I'm Losing Hair in the Front
Hair loss is very common and the frontal region is usually the first place you will notice it. While it can be very discouraging and frustrating to lose your hair, there are treatments available to help help prevent further loss. If your hair is thinning in the front, it would help to become familiar with the primary cause of hair loss and the treatments that can help prevent it.
Cause
Hair loss may be prompted by numerous medical conditions, such as an underactive thyroid 5. Still, The Foundation of Hair Restoration claims that genetic "androgenic alopecia" is to blame for 95 percent of cases 1. Androgenic alopecia occurs when dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, inhibits hairs that are predisposed to thinning. The frontal hair line is often the first place you may notice this.
Prevention
Widow's Peak and Hair Loss
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Two Food and Drug Administration-recommended treatments can be particularly effective at treating frontal hair loss.
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approves topical minoxidil for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. The 5 percent strength is approved for males and and the 2 percent strength is approved for females. According to the International Association of Hair Restoration Surgery, minoxidil has been studied for over 15 years in clinical trials and has a very safe track record 2. Minoxidil should be applied to areas of thinning hair up to two times daily.
The FDA approves finasteride for for the treatment of androgenic alopecia in males. Note that finasteride is only for men; women should not even handle the tablets. The Hair Transplant Network reports that finasteride inhibits the creation of DHT, allowing hair follicles to grow at their normal rate 3.
- Two Food and Drug Administration-recommended treatments can be particularly effective at treating frontal hair loss.
- The FDA approves finasteride for for the treatment of androgenic alopecia in males.
Expert Insight
Dr. Robert Bernstein, recipient of the “Platinum Follicle Award” for his outstanding achievement in scientific and clinical research in hair restoration, explains that minoxidil and finasteride were only tested on the top of the scalp in clinical trials. He explains that the package inserts are require to state that the treatments were only proven to be effective on the vertex of the scalp. Nonetheless, Dr. Bernstein says to ignore the package inserts and that both treatments will treat frontal hair loss if there is hair remaining in the frontal area 5.
Solution
Effectiveness of Rogaine
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While the two FDA-approved treatments should help reduce frontal hair loss, a hair transplant is a permanent solution. The Foundation of Hair Restoration website explains exactly this procedure works and what to expect 1. Hair follicles are taken from areas in the back of head that are prone to DHT-related thinning and moved to areas where density has decreased. They will begin to grow three months after the surgery, regrow to their normal thickness if they shed and last a lifetime.
- While the two FDA-approved treatments should help reduce frontal hair loss, a hair transplant is a permanent solution.
Misconceptions
On the Bernstein Medical website, Dr. Robert Bernstein explores some of the more common myths concerning hair loss 5. He says that hair loss does not come from wearing hats often, having clogged pores or shampooing too frequently. He also states that it untrue that genetic hair loss comes only from your mother's side of the family. It can come from either family lineage or both.
- On the Bernstein Medical website, Dr. Robert Bernstein explores some of the more common myths concerning hair loss 5.
- He also states that it untrue that genetic hair loss comes only from your mother's side of the family.
Related Articles
References
- Foundation for Hair Restoration: Permanent Hair Transplant Methods
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery: 5% Minoxidil in Treating Male-Pattern Hair Loss
- Hair Transplant Network: Male Hair Can Be Stopped
- Bernstein Medical: Can Propecia or Rogaine Improve Receding Hairline Or Front Of Scalp?
- Bernstein Medical: Hair Loss Myths
- Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.
- Watras MM, Patel JP, Arya R. Traditional anticoagulants and hair loss: a role for direct oral anticoagulants? A review of the literature. Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2016;3(1):1-6. doi:10.1007/s40801-015-0056-z
- Urysiak-czubatka I, Kmieć ML, Broniarczyk-dyła G. Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(4):207-15. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40925
- Vincent M, Yogiraj K. A descriptive study of alopecia patterns and their relation to thyroid dysfunction. Int J Trichology. 2013;5(1):57-60. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114701
- Peters EMJ, Müller Y, Snaga W, et al. Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(4):e0175904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175904
- Pratt CH, King LE, Messenger AG, Christiano AM, Sundberg JP. Alopecia areata. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17011. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.11
- American Academy of Dermatology. Alopecia Areata: Overview.
Resources
Writer Bio
Chris Deoudes has been a fitness writer since 2006, with articles published at Bodybuilding.com and Avant Labs. He is certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise and as a performance sport nutrition specialist by the International Sports Sciences Association. He has a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and business management from the University of Florida.