Dody Gasparik

Restoring the hair lost due to hereditary factors is the dream of many men and women suffering from hair loss. Until not too long ago, the only effective and authentic-looking options for reversing hair loss were non-surgical cover-ups. It was only with the arrival of follicular unit transplantation and the discovery of the true cause of baldness - the harmful effects of DHT on our hair follicles - that the hair-loss sufferer’s chances of reversing their condition naturally have improved.

There are three principal causes and types of dandruff and each one of them has to be treated differently. For a start it sometimes helps to wash your hair more often and use a mild shampoo. In more severe cases it is advisable to try some of the special anti-dandruff shampoos freely available in pharmacies. For the most severe conditions you will have to ask your doctor to prescribe you a prescription strength shampoo or therapy.

Although there is no treatment for alopecia areata that works 100%, some treatments have been proven to improve this condition. The most popular treatment option, which does not require a doctor's prescription, is topical minoxidil, such as Rogaine. It can be used alone or in combination with other medicinal treatments, requiring doctor's consultation.

Hair systems are often the only remaining option to replace the lost hair and to regain the appearance of a full head of hair. The quality and the price of hair systems depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of hair used, the production process used to weave the wig, the foundation of the hair system and how it is attached to the scalp.

Hair loss concealers have often been looked down upon for being incapable of withstanding adverse external conditions and for appearing unnatural. This is no longer true as many of them have significantly improved recently, both in terms of their authentic appearance and their resistance.

When it comes to treating hair loss in female patients there are certain specifics. First, most women do not make very good candidates for hair transplantation due to their diffuse thinning pattern. Secondly, finasteride, which is one of the only two FDA-approved hair loss treatments available today, cannot be used in women and neither can dutasteride.

Hair transplants can cost around ten thousand dollars, depending on the technique used, the location and reputation of the clinic, the extent of hair loss and the number of hair transplant sessions needed to achieve the desired effect. Given the pain, time and cost involved, it appears necessary to educate oneself prior to signing up for hair transplant surgery. Do not let anybody push you into hasty uninformed decisions.

In treating genetically determined, premature gray hair, any effective therapy should involve interference with our genes. However, at the moment, no such treatment exists that can halt or reverse the dying of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. Therefore, the only available and effective treatment option for premature and age-related gray hair is to cover it.

When it comes to treating baldness, it is medicinal pills and topicals that spring to most peoples’ minds as the options holding the greatest promise. There are also other available treatment options, such as surgical and non-surgical hair replacement, but to date only oral and topical medicinal treatments have been proven to reduce and reverse hair loss naturally.

Herbs have been used in the traditional folk medicine of many nations for thousands of years to treat premature aging conditions such as premature graying hair. Admittedly, traditional medicines have not always been effective in treating gray hair and to this day no herbal or medicinal treatment for genetically-determined and age-related gray hair conditions exists.