In the early days of hair transplantation, the surgery usually failed cosmetically, undermining the very reason patients sought it out: to improve their appearance. Balding patients were left with scars and unattractive hair "plugs," or bundles of 10 to 25 hairs with large gaps of bald skin between them. The problem was that hair transplantation was performed using a 4 mm punch. Hair in the center of these large grafts tended not to grow because of the lack of oxygen. And even careful surgeons could not help cutting some of the hair follicles, which were then incapable of growth.
As a reaction to the poor cosmetic results produced by plugs, hair transplant surgeons began using smaller grafts. These were obtained from tissue removed in strips from the donor area in the back of the scalp. The harvesting was accomplished using surgical scalpels rather than the punch. By the early 1990s, doctors had completely abandoned the punch in favor of the knife.
The next major breakthrough came with the introduction of Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) in 1995. In this procedure, the entire hair restoration is carried out using the naturally occurring follicular units of the patient's scalp, which each usually contain between one and four hairs. The donor tissue is obtained via single, rather than multiple, strips from the back of the scalp, and the individual follicular units are then dissected from this strip. When performed skillfully, FUT enables the surgeon to produce cosmetically acceptable results.
In the past year or so, a new technique called Follicular Unit Extraction—again performed with a punch—was proposed as an alternative method to remove the donor tissue for transplantation. This procedure was initially dismissed by most hair transplant surgeons as inefficient and labor intensive. It also left some potential transplant patients wondering why leaders in the field of transplantation had returned to the much-maligned punch and for whom this approach is preferable.
It turns out that a punch, albeit one that is only 1 mm in size, can be used to harvest individual follicular units in some patients. One of the pioneers of follicular unit extraction, Dr. William Rassman, president and founder of the New Hair Institute in Los Angeles, explains that a 1 mm punch is just the right size to grab the follicular unit and remove it intact from the donor area.
"Follicular Extraction is the removal of individual follicular units from the scalp without a traditional incision," Dr. Rassman says. "You just remove the individual follicles and leave the skin behind." The primary advantage of this technique is that people do not end up with the linear scar across the scalp that results from traditional transplants. "The scars [from Follicular Unit Extraction] are a millimeter in size at the time of surgery but, within a few days, contract down to something less than that," Dr. Rassman says. "After a few weeks, you can't find any distortion of the skin."
Although a scar-free surgery would be appealing for all patients, there are some drawbacks to Follicular Unit Extraction, and most hair transplant physicians are selective about its use. Dr. Marc R. Avram, who is in private practice in hair transplant surgery in New York City and an assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell Medical Center, says he performs the surgery in only about 5 percent of his patients, in part, because it's a more time-consuming surgery. "In the standard transplant, you'll remove 1,000 to 1,500 grafts in about three hours," he says. "With the punch, you don't get that much hair in as long as five or six hours, so patients have to come in multiple times."
Another limitation of Follicular Unit Extraction is that it can't provide as much donor hair as Follicular Unit Transplantation. Because Follicular Unit Extraction only removes the hair follicles, as opposed to a strip that can be closed up with stitches, some of the intervening donor hair must be left behind to cover the scalp, or there will be a bald area where the grafts were taken. Additionally, the procedure itself takes a long time.
Still, Dr. Walter Unger, a professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York City who has private practices in New York City and Toronto, says this technique can produce consistently natural results, but that it requires a large staff and a highly skilled surgeon. "It is far easier to produce follicles using our current techniques," Dr. Unger explains. "In order to excise a follicle using a tiny punch, the instrument must be directed absolutely perfectly."
Given the difficulties, Drs. Rassman, Avram and Unger all warn against "mega-sessions" in which 3,000 or more grafts are transplanted at one time, noting that very large sessions of densely packed grafts may compromise the blood supply. Additionally, the increased technical demands of the surgery decrease the likelihood that all of the transplanted hair will grow.
