Hair Loss and Hair Restoration Facts and Myths

There are many myths that are associated with hair loss and hair restoration. Hair loss does not only affect men but women as well, in lesser degrees. Here are some facts about hair loss and hair restoration and the myths that are associated with both.

Hair Loss – The Facts

Pattern baldness can affect both a man and a woman. However men experience different forms of hair loss, but in either sex it can be a hard pill to swallow. Some causes of hair loss include stress, illness, heredity, trauma, and reactions to medication. Currently there are only two products on the market that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One of the products is a cream called minoxidil and the other is called finasteride. There are many more out there that are not approved by the FDA that say they can give you a cure for hair loss, but many of them simply do not work. There are also products on the market that can give you the look of having fuller and healthier hair, which can work, but they do not promote the growth of new hair.

Hair Loss- The Myths

There are products that can make the hair look thicker, such as dyes, hair sprays, gels, but they do not promote hair growth so these products that state they do so are incorrect. It is a myth that coloring the hair, teasing hair, and washing hair often will cause hair loss. There is some debate on the issue but no medical research has conclusively shown that these actions cause a person to lose their hair. There are also shampoos on the market that say they can grow hair but, again, no conclusive research has shown this to be true. People think that it is a myth that wearing a baseball cap will cause the loss of hair but this is actually true, as a hairline can be damaged by constantly covering it and pressing down on it not letting the hair follicles breath.

Medical Hair Restoration – The Facts

Medical hair restoration is a surgery when healthy hair is taken from one area of the scalp, the donor area, and placed in areas where there is no growth of hair. Currently there are many procedures, which use small grafts of hair replanted in other areas to promote hair growth. There is also the flap procedure where a flap of skin that sees hair growth is pulled over areas of the scalp that does not. Hair care medical procedures have seen amazing breakthroughs in the past decade. Hair care procedures currently leave little scarring, are not painful, and can give a person the look of a natural hairline.

Medical Hair Restoration – The Myths

Many think that once the hair is replaced other areas of the scalp it still does not grow. But this is a myth as the grafts and flaps that see hair growth will continue to grow hair in other areas of the scalp. In the grafting type of hair restoration surgery the grafts of hair can fall out. However in 3-4 months the area will see hair growth. Many people have the misconception that any type of hair restoration surgery looks bad and not natural. However with the breakthroughs in hair replacement surgeries one that is performed well can give a person a very natural looking hairline.