Best Hair Loss Treatment - Symptoms, Causes & Preventions

05 April, 2021  |  Holy Winter - Healthcare Writer

Hair loss is one of the most prevalent causes of depression. It is not an easy topic to talk about for many people. Dealing with Hair loss isn’t easy. It not only affects you emotionally but physically as well. Few things are scarier than a receding hairline. Hair loss has been one of the most popularly searched words on the internet. With a rise in hair loss, several treatments for hair loss come up-front as well, which leaves individuals befuddled on which treatment to go for, iQ Doctor is an Online Pharmaceutical store that provides you with treatments for multiple illnesses and disorders, including hair loss.

We’re here to give you the knowledge to develop an informed opinion on treatments for hair loss, but first, let us discuss the varying causes of hairloss. 

What Are the Causes of Hair Loss?

Facts state that by the age of thirty-five, around forty percent and by fifty, eighty-five percent of men suffer from baldness. physical appearance has a lot of impact on how a person is perceived by society. This social behaviour affects their mental health and, consequently, their physical health. Sadly, our communities prioritise ‘good looks’ above all other personality traits.

Why is it so? Well, today’s social media speaks for itself.

It is impossible to scroll through Instagram and Facebook without second-guessing your physical appearance. This causes severe psychological trauma for people suffering from hair loss and triggers their insecurities.

There can be several reasons you might face hair loss, some of which may be having hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety. It can also be due to heredity reasons or a side effect of some medication or supplement.

Let’s discuss these reasons in detail.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal imbalances in the body can lead to hair thinning and hair loss. Understanding these reasons is one of the initial steps towards treating it. Male hormones such as testosterone and androgens are associated with hair loss. A recent finding suggests that DHT, dihydrotestosterone, is also a contributing factor towards hair loss in most men and women. It is toxic for your hair. It shrinks down the follicles and makes them grow back slower and more brittle. DHT makes it impossible for healthy hair to survive.

Genetic (androgenetic alopecia)

Facing hair loss due to genetics is a prevalent problem. Shedding up to 100 hair strands a day is considered normal, and anything beyond that is dangerous and a due cause for alarm. It is seen in the form of a receding hairline, a wider partition or a visible scalp known as androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as pattern hair loss.

Many men and women go through androgenetic alopecia as early as their twenties. If we look at the cycles of hair growth, they can be divided into three phases; the anagen (growth) phase, the catagen (transition) phase and the telogen (shedding) phase. Once the hair follicle enters the shedding phase without going to the growth stage again, this causes hair thinning and androgenetic alopecia.

Medications

While, in most cases, the reason for hair thinning and hair loss may be genetic, there is another culprit to blame. Several medications cause or contribute to hair loss, such as antibiotics, acne medications, oral contraceptives, antidepressants, blood thinners, insulin, Cholesterol control medication etc. These medications interfere with the cycles of hair growth. A flux towards either the anagen or telogen phase can cause hair loss.

On a side note, make sure to always consult your medical practitioner before taking any medications. Feel free to discuss your hair loss issues with them as well. Your voice will enable them to find the right set of medicines for your illnesses.

Stress and Anxiety 

People often ignore stress as a reason for causing hair loss problems. The stress hormone responsible for this is called cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone manufactured in the adrenal glands.

When our bodies undergo stress, it’s highly destructive for proteins. Proteins, the building blocks of our cells, tissues, muscles and organs, are broken down prematurely. They are converted into sugars.

Whenever cortisol is too high in the body, it’ll cause unnecessary protein loss, leading to malnutrition of hair, nails, skin etc. Stress does not cause hair loss immediately. Sometimes, it can be months before you start getting symptoms of hairloss. It is likely because of lifelong habits.

During the pandemic, several hair-loss cases have been reported after contracting COVID-19. This type of hair loss from stress is called shock hair loss. After the study, the cause of shock-stress was found as financial and emotional stress from lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hair Treatments and Excessive Use of Hair Products 

Everyone wants to look good, but not at the expense of losing hair. The rate of hair loss is different for different people. Excessive use of incorrect hair treatments and low-quality hair products can also be a reason for male pattern baldness.

While many hair products may not directly be responsible for causing hair loss, some are downright dangerous. Firstly, Sulfates, such as sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, cause damage to your immune system and leave the scalp itchy, red and dry. Secondly, Parabens cause hormonal imbalance, which can also lead to hair loss. Companies use it as an ingredient to increase their products’ shelf life. Apart from these polyethylene glycols, some specific types of alcohols and glycerides can be dangerous for your hair as well.

Now that you’ve understood the causes of hair loss, it’s time we educated you about the symptoms of hair loss. It’s best to avoid getting your hair curled and be prepared beforehand.

Early Symptoms of Hair Loss

It is understood that one doesn’t lose all their hair all at once.

There are several symptoms of hair loss that one may face. This disease has a slow gradient, and the rate of hair loss steadily increases above the average. It may start with a gradual thinning of hair and a receding hairline. The hair on the sides of the temples could also thin out. Another symptom is patchiness and bald spots on the scalp. Some people lose their hair in sizable patches, from the head and sometimes, even from the eyebrows and beards. Some signs may also include having skin discolouration, dry skin, flaky scalp etc.

Say No to Hair Loss with iQ Doctor

iQ Doctor is a registered online pharmaceutical store based in Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to sell medicines online. It is also registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as an Internet pharmacy.

iQ Doctor provides you with the best hair loss treatment for your Male pattern baldness, known as androgenic alopecia. Please understand that androgenic alopecia is a medical term for hair loss and does not necessarily only occur on the scalp. It affects every 2 in 1000 people in the UK. 

Currently, a medicine called Finasteride is the only licensed prescription treatment for hair loss available. It is available in a branded form called Propecia and a non-branded generic form, Finasteride, that is cheaper. Unfortunately, Finasteride isn’t available on the NHS. 

Propecia and Finasteride 

iQ Doctor provides you with Finasteride tablets for hair loss. You can easily order them from iQ Doctor’s website clinic following consultation from one of their qualified representatives.

Finasteride inhibits DHT production, the primary hormone in the body responsible for hair loss. It is produced by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase in the hair follicles. Men who have less of this enzyme have lower DHT levels and are less likely to develop male pattern baldness.

Finasteride has been shown to inhibit the human Type II 5-alpha reductase, decreasing the formation of DHT from testosterone and thus helping to inhibit hair loss. By using Finasteride, you can slow down, stop, and reverse hair loss signs.

This one-milligram tablet is taken once a day. This medication is exclusively for men, and it may take a few months of consistent use to get results. Finasteride is sold under the brand name of Propecia as well, which you can also get on the iQ Doctor’s website. Propecia is suitable for men aged 18 and above. They both have the same active ingredient; hence they give the same result. iQ Doctor provides you with 100% discretion and confidentiality, easy checkout and fast delivery. 

Difference Between Propecia and Finasteride

So what’s the noteworthy difference between the two? It is a common question whether generic Finasteride is as good as the cheaper version such as Propecia and the answer is yes! It is just as good and as effective and has an equivalent compound since both have the same active ingredient.

Side Effects of Hair Loss & Preventions of Hair Loss

With these medications, side effects are rare and mild. According to sources, less than 5% of men face side effects from using Finasteride or Propecia. However, some of the side effects can be severe. In this case, mainly because this medication affects hormones.

Common side effects may include erectile dysfunction, male infertility, depression, testicle pain etc. If you have a prostate condition or if your partner is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you cannot take Propecia. It is important to know what risks are associated with the drug, and you should consult your doctor before trying to self medicate so you can better understand how this drug may affect your body.