Whether it’s due to the stigma associated with it or considering how apprehensive we feel regarding our appearance – hair loss has become quite a common concern for most of us.
And why wouldn’t it be?
Whether you believe it or not – hair is one of the (if not the) most important elements of how we look. So, unless you’re John Travolta, you’ll probably look worse off without it.
Now, when we say, it’s a ‘common concern’ – how “common” do we actually mean?
According to a report, almost 21 million women and 35 million men struggle with hair loss annually in the USA alone. Therefore, the number is bound to grow even more when considering the global perspective.
So, how do you take care of such a grave situation?
Yes, opting for the conventional hair loss treatment can certainly be an option here. However, when I was getting bombarded by baldness, I decided to do something different after seeing the product offered by a hyperbaric chamber manufacturer.
I opted for the hyperbaric oxygen treatment to get better. And to my astonishment, it worked like magic. But wait, before I begin glorifying the technology, let me introduce it first.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – A Brief Introduction
The term ‘hyperbaric oxygen therapy’ refers to a procedure involving inhaling pure oxygen while you’re lying in a pressurised chamber.
The pressure is the core element of the process, as it allows the O2 to get dissolved into your bloodstream at a higher concentration.
The increased oxygenation, in turn, quickens the healing capabilities of your body, delivering more O2 into your tissues. It can also promote the formation of new blood vessels.
How Will Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help You With Hair Fall?
While HBOT is commonly used for conditions like decompression sickness, wound healing, and certain infections, there is limited evidence to suggest that it can directly help with hair fall.
Various factors, including genetics, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, certain medical conditions, and stress, can cause hair fall. HBOT primarily aims to increase oxygen levels in the body, which can improve tissue healing and circulation. However, the relationship between HBOT and hair loss is not well-established.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a professional association of dermatologists, states that HBOT has not been proven as an effective treatment for hair loss. The AAD recommends discussing with a dermatologist or a hair loss specialist for appropriate evaluation and management of hair loss concerns.
According to a hyperbaric chamber manufacturer, the improved oxygen supply, especially in your hair follicles, can indulge in –
- Stimulating the follicles in a healthy manner
- Improving blood circulation in your skull
- Encouraging the growth of new hair
It is also hypothesized that the enhanced oxygen level can also rejuvenate your dormant hair follicles and promote hair growth.
And yes, you can opt for this solution even if you’re at the early stage of hair loss. The success rate of it will depend on the quality of the hyperbaric O2 chamber and how well you are using it.
Before You Begin The Therapy – 5 Facts To Be Aware Of
I was a little skeptical about the success rate of the therapy while I was still at the research or recon stage. And when I first started it, I was a little taken aback by how many steps I had to go through before I could enter the chamber. For instance –
- Using the chamber is impossible if you have cold or other illnesses, like fever, high blood pressure, and flu-like symptoms.
- The diluted oxygen might change the effects of certain medicines, such as something that you’re taking to reduce your alcohol addiction. Also, you are not supposed to get through this procedure if you are undergoing chemotherapies.
- The actual hyperbaric treatment usually takes around 110 minutes, including 90 mins of oxygen intake and two 10-minute breaks.
- Also, in the beginning, the chamber can feel like you’re travelling on an airplane. This generally happens due to the increased pressure within your ears due to the pressure of air building inside the machine.
- Feeling a little tired after the treatment is quite normal. In some cases, it can also feel like there’s a fluid build-up in your ears. Finger numbness and vision changes might also occur during the treatment. But these will go away after a while.
Note: A collapsed lung might also occur during the treatment in severe cases. However, this will only happen if you’re suffering from a lung disease called emphysema. But even then, it is extremely rare. In any case, you should still talk to your doctor to understand whether your body is healthy enough to undergo the procedure. There’s no need to take any risks at all.
The Bottom Line
Honestly, it can be difficult to say whether the hyperbaric treatment will work for you. But it has worked out more for me and given me a more-than-excellent result.
So, if you are otherwise healthy, I ask you to take a leap of faith and go for it. It may take time before you can see any results. But when it does, it will be a cheerful outcome for you.
