G
erman surgeon, Johann Dieffenbach performed the first hair transplant over two centuries ago. It was more of a proof of concept than a clinical trial, taking six hair strands from his head and implanting them in his arm. Only two managed to stay and grow.
Looking back, it’s amazing how far hair regrowth technology has come, from a 33% success rate (in Dieffenbach’s experiment) to almost 100%. Of course, it depends on the state of the follicle, the organ responsible for growing and shedding hair in a cycle. Just as a plant can’t grow without planting a seed first, hair can’t grow without a healthy follicle.
Regardless, the future’s looking bright for people losing hair to various causes, be it hair pulling or cancer treatment. Researchers have found many innovative strategies that may see widespread use in the foreseeable future. That said, this article will focus on those already available and their respective pros and cons.
Check out the pros and cons of hair regrowth techniques available today…
#1. Sound waves
The fastest way for a drug or treatment to take effect in a part of the body is through the needle and syringe. That’s why vaccines are administered through the bloodstream. But not everyone is eager to have a sharp object pierce their skin, let alone experience the pain it brings. Unfortunately, hair transplantation involves plenty of sharp and pointy instruments, whether strip surgery or follicular unit extraction. Even with local anesthesia, the patient might still feel some pain during the procedure, depending on their tolerance.
Such downsides and other issues spurred the need for non-surgical hair restoration. One example involves exposing the scalp to sound waves and air pressure, allowing the hair-loss medication to seep into the dermal layer. The steady acoustic stream heats the surrounding tissues and opens up the membranes temporarily, which helps absorb the drug.
Ultrasound stimulation is a non-invasive procedure that can be done in around half an hour, way faster than hair transplantation. That said, it isn’t a one-and-done procedure, as these sessions are spread across a few months. More importantly, being a relatively new addition to the list of hair regrowth techniques, its true effectiveness warrants further study.
#2. Low-level laser therapy
Another non-invasive hair loss treatment involves the use of lasers, specifically outputting in the near-infrared spectrum. But to understand how this approach helps jumpstart hair regrowth, it’s important to know the cycle.
Hair growth consists of four stages of wildly varying durations, which are:
- Anagen: The growth phase can last upwards of seven years.
- Catagen: Separation of hair and the follicle occurs in this stage and lasts about 10 days.
- Telogen: The follicles grow new hairs for up to three months.
- Exogen: The shedding of the released hairs can last between two and five months.
You can see why hair loss is such a big deal to many: growing a head full of hair for years only to lose it in weeks or months. People lose hair all the time, but it’s barely noticeable because the cycle ensures it more than makes up for its losses. Factors like aging and certain medications can disrupt the growth process, either slowing or stopping it entirely.
Given this, the premise behind low-level laser therapy is twofold. First, exposing the follicles to the so-called optical window stimulates them during the telogen phase. Second, it extends the anagen or growing phase while increasing the follicles’ growth rate. As the term suggests, low-level laser therapy operates at low power, meaning there’s no risk of heat damage to tissues. However, the equipment required isn’t exactly energy efficient, making the procedure expensive. It’s also ineffective on its own, requiring it to be used with more proven measures like hair loss medication.
#3. FDA-approved medication
Speaking of which, regrowth techniques that use hair-loss drugs only use those with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. As of this writing, there are four: Minoxidil, Finasteride, Baricitinib, and the more recent Ritlecitinib. Each one works differently.
- Minoxidil is the only approved topical drug applied directly to nourish the hair.
- Finasteride blocks the production of DHT, a hormone known to cause hair loss.
- Baricitinib prevents triggering an immune response, which can kill the follicles.
- Ritlecitinib works the same as Baricitinib but targets a different enzyme.
Save for Minoxidil, these medications require a prescription from your doctor. Also, given that they come in the form of oral tablets or capsules (again, except Minoxidil), you can expect hair regrowth to take longer, usually between two and six months, and not without side effects.
#4. Natural alternatives
As more people realize the limitations of current treatments, they’ve begun leaning on natural hair loss remedies. For them, there’s little to lose in trying out alternatives that produce fewer and less intensive side effects and, for some, have already been in use for thousands of years. Just be prepared to play the longest waiting game compared to the other techniques on this list. Some examples of topical natural remedies include:
- Coconut oil
- Rice water
- Onion juice
- Aloe vera
- Warm jojoba oil
- Olive oil and mashed avocado
You can also eat your way to a full head of hair again with the right foods. While studies on the biotin in eggs as promoters of hair growth are few, some research suggests it can mitigate hair loss. Experts believe addressing a nutrient deficiency is a step in the right direction, be it biotin or something else.
Conclusion
Going bald is nothing to be ashamed of, no matter the reason. But thanks to advancements in hair regrowth treatments, there’s no need to worry about that too much. They may be far from perfect for now, but they work better together.
Featured image: Sunshine Rosman via @shine_rosman_fanpage/Instagram
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