TLDR Some hair loss can be treated, especially in women due to nutrition, but some types remain untreatable.
The 2002 document outlines the psychological effects of hair loss and the treatments available at that time. It states that by age 50, up to 50% of men experience genetic hair loss, with initial treatments like minoxidil being disappointing. However, finasteride and a dual type I and II 5α-reductase inhibitor showed significant improvements, with the latter resulting in hair regrowth in 90% of treated individuals. For women, hair loss before age 50 is primarily nutritional, affecting 30%, with iron and L-lysine deficiencies being key factors. Treatments for women's genetic hair loss included oral estrogen, cyproterone acetate, and spironolactone, with the former two being more effective. The document concludes that while some hair loss can be treated, particularly nutritionally induced loss in women, there remain untreatable conditions that impact quality of life.
Cited in this study
9 / 9 results
145 citations
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December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Finasteride 1mg helps reverse hair miniaturization in men and postmenopausal women.
192 citations
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June 1992 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Hair loss can cause low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression in men.
83 citations
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April 1992 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Having enough iron improves the effectiveness of a specific hair loss treatment in women.
71 citations
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May 1991 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Young men with male pattern baldness lose hair density over time without treatment.
124 citations
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August 1990 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Diffuse alopecia in women may be related to androgens and iron deficiency, and basic hormone and nutrient screening is useful.
31 citations
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January 1989 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” The study tested a hair treatment and found it can help grow hair, but won't stop baldness. It's safe and works well, but needs more testing.
43 citations
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July 1984 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Antiandrogen therapy helped increase hair growth in women with hormonal imbalances related to baldness.
90 citations
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October 1983 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The unit area trichogram is a reliable method to assess hair loss and treatment response in people with androgenic alopecia by measuring hair density and thickness.
666 citations
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September 1977 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Common baldness, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia, is caused by a combination of genetic factors and hormones called androgens.
July 2023 in “Clinics in Plastic Surgery”
52 citations
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September 2018 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Ginseng and its compounds may help hair growth and prevent hair loss, but more human trials are needed to confirm this.
August 2014 in “Journal of drug discovery and therapeutics”
1 citations
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October 2002 in “Dermatologic Surgery” Minoxidil can increase hair density, speed up regrowth in transplanted hair, and slow down further hair loss, especially beneficial for women, young men with thinning hair, and those wanting to reconstruct the back of the scalp.
31 citations
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October 2002 in “Dermatologic Surgery” Minoxidil helps stabilize hair loss, increase density, and reduce shedding after hair transplant surgery.
69 citations
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February 2002 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” Some hair loss can be treated, especially in women due to nutrition, but some types remain untreatable.
370 citations
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September 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride and minoxidil are effective for hair loss, but continued research is needed for better treatments.