Different Hair Replacement Options

In a world that spins on the sanctity of good looks, hair replacement options have become a necessity. Industry statistics indicate that adults in the U.S. spend 10.3 billion per year on cosmetic surgery and $6 billion per year on make-up.

Hair replacement plans are included in the cosmetic surgery figure. The loss of hair impacts an overall look. People spend exorbitant amounts of money to replace cascading tresses that frame their faces and give them youthful appearances. Why is this important? As much as many would hate to admit it, vanity and beauty are two of the hottest commodities in the U.S. The closer we come to losing beauty, the more vain we become in trying to hold on to it.

It is a huge industry because of our culture's ideals of good looks, good hair, and beauty. However, it is worth looking into different hair replacement options if you are in need of them.

Hair loss can be triggered by a number of factors, including heredity, medications, long illnesses, stress and anxiety, depression, fungal infections, child-bearing, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, too-tight hair styles, chemicals from permanents or hair relaxers or female or male pattern baldness.

It is important to determine the exact cause of your hair loss before you select the hair replacement plan that is right for you. Physicians usually want to treat the cause of hair loss before they begin to address hair replacement options with you. You should also realize that your hair undergoes growth and rest periods. Each hair on your head spends about two to three years in a growing phase. Then it takes three or four months to rest before falling out.

What causes male pattern baldness (and female pattern baldness) is the presence of the hormone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). It reaches the root of the hair follicle and blocks the hair from growing by producing a wax-like substance. It can also shrink hair follicles and cause hair to be thinner and ultimately fall out. According to medical experts, DHT is the reason 95 percent of men and women experience hair loss.

The most popular options for dealing with hair loss include hair restoration surgery, a hair replacement system and using topical medical and herbal treatments.

Hair replacement systems -- wigs, toupees, weaves and hairpieces -- are a great alternative to surgery. They are the quickest and easiest way to resolve your hair loss problem. The use of human hair, as opposed to synthetic hair can make the a little pricey, but it is still far less expensive than surgery.

Hair restoration surgery can cost thousands of dollars. Physicians do hair grafts from a donor site on another part of your body and replace hair in the follicles at the hair loss site. Each single strand of hair costs from $3 to $5 to replace, so depending on how large the balding area is, this could become an expensive option.

Popular topical treatments include heavily promoted products like Rogaine and Propecia. These ointments are aimed at stimulating hair growth and are approved by the FDA.

An estimated 35 million men and 21 million women are affected by hair loss each year. This is a significant enough number that doctors and medical experts are driven to keep coming up with solutions. Because this is a beauty issue as well as a medical issue, research will continue to find new ways to address the problem - and sufferers will keep the numbers in a 10-plus billion-dollar industry climbing.