How to treat a receding hairline

Does your forehead looks like it is getting wider each day? Are your hairs weak and falls off easily when you brush them? Are there hairs remaining on your pillow when you get out of bed each morning? If yes, then you might be a good candidate for baldness!

Before going into baldness, you will first encounter receding hairline. Treatments are actually best applied on this phase.

It has been found that receding hairline affects the males most than the females. It starts on the temporal area of the head (sides of the head) with frontal affectation. About 95% of receding hairline cases is brought about by the role of the male hormone androgen. This hormone is produced by the testis and is responsible in giving the masculine characteristics of the male. If androgen is combined with alpha-5 reductase in the body, it produces a compound called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This DHT attacks hair follicles and shrinks down the base of the hair thus making it weak and prone to falling.

In 2005, there was a study conducted in Germany that revealed the genetic endowment of receding hairline. It was found out that the male parent is the one who carries the genes and can pass it through the coming generations.

Indeed, receding hairline is a problem. It can stress you out in every angle of your life. To name a few, this condition can decrease your self esteem, it can hinder you from interacting with other people because you are worried that they will laugh at you, etc.

Before this condition gets worse, it is best to stop thinking about the disturbing thoughts that receding hairline gives you and start looking for the best physician available in your town.

There are actually many interventions available to treat this condition. One is the conventional type where in you will be given an oral or a topical medication and the other one is the surgical type wherein you will undergo a hair transplant procedure.

In the conventional type, there are two FDA approved drugs that can be used for the said condition.  First is Finasteride. Finasteride acts by decreasing the amount of DHT which is the known culprit in hair loss. This drug is taken orally and should be taken on a long term basis or maybe lifetime. A study done by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that with the use of this drug, 50% of their patients who have frontal hair loss have improved hair growth and 70% have no decrease in hair count.

Another drug approved by FDA is Rogaine. This drug comes in a foam or liquid preparation that is applied topically on the head. It acts by allowing hair to grow back. Like Finasteride, Rogaine should be used   for a long term basis or maybe lifetime. This should not be used together with Finasteride to avoid drug interactions.

In the surgical type, hair transplant is commonly done. In this procedure, hair follicles are being used. The hair follicles are arranged in a zigzag pattern (-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.) as it is implanted on the head and not in a straight pattern (…………) in order to give a natural look. Actually, the smallest and natural looking hair graft is what surgeons are using to render the best looking hair. These hair follicles have a 99% survival rate and that it is not susceptible to DHT.

Whatever treatment you wish to take, be sure to know what it is first and have a certified physician to help you out.

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