If you're looking for a treatment for baldness, then it's easy to find one – kind of. There are tons of baldness remedies offered and some of them work. Others don't, though, so do your homework before spending any money – especially if the price is high.
Be aware that some products are baldness “prevents”, while others claim to grow hair back. This means that it's important to be clear on your hair loss goals before making choices.
The Transplant Hair Baldness Treatment
If you are looking for a drastic baldness treatment then consider hair transplants. It involves surgery but many are willing to pay that price – but it's not right for everyone. Transplanting involves moving 'live' hairs from one part of the head to another. This is about redistribution, not adding new hair. So for someone who has hair to spare then this is a possible cure for baldness.
Downsides of this balding treatment:
It's expensive compared to using lotions and creams.
It's not comfortable to say the least. First, having live hair removed from your head cannot possible be painless. Then that hair is moved to another spot which, again, must hurt at least a bit.
Possibly the worst problem is that the balding area will continue to grow so the transplant isn't a one-time deal. In fact, once you embark on the Transplant Trail, be prepared to return again and again.
Currently, there is research ongoing to figure out how transplanted hair could be multiplied – that is, several new follicles can be developed from one existing follicle. If that's possible – a big 'if' in my mind – then baldness just might cease to be a problem for the human race.
Baldness Cures Without Surgery #1: Finasteride/Propecia
There are many non-surgical baldness cures that don't involve surgery but, once again, you must decide on your goal because some halt the spread of baldness whereas others cause hair to grow back by causing dormant follicles to start producing hairs again.
Finasteride (marketed in the USA as Propecia) is one product approved by the FDA which quotes research showing zero hair loss or regrowth in around 80% of men over two years.
Of course, the downside is that you must keep using Propecia or your balding will advance.
And using the drug may have side effects. Here is the official ingredient list:
lactose monohydrate
microcrystalline cellulose
pregelatinized starch
sodium starch glycolate
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
hydroxypropyl cellulose LF
titanium dioxide
magnesium stearate
talc
docusate sodium
yellow ferric oxide
red ferric oxide
I have a personal rule which states "if I can't pronounce it I don't use it". I'm not comfortable with that list of chemicals, especially on a long term basis. Are you?
Baldness Cures Without Surgery #2: Minoxidil
Like many other products Minoxidil was created for something else and it's current use was an accident. This second FDA approved drug was invented to combat high blood pressure but then researchers noticed that users were growing hair. Currently, about 1/3 of users stabilize their hair loss and another 1/3 grow new hair.
Just like with Propecia, you must continue to use it. And its ingredients list doesn't inspire confidence in me: Minoxidil 5%, alcohol, propylene glycol and purified water. In my products about skin care I did research on alcohol and propylene glycol and they are extremely poisonous to our skin so how will that affect our bodies if we ingest it internally for years. Food for thought.
Sandy says
Thanks for recommending some possible ways for baldness treatment. Baldness problem is indeed annoying and I’m so glad to learn some good ways to deal with such a problem.