Hereditary Baldness - How It Can Be Treated?

A balding scalp is one of the most common things men inherit from their fathers. Male pattern baldness is also known as androgenic alopecia. This condition affects up to 50% of all men. It is triggered by the effects of the male hormone, androgen. This makes the hair follicle become smaller and makes the strands finer and shorter. As time progresses, the hair follicle stops producing strands of hair. Though this condition does not harm your physical health, it can affect your emotional and psychological health. Thankfully, there are ways to combat it. This can be categorized as medicinal and surgical.

Medicinal Treatment for Hereditary Balding
Minoxidil and Oral finasteride are two drugs that can help treat balding. Minoxidil prevents further hair loss and stimulates hair growth. This needs to be massaged into the scalp twice a day. The strength of this solution varies for men and women. Do not expect all your hair to grow back but bald spots should be covered with new hair growth. As compared to your natural hair, the new growth will be lighter in colour and density.

Oral finasteride needs to be consumed in the form of one pill a day. This can be taken only by men. If taken by women it can result in birth defects. This medicine works by blocking the production of hormones such as dihydrotestosterone. This hormone is responsible for the shrinkage of hair follicles.

Surgical Treatment for Hereditary Balding
A hair transplant surgery can help cover bald spots. This involves the harvesting of hair follicles from a donor site such as the nape of the neck and transplanting these follicles to the bald spots. This surgery may need to be repeated multiple times over 2-3 months.

The second form of surgical treatment for balding is known as scalp reduction. This is especially effective in cases where the front of the scalp is balding. This surgery involves stretching the skin on the head and removing some of it. In this way, it reduces the bald area. A patch of skin with hair on it may then be transplanted over the bald patch. This procedure is known as a flap. In many cases, scalp reduction may be combined with a hair transplant surgery.

In addition to this, you should also focus on strengthening your hair follicles. To do this, massage your scalp regularly with warm oils and eat a well-balanced diet rich in proteins, iron, and zinc.