Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
How to manage hair loss
shrink. As a result, hairs become finer and weaker until eventually the follicles die and no hair grows there.
Hair follicles at the back and sides of the head don’t have DHT receptors, which is why sufferers of so-called male pattern baldness tend to be left with the classic ‘horseshoe’ of hair.
Male pattern baldness is a hereditary condition. Many people believe hair loss is passed down from the mother’s side – but while the X chromosome (which you get from your mother) is a key gene for baldness, it’s not the only factor. Men who have bald fathers also have an increased chance of hair loss.
Expensive hair loss shampoos can’t stop hair falling out. Even if they contain ingredients such as caffeine which has been found to boost hair growth, the contact time of shampoo on the scalp is so short any beneficial ingredients would be long washed away before they had time to penetrate the hair follicle.
At best they may coat the hair and give it a thicker appearance.
The only rub-on lotions clinically proven to reduce hair loss are those containing Minoxidil. This active ingredient works by increasing blood flow to the hair follicle and takes four to 12 months to produce visible results. But bear in mind hair loss will happen again when you stop using the lotion.
The controversial hair loss medication finasteride is said to be the secret behind US President Donald Trump’s bizarre hair. And yet it remains the treatment of choice for many men today. Just last month Asda sparked a price war by offering one month’s supply of the 1mg tablets for £28, over £20 cheaper than the Boots equivalent.
Finasteride is a prescription-only treatment that isn’t available on the NHS, but pharmacies are able to sell it without prescription by insisting customers are seen by a pharmacist first before being sold the drug.
It works by blocking DHT receptors at hair follicle level and has been shown to slowly reduce hair loss in nine of out 10 users. For use only by men, the effect can be enhanced if combined with other treatments in early days of hair thinning.
However, the drug takes several months to work and reported side effects include low libido, erection problems and even depression. And as with most hair loss treatments, it also stops working if you stop taking it, so these pills are a lifelong commitment if you plan to keep your hair. The only way of achieving significant quantities of extra hair is a transplant, with surgical techniques improving tremendously over the last few years. Many famous men, including England striker Wayne Rooney, 31, have had successful treatment.
However, the downside is transplants don’t work for everybody and cost a prohibitive £6,000 to £20,000. Model Calum Best, 36, admits he’s had three £6,000 transplants in a bid to save his hair and won’t rule out a fourth if it continues to fall out.
The procedure involves taking hair follicles from a “donor” area of your head resistant to balding (typically the back) and implanting them into bald areas with the hope they take root and grow. If you are considering a transplant, it’s important to do your research and find a reputable clinic with a good success rate.