Steroid Treatments For Your Hair Loss Problems
Hair loss is a problem that affects both men and women. The causes are varied but the number one reason is genetics. Hair loss, especially male pattern baldness is attributed to hereditary factors. Stress is also a great inducer of hair loss and so is malnutrition.
Medications containing amphetamines and lithium (used to treat bipolar disorder) can also be responsible for hair loss. Constant hairstyling and chemical treatment of your hair can result to brittle hair and eventual hair loss.
Other reasons are diseases such as trichotillomania, which is a psychological disorder compelling the person to nervously pull out his hair. Tinea capititis is a fungal infection that often results to scaling in the scalp and breakage of the hairs even before they grow out of the hair follicle.
Alopecia areata is another reason for hair loss, this is evident by the immediate loss of hair in patches in the scalp as well as the body and it can have a debilitating effect on your scalp. Although the hair follicles are not affected, it can take persons afflicted with this months or years before hair starts to grow.
Doctors recommend a lot of treatments for these diseases and one of the most effective is the use of steroids being injected directly to the scalp. However, they should only be in minimal dosages because there are known harmful side effects from going over the prescribed dose.
More importantly, this treatment is resorted only in cases of severe hair loss, such as in persons who suffer from alopecia areata, or for those who have lost approximately fifty percent of their hair.
Steroid injections are painful and since they can only be injected in small doses, they are required to be injected every four to six weeks. Oral steroids may also be taken, however they may offer a more prominent manifestation of side effects.
Topical steroids which can be massage into the scalp are also available. Steroid injections are also combined with other drugs such as minoxidil and anthralin to help speed up the hair growth process. Some of the side effects would include nausea, vomiting, headaches and scalp irritation.
If you are planning to use steroids to help treat hair loss, please consult your physician first if you qualify for such treatment. The injections would require a physician for administration and should not be experimented or done at home. Steroids are your last resort but you have to be well nourished as well and follow strict personal hygiene for you to have that thick and full hair again.