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Going Bald: What Are Your Options?

VWB Blog 2 years ago 9

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says that 50% of all men over the age of 50 will suffer some form of male pattern baldness. If you’re a man, this is a statistic that may worry you.

Going bald can take a major toll on a man’s confidence and self-esteem. Hair loss can lead to depression, anxiety, and social phobia.  For that reason, men often seek ways to prevent or reverse the effects of male pattern baldness.

If you have pattern baldness, or if you know it runs in your family and you’re trying to prepare for it, here are some options on how to deal with it.

Change Your Hairstyle

If you don’t have a completely bald head, there are hairstyles and cuts that can make the bald spot or spots less noticeable. Ask your barber for a cut that can make thinning hair look fuller, and also look into the possibility of a convincing combover.

Look Into A Wig Or Hairpiece

It’s easy for this option to go wrong, since a few men don’t know how to get natural-looking hairpieces. However, with some professional help, you can wear a fitted wig that will look natural and allow you to keep your hair loss discreet.

A professional wig stylist can help fit a wig to your head’s shape and can style it so that it looks natural and attractive. Some wigs have realistic looking parts that can create a more natural appearance.

Take Hair Loss Medications

There are medication options available for treating hair loss. Such options include minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia).

Minoxidil can come in liquid, foam, or shampoo form. It can help with regrowing your hair, and it can be helpful in preventing further hair loss. It will take about six months for the treatment to take effect, and you could face side effects such as scalp irritation and unwanted hair growth in other areas where the medication comes in contact.

Finasteride is a prescription drug that men take once a day in pill form. It can take a few months of consistent use to see if it’s working, and it may not work for men over 60. Moreover, there are some rare side effects, such as a weakened sex drive and an increased risk of prostate cancer.

These treatments can be effective, but they take time and there are risks.

Undergo A Hair Transplant

Contrary to some misconceptions, this is not a treatment where someone else’s hair is transplanted into your scalp. In fact, your body is designed to reject hair from any person other than yourself, unless that person is an identical twin.

In reality, a hair transplant involves removing hair from a fuller area of your scalp and transferring it to a bald spot. This hair can never fall out, and 80% of the new growth will happen within eight months.

It’s important to know that this surgery is pricey, and it can be painful. Also, success can vary, and since it’s permanent, you must be ready to accept the new look. However, it is still an effective and viable option to deal with losing hair.

More Advice On Going Bald

Going bald is a difficult thing for men to deal with, but there are ways to treat the condition. If having a full head of hair is necessary for your confidence, talk to your dermatologist and explore some of your options.

For more advice on how to treat hair loss and other conditions, visit our Health section.

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