When considering hair loss treatments, a lot of people do not really consider that there could be a downside, as the focus is strictly on restoring hair growth.
If you are looking at ways to stop your hair loss or revitalize what hair you have left, try to make an informed decision with all the facts in place. Here is a little bit about side effects and how they pertain to treatments for hair loss.
Hair Loss Options
When it comes to restoring your crowning glory you have a variety of options.
- Over the counter hair loss products – such as Rogaine, once available by prescription only, can now be purchased from the drug store. Many have used it to help stimulate hair follicles to re-grow hair and it can be used by both men and women. In this category is also hair loss shampoos. They are designed to help thicken and strengthen hair. It works well for those with thinning hair or who are trying to maintain the hair they have left after male pattern baldness has struck.
- Massage – Indian head massage or champissage, has been used for centuries as a way to stimulate the growth of longer stronger hair in men and women in Asia. The practice has now come to the Western world. According to practitioners, hair loss is a symptom of a problem inside the body. By removing the blockage in the body’s energy flow, you can restore order to the body, in this case, stimulating the growth of hair again.
- Hair Accessories – This is not necessarily a treatment to re-grow hair but it is a way to restore your self-esteem in the wake of major hair loss. Wearing wigs and toupees is a better option for many people than it was 20 or 30 years ago. You can have them custom made to fit your hair type and the area of baldness so no one will know it is not your own natural hair.
- Hair transplant surgery – This form of hair restoration treatment requires at least one procedure to graft hair from one area of your head to the balding site. New hair begins to take root and grow within a few months.
Side Effects of Treatment
Have you heard that sometimes the cure is worse than the disease? It can be true in some cases but not in all. Knowing the potential side effects doesn’t mean they will occur but you can weigh the risk against the benefit.
- Over the counter hair loss products – The usual side effects are dry skin, scalp irritation, redness and flaking with products like Rogaine. In rare cases, use can result in dizziness, drop in blood pressure, decreased sex drive and headache to name a few.
- Massage – The effects of your first massage are a result of toxins being shifted through your system to the lymph system where it can be excreted. Often people feel dehydrated, headaches, increased movement of bowels, but no pain.
- Hair Accessories – There are really no reported side effects of hair pieces especially if you have them made specifically to fit your head.
- Hair transplant surgery – Possible side effects can arise if you do not follow post-op instructions carefully – scalp irritation, wound infection, dryness or failure of the implants to take.
Side effects are a potential in the treatment of any medical conditions, like hair loss. They range from minor to severe depending on the procedure, so be aware of the possible effects and help them guide you in the choice of treatment you select.
