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As anyone suffering from genetic balding can tell you, this condition is progressive. Despite some very effective treatments for hair loss, most notably Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil), the fight against balding can be quite challenging over the long term since hair loss is progressive and unpredictable. Topical concealers can help by temporarily providing balding men and women with thicker looking hair instantly.

Many men and women swear by these products and have very positive experiences to share. However, while all of these concealers are marketed as being easy to apply, non-messy and virtually permanent until washed out, some users complain of problems including; messy application, running and discoloration when sweating or caught in the rain and staining of hands and pillows.

These concerns led forum member “EpilepticSceptic” to start the thread Will “concealers” evolve and advance further in 5-10 years?, prompting members to share their thoughts and wishes regarding future innovations. Follow the link to contribute your opinions to the discussion.
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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: balding, hair loss, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil

Throughout history, men and women have been searching for the secret to curing hair loss. In fact, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (The father of modern medicine) was not unlike modern day hair loss sufferers attempting to reverse their balding. Among other “treatments” to curb hair loss, Hippocrates devised an ancient hair loss remedy that included a mixture of horseradish, cumin, pigeon droppings, and nettles to be applied to the scalp. As you may have guessed, this and hundreds of other wacky treatments have proven to be ineffective in combating thinning hair. The good news for the men and women of the 21^st century is that real options, both surgical and non-surgical now exist.

Despite the number of proven treatments today, many men and women are convinced that the real “cure” already exists and is known only to a select few individuals including the rich and the famous. Unfortunately, these hair loss sufferers quite often find themselves parting with hundreds or thousands of dollars as they gobble up every whimsical lotion, tonic, pill or device being hawked on late-night TV or in the back of magazines. So how do you know what works and what doesn’t in the world of hair restoration?

This question comes from a member of the Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums:

I underwent a hair transplant procedure earlier this week and I was wondering how long I need to wait before using styling products? I’m returning to work soon, and need to know if I should wait before using gel and Toppik?

As hair restoration procedures become less invasive, hair loss suffers are able to resume regular activities at accelerated rates post-surgery. Part of this healing process involves continuing with normal hair styling regimens and routines. However, despite the fact that many patients are eager to begin styling their hair regularly, most are equally cautious when it comes to disturbing newly implanted follicular unit grafts.

Knowing this, it’s reasonable to conclude that once the new grafts are properly anchored, it’s safe to use styling products such as gel, mousse, sprays, and hair concealers. Since grafts are properly set between day 7 and 10 (with most experts agreeing that grafts are anchored by day 7), it’s safe to use styling products 7-10 days after hair transplant surgery (after 10 days if one wants to be cautious).

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Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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Technorati Tags: hair transplant, Toppik, hair restoration, hair loss, follicular unit graft, hair concealers, hair transplant surgery

Following a series of questions regarding concealer usage after a hair transplant procedure, Spex, a dedicated Hair Restoration Forum member and consultant to Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Alan Feller, comprehensively addressed the issue on our hair loss forums. In his post, Spex tackles questions concerning different types of concealers, when concealer should be used, and the best way to apply concealer:

When and how to apply hair loss concealers:

These hair loss products can be fantastic when applied correctly (I always found less is more). Especially when you find the one/s that best suit you. Balding men and women that do use them know they can be time consuming to apply (especially in a bind), but also very effective. Nevertheless, the products out there are fantastic to help thinning hair and hair restoration postoperative concerns.

Using concealer is honestly a case of trial and error – as there is no hard and fast rule to which one will work best and at what time. However, most can help immensely in the early stages during recovery from hair transplant surgery.

Waiting a minimum of 7-10 days before application is advisable, simply because the scalp needs to heal. I think the best advice I can personally give guys looking into concealers is to test them out (possibly even before surgery). This way, you get a feel for the different products and how to use them. Don’t invest heavily in everything all at once. Experiment with small amounts/ testers and see how each concealer works. Also, don’t get frustrated if you don’t find success with a product right away. It takes time to find and properly apply the concealer best suited for you. Remember, each hair loss product also requires some pre-existing hair to work, so don’t expect miracle results too soon.

Hair loss sufferers will do anything to hide their baldness from the world. While some sport the fancy comb over look, others wear their favorite hats and head coverings.

Today, many hair loss sufferers have turned to topical concealers such as Toppik, Dermmatch, and Nanogen to mask their baldness and create the illusion of a more lustrous head of hair. But how effective are these hair loss products? Do they effectively mask complete baldness or do they work better on consumers with thinning hair? Will concealers hold up under harsh weather conditions and/or when swimming?

Members of our community were recently discussing the effectiveness of Toppik and other topical concealers on our forum. You are encouraged to join in the discussion to read what others are saying and offer your input.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: Hair loss, baldness, comb over, Toppik, Dermmatch, Nanogen, thinning hair, concealers, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

Though some simply accept baldness as a part of life, hair loss can often be the cause of depression and high levels of anxiety for thousands of men and women worldwide. In fact, some are so ashamed of their baldness; they’ll withdraw from formal social situations where hats and other head coverings are considered inappropriate attire.

