People often have mixed reactions to losing their hair, and whilst some people take it in stride or use it as the impetus to change their look, for others it can be particularly unpleasant and distressing.
Perhaps because it is a relatively common concern and hits some people particularly hard, there is a lot of misinformation about what causes and what does not cause people to lose their hair, as well as what to expect from hair loss treatments.
Here is the truth behind several common myths regarding hair loss and its treatments.
Hair Loss Treatments Are Not An Instant Solution
Whether you are applying minoxidil (Regaine), finasteride or have undergone a hair transplant, no treatment for hair loss is going to be immediate.
Minoxidil often takes several months to show its effects, and a hair transplant can sometimes take a year before the hair growth becomes and remains consistent.
All of this will be discussed during a consultation, as anyone undergoing hair loss treatments needs to know not only how to apply any treatment, but when they should reasonably expect to see results.
Hair Loss Is Common For Both Genders
Whilst male pattern baldness is increasingly common as men get older and make changes to their hairstyle to compensate for the change, up to half of women will experience hair loss during their lifetime, although it will often both manifest and be managed differently.
Instead of the hairline and the crown losing hair, women tend to lose hair from the parting outwards, and instead of either shaving or cutting hair short to compensate, women will typically wear weaves, wigs or extensions.
However, what is common is that there are many effective treatments for both male and female pattern baldness.
Diets Can Cause Hair Loss
In the new year, some people will rapidly change their diet in order to help lose weight or otherwise improve their health, but one change people will need to look out for is the effect some particularly restrictive diets can have on hair.
There are many nutrients that contribute to healthy hair growth, including vitamin D, zinc and iron, and hair is particularly sensitive to protein and calorie deficiencies.
This means that a restrictive or crash diet can cause hair to fall out quickly, as well as thinner, more brittle hair as well.
This means that ensuring you have enough calories to keep going and ensure you have enough protein in your diet is essential to avoiding major hair loss.
Young People Can Lose Their Hair
Hair loss is typically associated with middle-aged men and older, but it is far from the case that it is only seen in older people, and there are many cases of teenagers starting to experience moderate or extensive hair loss.
If you are likely to experience male pattern baldness as a result of genetics, you are also likely to start seeing hair loss sooner than you would otherwise expect.
However, the treatments for baldness are similarly not age-specific, and typically the earlier that you take care of hair loss, the easier it is to manage and the slower its effects.