Hair loss can be a frustrating byproduct of aging.

About 70% of men will lose hair as they age, while half will experience hair loss by age 50, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Approximately 80% of cases of male pattern baldness are due to genetic factors, studies have shown.

Among women, up to 40% will have noticeable hair loss by age 50, UCLA Health reported.

CURE FOR MEN’S HAIR LOSS COULD BE FOUND IN SUGAR STORED IN THE BODY, STUDY SUGGESTS

Hair loss can be a factor in mental health struggles, research has shown. 

A 2022 study found that adults with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss) were up to 38% more likely to experience clinical depression, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

For those looking to minimize and prevent balding, the following five treatments could be helpful, experts say.

1. Minoxidil

Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, recommends starting with the over-the-counter topical minoxidil, which does not require a prescription.

“It is thought to help keep hair in the growing phase, also known as anagen,” he told Fox News Digital.

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It is important to prevent the topical form of minoxidil from dripping onto the face, Camp warned, as it can promote hair growth in unwanted areas.

Oral minoxidil was also recommended as an off-label treatment for hair loss. This version of the medication does require a prescription.

“In men with male pattern hair loss, it is important to use a DHT blocker combined with something like minoxidil to improve blood flow to the scalp,” a doctor said. (iStock)

The medicine is normally prescribed to treat high blood pressure, according to Camp, but one of its side effects is hair growth.

HAIR LOSS AND PROSTATE MEDICATION COULD ALSO REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK, STUDY FINDS

“Minoxidil is prescribed at low doses to treat hair loss to take advantage of this side effect and promote hair growth,” Camp said.

2. Oral finasteride

Oral finasteride is an FDA-approved treatment for male androgenetic alopecia, which is also known as male pattern baldness, Camp said.

Finasteride works by limiting the formation of a hormone called DHT, which is responsible for hair shrinkage and hair loss, the doctor said.

Minoxidil and finasteride are both effective and have an “established track record in treating hair loss,” a doctor said. (iStock)

Las Vegas dermatologist Dr. Candace Spann, MD, the creator of ReTress, a hair care formula for women experiencing hair loss, echoed the importance of targeting DHT with a blocker to “improve blood flow to the scalp” and boost hair growth in men.

Jimmy C. Sung, MD, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and medical director of Tribeca Aesthetics in New York City, agreed with Spann and Camp that minoxidil and finasteride are both effective and have an “established track record in treating hair loss.”

3. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment administered in a medical provider’s office, where a patient’s blood is drawn and spun to separate the plasma from the red blood cells, according to Camp.

MAXIMIZE HAIR GROWTH WITH THESE OILS THAT CAN EASILY BE ADDED TO YOUR DAILY SELF-CARE ROUTINE

The plasma, which is rich in platelets and “growth factors,” is then injected into the scalp to “improve hair density and caliber,” he said.

PRP has also been used for wound healing in trauma and joint injuries, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, but has been gaining popularity in addressing male pattern baldness and stimulating the growth of hair transplants.

PRP is a treatment administered in-office, where a patient’s blood is drawn and spun to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Results are most noticeable six months after the scalp injections. The procedure is not permanent, and additional injections may be needed, experts say.

Sung called hair transplants an “excellent solution for hair restoration for patients who are good candidates and looking for long-term solutions.”

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“Platelet-rich plasma injections enhance hair transplant results and benefit some non-transplant patients,” he told Fox News Digital.

4. Saw palmetto 

An alternative treatment for hair loss, saw palmetto is a plant-based, over-the-counter supplement.

“Saw palmetto is thought to reduce the amount of DHT hormone that contributes to hair loss,” Camp said.

Saw palmetto, a palm native to the southeastern U.S., is commonly used in supplements to “improve prostate health, balance hormone levels and prevent hair loss in men,” according to Healthline. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)

“The evidence behind the use of saw palmetto as an effective treatment for hair loss is limited, and OTC supplements are not FDA-regulated,” he noted.

A 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health noted a 60% improvement in overall hair quality among patients experiencing hair loss who used various oral and topical saw palmetto products.

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The study also found that 27% of participants saw improved total hair count, 83% reported increased hair density and 52% said the hair loss stopped progressing.

5. Scalp treatments and vitamin therapy

Treating hair loss in both men and women is a “multifaceted approach,” Spann said, involving the treatment of other issues like low vitamin D or scalp inflammation.

