Lots of supplements and products promise to give you long, lustrous locks.
But is there science to back it up?
The longer hair spends in this phase which is mostly genetically determined the longer hair grows.
The short answer is: not exactly.
This is a tough question to answer.
Rigorous studies are lacking in this arena.
So while its possible to increase hair growth and retention, increasingthe speedat which hair grows doesnt seem likely.
But between supplements, topicals, fancy tools and in-office procedures, what actually works?
Low vitamin D, iron, B12 and several other deficiencies can be a cause of hair loss.
Be sure to discuss it with your doctor to avoid problems before testing.
Minoxidil also helps increase the size of hair follicles, which promotes the growth of thicker, stronger hairs.
Patience is requiredresults take at least six months to a year to be fully appreciated, Puza said.
And once the treatment has been stopped, hair slowly returns to its previous state.
Behind minoxidil, topical finasteride is a special compounded medication that reduces deleterious hormones on the scalp.
I often compound this for my patients with minoxidil, Puza said.
[Low-level laser therapy]works (we think) by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation.
Thus, the scalp health improves so hair can grow better/faster, Puza said.
Results arent guaranteed, though.
The patients own blood is taken and the plasma is isolated, which is then injected into the scalp.
Puza calls the treatment phenomenal.
Keep your scalp healthy, avoid heat styling and go for frequent trims to reduce breakage.
What you ingest matters, too.
Whatever approach you take, stay patient.
