Hair Loss Treatments – Don’t Waste Your Money on a Scam

When you’re living with hair loss, it’s easy to feel like you’d try absolutely anything to get your hair back. But if you’re not careful, you could end up wasting money on a scam. Fortunately, we’ve done the work of researching hair loss treatments for you. So do they work?

Topical Minoxidil

Topical hair loss treatments like Rogaine and other generic topical minoxidil creams or foams claim that, when applied daily to the scalp, they can help stimulate hair follicles and push more hair into the growth phase. Is it worth trying? Several independent studies have confirmed that twice as many women who used topical minoxidil experienced moderate hair growth compared to those who used a placebo. So it may not be the most effective hair loss treatment, but topical minoxidil creams aren’t necessarily a total scam, either. If you’re suffering from serious hair loss or alopecia, though, it’s probably not worth the effort to invest in a product like this to treat your hair loss.

Supplements

It’s not uncommon to see dietary supplements boasting hair growth benefits. In many cases, these supplements advertise high levels of the B vitamin biotin and even collagen in some instances. But will they help reduce hair loss? Probably not. Except in the instance of a rare biotin deficiency disorder, it’s very unlikely that these supplements will contribute to hair growth at all. So before you visit your local drug store and spend money on dietary supplements, make sure you’re aware of the facts. If you do think you have a biotin deficiency, it’s important to speak with your doctor about it.

Laser or Light Therapy

Laser and light therapies have been used for years to treat multiple cosmetic issues. If you’re investing in an over-the-counter version of this treatment, it will often come in the form of a comb, cap, or a headband-like device. And while low-level lasers have been known to stimulate hair growth, it’s unlikely that you’ll see any significant results if you’re using an over-the-counter product. If you’re really considering laser therapies for hair growth, you should speak with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a legitimate medical laser therapy that could help stimulate hair growth much more effectively than an over-the-counter product could.

Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been used for multiple medical applications. In recent years, it’s even been used for facial injections during microneedling sessions. During a PRP treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn and then spun in a centrifuge to separate out the platelet rich plasma and growth factors. This material, known as PRP, is then injected into the scalp. Monthly PRP treatments have been known to stimulate hair growth and increase hair density after six months of treatments. This is probably the most legitimate hair loss treatment.

If you’re noticing early signs of hair loss and want to find answers and a treatment program that works for you, contact our team at North Pacific Dermatology and schedule an appointment today.