Yet experts agree that follicular unit extraction can be an excellent alternative surgery for a select group of patients. The technique is best suited for people with limited hair loss, or those seeking eyebrow restoration. Physicians will also offer the surgery to people who wear their hair very short or might one day shave their heads, so that no scar is visible, as well as to people whose scars widen over time. It's also recommended to athletes or other people who must resume full activity right after the procedure. The other major group for whom this technique is appropriate is people who have had a lot of prior transplant surgery that has left bothersome scars. As Dr. Unger explains, follicular unit extraction allows the doctor to work around the scars and select individual follicular units.
Another consideration when choosing candidates is the individual's follicle type. In the definitive study of this technique, Dr. Rassman and his colleagues evaluated 200 patients and published their results in the August 2002 issue of Dermatologic Surgery. (They coined the term "Follicular Unit Extraction" but also refer to it as the FOX procedure for simplicity.) The researchers found that the success of Follicular Unit Extraction was partially dependent upon the surgeon and partially upon the patient's follicles.
To determine who is a good candidate for the procedure, Dr. Rassman performs the FOX test, which is a biopsy used to ascertain hair and scalp characteristics. According to Dr. Rassman, "While some people have follicles that are easily removed, others have follicles that don't want to come out." Thirty-five percent of the 200 patients in the study were good candidates. Dr. Rassman says he is working on newer instrumentation that may increase the number of candidates for this procedure.
Most physicians charge more for follicular unit extraction than the standard transplant because of the extra time and staff it requires. However, regardless of the cost, the experts warn that people should use caution when choosing a physician for this procedure because it requires such technical skill. Says Dr. Rassman, "Any prospective patient should ask to see other people who have had the procedure to become more comfortable with both the procedure and the physician."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Incision Decisions: Dealing with Displaced Hairlines After a Lift
Today, more and more people over 50 look at least a decade younger than they really are. While some people are the beneficiaries of good genes, others may be just reaping the rewards of a healthy non-smoking lifestyle that consists of a good diet, an exercise regimen and lots of sunscreen. And some of these "youthful-looking" men and women may have taken advantage of the expertise of a plastic surgeon. But what not everyone realizes is that the surgery may not end there.
Facial cosmetic surgery is popular among people seeking to smooth wrinkles, tighten sagging facial skin or jowls, or get rid of that double chin. And some may seek it out because of facial disfigurement. While new cosmetic surgery techniques have minimized the risk of scarring, not everyone knows that hair loss can be a side effect of these procedures. In some cases, the loss may be significant enough to merit a hair transplant.
Who is at Risk for Hair Loss after Plastic Surgery?
The cosmetic surgeries that are most likely to cause hair loss are facelifts and forehead lifts. "Anytime there's an incision in the scalp that creates hair loss or a hairline is displaced because of cosmetic surgery, there is a need for hair restoration surgery in those areas," explains James E. Vogel, MD, an assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
During a facelift, incisions are usually made near the hairline at the temple and run down to the front of the ear and behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. After removing fat and tightening muscle, the surgeon pulls the skin back, trims the excess and stitches the tissue together. The hairline is therefore pulled back further on the head, and hair loss may occur due to scarring.
In men, the sideburns are often lost, and women can lose hair affecting their bangs as well as hair on and around the scar. The hair loss may be especially problematic for women who like to wear their hair off their face in a ponytail.
Likewise, a forehead lift, also known as an eyebrow lift, can lead to hair loss because incisions are usually made at or near the hairline and the skin is then pulled back. Endoscopic browlifts involve newer techniques in which multiple, tiny incisions are made in the hair-bearing scalp rather than at the hairline. Even though this surgery is often favored because the small scars heal quickly, the hairline can shift back noticeably.
So for someone with thinning hair, Dr. Vogel says, placing the incision at the hairline instead of farther back on the head might be the preferred approach. "The incision choice is tempered by the landscape," he explains. "Sometimes people who have thin hair or high hairlines don't want to take a chance on making things worse, so we'll use an incision that doesn't affect the placement of the hairline."
Fixing the Problem with Hair Transplantation
Women who have facial cosmetic surgery make up the bulk of corrective hair transplantation, according to Edwin S. Epstein, MD, a hair transplant surgeon in private practice in Richmond, Virginia and Virginia Beach.
