It may come as a surprise to some that hair loss research has become a field on its own. After all, men have been losing their hair for centuries and it has become an accepted fact of life. In some societies, bald men may even be considered more attractive than those with lots of hair.

Then again, there are always some people who prefer to keep their locks. In some cases, hair is even tied with self-esteem and confidence. This is why hair loss research has become as important as any full blown health concern. This is despite the fact that hair loss never killed anyone.

Before we try to explore what’s new with hair loss, let’s review what we know first. Most of us are already aware that hair loss in men is actually caused by testosterone turning to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and shrinking hair follicles. In the past, it was theorized that the more DHT in a man, the more likely he was to suffer from hair loss. In recent decades however, it has been discovered that some men may also be more genetically predisposed to hair loss than others. Hence, it is not really the amount of DHT that matters more but the genetic propensity.

Because of the nature of male hair loss, solutions have quickly been formulated. Now men can rely on manmade DHT blockers that may be able to slow down or limit hair loss. There is also some hope that saw palmetto, a plant, may be able to help with male hair loss too. Saw palmetto was originally under study for its possible beneficial effects to men with prostrate health problems. It was incidentally discovered though that the plant may have DHT blocking capabilities. Unfortunately, there is yet no technology, medicine or natural remedy that can completely prevent hair loss in men or return hair to its full, thick glory.

Recent hair loss research has also put women on the spotlight. It has finally been acknowledged by science in recent decades that women suffer from a form of hair loss too. Instead of going completely bald though, women tend to suffer from diffuse hair thinning. This and the fact that many women may take pains to mask hair loss may be reasons why it took us so long to finally accept the reality of hair loss in women.

Unfortunately, women may not benefit from many solutions used on men. To date, only a small percentage of minoxidil (one brand sample is Rogaine) is approved for hair loss treatment in women. Men may alternatively use finasteride.

The reason why women have to be careful with treatment options is that other factors may be involved. Hair loss in women can be caused by stress, illness, low hormone levels and more. Using just any medication may wreck havoc on female hormone levels.

It seems that science still has a lot to go when it comes to hair loss research. It is a definite fact though that many men and women will be waiting for more research updates in the years to come.