I'm Embarrassed about Losing My Hair

If you’re losing your hair, you’re in good company. More than 80 million U.S. adults experience thinning hair, including about 50% of women. Losing your hair is a challenging experience that can impact the way you look and feel about yourself. 

At Advanced Specialty Associates in St. Paul and Baxter, Minnesota, our board-certified providers understand the emotional impact hair loss can have. That’s why our team offers safe and effective hair restoration therapies. 

Keep reading to learn more about hair loss and the ways we can help promote new hair growth.

How hair loss can affect self-esteem

In Western societies, hair symbolizes vitality, virility, and beauty. As such, hair loss undeniably has a significant impact on self-esteem. It can also trigger feelings of depression, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. 

For example, women may have feelings of diminished attractiveness, and men may associate hair loss with a decline in strength and sexual prowess. These effects can be even more pronounced if hair loss occurs at a young age. 

Thinning or balding people are often perceived as older, since our cultural norms link a lack of hair with older age. These perceptions can affect the way we view ourselves and others with hair loss. 

For instance, men with thinning hair may be viewed as lacking youthful vigor in their work environments. As such, it’s not unusual for hair loss to cause reduced confidence, feelings of unattractiveness, or a perception of diminished capability in personal and professional spheres. 

Fortunately, hair restoration treatments can help. The right treatment depends on the type of hair loss you’re experiencing. 

Understanding the types of hair loss 

Hair loss can be triggered by various factors. Understanding the underlying cause of your hair loss is crucial in finding effective solutions. Your Advanced Specialty Associates provider assesses your medical history, current health, and the condition of your scalp to uncover the cause of your hair loss. 

Most hair loss is the result of aging and genetic factors. Here’s a closer look at some of the common causes of hair loss:

Androgenetic alopecia

Also known as male or female pattern baldness, this hereditary condition is the most common cause of hair loss. It’s influenced by hormonal factors and genetic predisposition.

Telogen effluvium

This condition develops when you experience a disruption in your hair growth cycle that causes excessive shedding. It can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, or certain medications.

Alopecia areata

This autoimmune condition causes patchy hair loss. You develop alopecia areata when your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles. It can lead to hair loss anywhere on your body.

Medical conditions and treatments

Certain medical issues can lead to hair loss, including thyroid disorders, scalp infections, and hormonal imbalances. Treatments like chemotherapy can also lead to temporary hair loss. And finally, certain medications can contribute to hair loss.

Effective treatments for hair loss

There are a number of nonsurgical hair therapies that can treat hair loss and improve your natural hair growth. At Advanced Specialty Associates, our team has selected the safest and most effective hair restoration treatments. Here’s a closer look:

LaserCap for hair loss

Studies show that the LaserCap for hair loss, also referred to as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a safe and effective way for men and women to regrow hair without invasive methods. 

This treatment uses different wavelengths of near-infrared light energy. This energy increases blood flow to your scalp while also stimulating cell regeneration. As a result, your hair follicles are triggered to grow new hair. 

There are very few side effects, making the LaserCap a good treatment for most patients with mild-to-moderate hair loss. To optimize your results, your provider may recommend combining this treatment with other hair restoration therapies. 

Platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss

Your blood has platelets, which are cells that help spur healing and tissue generation. With platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, we draw some blood from your arm. Then, we put the blood in a centrifuge, which separates the platelets from the rest of the components in your blood.

Finally, we take the resulting solution and inject it into your scalp. Research shows that the high concentrations of platelets helps promote hair growth by prolonging the growing phase of your hair’s natural growth cycle. Furthermore, the PRP solution helps spur your hair follicles to produce new hair.

You should know that while PRP therapy is very effective in reversing or slowing hair loss, results don’t take place overnight. The new hairs should grow in gradually. As a result, most patients usually see noticeable results after 2-3 months. 

If your hair is thinning and you’d like to see how you can get it back, we can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Advanced Specialty Associates today.