Over 40 Handbook: Hair Loss

Gradual hair loss can affect both men and women as we age. Unfortunately, this can be really devastating for women since men can more easily "pass" with thinning hair or head shaving!

Signs that your hair loss may not be a natural (though undesired) consequence of aging would include:

• sudden occurrence after an illness or other major stress
• painful or itchy hair loss
• hair loss resulting in scarring
• hair loss in patches

Otherwise, if more scalp is showing through at the top or at the temples or your part is getting wider it may be a natural process. Arrggh...

Minoxidil (Rogaine) works well for both men and for women! For it to work, it has to be applied to your scalp twice a day. It is especially helpful if you start it within the first five or so years of noticing hair loss. About 70% of folks get a satisfying increase in hair growth and thickness with this.

Hair transplantation has gotten much better than years ago, but it still requires you to have plenty of hair on the back of your head and can run from $5,000- 15,000 for effective treatment. Ouch.