Could your hair loss be saying something about you?
No, we don’t mean your style or looks, we’re talking about your health. Hair loss can be a telling factor for your health. It can be a symptom of an illness, a side effect of a medication, or even shed light on genetic causes.
This is why prior to recommending or starting any hair loss treatments, we always conduct a comprehensive consultation that goes over medical history, medications, and may include a biopsy or other diagnostic tool. By analyzing the hair loss prior to treating it, we ensure the patient is in good health, ruling out any serious underlying medical conditions. Sometimes, resolving hair loss can be as simple as changing a medication or starting one.
Once a cause for the hair loss is determined, we can begin treating it with confidence. Due to the various hair loss treatments available, we use the diagnosis to guide the patient to the most appropriate treatment option that has the highest likelihood of efficacy for their specific case. When it comes to treating hair loss, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment.
For example, hair loss medications such as finasteride work great on individuals who have hair loss caused by DHT. Topical treatments such as minoxidil work great on those who just began losing hair.
Before you start any hair loss treatments, make sure to meet with your physician to rule out any underlying causes. Then, meet with a hair restoration specialist to discuss all of your options.
If you’d like to get a comprehensive hair loss assessment, give us a call today.
Tag Archives: medical hair loss
Steroid injections for hair loss
One hair loss treatment method is steroid injections. This targeted hair loss approach is used on patients suffering from a specific type of hair loss known as alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a condition in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles causing hair loss. Much is still unknown about this type of hair loss. What is known is that naturally occurring antibodies are mistaken as foreign antibodies and programmed for destruction.
Individuals suffering from alopecia areata usually present with clumps of hair falling out. This leaves round bald patches across the scalp. Others may experience sudden diffuse thinning across the scalp, while others may experience hair breakage.
It is common for alopecia areata patients to notice their symptoms come and go. The hair loss may be permanent or non-permanent, depending on genetic history factors.
An effective treatment for alopecia areata is cortico-steroid injections. With this type of treatment, steroids are injected directly into and near the balding areas. The steroids boost the immune system’s defensive capabilities and allow the hair follicles to withstand destruction. While this treatment method isn’t always effective, it’s the most common and effective treatment for alopecia areata at this time.
One other treatment for alopecia areata that has shown some effectiveness is Rogaine (minoxidil). Rogaine works to stimulate the hair follicles promoting strength and growth.
If you think you may have alopecia areata, you should meet with an experienced and qualified hair restoration surgeon who specializes in the medical management of hair loss. A simple exam and hair analysis will determine if you have this condition.
Feel free to contact us today and schedule you medical management consultation.
