Tips from the expert: What really helps against baldness?

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Hair loss occurs when the hair on the head falls out and no longer grows back. There are different forms, from individual, circular bald spots to complete hair loss. It’s a huge burden for those affected because full hair is often seen as the ideal of beauty. Not only men are affected by hair loss, women and children can also suffer from this condition. However, hair loss is much more common in men, especially as they get older.

Sascha Dunst (56) is an FMH specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery at the Skinmed Clinic in Lenzburg AG and specializes in the treatment of hair loss. She explains: “About 50 to 80 percent of men suffer from hormonal hair loss, called androgenetic alopecia. The way this type of hair loss manifests itself and when it occurs is largely hereditary.

Hair loss after puberty

Plastic and aesthetic surgery specialist explains why genetic hair loss causes the loss of upper hair as follows: “Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the end product of the testosterone cycle, shortens the growth phase of the hair. “They thin, they fall out, and as a result, the hair follicles atrophy and the hair no longer grows.”

Young men may also be affected. “The pain level is high for many men, especially when hair loss begins early,” says expert Dunst. It usually starts in the area where the hairline recedes and/or in the occipital vertebrae area, then spreads and can cover the entire upper hair. The sooner your hair starts to fall out, the more likely you are to become completely bald later on.

Get medical advice

Before taking action against hair loss, diseases should be ruled out by your family doctor or dermatologist, says Sascha Dunst. Deficiency symptoms can cause hair loss, as well as severe stress in your professional or personal life. A healthy lifestyle and balanced diet are beneficial for the whole body and therefore also for the hair.

After a medical examination, hair loss can be prevented or temporarily stopped with appropriate medications: for example, minoxidil as a hair tonic or foam or enzyme-inhibiting finasteride tablets applied directly to the scalp. These tablets reduce the production of DHT, which is the end product of the testosterone cycle and shortens hair growth phases and causes hair loss.

Act early to prevent hair loss

Many hair shampoos containing caffeine, zinc, or vitamin E are available over-the-counter and are intended to promote hair growth. Oral vitamins are also available at pharmacies and pharmacies. Stiftung Warentest has tested some of these products and considers the active ingredients minoxidil and finasteride to be the most suitable. Although this may not cause new hair to grow, it should at least prevent further hair loss.

The treatment called PRP treatment is more effective than drug treatment and has fewer side effects. “Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), derived from your own blood, is injected directly into the affected scalp,” explains Dunst. This treatment can be further optimized by adding regenerative cells from your own fat or skin samples. The purpose of this is to prevent hair loss and encourage the formation of new hair follicles.

What can you do if you have acute hair loss?

“If there are already bald or thin areas of hair on the head, a hair follicle transplant is a way to restore denser hair,” Dunst explains. “Hair follicles are taken from the back of the head and replanted in the affected areas.”

«PRP and/or hair follicle transplantation can be very beneficial for many men. “Others, when they realize their hair is thinning, accept the situation and shave their heads,” says the expert. In these cases, it is always recommended to adequately protect the scalp from sunburn when exposed to sunlight.

Temporarily hide light blemishes on the scalp

If you don’t have serious hair loss yet and want to cheaply hide thinning spots or receding hairlines, you can do so with hair styles and styling tips. If you have a small bald spot on the back of your head, you can cover the bald spot with longer hair. Then, you should fix the hairstyle well with hairspray.

A receding hairline can be hidden well with a side parting, short haircut, undercut or medium length hair. When choosing styling products, be careful not to use shiny products as these will make the hair look thinner. This is why hair waxes and sprays are more effective than most gels.

There are also wigs or hair fillers tailored to your own hair color, such as Hairfor2 or Löwenhaar’s loose hair, which can help the top hair look more voluminous and dense. This makes the hair look full again and gives the wearer a newfound self-confidence.

Source : Blick