Hair Loss: Help for the Dis-Tressed
There have been some great developments in the world of hair-loss prevention and treatment, but quack remedies and sales pitches disguised as information are still as abundant online as they are on late-night television. We’ve sifted through it all to find the most reliable Web sites; in this guide you’ll find credible information about the different ways to prevent, treat, or even just to feel comfortable embracing your hair loss. Whether you are just curious about what’s out there or you want some personal advice from a physician about your hair loss, you’ll find what you need on the Web.
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Email ThisHair Loss Causes
We all lose a little hair each day (actually, according to Medline Plus, we lose about 100 hairs each day), but if you feel that you're losing more than the normal amount, or if some of the hair that has been lost isn't coming back, you’re likely experiencing some kind of hair loss, or alopecia. A few minutes online can help you determine if your hair loss is the result of a genetic predisposition or if it’s something more serious that you should discuss with your doctor.
Dulcinea's Insight
- These sites will help you debunk myths about baldness, such as the idea that men inherit it from their mother’s side of the family. (Hair loss can be inherited from either side of the family.)
- The reasons for hair loss can vary widely, and include fungal infections, stress, and even childbirth. It’s also a common side effect of cancer treatment. In many cases, hair loss is temporary and grows back on its own.
- Hair loss can be a symptom of a more serious health problem, and these sites will give you some warning signs. If after reading these you still aren’t sure, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an overview …
WebMD
provides an “Understanding Hair Loss—the Basics” page that describes the normal hair-growth cycle along with different types of alopecia and other causes of hair loss, including trichotillomania (pulling out your own hair).
MedlinePlus
is a joint service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Here, you'll find an overview of hair loss that includes pictures of the different types of hair loss, information on common causes of hair loss, a description of male- and female-pattern baldness, home care for hair loss, and what symptoms indicate whether you should see your doctor.
The American Academy of Dermatology
has a hair-loss pamphlet that covers the common causes of excessive hair loss as well as treatment and hair restoration options. In the “Public Resource Center” under the letter "H" you can find a variety of other hair-loss information articles and resources.
For hair loss in women …
WebMD
has this article, titled "Women and Hair Loss: The Causes," that explains the difference between male- and female-pattern hair loss, the physiological process that can cause hair to stop growing back regularly, the change that has occurred in the medical community in regard to the perceived causes of female hair loss, and some of the possible medical conditions (such as polycystic ovary syndrome) that may cause female hair loss.
iVillage
has a section called "Female Hair Loss: Why It Happens and What To Do About It" that offers expert advice about how much hair loss is normal for a woman, what might be causing excessive hair loss, and how to eat a healthy diet so that you won’t lose more hair due to poor nutrition.
For help determining if your hair loss requires medical attention …
FamilyDoctor.org
, put together by the American Academy of Family Physicians, has a great, easy-to-read diagram that helps you to determine whether your hair loss might be a symptom of a more serious problem.
For information about alopecia areata …
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
provides a very easy-to-understand guide to alopecia areata (a condition that causes hair to fall out in small patches). This guide answers questions such as, "Will my hair ever grow back?" and "How can I cope with the effects of this disease?" Also, read about the different ways alopecia areata is treated.
Treating Hair Loss
Even if your hair loss is not connected to an underlying medical condition, there are quite a few options for treatment. Use the sites we recommend here to research your options so that you can decide with your physician what treatment is best for you.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many hair-loss prevention and treatment product Web sites mask their advertisements as unbiased resources for hair loss. If you come across a hair-loss Web site that’s not recommended in this guide, try to find an "About Us" section to see who is paying for the information you are getting, and consider whether there may be any bias. If you can't find a source for the information (like, say, a medical doctor), do not assume that it is trustworthy.
- If you’ve ruled out a medical problem and decide to take medication to restore hair, look it up on MedlinePlus. Hair restoration products could interact badly with other medication you are taking. For example, some prescriptions shouldn’t even be so much as handled by women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. It can’t hurt to mention the medicines to your doctor, either.
Dulcinea's Picks
To learn about treatment options …
Mayo Clinic
has a “Hair Loss” section that covers possible causes and explains the different ways that hair loss can be treated, including medication and surgical treatments.
