Baldness is a widely researched topic and a fair number of people have studied and tried out various cures for it. The latest study into alopecia areata, has connected it with various genes, which paves the way forward for new and advanced treatments. Alopecia areata is a form of baldness which is very common. It causes hair thinning and eventually hair loss.
The study revealed that a few auto-immune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis had connected chromosomes to baldness. This new found knowledge could prove to be very useful towards developing new types of medication targeting hair loss, and perhaps even reversing it.
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, pharmaceutical companies are yet to receive formal approval from the FDA to look into developing new treatments for hair loss – even though alopecia areata is a common auto-immune disease.
Both men and women are affected alike by alopecia areata, although studies show that women are more open about it with their doctors, as opposed to men. This leads to better diagnosis rates amongst women.
Baldness is otherwise cured by varied and sometimes untested and unsafe medication, hair transplants or even hair pieces. Most of these cures are far from being effective. Prescription drugs for baldness include Minoxidil and Finasteride, which is more commonly known as Propecia.
Minoxidil can be bought over the counter, and is a lotion which must be massaged into the scalp atleast twice a day. The downside of this treatment is that constant use is necessary for its effectiveness.
Propecia is a drug that stops Dihydrotestosterone from forming, which otherwise causes baldness in men.