Stop Balding Due to Temporal Hair Loss
Edited by Donna, Dougie, Maria Quinney, Doug Collins
Temporal balding is a hereditary type of hair loss that is marked by a receding hairline in the shape of a widow's peak. The V-shaped balding, which is more extreme just above the temples, is often also accompanied by a circle of thinning hair at the top of the head. Balding at the crown of the head is sometimes casually called "a crop circle." Eventually these two areas become barer of hair until the two areas merge and the entire front and top of the scalp is bald. Temporal recession is one of the most difficult hair loss situations to prevent or stop just simply because there is no way to alter the genetic information that has programmed your body to be bald by a certain age. Still, at the first sign of temporal hair recession, which is the beginning of the formation of the widow's peak, there are some things you can do to stop or delay the hair loss process. There are no natural remedies for this particular type of hair loss that are effective as there are no natural blockers of DHT production.
- 1 Immediately Begin Taking DHT Blocking Medication
- 2 How to Take Minoxidil (Rogaine) to Stop Temporal Hair Loss in Both Men and Women
- 3 How to Take Finasteride (Propecia) to Stop Temporal Hair Loss in Men
- 4 Supportive Lifestyle and Diet Choices May Help Temporal Hair Loss
- 5 Tips and Tricks
- 6 Comments
Immediately Begin Taking DHT Blocking Medication
Begin taking either Propecia or Rogaine immediately. These are FDA-approved remedies for the prevention and treatment of hair loss that have show results.
Propecia contains Finasteride and is taken daily to inhibit the production of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair loss. Rogaine contains Minoxidil, which is a topical treatment that contains both DHT and Azelaic acid that is applied topically to the balding areas. It is best to use either one product or the other. Your doctor can recommend which product is best for you and only men may take Propecia.
How to Take Minoxidil (Rogaine) to Stop Temporal Hair Loss in Both Men and Women
Minoxidil, also known by the brand Rogaine, is a topical solution that can be bought over-the-counter and used by either women or men to slow the progress of temporal hair loss. It contains Azelaic acid, which blocks Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can cause hair loss. It also works by dilating blood vessels in your scalp, which brings more blood to the hair follicle and stimulates hair growth.
- 1Minoxidil interacts with some medicines, herbal preparations and dietary supplements. It is also not advised for women taking certain types of hormonal therapy, individuals taking hormone replacement to switch genders and pregnant women.Check with your doctor first to see if Minoxidil (Rogaine) is an option for you.
- 2If you are male, buy a formula made for men with a 5% strength. If you are female choose the Rogaine for Women formula that has a 2% strength.Choose the Rogaine formula that is right for your gender.
Rogaine for women contains 2% Minoxidil whereas the men's formula contains 5%. Photo courtesy of www.crazygallery.info. - 3Do not use conditioner before the application of Rogaine. You want to make sure that your scalp is very clean before you apply the Minoxidil solution so that it has the optimum chance to be absorbed into the scalp.Wash your hair with a paraben-free mild organic herbal shampoo.
- 4Both the hair and scalp must be completely dry before you apply the Minoxidil solution. Be very gentle when blow-drying your hair as it can be stressful to hair roots.Dry your hair thoroughly naturally or use a blow dryer.
- 5Apply the amount recommended on the Rogaine package label or by your doctor. The amount to apply may vary depending on the strength that you have bought and whether or not you are using Rogaine for Men, Rogaine for Women, or Extra Strength formulations.Apply the Minoxidil solution to your scalp.
- 6Make sure to get all of the product of off your hand to prevent unwanted hair growth on your hands.Wash your hands thoroughly after applying Minoxidil.
Wash your hands well after applying Rogain to prevent hair growth on your hands. PHoto by Lars Klintwall Malmqvist. - 7For optimum results leave the solution on all night. Do not rinse the solution out when hair is dry. In some people Minoxidil slows down or stops hair loss. Others may see some hair regrowth in four to eight months.Allow the Minoxidil to remain on our scalp for at least four hours.
