormones, environmental factors, stress, and autoimmune disorders.

Takeaways

The best hair loss treatment depends on the cause as follows:

TABLE: Hair Growth Treatment Success Probabilities

Best Treatments for Hair Loss

TABLE: FDA-Approved Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth

Device	Image	Session	Schedule	View
HairMax LaserBand 82		1.5 minutes	Three times per week	Visit Site label
HairMax LaserComb 12		11 minutes	Three times per week	Visit Site label
HairMax PowerFlex Laser Cap 272		7 minutes	Three times per week	Visit Site label
iRestore Professional		25 minutes	Three times per week	Visit Site label

Hair Loss Types

Androgenic Alopecia: Genetic and Hormonal Hair Loss

Androgenic alopecia is hair loss associated with genetic and hormonal factors. Several subtypes describe where the hair is lost and how much comes out at a time.

Androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) is primarily a genetic condition caused by a problem with the androgen hormone. Although autoimmune conditions do not cause androgenic alopecia, they can make it worse. For example, thyroid disease and lupus often accompany pattern hair loss.

Androgenic alopecia commonly occurs after puberty and worsens with age. Hair comes out in clumps of three or four at a time. The hair brush accumulates lost hair that the hair follicles do not replace. It occurs in men and women, which is why it’s also referred to as “male pattern hair loss“ and “female pattern hair loss.”

Environmental Hair Loss: Chemo & Stress

Environmental hair loss refers to hair loss conditions caused by external forces. These include damage from chemotherapy and radiation, damage from hot hair devices that burn and cause scarring on the scalp, tight hairstyles that pull on the hair, and stress-related hair loss.

Anagen Effluvium: Toxic Damage

Chemotherapy and radiation cause anagen effluvium, which is damage to hair follicles that occurs during the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle. Toxins, drugs, and radiation damage hair follicle cells. Chemotherapy and radiation target healthy and rapidly dividing cells.

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring on the top of the head that can lead to permanent hair loss. CCCA is most common in women of African descent. The exact cause of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is unknown, but it is believed to be related to genetic and environmental factors.

Studies suggest that CCCA may have a genetic component, as it appears to be more common in certain ethnic groups, such as African American women. Environmental factors such as hair relaxers, hot combs, and braids may also contribute to the development of CCCA.

These hair-styling practices can lead to scalp inflammation and scarring, which may eventually cause hair loss. In addition, some researchers believe that CCCA may be related to hormonal changes, as it appears to be more common in postmenopausal women. However, more research is needed to better understand this condition’s underlying causes.

Traction Alopecia: Pulling Damage

Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension or pulling on the hair follicles. This condition is often associated with certain hairstyles that stress the hair, such as tight braids, cornrows, weaves, and extensions. Over time, this constant pulling can damage the hair follicles, leading to hair loss.

Depending on the severity of the condition, several treatment options are available for traction alopecia. Mild cases may be treated by simply changing hairstyles to reduce tension on the hair. Medications like Minoxidil may be prescribed in more severe cases to stimulate hair growth. Hair transplant surgery may sometimes be necessary to replace lost hair.

Traction Alopecia is not typically considered a psychological problem where hair pulling is a symptom. Rather, it is a physical condition caused by external factors such as tight hairstyles or hair extensions that put constant tension on the hair follicles. However, hair pulling can be a symptom of a psychological condition known as Trichotillomania, characterized by the urge to pull out one’s hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp hair.

Trichotillomania is a complex disorder that often requires a combination of therapy, medication, and behavioral interventions for successful treatment. It is essential to differentiate between Traction Alopecia and Trichotillomania, as the treatment approaches are very different.

Telogen Effluvium: Stress Hair Loss

Telogen effluvium is a stress response that causes hair loss. It is often triggered by pregnancy, medication, or surgery. In telogen effluvium, the hair follicles enter the resting phase prematurely, and the hairs already in the telogen phase are shed before they can enter the anagen phase (growth phase) again. This results in hair shedding and thinning, but it usually resolves once the underlying cause is addressed. Telogen effluvium triggers include:

• surgery
• illness
• childbirth
• anxiety
• depression
• hormone disorders (thyroid and polycystic ovary syndrome)
• medications (chemotherapy, anticoagulants)
• nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, and biotin)

Alopecia Areata: Autoimmune Hair Loss

Alopecia areata is a group of hair loss syndromes in which the immune system damages the hair follicle. The body develops antibodies against its hair molecules. That results in hair loss or hair thinning. Alopecia areata defines where hair loss occurs and how much hair is lost.

Alopecia areata totalis is complete hair loss on the top of the head caused by the same autoimmune disease.

Alopecia areata universalis is hair loss throughout the entire body, including pubic and axillary hair, caused by the same autoimmune disease.

Diffuse alopecia areata (incognita) is a thinning hair loss. The other alopecias involve hair loss in patches. Diffuse alopecia is a hair loss with some healthy hair remaining on the head.

Alopecia areata ophiasis is hair loss on the sides and lower back of the head.

Alopecia barbae is hair loss on the beard or mustache area.

Hair Loss Treatments

Hair loss treatments include the following. Each of the different types of hair loss is best reversed with varying combinations of these therapies:

• red light therapy
• topical medications
• oral medications
• hair transplant surgery

Red Light Therapy

The hair clinic industry uses “red light therapy” (“photobiomodulation” or “low-level laser therapy” ), which is a name for using light to create healthy change. Red light therapy uses red and infrared light to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s biological battery. This stimulates the hair follicles, which emerge from their dormant stage, to grow hair again. Treatment takes about six months to see significant results.

Minoxidil Topical Medication

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical medication for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. It stimulates hair growth and prolongs the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.

Finasteride Oral Medication

Finasteride is an oral medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in men. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to hair loss. Finasteride has serious side effects.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery involves transplanting hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another. It is a more invasive treatment option but can produce long-lasting results. The procedure involves transplanting hair follicles from a donor site, typically from the back or sides of the head, to the areas of hair loss. Hair transplant surgery can provide long-lasting, natural-looking results, but it is a surgical procedure that carries some risks and potential side effects.

Conclusion

For genetic and hormonal hair loss like androgenic alopecia, treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplant surgery can be very effective. Red light therapy is best for environmental hair loss from factors like chemotherapy, tight hairstyles, or stress.