Overview
The speaker shares personal experiences and advice on addressing hair loss, outlining causes, evaluation steps, natural and medical treatments, and lifestyle changes to promote hair regrowth and minimize hair loss side effects.
Personal Experience with Hair Loss
- Speaker began losing hair in 2019, leading to significant insecurity.
- Social interactions were affected due to obsession with hairline visibility.
Understanding Hair Loss Causes
- Hair loss can be due to deficiencies in minerals and vitamins (zinc, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, biotin).
- If not deficient and practicing healthy habits, male pattern baldness (linked to DHT sensitivity) may be the cause.
- Family history (father or maternal grandfather) is a strong indicator of male pattern baldness.
Treatment Options
- Two main treatment routes: natural and unnatural (medicinal).
- Natural option: Saw palmetto (320 mg daily), shown to block DHT and boost testosterone.
- Saw palmetto should be taken with food to avoid stomach issues.
- Medical options: Finasteride and dutasteride, both DHT blockers.
- Finasteride at 0.25 mg, four times a week, minimized side effects for the speaker.
- Dutasteride caused severe side effects and is not recommended by the speaker.
- Lowest effective medication doses are suggested to reduce long-term risks.
Hair Regrowth Strategies
- Minoxidil applied nightly to affected areas, combined with scalp massage for 10 minutes.
- Microneedling (1 mm device), used twice a week, applied by straight pressing rather than rolling.
- Gelatin supplements can thicken hair and may be combined with saw palmetto.
Lifestyle and Environmental Tips
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, processed foods, and exposure to fluoride-laden water.
- Maintaining scalp health and a supportive environment is crucial for hair regrowth.
Summary of Recommendations
- Identify the cause of hair loss before starting treatment.
- Prefer natural treatments first to minimize side effects.
- Maintain healthy lifestyle habits to support hair health.
Recommendations / Advice
- Check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies with bloodwork.
- Start with natural DHT blockers and only use medication if necessary.
- Use the lowest dose of medication effective for hair retention.
- Apply Minoxidil and use a scalp massager nightly.
- Incorporate microneedling twice weekly for regrowth support.
- Avoid environmental factors that damage hair quality.