Hair loss: Dr Ranj discusses causes of male pattern baldness
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First, androgenic alopecia is hypersensitivity to the sex hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is thought to cause the hair follicles to shrink until they can’t produce any more hair. Dr Simran Deo has approved six strategies to help prevent further hair thinning and baldness. Current medical research does not guarantee a way to prevent hypersensitivity to DHT. However, treatments are available that can block the production of the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT.
This can help reduce overall levels of DHT in the body and can help restore normal hair growth.
What are the treatments?
Medications
One option – available in Superdrug – is the tablet Propecia that contains the active ingredient finasteride.
This is reported to decrease hair loss and increase regrowth by 90 percent in men.
On another positive note, this medication only affects hair on the scalp – so you won’t be expecting more hair elsewhere.
Be warned, this type of medication is not suitable for women or children.
For women experiencing hair loss, minoxidil is a suitable hair loss treatment method.
Minoxidil can be used by men and women, which works by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles on the scalp.
It’s available as a cream or foam, and although it has been proven to reduce hair loss, the hair that does grow back will be weaker than before.
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Nutritionally balanced diet
Dr Deo approved a “good, nutritionally balanced diet” as one of the strategies to prevent hair loss.
Addressing any underlying nutritional deficiencies can help encourage hair growth.
This is especially true of a vitamin A deficiency, which can be remedied by eating:
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Oily fish
- Milk and yoghurt
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Red peppers
- Mango
- Papaya
- Apricots
“You need to help your body out by giving your cells, organs and bodily tissues all the vitamins and nutrients they need to create healthy hair,” certified Dr Deo.
Avoid fatty foods
Avoiding fatty foods is another hair loss prevention strategy sanctioned by Dr Deo.
Examples of fatty foods include:
- Sausages
- Pies
- Butter
- Ghee
- Soured cream
- Chocolate
- Biscuits
- Cakes
- Pastries
Don’t smoke
Dr Deo also accepted that not smoking is one of the “best ways to prevent deficiencies that could result in hair loss”.
Stress
Managing stress levels is also paramount to reducing the likelihood of hair loss.
Intense periods of stress can lead to temporary hair loss, which can be resolved when the stressor is effectively mitigated.
Male pattern baldness – androgenic alopecia – can’t be stopped entirely, but these strategies will help.
As a last resort, the last strategy to consider is to pay for a hair transplant.
Hair transplant
Hair transplants involve taking hair from healthy areas of the patient’s scalp and implanting them into areas affected by hair loss.
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