The Most Common Causes
The majority of hair loss in both men and women is androgenetic — driven by the action of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on genetically susceptible follicles. Other common causes include telogen effluvium — reactive shedding triggered by physiological stress such as illness, surgery, significant weight loss, or childbirth. Scalp conditions and nutritional deficiencies can also contribute.
What Actually Works
Finasteride (for men) and minoxidil (for both sexes) have the strongest evidence for androgenetic alopecia. Both are effective when used consistently but require ongoing use — hair loss returns when medication is stopped.
Dr. Sin Yong has developed the H2LT (Hair Hyperstimulation Laser Therapy) protocol — targeting follicle stimulation and scalp vascularity with medical-grade laser energy.
The H2LT Protocol
H2LT uses medical-grade laser energy applied to the scalp to stimulate follicle activity, improve scalp microcirculation, and prolong the anagen growth phase. Treatment is non-invasive, painless, and requires no recovery time.
H2LT is most effective when combined with appropriate topical or oral medical therapy — addressing the follicle environment while medication addresses the hormonal driver of androgenetic alopecia.
Hair Transplantation
For patients with significant hair loss where medical management and laser therapy are insufficient, hair transplantation may be the most appropriate intervention. At consultation, Dr. Sin Yong will assess the degree and pattern of loss, donor hair availability, and realistic outcomes achievable — always recommending the most conservative appropriate approach first.
Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle and Why It Matters for Treatment
Hair follicles cycle through three phases: anagen (active growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting and shedding). At any given time, approximately 85–90% of scalp follicles are in anagen, 1–2% in catagen, and 10–15% in telogen. Androgenetic alopecia progressively shortens the anagen phase and miniaturises the follicle — producing finer, shorter hairs with each cycle until the follicle eventually produces no visible hair.
This biology has important implications for treatment. H2LT laser therapy works in part by prolonging the anagen phase — giving follicles more time in active growth before transitioning to telogen. Combined with medical therapy that reduces DHT-driven miniaturisation, this creates a two-pronged approach: medical therapy slows the disease process while laser therapy optimises follicle function within the constraints of that process.
Nutritional Factors and Hair Loss in Singapore
Nutritional deficiency is a frequently overlooked contributor to hair loss, particularly in Singapore where dietary patterns may not consistently provide adequate levels of the micronutrients most important for hair follicle function: iron (particularly in premenopausal women), ferritin, zinc, vitamin D, and biotin.
At consultation, Dr. Sin Yong will take a detailed history that includes dietary patterns and any relevant medical history. Where nutritional deficiency appears to be a contributing factor, appropriate investigation and supplementation is recommended as part of the overall treatment plan. Addressing nutritional factors while simultaneously treating androgenetic alopecia with medical and laser therapy produces substantially better outcomes than treating the hormonal driver alone.
Hair loss is rarely caused by a single factor — and the most effective treatment plans address all contributing factors simultaneously.
- Androgenetic alopecia — driven by DHT sensitivity — is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women
- Finasteride (men) and minoxidil (both sexes) have the strongest clinical evidence; they require ongoing use as hair loss resumes when stopped
- H2LT laser therapy stimulates follicle activity and prolongs the anagen growth phase; it is most effective combined with medical therapy
- Nutritional deficiencies — particularly iron, ferritin, zinc, and vitamin D — are common contributing factors that are frequently overlooked
- Early intervention produces better outcomes; significant follicle miniaturisation is difficult to reverse once established
- Hair transplantation is considered when medical management and laser therapy are insufficient; Dr. Sin Yong always recommends the most conservative appropriate approach first