August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month and studies show that female pattern hair loss affects nearly 20 percent of women. If you’re dealing with thinning hair, bald patches, or a receding hairline, know that you’re not alone. However, there are many solutions to help maintain the hair you have and restore hair regrowth. Here, hair restoration experts share the one thing everyone should be doing to revive thinning hair.
Switch Your Shampoo
To restore your hair, Beverly Hills, CA hair restoration specialist Dr. Craig Ziering says step one is finding the right hair-loss expert who can identify the true cause of the hair loss and develop a personal treatment plan. “All patients will also benefit from the right daily follicle support topically, like our specially formulated Follicle Cleanse & Follicle Sustenance ($200) shampoo and conditioner.”
Manage Inflammation
According to New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD, modifying inflammation is key: “This can be done through supplements like Nutrafol, through the mind via stress-management strategies and through the hair directly with lasers like Fotona Hair Lase and my Hair Growth System Kit ($150), which contains botanicals and antioxidants to help reduce inflammation and support healthier and stronger hair.”
Try PRP for Hair
Hair restoration expert, Wayne, NJ facial plastic surgeon Jeffrey B. Wise, MD says that platelet-rich plasma therapy is one of the best treatments to help restore hair growth for those who’ve tried everything else and aren’t ready for surgery. “Using platelets derived from your own blood that are rich in growth factors and cytokines, this therapy can invigorate new hair growth, wake up dormant follicles, and strengthen and thicken your hair overall,” he explains. “It’s especially popular with patients experiencing post-partum hair loss.”
Seek an Evaluation
Glenn Dale, MD dermatologist Valerie Callender, MD says the earlier you can get to the root of your hair loss, the better. “Seek help from a board-certified dermatologist who will be able to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of the exact cause of your hair loss and then develop a comprehensive treatment plan that will address the hair loss,” she says. “Early diagnosis and intervention are key!”
Use This Not That
“Another quick tip: everyone should use men’s extra strength 5% minoxidil,” adds Campbell, CA dermatologist Amelia K. Hausauer, MD, who has employed treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which she has researched extensively for male and female pattern hair loss with good success. “Forget the 2% that was originally marketed for women and use the men’s instead.”
