Hair loss is a medical condition that more commonly affects men as compared to women.Statistics show that more than 60 percent of all men are likely to experience hair loss within their lifetime. It usually affects men in their late thirties but some men may experience hair loss in their early twenties as well.

But no matter how common this condition may be, the truth of the matter is that hair loss can be emotionally disturbing for many especially because hair has physiological importance in our society. It can lowerthe individual’s self-esteem and damage self-confidence,badly.

If you are in a similar situation, then don’t worry! The good news is that thanks to medical advancements and breakthroughs, there are a variety of hair restoration treatments available that help healthy regrowth of hair. However,  in terms of effectiveness, health safety and well-being, some treatments are superior to others while some are downright dangerous and unsafe.

Before we discuss hair loss treatments, let’s take a look at the factors that trigger hair loss in men.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss can be attributed to a number of factors such as:

1.     Dihydrotesterone Hormone

Male pattern hair loss, also known as common baldness or AndrogeneticAlopecia, is a condition caused by the male hormone, Dihydrotesterone (DHT). This hormone acts on genetically susceptible scalp hair follicles. It causes the hair follicles to become progressively small and eventually disappear. Simply put, Dihydrotesterone causes the hair follicles to regress, shorten and die which leads to premature balding.

2.     Stress

During periods of stress, the adrenal glands excrete excess amount of cortisol (the stress hormone). High levels of this stress hormone can also lead to hair loss. Furthermore, when males experience stress, the body tends to produce additional adrenaline and testosterone, which means more DHT, triggering hair loss.

3.     Medication

Medications like retinoids, anticoagulants (blood-thinning medication), beta blockers, anti-depressants and NSAIDS can also result in thinning of the hair and lead to baldness in men.

Hair Restoration Treatments

Hair loss can be treated both non-surgically and surgically. Two popular medication options for hair loss treatment include Finasteride and Minoxidil.  These have been found particularly effective in controlling Male Pattern Baldness in its early stages. Not only does this treatment slow down hair loss, but also promotes hair growth.

However, in some cases hair transplantation may be the best option. It can help restore hair quickly and offers satisfactory cosmetic results in the long run.

However, which treatment is best and most appropriate for your condition can only be determined by your hair loss treatment specialist. In some cases, a combination of the two is also recommended. Therefore it is recommended to seek professional help before you seek a treatment. Since hair loss treatments require expertise, make sure the specialist has a wealth of experience and is trustworthy–one who can provide genuine advice to you and works in your best interests.

Since the inception of the internet we have seen many online non pharmacy websites selling products like Minoxidil Foams, Finasteride and Aldactone for female hair loss. These sites also promote other unproven topical products and herbal supplements for hair loss.

The first concern that we have with this practice is that it promotes the idea of self-diagnoses where these products may not be of benefit to your individual condition. If you have other medical conditions they could also be very dangerous. Minoxidil is a great example. If you have any cardiac issues then even by applying a topical medication could cause the onset of heart palpitations, tightness in the chest and chest pains. For Finasteride the result could be a lot more serious. Finasteride decreases the level of dihydro-testosterone which is a key marker for blood tests to check for Prostate cancer risk factors. The test is called a PSA and if the medical doctor is not informed that the patient is on Finasteride then the PSA test is useless as it will mask the true reading. The usage of Aldactone is a first drug of choice for Ashley and Martin medical doctors for women’s hair loss, if they are post-menopausal. This medication is very useful for women’s hair loss however as this medication also reduces the amount of potassium loss the body experiences then it is crucial that blood tests are conducted every year. Buying this medication online you will not be informed of this. These are just a few medical issues with these medications.

The other concerning factors with on line purchasing of hair loss medications is that you don’t know what you are getting. A recent story about Finasteride coming out of India shows that 20% of the on line versions are actually fake. The amazing thing is that we get highly upset about food quality regulations not being followed, however we will ingest a prescription medication without it being cleared for safety or efficacy.

The final concerning factor is not just safety of your health or efficacy of the products that you are applying or ingesting. It is who makes the money out of your purchase. The majority of non-pharmacy websites will have links to organised crime and they are illegal entities.

I would love to see each country regulatory authorities crack down on these types of sites however it comes down to where the limited resources each government has to utilise on this issue. In most cases they are working on higher priority issues. The only real solution is for the hair loss patient to be educated on why purchasing off the internet from high risk websites is not a viable option and that they should be dealing with medical doctors trained in the hair loss industry.

To see a list of medical doctors that work in the hair loss industry, please see either International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery www.ishrs.org or if in Australia, New Zealand or Singapore then your best outcome would be a Ashley and Martin Medical Doctor.

Twelve months previous to calling Ashley and Martin David* noticed his hair beginning to thin and fall.  Working in the music industry he was keenly aware his hair was part of his on stage persona and at 28 years old he was not ready to lose his hair.  Deciding to speak to someone about stopping the hair loss in its tracks before it got any worse he called Ashley and Martin for baldness treatment.

The main areas of concern for David were the noticeable thinning of his hair on the top of his head and the fact his father had gone bald as well.  His consultant could see that David’s hair was indeed thinning on the crown but was hopeful for a full and swift regrowth of David’s own hair as he had come in early in the hair loss cycle.  David’s consultant discussed not only his medical and family history but the outcomes David was hoping for in coming to Ashley and Martin for baldness treatment as well.  Feeling confident that David was a suitable candidate for treatment, his consultant recommended he enrol on a full RealGROWTH^® program using specialised supplements and hygiene products, medications, Ashley and Martin’s RealGROWTH^® solution and regular laser treatments.

David wanting to make informed and considered decisions regarding his treatment, went home and thought about it for a week before calling his consultant back to go ahead with the baldness treatment.  An appointment was made for him to see the doctor to have his medications prescribed and to have further discussions regarding his treatment with the consultant.

Returning for his 4 month check-up his consultant noticed David was now cutting his hair shorter, confident he no longer needed the length of his hair to hide his balding patch on top.  David was elated that his desired outcomes had been achieved and he could see the results he had attained in