Treating the Problem a Bald Spot

1. Conceal it or flaunt it

Most types of hair loss will reverse on their own once the underlying condition — such as infection, stress, medication, or hair-pulling — passes. In the meantime, the best alternative may be to conceal the bald spot(s) with styling or hair volume. Or, you can also just embrace the baldness and perhaps even accentuate it.

• Clean hair tends to have more volume than hair that is matted down with dirt and oils, so you may want to wash more often (but gently) to help conceal hair loss. Wavy or lightly curled hairstyles can also help mask bald spots. Lighter hair shades that blend in with the scalp can better mask hairless patches as well.
• If you have male pattern baldness, the condition will not reverse on its own and may be unstoppable regardless of what you do. Instead of hiding your growing bald spots, you may want to keep the rest of your hair closely cropped (or even shaved), to minimize the difference between covered and uncovered areas. Patients undergoing radiation therapy likewise often shave their heads instead of dealing with steadily-increasing bald patches.

2. Live healthy for healthy hair

Among the many unscientific, unsubstantiated methods for growing hair, you will find much advice for specific foods or diets. In reality, the best way to keep hair healthy — and growing as best it can — is to keep your entire body healthy.

• Eat a balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and sugars and high in the vitamins and nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Drink plenty of water as well. Remember, a healthy body can produce healthier hair follicles, and healthier skin that can better hold hair in place.
• Some people believe that since hair contains the protein keratin, a high-protein diet of fish, lentils, cheese, nuts, eggs, etc., combined with nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and calcium, can facilitate hair growth. There is no substantiated medical evidence to support this, however.

3. Try medications that may support hair growth

People dealing with hair loss now have more options than ever, thanks in part to the development of new medications over the past several years. None can be guaranteed to work, and there are no “miracle” cures, but many people have experienced positive results.

• Minoxidil (known by the brand name Rogaine, but now widely available without prescription) is a topical lotion that can be used by men and women. It works better on thinning hair than on hairless spots, and must be used continuously in order to keep any beneficial effects going. Its success rate at stimulating some hair growth is around 35%.
• Finasteride (known as Propecia) is a prescription pill that stops the conversion of testosterone into DHT, which is a major cause of male pattern baldness. It, again, works best on thinning hair, and must be used continuously to keep up any hair regrowth. Its success rate is around 66%, but finasteride should only be used by men. It can impact the development of male fetuses, so women who are or may become pregnant should never use or handle the medication, and should use barrier protection if engaged in sexual relations with a man using it.
• Depending upon the nature of your condition, your doctor may also recommend treatments such as topical steroid creams or dithranol (essentially tar paste, which is a very messy treatment option). Neither of these offer permanent benefits, however.
• In addition to medications, surgical options have improved as well. Hair plug or skin graft surgeries may be an option, and low-power laser therapy treatments have shown some early promise.

4. Take a chance on home remedies

For as long as people have been going bald, there have been supposed remedies for the condition. They often focus on stimulating blood flow or adding oils or nutrients to the hair itself, neither of which addresses the actual causes of almost all cases of hair loss. Most are harmless to try, but you shouldn’t expect any positive results.

• Unlike most other “natural” remedies, there is some limited evidence that the use of essential oils may possibly be of benefit. Create a blend of oils of thyme, rose, lavender, and cedar, massage it into the hair, cover it with a towel (to keep it in and spare your pillowcase), and leave it in all night. At worst, your remaining hair will smell nice in the morning!
• Some home remedies advise the use of fenugreek (an herb) or saw palmetto extract because they have similar chemical structures to minoxidil and finasteride, respectively, but there is no evidence to support their supposed benefits.
• Otherwise, the list of home remedies is extensive and ranges from onion water to egg pastes to cayenne pepper, and just about everything in between. They are almost certainly just a waste of your time and money, and if they involve rough treatment of your existing hair, they may cause additional hair loss. Try them at your own risk.