Are Hair Loss Treatments Just One Big Scam?

The hair loss industry doesn’t inspire much confidence in most people. I have to admit that this is perfectly understandable given the damage done by the many rogues and charlatans who have abused the trust of too many vulnerable people, people who have received useless and even dangerous products or advice in exchange for their hard-earned money. The end result is the prevalence of a stigma that the industry has a hard time shedding.

But is this perception really justified today? Aren’t there genuine treatments that patients can turn to to deal with the ravages of premature hair loss? The simple answer is YES, there are several safe, affordable, accessible and effective hair loss treatments currently available. Some have even been approved by the FDA for treating hair loss conditions, while others rely on natural remedies as the basis for commercially available products. Whether any of them is suitable for a given individual depends on several important factors.

First, each individual must determine the exact cause or causes of their hair loss. This may seem like an overly simplistic statement, but the truth is that most people who undergo a course of treatment for hair loss have proceeded on the basis of self-diagnosis. Given the fact that premature or excessive hair loss is often associated with underlying medical conditions, this may not be the most sensible course of action.

My advice in all cases is to seek the guidance of a qualified physician because the consequences of not doing so can be severe in a small number of cases. Even when all the evidence points to the occurrence of hereditary male pattern baldness, it would probably be best to seek advice, if only to rule out other factors.

Once the cause of hair loss has been correctly diagnosed, you will be in a position to choose an appropriate form of treatment. This can range from prescribing medications aimed at balancing altered hormone levels to topical application of minoxidil to reduce symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Hair loss can be caused by many factors including changes in hormone levels, illness, stress, excessive use of strong chemicals, excessive traction, poor grooming practices, side effects of medical treatment, poor nutrition, weak immune system, and the effects of aging. The good news is that all of these can be addressed with reasonable hope of success, but only if you choose the right treatment.

The next article in this series will take a closer look at the various causes of excessive hair loss and describe suggested treatments that are affordable and accessible. If you only take two things from this article, keep these tips in mind:

1. Always seek the advice of your physician before undergoing a hair loss treatment regimen.

2. Don’t despair, there is often a simple explanation for excessive hair loss and even hereditary loss or male pattern baldness can be successfully treated for most people today.