Are you struggling with hair loss? If so, you are one of millions of Americans who struggle with the same issue. Thinning hair is no joke. It can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem to have, whether you’re a man or a woman.
Let’s talk more about alopecia – or hair loss – in addition to the common causes of hair loss and what treatment options are available if you are struggling with this issue.
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia is the clinical term for hair loss. While most people think of alopecia as just affecting the hair growth on the scalp, oftentimes, it can also affect hair growth around the rest of the body, including facial hair and hair on the arms and legs. There are two common types of alopecia: androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.
- Androgenic Alopecia Also known as male- or female-pattern baldness, androgenic alopecia is generally characterized by the gradual thinning and loss of hair along the crown of the head. This may start with a receding hair line or, for many women, begin towards the lower back of the head.
- Alopecia Areata This common form of alopecia is typically more severe than androgenic alopecia, as it results in hair falling out in large clumps until there is none left. An autoimmune disorder, alopecia area ta, may leave patients with no hair on the head or body at all.
Common Causes of Alopecia
The most common cause of baldness in patients is genetics. That being said, there is a long list of other reasons why a man or woman may begin losing their hair. Other common causes of androgenic alopecia include the following:
- Hormonal changes (sudden drop in hormones)
- Side effect of medications
- Extreme stress
- Radiation therapy
- Excessive hair treatments and hair styling
If you believe your hair loss may be caused by any of the above, it’s important you go see a hair loss doctor and talk about your treatment options. For some, like those who are affected by certain medications, hair growth may be restored after making some lifestyle changes. Those who are affected by genetics or hormonal changes, however, may need hair restoration treatments to regrow their hair.
Popular Hair Loss Treatments
There is a wide range of hair loss treatments available to men and women in Washington state. The most popular treatments include medication, PRP therapy, and hair transplant surgery.
- Medication There are many hair restoration medications on the market nowadays, and many of them provide patients with desirable results. However, it’s important to note that these medications do not help hair loss in the long-term. Instead, patients must continue to administer medication every day for the effects to last. Because of this, it is not always patients’preferred option.
- PRP Therapy PRP therapy for hair restoration is revolutionising the hair loss game. This is because PRP therapy is a natural remedy that restores damaged hair follicles and allows patients to regrow their own hair. PRP works because of the regenerative properties of the platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is extracted from a sample of blood and injected into thinning areas in the scalp.While PRP therapy is still a fairly new treatment for those struggling with hair loss, results are promising. Patients report seeing visible results after just a few treatment sessions. These results can be maintained long-term with just a few maintenance treatments each year.
- Hair Transplant SurgeryHair transplant surgery is a tried-and-true method of treating hair loss. We understand that traditional hair restoration surgery has a bad reputation. However, advancements in technology and techniques now allow for minimal scarring and much more natural-looking results. The best part is that hair transplant surgery is a potentially permanent solution to hair loss.We encourage patients to look into Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant surgery as a treatment option. This type of hair transplant surgery involves extracting individual hair follicles to be transplanted into areas of thinning hair. This reduces visible lines of scarring typically associated with strip hair transplant surgery.
Hair Loss Treatments in Seattle, WA
If you have been struggling with hair loss and want to take matters into your own hands, it’s time you see Dr. RobertNiedbalski at Northwest Hair Restoration. Dr. Niedbalski has more than 25 years of experience diagnosing and treating those with hair loss. He and his team are proud to offer cutting-edge solutions to patients, including PRP therapy, FUT hair transplant surgery, and non-surgical solutions.
If you have any questions about your hair restoration treatment options, we encourage you to give us a call today at (253) 572-2949. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Robert Niedbalski, please send us an appointment request online.
