Hair Loss Products: How to Spot a Scam

Men and women all over the world will at some point in their lives experience hair loss. Yet a vast majority of us will begin to see hair loss as early as 35 categorized as male and female pattern baldness. Medically coined as alopecia, hair loss can often be embarrassing, forcing us to want to find the quickest and easiest solution. It is this desperation, however, that opens the door to scams. There are dozens of hair growth solutions out there that claim to help you regrow a full head of hair. But which ones actually deliver and which ones are fake? Well, there’s no need to wonder anymore. We’re going to show you how to spot a hair loss product scam and which products actually do what they claim.

Understanding Hair Loss

First, we want you to understand that hair loss is defined as an occurrence in which your hair falls out and does not grow back. Hair loss has many different stages and appears in multiple ways. For many, hair loss appears on the scalp and may begin with thinning or shedding, or sudden loss. It can also appear on various parts of the body in the same manner.

While we are still unsure of why sudden hair loss occurs, thinning, shedding, and eventual balding is caused by various factors. Heredity seems to be the largest factor in hair loss. If your parents experienced hair loss, odds are, you will too, though that risk increases in men. For women, hormonal changes like pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and more can contribute to hair loss. Whether you are male or female, normal aging results in hair loss as well.

Understanding Hair Growth

Normally when your hair falls out, it will naturally grow back. But if you are experiencing ongoing hair loss issues, you’ll need a bit of help. With the right type of stimulation, your hair can begin to grow back. Minoxidil (Rogaine), corticosteroid injections, phototherapy, and certain medicated ointments and creams are all viable options to regrow your hair. While each of these options has different results, there is one common factor among them; they all take time to work. True hair regrowth takes several months before you begin to see real results. These treatments also must be used continually. The moment you stop using the regrowth solution, hair loss will begin again. (NOTE: This is in reference to natural hair loss. Chronic hair loss due to medication or a condition may be treated with other means and have different results and result times.)

Hair Loss Product Scams

The easiest way to spot a fake is to read their claims. If a product claims to regrow your hair “instantly” or “quickly,” beware. As we said, hair growth is a slow process so any product claiming to help you regrow it quickly is surely a scam.

You should also avoid products that say they use biotin to help your hair grow. We all know that biotin is a vitamin that creates the nutrients responsible for nail and hair growth. The rumor has been that taking biotin supplements or using products with biotin in it will help your hair and nails grow. As a matter of fact, there has been no scientific proof that biotin helps with hair restoration. Hair growth from biotin has only been proven in individuals who suffered from biotin deficiency. If your biotin levels are where they should be, products containing this vitamin won’t be of much help.

Also, be wary of at-home laser light kits. These kits subject your scalp to LED and laser lights to promote hair growth. While the concept is correct, the at-home kits simply cannot emit a strong enough output to conjure the same results as in-office lasers. When used in conjunction with other treatment options, these kits may work. However, you just may be better off seeing a dermatologist.

Whenever you’ve had enough of your hair loss and if you’re in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, our experts at The Dermatology Group are here to offer you advice, resources, and hair loss treatment. Give us a call today!