Hair thinning and loss is so common that by the age of 35 two-thirds of men will experience some hair loss. Also, 40% of Americans who experience hair loss are women. Some degree of hair shedding each day is normal, but as we age, we start to lose more in volume and more hair follicles become dormant.
There are many men in the spotlight who have rocked the bald head and could successfully promote the “Bald Is Beautiful” message, but some people are not thrilled with their hair loss and would like to seek treatment to prevent or restore hair loss. Over the last 5-7 years the hair restoration industry has improved greatly and made it more possible for people to seek several methods of treatment for hair loss. Each year Americans spend billions of dollars on hair restoration products and treatments, and unfortunately there are many options being sold in stores and online that are ineffective. Recently the International Journal of Dermatology and the United States National Library of Medicine have reported that in the United States, 33% of COVID-19 survivors experienced telogen effluvium hair loss. Sometimes hair loss can be caused by an underlying condition, and it is best to visit with your primary care physician to see if other things need to be addressed first. If there are no medical factors determining hair thinning or loss, then it is time to reach out to a hair restoration specialist to discuss options for treatment.
Explaining DHT and Hair Loss
Male pattern baldness also known as androgenic alopecia is one of the biggest culprits behind hair loss. Women can also experience this type of hair loss, but it is much less common. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen which is a sex hormone that contributes to the development of male characteristics, like more hair growth. But it can also cause hair loss quicker and faster at younger ages. When testosterone converts to DHT and it is flowing more freely, it can link to hair receptors and cause them to shrink and supports less healthy hair. Hair loss is primarily genetic so looking to your mother and fathers’ history with hair health can give you an idea of what to expect with your own hair health.
Can DHT Effects Be Prevented?
Fortunately, there are many products available to treat DHT-related hair loss and have been proven to work. There are some oral medications and topical treatments that are blockers or inhibitors. Blockers prevent DHT from binding to AR-5 receptors of hair follicles, causing them shrink and weaken. Inhibitors slow down the body’s production of DHT. At UFP Hair Restoration we have considered several non-surgical hair loss treatments including: Finasteride, Minoxidil, Nutrafol as well as hair injection therapy. We have found them to be very effective and are considered gold standard options for hair loss treatments. If started early enough, future methods of restoration can be avoided such as permanent hair loss or hair transplant surgery. Watching for signs of hair thinning and loss can signal an individual to seek treatment earlier on and prevent further issues. Signs and symptoms of hair loss include:
- Gradual thinning on the top of the head
- Sudden loosening of hair, more frequent shedding
- Full-body hair loss
- Patchy or bald spots
- Hair part getting wider
- Balding patches all spread over the scalp
Hair Restoration Treatments
Hair injection therapy can also stimulate weak and dormant hair follicles, making it a great non-surgical option for treatment. It usually is accompanied by oral or topical treatments at home to prevent further hair loss. If non-surgical methods only restore hair to an extent or do not promote hair growth, hair transplant surgery can get a great option and permanently restore hair to the needed areas. The hair that is taken from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the needed areas, is no longer affected by hair loss. Hair transplant surgery has come a long way over the last few decades and becoming more popular as well. On average, about 650,000 Americans are choosing to have hair transplant surgery each year. Cosmetic treatments have been primarily done by women in the past, but more men are seeking treatments that help them look and feel better. Hair transplant surgery is one out of 5 of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed, and the most frequent surgery performed on men. Hair transplant surgery can also be done to restore facial hair such as beards, mustaches, and eyebrows.
UFP Hair Restoration’s Specialists
UFP Hair Restoration is Utah’s leading cosmetic office to receive treatments and procedures from the neck up. Not only do we offer hair restoration options, but we offer surgical and non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation such as facelifts, rhinoplasties, laser procedures, injectables and skin care treatments. Double-board certified facial plastics and hair restoration surgeons Drs. Thompson and Henstrom have over 30 years of combined experience in these procedures and treatments, making them the premier facial and hair specialists of the intermountain west. With locations in Layton, Draper, and South Jordan (coming soon) Utah, they are able to see people from all over Utah and surrounding areas for their facial and hair rejuvenation needs. When it comes to your face, it is best to see a specialist in these areas to achieve the safest and most desired outcomes. Hair loss and thinning can be prevented and restored, and UFP Hair Restoration is here to help you achieve that.
Visit utahhairmd.com for more hair restoration information. Call 801-776-2220 or contact one of our knowledgeable patient care coordinators to schedule a consultation to discuss your hair loss options.