Vulnerable men and women should heed caution watching slick late night infomercials that would have you believe their product is the miracle hair regrowth cure. And though no cure exists to stop the progression of female or male pattern baldness or regrow hair, several viable treatment options are available today worth considering.

Non-surgical hair loss treatments such as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) can be quite good at slowing down or stopping the progression of male pattern baldness. Since both treatments work differently, they are said to have a symbiotic and synergistic effect in treating alopecia. Commitment to these medications however, is the key to success.

Men and women with mild to moderate thinning hair have the greatest chance to keep it. Therefore, catching and treating hair loss early might prevent the need for more extreme treatments. Only surgical hair restoration is proven to grow hair in completely bald areas.

Some men and women also opt to use hair replacement systems also known as pieces or alopecia wigs. Some systems are actually quite natural and can portray the illusion of a full head of hair. But don’t be confused by fancy promotional catchphrases. “Non-surgical” hair replacement is still referring to a wig or a temporary head of hair.

Differentiating what really works to treat hair loss and alopecia from the hype isn’t easy. Thankfully, leading hair restoration physicians and veteran hair transplant patients regularly offer their experiences on what works to treat baldness.

Below you will find answers to 5 of this week’s top topic hair loss related questions provided by real balding men and women and physician experts. You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by contacting us.

Do Split Ends Cause Male or Female Hair Loss?

Why Transplanted Hair Can Seem Wispy and Lifeless at First (Dr. Carman)

Properly Preparing for Hair Restoration

Alternative DHT Blockers to Propecia – Are They Effective?

Applying Rogaine over Topical Concealers like Dermmatch

Additionally, these questions and more are answered daily on our news and blog sites including the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, the Hair Transplant Network, and the Hair Loss Learning Center.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, alopecia, hair restoration, hair transplant, treat baldness, balding

I’ve started using dermmatch recently to cover my hair loss and it appears that it might be thinning my hair out. Have you ever heard of this happening from this product or do you think i’m just imagining it?

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the applicator.  Using the brush pad to apply dermmatch concealer tends to slightly pull the hair and facilitate hair shedding.  When you already have thinning hair, it’s nice to keep the extra hair as long as possible before they eventually drop off on their own. 

But though this slight hair pulling appears to detach hairs from the follicle a bit sooner, hair attached the the Dermmatch applicator is hair that has already detached from the hair follicle.  Dermmatch does not cause hair loss or shedding.  Because male pattern baldness is a progressive condition, it is quite possible that your hair has thinned out a bit more, but the cause is your genes, not dermmatch. 

Remember that dermmatch does nothing to stop hair loss, but  is just a concealer that makes your hair appear thicker temporarily.  Consider talking to a physician about Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil), the two FDA approved drugs that can treat baldness by stopping further loss and potentially inspiring hair regrowth.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Technorati Tags: dermmatch, hair loss, hair shedding, thinning hair, male pattern baldness, stop hair loss, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, treat baldness, hair regrowth

I have very find hair and although I am told by hair stylists that I have a lot of it, it appears very thin on top.  I don’t think hair transplant surgery is the right procedure for me.  Do you know of any hair loss treatment that will give me more hair to cover the wide part of my scalp showing through the hair?  I have tried Rogaine which worked temporarily despite continued use.  I spent a lot of money on a hair piece alopecia wig that is not comfortable and I believe looks obvious.  It is very difficult to hide the wide part with anything and I do not like the short and spiky hair with bands that are the mainstay of hair pieces.  I hope you can help and please be specific if you have any hair loss solutions.

You have mentioned a number of possibilities already however, there are a few more.  Sadly, none of them are miracle cures or perfect solutions, but are worth considering.

Non-Surgical Hair Loss Treatments

Propecia for men only (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are FDA approved hair growth drugs and when used together, they may boost your chances of hair regrowth. 

Ketoconazole hair loss shampoo such as Nizoral and Revita may be helpful adjunct treatments given the “weak” DHT blocking properties of ketoconazole. 

Laser hair treatment has been FDA “cleared” however, in my opinion, not enough evidence publicly exists for me to recommend it. 

I had a hair transplant and i use Toppik for hair loss.   I’ve heard that toppik makes you go bald.  Is this true?

Toppik is a concealer that is designed for one purpose: camoflauge your hair loss to the world.  Toppik works by creating an illusion of hair density by temporarily increasing the hair shaft thickness and darkening the scalp to blend with your hair. 

Toppik can be used approximately 10 days after your hair replacement surgery or when the scabs/crusts have been removed from your scalp (whichever comes latest).  I say this because it’s important to give your scalp the proper time to heal and after 10 days, the transplanted hair will be permanently secured to your balding scalp.  Toppik can be a great product to help conceal not only your baldness but the fact that you’ve had hair transplant surgery. 

Despite what you may have heard, toppik does not cause, facilitate, or expedite natural hair loss.  Genetic hair loss however, is a progressive condition so it is important that you consider the use of FDA approved hair loss drugs such as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine 5% (minoxidil) to fight against future hair loss.  Be sure to consult with a physician and learn about the benefits, limitations, and potential side effects of these hair loss drugs.

I hope this helps.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog