The Anti-Aging Advisor

Our Crowning Glory

Like our skin, hair changes as we age. The combination of hormonal changes and a slowing of cell generation, plus the fact many older people often don’t get the protein they need to maintain their hair, takes its toll in the form of dryer, thinner and grayer hair.

The best way to maintain healthy hair is the same way we should be maintaining healthy skin and bodies: a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. Here are a few additional tips that should help:

• Let your hair air dry. Blow dryers pull moisture out of the hair strands leaving it prone to breakage.
• Massage your scalp on a regular basis. You can do this when you shampoo, giving your scalp a little boost to stimulate hair growth.
• Use a color-boosting shampoo and conditioner. These products can add shine and depth to your hair without permanently dyeing it.
• Use a natural bristle brush rather than one with synthetic bristles. Natural bristles will not pull out hair and can reduce breakage.
• Use hair care products that contain antioxidants and high levels of protein.
• Use light products to maintain bounce and fullness.

As we age, we produce less hair and the hair we do produce can be thinner. To combat this double-whammy:

• Find a hair style that compliments your face and takes advantage of what thickness you have.
• Get a perm to add volume. This is a good solution for those with thin but healthy hair. Use a professional stylist or salon to reduce the chance of breakage.
• Shampoo and condition less frequently.
• Hair color adds body and volume. If you have brittle hair or are taking medication that weakens hair strands, use a semi-permanent hair color with no ammonia or peroxide.
• Use products that add volume. Avoid products that contain paraffin which can cause breakage.

Male Pattern Baldness

Like the phrase implies, male pattern baldness is the typical sequence of hair loss that may start between the ages of 20 to 45 and, over time, lead to loss of hair over the top surface of the head. Unfortunately, most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. Testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. DHT slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hairs, sometimes stopping hair growth from the follicle completely. We shed scalp hairs daily and once DHT starts working on the follicles, those hairs are not replaced.

Female Pattern Baldness

Women experience hair loss in patterns similar to men. Reduction in estrogen levels and over-production of testosterone are the culprit. The condition, known as androgenic alopecia, can occur at any age but most commonly occurs at perimenopause or menopause. As estrogen levels decrease, testosterone can increase production and undergo the same interactions that it does in men.

Solutions for Age-Related Baldness

The treatment of male and female pattern baldness is similar, once the condition is properly diagnosed. Some medications, stress and other factors can cause temporary hair loss—so before you assume heredity and hormones have ganged up against you, verify the diagnosis.

Hair Transplants

The procedure has improved over the years with a result that reduces the degree of baldness. The best results require patients who still have thick hair on the back or sides of the scalp.

The procedure can be described simply: a portion of the scalp, usually at the back of the neck, is removed. Small groups or hairs are separated out. Tiny holes are made in the front of the scalp and the healthy hairs are transplanted. During one procedure hundreds or even thousands of individual hairs are transplanted.

During the recovery period, the scalp is often tender requiring strong pain medication for several days. A surgical dressing must be worn for a day or two; a course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.

Topical Treatments and Medications

Minoxidil, Rogaine and other topical treatments can re-grow hair. The real experts on the effectiveness of over-the-counter treatments are doctors, so talk to your family practitioner.

Other options are DHT inhibitors, available in time-release formulas that nourish hair growth.