- 8It is important for you to apply minoxidil every day at the same time if you can. If you miss a day, do not double the dose, as that is not an effective way to use products with hormone blockers in them.Repeat the application at the same time every day.
It usually takes about two weeks before you stop losing hair and it may also be several months before you see any improvement in your hair loss rate.
How to Take Finasteride (Propecia) to Stop Temporal Hair Loss in Men
Finasteride, also known as Propecia is a pill, originally developed to prevent Benign Prostrate Hyperplasia by inhibiting the production of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). A fortunate side effect of taking this drug is that it's DHT blocking abilities also caused hair to regrow. Each pill contains 1 g of Finasteride.
- 1Finasteride is available over the counter in the 1 mg dose in some areas of North America but not all. Checking with a doctor is necessary to make sure that this medication does not interfere with other medications you may be on. It is also to be used with caution in people that have kidney or liver problems and it may not be used at all by people on dialysis.Meet with your doctor to get a prescription for Finasteride and see if it is a safe option for you.
Supportive Lifestyle and Diet Choices May Help Temporal Hair Loss
As supportive therapies to your topical minoxidil or oral finasteride treatment you may also make sure that you are following these recommendations:
- Eat a nutritious diet that consists of high-protein foods that are full of omega 3 fatty acids such as eggs, lean proteins, shellfish and seafood proteins are the building blocks of healthy hair strands
- Consume a variety of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables every day to lower inflammation levels in the scalp and encourage healthier hair follicles
- Use healthy organic shampoos that do not contain laurel-sulfate, parabens or other harmful chemicals that can cause hair loss
- Do not wear hairstyles that pull at the roots of your hair and stress the hair follicles such as braids, buns or ponytails
- If you must put your hair up avoid using elastic bands which pull on your hair harder and can cause hair strands to break
- Avoid processing your hair by coloring, straightening or perming it as chemicals in these products can cause hair loss
- If you absolutely must dye your hair use henna and not chemical dyes as henna actually strengthens the hair shaft
- If you must brush your hair, use a brush with natural soft bristles and stay away from brushes that have hard plastic stubs for bristles
- Keep your hair cut shorter so that it is easier to manage and requires less combing and brushing, which can cause hairs to shed
- Do not brush wet hair as brushing wet hair can cause more breakage and strain on hair at the roots
- Massaging your scalp daily with your fingers can help stimulate your circulation and bring nourishing blood to the hair follicles
- Get plenty of rest to make sure that your body has a change to regenerate any damaged parts of itself, including blocked or dying hair follicles.
Tips and Tricks
- Women using Minoxidil should use preparations made for women, also known as Rogaine for Women. Females should stick to using the 2% Minoxidil to avoid the growth of facial hair.
- To maintain your hair growth you must keep using Minoxidil, because if you stop, your new hair growth is likely to fall out.
- Do not take Minoxidil if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Minoxidil is not suitable for people who have heart or blood pressure problems.
- Minoxidil can cause dizziness in some people and it is not recommended to drink alcohol while applying the solution.
- Do not get Minoxidil solution in your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Propecia is only recommended for use by males over the age of 18.
- Pregnant women should not handle Propecia pills.
- Propecia is not recommended for people who have liver disease, bladder disorders, prostrate cancer or problems with their urethra; it is especially not recommended for people with liver issues as the drug is metabolized in that organ
- Propecia also reacts with many anti-fungal medications, that some balding individuals might also be taking to prevent inflammation of the scalp and hair loss including fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole
- Propecia is associated with many side-effects including chills, cold sweats, dizziness, confusion, skin rash, hives, weight gain, tingling of hands and feet and swelling of the lips and face; if any of these side effects occur you should see your doctor
- Keep in mind that the effectiveness of Minoxidil or Finasteride can be very unpredictable and is dependent on many factors including genetics, hormonal production, underlying medical conditions and medication side-effects.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
