No one wants suffer from hair loss. There is nothing sexy or attractive about hair loss. It can be embarrassing, frustrating and hard on the self-esteem. It does not matter if it is an ever increasing widow’s peak or the slowly expanding monk’s top. Both are hard to deal with. Trying hid behind comb over’s or hats is just no way to live. The solution is to find the best hair loss treatment for your condition.

The first step is to discover why you are losing your hair.

Alopecia areata : Round bold patches

• Round patches of complete baldness may be Alopecia areata. The scalp is smooth and hairless in the involved areas.  
• It is also known as Alopecia totalis, loss of all scalp hair and Alopecia universalis loss of all body hair.
• At this point what causes this is not known though a scalp biopsy may be performed to try and find out a cause.

Alopecia areata treatments

• Topical corticosteroids (medium to very high potency)
• Subcutaneous (under the skin surface) steroid injection
• Ultraviolet light therapy
•  Using irritating agents to promote re-growth

Androgenetic alopecia: Male Pattern Baldness

1. Most common type of male hair loss.
2. It involves a receding hairline and hair thinning on the crown.
3. Hair loss begins at the hairline and crown. The hairline recedes to form an M shape or widows peek. Hair begins to thin on the crown, creating a Monk’s top. The two areas slowly expand until hair frames the scalp in a horseshoe pattern along the sides of the head.
4. Causes are hormonal (male sex hormones) or a genetic predisposition.
5. The hair follicle shrinks. Hair becomes shorter and finer. Eventually the follicle is small and there is no hair growth at all.
6. The follicle is still functional with the possibility of new hair growth.
7. The pattern of baldness is how Androgenetic alopecia is identified. A skin biopsy can be used to identify if a different disorder is causing the hair to falling out. A hair analysis can discover if arsenic or lead poisoning is the problem.
8. Male pattern boldness is not a medical disorder.
9. It is not typical male pattern boldness if it involves;- hair is coming out in patches
   - breaking of hair shafts
   - there is redness
   - there is scaling
   - there is pain
   - It happens quickly
   - The hair is shedding in scattered areas on scalp

If any of the above is occurring seek medical attention because something unusual is causing the hair to fall out.

 Androgenetic alopecia treatments

Minoxidil or Rogaine

o   It is applied directly to affected areas.

o   It will slow down the loss of hair for many men.

o   Hair re-growing does occur for some men.

o   Once treatment stops hair continues to fall out

Finasteride or Propecia or Proscar

o   This is a prescription pill.

o   It inhibits production of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

o    It will slow down the rate hair falls out.

o   There may be some new hair growth.

o   It can be more effective than minoxidil.

o   Hair will start falling out again once you stop taking the drug.

For some men the best hair loss treatment for either condition is hair restoration surgery or a hair transplant. This involves taking bald resistant follicles and transplanting them to the balding area. It can be seen as the best hair loss treatment simply because the hair will continue to grow once moved. There is no need to continue taking medications of undergoing continues treatments. Only you know what is going to be the best solution for you, your budget and self esteem.