• Medication. There are two types of FDA-approved medication for male pattern baldness — Minoxidil, or Rogaine and Finasteride, or Propecia. The more famous of the two, Rogaine, is a topical hair loss treatment that you apply to the scalp. It’s available over the counter at most major pharmacies and works best on the top of the head. One interesting fact is that Rogaine was first developed to treat blood pressure but had the side effect of hair growth. Results are usually seen after 3 to 6 months of use. Once results appear, you’ll have to keep applying Rogaine to keep the benefits. Finasteride is an oral hair loss treatment that requires a prescription. This hair loss treatment targets the male hormone that contributes to shrinking hair follicles, which usually naturally occurs as you age. You’ll have to keep taking Finasteride to maintain its benefits. Thus, this drug only slows hair loss and does not prevent it completely. Other topical shampoo treatments are available over the counter as well for male pattern baldness.
• Hair transplants. Hair transplants are invasive cosmetic procedures that involve surgery. In essence, you take hair from the back part of your head, which are more resistant to androgens (the male sex hormones which help regulate hair growth), along with the attached skin and graft it onto your bald area. Another surgical procedure similar to this is transplanting individual hairs, which avoids the scar that hair transplants leave. As a surgical procedure, there is an extensive recovery period; it’s expensive, and it’s probably not covered by most insurance policies since it’s an elected procedure.
• Laser and light therapy. This hair loss treatment uses low-level lasers to stimulate and energize cells within the hair follicles. The sebaceous glands within the skin are also stimulated, which are the glands that give your hair a glossy appearance. Laser therapy also helps to increase melanin production in the hair follicles, which darkens your hair, removing some of the gray.
• Scalp reduction. A newer treatment for hair loss, scalp reduction is where some part of your balding part of the scalp is cut out and the remaining skin is sewn together, which reduces the bald area. Then a hair transplant is usually done, which requires less hair to transplant after the scalp reduction.
• Wigs. Wigs can cover up your hair loss, not treat it. Wigs can be uncomfortable, and embarrassing if they are displaced. They need constant care, and most of the time they don’t look natural.
• Scalp Micropigmentation. Utilizing a microneedle, which is well-known for helping to eliminate the signs of aging, scalp micropigmentation uses a needle to inject pigment in the lower layers of the skin. While similar to tattooing, scalp micropigmentation is a highly specialized skill set since the placement of the dots matters for your end results. Each scalp micropigmentation treatment is tailored to your exact skin color and skin type. Scalp micropigmentation helps with all hair loss cases, including male pattern baldness, women’s hair loss, alopecia, and to cover up scars from hair transplants. With little downtime and amazing results, scalp micropigmentation is a great option for most people.

Skin and Scalp Restoration Clinic in Dayton specializes in scalp micropigmentation. With a specially-trained practitioner in scalp micropigmentation, you can leave our office looking like a whole different person. By placing pigments under the skin, you’ll appear to have a lot more hair than you do. Despite what others say, appearances do matter.

Scalp micropigmentation is a non-invasive cosmetic treatment that requires little down time and can be used by those experiencing only minor hair thinning or recession. There is no maintenance involved with scalp micropigmentation, and with a few treatments spaced about two weeks apart, you’ll have a brand new appearance that will last four to six years in a matter of hours. If you’re in the Dayton, Ohio area, contact the Skin and Scalp Restoration Clinic today!