The American Hair Loss Association
divides treatment into men’s and women’s. Both sections cover the drugs (oral or topical) that are usually prescribed for male or female hair loss. On the left side of the homepage you’ll notice a number of menu choices: “Hair Replacement” will link you to information about buying a hairpiece, “Surgical Hair Restoration” links to information that will step you through restorative hair surgery from the basics and history, to how to find a surgeon, to how to prepare for surgery and photos of hair transplants.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
provides information about different kinds of treatments for hair loss, including medical and surgical hair restoration. Here you’ll be able to read answers to common questions about restoration surgery in the FAQ and find tips.
Balding Blog
provides answers from doctors to the questions of readers. Topics covered include the risks of hair restoration medication, female hair loss, treatment options, and more. New questions and answers are posted almost daily; this could be a good place to look and see if someone has already asked a question you are looking for an answer to.
To locate a physician …
The American Academy of Dermatology
allows you search by specialty. After entering your zip code, choose “Hair disorders” on the drop-down menu.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
allows you to search for a doctor in your area who performs specific procedures. Select “Cosmetic” under the “Procedures” field, then “Hair replacement.” The society also has a long Web page that explains the entire surgical hair replacement process, along with tips and suggestions for finding a reputable surgeon.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
has a search engine that can help you look for a doctor in a specific area or a doctor who performs a particular procedure.
For clinical trials ...
ClinicalTrials.gov
is a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and offers a list of research clinical trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for hair loss. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor, and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Guide.
Hair Loss Support
Hair loss is by no means an uncommon condition. On the Web you’ll find plenty of places to talk to other people sharing similar experiences, whether your hair loss is the result of cancer, alopecia areata, or a nonmedical cause.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Some of the forums we didn’t recommend are full of posts that are actually quack remedy ads or discuss inappropriate topics. If you visit a forum not mentioned in this guide, keep in mind that hair-loss company employees sometimes post ads or miraculous stories about some treatment under anonymous or phony usernames. Not everyone tells the truth on forums, so be wary of posts about particular products or companies and be careful about how much personal information you share online.
- Depending on the cause of your hair loss, there may be support groups not listed below that you would find helpful. If you have a specific condition that is causing your hair loss and would like to connect with others in the same situation, try typing the name of your condition along with the words "support group" or "organization" in health-oriented search engines, which you can find in our findingDulcinea Health Web Guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
To find face-to-face support groups …
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation
aims to fund research and find a cure for alopecia areata as well as educate others about the disease. On this site you'll find links to support groups in your region as well as a "Kids Konnect" section where younger sufferers of alopecia areata can find support from their peers.
Look Good … Feel Better
is a program that the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation developed nearly 20 years ago for people with cancer. Working with the American Cancer Society, Look Good … Feel Better programs teach women with cancer makeup application and other beauty techniques with products donated by CTFA members. The program also tackles hair loss. Use the site’s Program Finder to find the next Look Good … Feel Better program near you.
For blogs …
Hair Transplant Adviser
is a blog where members of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons answer people’s questions about hair loss and procedures.
The Balding Blog
is mostly a few doctors answering questions on all sorts of hair loss topics.
For forums …
Hairloss Talk Discussion Forums
have all sorts of topic threads, from “Propecia” to “Cosmetic Options for Concealing Hair Loss” to “Success Stories.” There are also threads on alopecia areata and for women’s hair loss. We’ll keep repeating this because it bears repeating: 1) be careful about how much personal information you give out. 2) Forums are a good place to share experiences, but remember that people may not always tell the truth or represent themselves accurately.
Who knew?
The Bald Truth
is an entire radio show on CBS dedicated to baldness in men and women that is hosted by the head of the American Hair Loss Association.
Hair Loss News and Research
Read about the latest studies and headlines for hair loss.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many of the resources listed in previous sections of this guide, especially the official sites for medical associations, provide more information about hair loss than what we’ve highlighted. Explore the Web sites recommended to see what you can find.
- There are no respected medical journals dedicated specifically to hair loss. However, hair-loss studies do appear in several related publications, such as the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, but you’ll need to search “hair loss” or “alopecia” on the site to find them.
Dulcinea's Picks
The American Academy of Dermatology
has a page of hair-care and hair-loss articles.
MedlinePlus
has a “Hair Diseases and Hair Loss” section with plenty of links to other reliable resources. You could spend a great deal of time clicking around between this site and others learning about all kinds of hair-loss causes and treatments.
The North American Hair Research Society
has recent publications, upcoming and ongoing studies, news updates, and other information available.
The American Hair Loss Association
has a section on research, a glossary of hair-loss terms, and list of books that discuss hair loss.
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