Causes of Hair Loss in Men 
- Male pattern baldness due to genetics
- The natural aging process
- Compulsive hair pulling, or trichotillomania.
- Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder.
- Triangular alopecia, or loss of hair in the temporal areas that may begin in childhood.
- Scarring alopecia, hair loss due to scarring of the scalp area.
- Telogen effluvium, or execessive sheding.
Many men who suffer from hair loss may be an excellent candidates for hair restoration but only a qualified hair restoration specialist can say for sure. So if your hair is thinning, call Dr. Parsley for an appointment. He can make the proper diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
What are my treatment options?
Men have been trying to conceal hair loss for centuries and over the years, countless "miracle cures" have been concocted, nearly all of which have been clinically disproven by researchers. Wigs or hairpieces are effective in some patients, but the fear of being "found out" coupled with their inconvenience and discomfort, have diminished their attractiveness to men with hair loss.
There are numerous products advertised on television boasting incredible results for men with hair loss, but the truth is none of these products have been clinically tested and verified to cause hair regrowth.
Popular alternatives to hair restoration surgery include topically applied Minoxidil, marketed as Rogaine® and various generics. Minoxidil was formerly a drug for high blood pressure, a peripheral vasodilator, that had the unwelcome side effect of causing hair growth! The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in topical form as a treatment for hair loss. Rogaine, at least in some patients, can provide results to a degree. It needs to be applied every day and treatment should not be cessated or it will result in loss of any new hair that may have appeared.
The other most common non-surgical method of treating hair loss is Propecia®, or Finasteride. Finasteride lowers the levels of a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp and serum by blocking 5 alpha-reductase, an important enzyme involved in regulating the hair follicle. It works well in some patients, but like Rogaine, therapy must be continued to be effective. In addition, Finasteride is contraindicated in women of child bearing age.
In summary, countless products and methods have arisen in the never-ending search for a drug or lotion that will treat hair loss and reverse male pattern baldness, but hair restoration surgery remains the most effective, long-term treatment for the condition.
Contact Dr. Parsley if you'd like to discuss your hair loss and possible solutions.
