Written by: Ayesha Khan, MBBS
In A Nutshell
Alopecia is one of the most common conditions diagnosed and treated by dermatologists worldwide. There are numerous factors that can cause hair to fall out. The condition is not contagious.
Some of the most common causes of hair fall include;
Losing hair can be a serious cause of concern for people as it compromises the overall appearance. If you start noticing an increase in the number of hair that fall out of your head every day, the very first thing to do is to schedule an appointment with the dermatologist.
Andro-genetic Alopecia, or AGA (hair loss that affects men and women) can be diagnosed by a family physician and responds well to a drug called Minoxidil. Minoxidil is an FDA approved treatment for Andro-Genetic Alopecia. 5% Minoxidil foam can be used to halt hair fall and reverse its effects.
Other treatments that have shown promising results include:
It is important to remember that conditions affected the skin and scalp are best dealt with by professionals. OTC medication and herbal therapies may not yield any positive results, and may even make the hair fall worse.
EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT REGIMEN
Here are some lifestyle changes you can start working on to prevent hair fall:
STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: B
While hair fall in general may be multi-factorial, AGA can usually be reversed with the application of 5% Minoxidil foam daily. However, this does not mean that all kinds of hair fall will respond well to the same treatment.
It must be emphasized that every condition should be treated according to its root cause. For instance, if hair loss is hereditary, resulting from deficiencies, or as a side effect of another medical condition, there is no treatment that may be able to reverse it.
OUR RULING:
Most cases of andro-Genetic Alopecia can be treated successfully Minoxidil.
OUR SOURCES:
American Family Physician - Hair loss: common causes and treatment
Study - Minoxidil: treatment for female pattern hair loss
Study - Microneedling for the treatment of hair loss
Dermatologic clinics of North America - New generation hair loss treatments
Study: Medicinal plants for the treatment of hair loss
American Academy of Dermatology - Hair loss treatment
NHS - Hair loss
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