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“Treating female pattern hair loss is more complicated, because it requires addressing all underlying causes,” she told Fox News Digital.

Treating women’s hair loss is “more complicated,” a dermatologist said. (iStock)

“It is crucial to improve blood flow to the scalp, calm scalp inflammation and correct underlying vitamin deficiencies.”

Those experiencing scalp inflammation, or scalp folliculitis, should see a board-certified dermatologist to identify the cause of the condition and determine the proper treatment.

Some cases of scalp inflammation can be remedied at home with a warm compress, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, or an antifungal or anti-dandruff shampoo. (iStock)

Some cases can be remedied at home with a warm compress, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, or an antifungal or anti-dandruff shampoo, according to the Valley Skin Institute website.

In some cases, however, the condition may require prescription-strength medication.

A 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health noted a 60% improvement in overall hair quality among patients experiencing hair loss who used various oral and topical saw palmetto products. (iStock)

“It is also important to correct iron deficiencies, low iron stores and low vitamin D levels,” Spann added.

Many vitamins and minerals play a role in healthy hair growth, according to Harvard Health.

Some of these include vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), B12, C, D and E, as well as iron, selenium and zinc.

“Consuming adequate vitamins and minerals is important to preventing and managing hair loss,” states the Harvard Health website. “Most people can cover all their nutritional needs through a healthy, balanced diet.”

Those who have questions about choosing the right hair loss treatment should consult a medical provider, experts recommend.

A good night’s sleep has many proven benefits — potentially including a healthier future for kids.

New research from Penn State University analyzed how childhood sleep patterns could be linked to future substance use.

Researchers at the university found that adolescents who went to bed later and slept fewer hours during their childhood were more likely to have consumed alcohol or marijuana by the age of 15.

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The study, published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, looked at data of 1,514 children from 20 cities across the U.S., focusing on sleep duration and bedtime in different developmental stages.

Parents involved in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, from where the data was obtained, recorded their children’s bedtimes at ages 3, 5 and 9, as well as sleep duration at 5 and 9.

The results showed that teens were 45% more likely to try alcohol by age 15 if they had a later bedtime at age 9. 

Bedtime at age 5, however, wasn’t associated with future alcohol use, nor was sleep duration at either age.

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Meanwhile, a later bedtime at age 5 was associated with a 26% increased likelihood of marijuana use by age 15. 

Sleeping an hour less at age 9 led to a 19% increased chance of trying marijuana during adolescence.

A later bedtime at age 5 was associated with a 26% increased likelihood of marijuana use by age 15.  (iStock)

15-year-olds also reported their bedtime, sleep duration and substance use, which revealed that those with a later bedtime had a 39% increased chance of drinking alcohol and a 34% chance of trying marijuana.

“By ensuring that children get adequate and high-quality sleep, we may protect long-term health and encourage positive health behaviors later in life.”

Adolescents who slept one hour less increased their odds of trying alcohol by 28%, but there was no association with marijuana.

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In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, study co-author David A. Reichenberger, PhD — a researcher in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State — noted that the study only included participants who had complete data, “so that we could assess the effects across time within the same set of kids.”

“Overall, the implications of our results suggest that sleep may play a crucial role in whether children engage in substance use as teens,” he said. 

The researchers suggested that going to bed later could impact school-aged children’s ability to sleep well. (iStock)

“By ensuring that children get adequate and high-quality sleep, we may protect long-term health and encourage positive health behaviors later in life,” the researcher added.

Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral and social scientist at RAND Corporation in Park City, Utah, shared with Fox News Digital how this study adds to growing evidence that sleep problems may lead to “risky health behaviors” later in life.

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“These findings are consistent with my work conducted with my RAND colleagues, showing that poor sleep health in adolescence longitudinally predicts increases in alcohol and marijuana use in early adulthood,” she said. 

“Overall, the implications of our results suggest that sleep may play a crucial role in whether children engage in substance use as teens,” a researcher said.  (iStock)

“Importantly, this new data suggests that sleep problems even earlier in life can predict substance use during adolescence — a critical inflection point for the onset and exacerbation of drug and other alcohol use.”

Sleep problems may increase the likelihood of substance use due to affected decision-making, impulse control and emotion regulation skills, according to Troxel.

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“Collectively, these findings point to the importance of addressing sleep problems using multi-level strategies, including family-based programs and public policies, such as later school start times, to promote sleep health in childhood and adolescence,” she said.

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