Dealing with Hair Loss by Jacob Cherian

Losing your hair is not just embarrassing, it can be downright frightening for some men, who may assume it's a sign of their declining masculinity or worse, their virility. In fact, hair loss has been noted not only to make men look beyond their natural age but also to negatively impact their self esteem and social confidence. And if you're losing hair, you're not alone - eighty percent of all men lose their hair by 50. The tragedy is that not all of us cope with it so well. The trick to weathering this mid-life adjustment may be in the right combination of hair loss products and treatment.

Hairpieces are a thing of the past and have been replaced by hair loss drugs. However, for those who prefer immediate results and want to have a full head of hair, cosmetic treatments offer a permanent solution to hair loss. Also known as hair systems, hairpieces, toupee, hair weaves, units, these hair replacement options give the illusion of a thick head of hair and the pieces are almost undetectable.

Most hair loss drugs are sold over the counter, but some are given by prescription only, depending on the cause and severity of hair loss. So far, the only two drugs for hair loss treatments approved by the FDA are Rogaine and Propecia.

Rogaine is available over the counter. It not only slows down hair loss, but it also helps to re-grow your hair. Rogaine is a topical solution with the active ingredient Minoxidil. It needs to be applied twice daily to the scalp. Re-growing typically takes place in about a few months and is normally seen on the crown of the scalp. This solution, however, is used only for genetic hair loss, which means that it is not effective for treating hair loss due to another disease or illness. The most popular hair loss drug, however, is Propecia, which comes in pill form and requires a prescription from a physician. It helps treat hair loss by lowering the chemical levels in your body, which contribute to the decrease in hair growth. This drug works better than Minoxidil in re-growing hair back. Amazingly, it works in growing hair back in the front of the scalp as well. Although both drugs would not help in growing a full head of hair, they do help slow down hair loss and fill up some of the more common balding areas.

Alternative therapies for hair loss include a wide variety of treatments including natural products, scalp massagers, vitamins, herbs, and even hanging upside down – probably to increase circulation to your scalp. People have been after miracle cures to baldness for thousands of years. Although many of these are deemed as useless products, some of them may work for some people. Commonly called Surgical Hair Restoration, cosmetic procedures to conceal hair loss include transplants, scalp reductions and flap surgery. Technological advances in this area have made it possible for an almost bald person to obtain a new seemingly natural hairline.

If you've been afraid to try hair growth pills like Propecia, for side effects like sexual dysfunction, try some of these over-the counter topical solutions.

Shiseido Androgen Hair Energizing Formula - Adenosine, the key ingredient in this formula, is a nucleic acid component, which enhances hair growth. If you try it for six months you should experience an increase in strand thickness. The formula costs $66 and for more information check out their website at www.sca.shiseido.com. Appearance and also prevents it from breaking. The tonic costs $40 and more information can be obtained on www.labseriesformen.com.

Rogaine Foam - This is a newer, less-drippy foam version of an older product containing Minoxidil, which is still the only FDA-approved ingredient for re-growing hair. The foam costs $25 and you can find details on
www.rogaine.com.

Revivogen - A dermatologist-formulated all natural-product to slow down thinning of hair. It also stimulates hair growth and helps stop hair loss. What's more, the product claims to promote fuller, healthy, thicker new hair growth starting from the follicle. A three-month supply of Revivogen will cost you $119 and can be bought at www.revivogen.com.

Nisim Hair Loss Treatment products - Include shampoos, conditioners, and hair stimulating extracts, that can decrease hair loss, and help regrowth of thick healthy hair. There is a version for both oily and dry hair. Each kit costs $54.95.

Follicare Hair Loss Treatment – Is specially designed for men. Follicare is a combination of Minoxidil infused topical agent, vitamins for hair loss, and a hair growth shampoo - they work together to stop thinning hair and stop hair loss. It is available with or without Minoxidil and a 2-month kit goes for $114.95. Go to www.follicare.com.

Good Looking Hair (GLH) - This spray conceals baldness and instantly covers up thinning hair. The spray consists of tiny fibers that mimic real hair follicles. It is ideal for covering up light to moderate balding, thinning or shedding. For $13.95, it's cheap but not a good long-term treatment option. http://www.onlyhairloss.com/glh.

Hair Genesis - This is an all natural hair loss treatment using a potent formula of botanical DHT blockers to stop hair loss. The Hair Genesis program is made up of an oral supplement, topical serum, and a shampoo and conditioner. A one-month supply will cost you $75.95 and can be bought on http://www.hairgenesis.com.

Losing you hair can be difficult and finding the perfect solution takes time. If you catch it early on you can do trial and error with various products and see what works for you. If your case is more severe it's best to go to a doctor for consultation.