Baldness is a problem that is more common in men than in women. There are many causes of baldness that lead to different diagnoses of each cause and pathophysiology. However, the most common type of baldness is “Male Pattern Baldness” or “Male Pattern Baldness” which has another name as “Male Androgenic Alopecia” or “Male Baldness related to Androgen hormone ”.
To overcome this problem hair loss treatment is needed. Treatment for hair loss is divided into medications and surgery.
The following medications may be used:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine). It is sprayed and/or applied to the scalp twice daily.
- Finasteride (Propecia). It is taken once a day in the form of pills.
The drugs used to treat alopecia areata, which are caused when the immune system attacks the hair follicles are:
- Corticosteroids are injected into the scalp. Corticosteroids are injected many times about 1 cm (0.4 inches) every 4 to 6 weeks. This is the most common treatment in adults and is best used to treat hair loss.
- The corticosteroid cream you put on the scalp. Corticosteroids can be used in conjunction with injected steroids or with other drugs such as minoxidil (Rogaine).
Surgical treatment for hair loss is as follows:
- Hair transplant surgery.
- Reduction of the scalp.
- Scalp flap.
With the advancement of medical technology, hair transplant is now gaining popularity, with better results and lesser post-treatment complications.
Hair transplantation is a technique of moving hair from the hair area to the area where baldness comes taken from the same person. In most cases the head area with the thickest and relatively unaffected part of the bald process is at the back of the head, therefore often the area is donated. The transplantation method is done with a mini-micrograft technique or follicular unit transplantation, so the final result after the hair grows is very close to the natural
There are 2 methods of hair transplant :
- Strip Method Technique is the old method practiced in many countries
- Partial Longitudinal-Follicular Transplantation Unit that uses stemcell from the patient’s own hair in the donor area.
Hair will continue to grow in people who have undergone a hair transplant. There are several factors that contribute to hair growth, depending on:
- How loose your scalp is
- The density of the follicles in the displaced zone
- Follicles quality
Usually, your doctor will use minoxidil (Rogaine) or Propecia (hair growth medicine) to improve the regeneration of transplanted hair. If you do not comply with the medication, you may continue to experience hair loss in an area of untreated skin on your scalp.
Generally, hair transplants are more successful than over-the-counter hair loss products. According to the study :
- Anywhere from 10 to 80 percent of the transplanted hair will fully grow back (1) in an estimated three to four months.
- However, like regular hair, the transplanted hair will thin over time.
Although the process for the procedure can take considerable time, one session is sufficient to complete the treatment. However, a second session may be required if the hair growth density in the previously transplanted area does not meet the expectations, to ensure smoothness of the hairline from the first transplant and if hair loss occurs after the first transplant. Careful evaluation and planning will be done to determine whether the procedure requires a second session.
REFERENCE
- Body to Scalp: Evolving Trends in Body Hair Transplantation. 2017 May-Jun; 8(3): 167–175 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5447335/)