Navigating hair loss is hard, especially while your body is likely undergoing several other changes. There is good news: You have options. With adequate treatment and by focusing on the health of your hair, hair thinning doesn’t have to progress.
Spironolactone, a blood pressure medication, is used “off-label” to treat hair loss due to FPHL, as it blocks the effects of circulating androgens.
But can you get back what’s already been lost? According to Kazlouskaya, it depends on the progression and what factors contribute to the thinning. For example, if diet or nutrient deficiencies are a major factor, amending those can increase your chances of regrowth.
“We may be able to reverse it if it’s in the early stages, but if it’s already a very long-standing process, we have to be realistic about how much we will be able to reverse,” she says. “We can boost the other hair to be thicker, healthier, and that can help mask what’s been lost.”
That means taking care of the hair you already have is paramount. Strategies include:
- Choosing Sulfate-Free Products: Chemicals and additives to hair products can strip the hair and scalp of necessary nutrients.
- Reducing Exposure to Heat, Dyes, and Bleach: According to Han, while heat and chemicals don’t affect your hair follicles, they can cause breakage to your already sensitive strands.
- Using Heat Protectant: A quick application of heat protectant — a hair product used before using a blow-dryer, curling iron, or straightening iron — can make a huge difference in the long-term health of your hair, says Han.