Hair Loss

What are the most common reasons for hair loss?

The common reasons for hair loss are: Male pattern hair loss – Male pattern hair loss is a common pattern of hair loss that is seen in men with age. This pattern of hair loss usually causes a receding hairline and baldness to the top and front of the head. Female pattern hair loss – Female pattern hair loss is a pattern of hair loss that is seen in women with age. Around 40% of women have some hair thinning by the age of 50 years. Female pattern hair loss usually causes increased hair falling and thinning especially from the top of the head. This pattern of hair loss is related to hormones and genes (often running in families). Alopecia areata – Alopecia areata is a common type of hair loss that causes round, bald patches on the scalp. It can sometimes progress to cause baldness of the entire scalp or affect both the scalp and body. Generally speaking, there is a good chance of recovery if there are only a few bald patches. Other causes – There are many other causes for hair loss. Generally, if there is inflammation in the scalp, hair growth can be affected. It is therefore important to treat the inflammation in the scalp. There are also some hair loss conditions which can cause scarring on the scalp, and regrowth can be difficult to achieve with these types of hair loss. The aim of treatment would be to prevent further hair loss.

What are the effective treatments for female pattern hair loss?

Topical minoxidil (Regaine^®) has been shown to be effective in clinical studies for female pattern hair loss. The treatment is applied directly onto the scalp and works by stimulating inactive hair follicles to regrow thicker hair. The treatment takes 3-4 months to work, and needs to be continued to maintain the results achieved. It works best in the early stages of hair loss.

Oral medications which block excessive male hormones can be used when topical creams are not effective or deemed not practical. These treatments are not to be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.

Specialised hair care and supplements can be used to provide the body with the ingredients to promote healthy hair growth and reduce hair loss.

Hair transplantation surgery is another treatment option where some hairs are moved from the back of the scalp to the affected areas. You will need some have some healthy hairs on the scalp to have hair transplantation. Not all hair disorders are suitable to be treated with hair transplant surgery. Dr Nicole can advise you on this at the consultation after carrying out an assessment of your condition.

What are the effective treatments for male pattern hair loss?

Topical minoxidil (Regaine^®) has been shown to be effective in clinical studies for male pattern hair loss. The treatment is applied directly onto the scalp and works by stimulating inactive hair follicles to regrow thicker hair. The treatment takes 3-4 months to work, and needs to be continued to maintain the results achieved. The treatment works best in the early stages of hair loss. Oral hormonal treatments can be used when topical treatments have failed to work, or deemed not practical. The treatment takes about 3-4 months to work, and needs to be continued to maintain the results achieved. Specialised hair care treatments and supplements can be used to provide the body with the ingredients to promote healthy hair growth and reduce hair loss. Hair transplantation surgery is another treatment option where some hairs are moved from the back of the scalp to the affected areas. You will need some healthy hairs on the scalp to have hair transplantation. Not all hair disorders are suitable to be treated with hair transplant surgery. Dr Nicole can advise you on this at the consultation after carrying out an assessment of your condition.

What are Dr Nicole’s top tips for stopping hair loss?

1. Handle your hair gently and with care to avoid excessive shedding
2. Avoid hair dye, excessive combing, heat-styling, hot comb and tight weaves
3. Identify the type and cause of hair loss
4. Treat any inflammation in the scalp
5. Boost the hair growth environment with specialist hair care products and treatments

Do I need any tests to find out the cause of my hair loss?

The common causes of hair loss such as male/female pattern hair loss and alopecia areata can be diagnosed based on the clinical appearance of the hair loss pattern, and a skin biopsy (taking a small sample of skin to check under the microscope) is not usually required.

Sometimes, certain blood tests are recommended as hair growth can be affected by illnesses and hormonal problems.

What if I want to consider hair transplantation?

Not all hair disorders are suitable to be treated with hair transplant surgery. Dr Nicole can advise you on this at the consultation after carrying out an assessment of your condition. Dr Nicole does not perform hair transplant surgery, but can discuss this treatment option with you. Dr Nicole can also recommend an appropriate hair transplant surgeon if this is suitable for your condition.