As we age, we may notice that sections of our hair are thinning out. Often, this manifests as a spot on your scalp that has no hair. It only takes one or two bald spots in an otherwise full head of hair to make us feel self-conscious about our appearance. If you are among the many people who are bothered by the appearance of a bald spot, you may be wondering how to get rid of a bald spot.
It's natural to want to learn how to hide a bald spot. Fortunately, there are several techniques that you can use to hide the spot, or even reverse the hair you've lost.
This article is grounded in science, rather than marketing hype. To gain a clear understanding of the options available to you, you'll need to evaluate which option best suits your specific hair loss. Let's take a look at an overview of hair loss, and then go into what you can do to get rid of your bald spot.
Bald Spots: What Causes Them?
Going bald isn't always a quick process. For many men, it takes years before they are completely bald. If you are losing your hair, you may have noticed that your hair thinning out starts with a bald spot.
Bald spots can be caused by a single factor or a combination of different factors. These factors can include genetics, stress, hormones, diet, and so on. The most common cause of bald spots is genetic. This means that you inherit your hair from your parents. This is why you'll often see a pattern of baldness in a family.
To best evaluate how to treat your bald spot, you must first understand what causes yours. The following are the most common causes of bald spots:
Genetics
Genetics plays a huge role in hair loss. This is why it's common to see a trend of hair loss in a family. If your father goes bald, you have a high likelihood of going bald as well. You can make this assumption with your older siblings, as well. Genetics are the most common cause of bald spots.
The cause of genetic baldness is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a byproduct of testosterone. As your body produces more testosterone, the more DHT you make. DHT binds to receptors on your hair follicles. When the DHT attaches to the follicles, it causes them to shrink and eventually fall out. This often happens to the hair at the front of your head first, resulting in a receding hairline. This process continues to the back of your head, resulting in the balding of the crown. For some men, DHT continues to attack the hair on the sides of the head, resulting in a widening of the part. The balding process can take years to occur, and it can happen gradually.
Stress
Stress can play a major role in hair loss. Under stress, the body produces the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, which means it causes your body to break down protein. This protein is broken down for energy. Cortisol does not discriminate what protein it breaks down. It can target your hair follicles, causing them to shrink and eventually fall out.
Cortisol can cause hair loss when it is too high. If you are under constant stress, your cortisol levels may be higher than they should be. This can cause bald spots to form on your head. Stress can be caused by many things, including work, school, family life, and relationships.
Cortisol can also cause hair loss by increasing androgen sensitivity. Androgens are the hormones that cause hair loss. When cortisol increases androgen sensitivity, it can cause hair loss.
Hormones
Hormones are responsible for controlling the function of cells in the body. When hormones are imbalanced, they can cause many problems, including hormonal-induced hair loss.
Hormonal-induced hair loss is caused by too much or too little of a hormone. It can be caused by testosterone, thyroid, and DHT. When there is too much DHT, it can cause bald spots to form.
Imbalances of testosterone cause testosterone-induced hair loss. High testosterone can cause hair loss. Low testosterone can also cause hair loss. Low testosterone can cause hair loss because it slows hair growth.
Imbalances in the thyroid cause thyroid-induced hair loss. The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones. Thyroid hormones help regulate many things in the body, including growth. If your thyroid hormone levels are too high or too low, it can cause hair loss.
Diet
Your diet can have a big impact on your hair. If your diet is high in protein, it can cause hair loss. The protein in the diet is broken down into amino acids. The amino acids are then broken down into ammonia and urea. Ammonia and urea can then become toxic to hair follicles, causing them to shrink and fall out.
You can also get hair loss from a diet that is low in protein. When you diet is low in protein, it can cause hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. When your thyroid hormone levels are low, it can cause hair loss. Hypothyroidism can also lead to many other problems, including diabetes and depression.
Medication
Certain medications can cause hair loss, including chemotherapy and steroids. Chemotherapy destroys cancerous cells in the body. It does this by killing and breaking down cells, including hair follicles. As your follicles die and shrink, they fall out.
Steroids work by mimicking the effects of androgens. An androgen, such as testosterone, is a hormone that causes hair loss. Steroids cause hair loss by imitating the effects of androgens. If you are taking steroids, you can experience hair loss as a side effect.
5 Ways To Get Rid of Bald Spots
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to get rid of bald spots. One of the best ways to get rid of bald spots is by using a hair growth product like Finasteride, Minoxidil, or Laser Therapy. These are all FDA-approved products and practices that have proven to be effective.
Finasteride
Finasteride is a very popular solution. This is a prescription pill that was developed to treat male-pattern baldness. This medication is very effective at stopping the growth of DHT.
What is DHT? It is an enzyme that causes hair follicles to shrink. This medication works by blocking DHT production. The vast majority of men who use Finasteride for more than three months experience a halt in their hair loss, and those who continue taking the drug for over a year even experience regrowth of the hair that was lost.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is another very popular treatment for male-pattern baldness. It is an over-the-counter drug that helps to regrow hair.
Minoxidil works by widening the blood vessels of the scalp. This helps to increase circulation and accelerate hair regrowth. When you use Minoxidil, you will start to notice new hair growth in the bald spot.
In addition to the beneficial effects of Minoxidil, this drug has also been shown to treat other forms of hair loss.
A combination of Finasteride and Minoxidil is a very effective way to get rid of bald spots. These two medications work in a complementary manner, each one working in a different way to stop hair loss and accelerate hair regrowth.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is a medical treatment that uses a laser to treat a variety of conditions. It is a useful solution for people who have a bald spot due to a medical condition, such as alopecia. Laser therapy works by stimulating the hair follicles of the scalp.
Laser therapy can also be used to slow down hair loss and improve scalp health. This hair loss treatment method is very effective at stopping hair loss, and it can even stop the balding process.
Hair Transplants
A hair transplant is another option. This is a surgical procedure, in which hair is transplanted from the back of the head to the bald spots. This is a very effective option for men who are completely bald or have very thin hair. Hair transplants can be very expensive and need to be done by a surgeon.
Wear a Wig or Headpiece
Another option for hiding, rather than treating, the bald spots on your head is to wear a wig or headpiece. These are less expensive than other options, and they are also more accessible.
Usually, wigs and headpieces are easy to care for, and you can find a wide variety of styles and colours to suit your taste. The only downside to wearing a wig or headpiece is that they can sometimes slip or slide off if unsecured. Additionally, it can be hard to find one that looks fully natural. However, with enough practice, you can easily learn to wear a wig or headpiece to hide a bald spot.
Conclusion
There are many solutions to bald spots. Whether you decide to treat them or hide them, there are options for you. If you decide to treat your hair loss with medication, you can get a prescription for Finasteride online through Phoenix Health, a telehealth platform exclusively for men. No camera is required! Make an appointment today.
This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Your specific circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider. All statements of opinion represent the writers' judgement at the time of publication and are subject to change. Phoenix and its affiliates provide no express or implied endorsements of third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products, or services.