As when performing the standard hair restoration surgery, most hair transplant surgeons will use the follicular unit transplantation technique. With this approach, hair is taken from a donor area, usually at the back or sides of the head, and moved to the area where there is hair loss. A decade ago, donor hair was harvested and transplanted in large bunches of 10 to 20 hairs, creating a "pluggy look." Today, surgeons transplant tiny bundles of one to four hairs that grow together in what are called follicular units for a more natural appearance.
When transplanting in a scarred area, surgeons have to be extra cautious about how close together they place the tiny grafts of hair they are transplanting to ensure that the hair is properly nourished. Hair growth in or near scarring may also be slower than it is healthy tissue, but Dr. Epstein says, "transplanted grafts often attract a blood supply, and that makes subsequent transplants work better."
Although people are usually happy with the results of their hair transplant, if you're considering facial cosmetic surgery, be sure to also discuss hair loss risk with your plastic surgeon so you don't end up with more surgeries—or less hair—than you bargained for.
Facial cosmetic surgery is popular among people seeking to smooth wrinkles, tighten sagging facial skin or jowls, or get rid of that double chin. And some may seek it out because of facial disfigurement. While new cosmetic surgery techniques have minimized the risk of scarring, not everyone knows that hair loss can be a side effect of these procedures. In some cases, the loss may be significant enough to merit a hair transplant.
Who is at Risk for Hair Loss after Plastic Surgery?
The cosmetic surgeries that are most likely to cause hair loss are facelifts and forehead lifts. "Anytime there's an incision in the scalp that creates hair loss or a hairline is displaced because of cosmetic surgery, there is a need for hair restoration surgery in those areas," explains James E. Vogel, MD, an assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
During a facelift, incisions are usually made near the hairline at the temple and run down to the front of the ear and behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. After removing fat and tightening muscle, the surgeon pulls the skin back, trims the excess and stitches the tissue together. The hairline is therefore pulled back further on the head, and hair loss may occur due to scarring.
In men, the sideburns are often lost, and women can lose hair affecting their bangs as well as hair on and around the scar. The hair loss may be especially problematic for women who like to wear their hair off their face in a ponytail.
Likewise, a forehead lift, also known as an eyebrow lift, can lead to hair loss because incisions are usually made at or near the hairline and the skin is then pulled back. Endoscopic browlifts involve newer techniques in which multiple, tiny incisions are made in the hair-bearing scalp rather than at the hairline. Even though this surgery is often favored because the small scars heal quickly, the hairline can shift back noticeably.
So for someone with thinning hair, Dr. Vogel says, placing the incision at the hairline instead of farther back on the head might be the preferred approach. "The incision choice is tempered by the landscape," he explains. "Sometimes people who have thin hair or high hairlines don't want to take a chance on making things worse, so we'll use an incision that doesn't affect the placement of the hairline."
Fixing the Problem with Hair Transplantation
Women who have facial cosmetic surgery make up the bulk of corrective hair transplantation, according to Edwin S. Epstein, MD, a hair transplant surgeon in private practice in Richmond, Virginia and Virginia Beach.
As when performing the standard hair restoration surgery, most hair transplant surgeons will use the follicular unit transplantation technique. With this approach, hair is taken from a donor area, usually at the back or sides of the head, and moved to the area where there is hair loss. A decade ago, donor hair was harvested and transplanted in large bunches of 10 to 20 hairs, creating a "pluggy look." Today, surgeons transplant tiny bundles of one to four hairs that grow together in what are called follicular units for a more natural appearance.
When transplanting in a scarred area, surgeons have to be extra cautious about how close together they place the tiny grafts of hair they are transplanting to ensure that the hair is properly nourished. Hair growth in or near scarring may also be slower than it is healthy tissue, but Dr. Epstein says, "transplanted grafts often attract a blood supply, and that makes subsequent transplants work better."
Although people are usually happy with the results of their hair transplant, if you're considering facial cosmetic surgery, be sure to also discuss hair loss risk with your plastic surgeon so you don't end up with more surgeries—or less hair—than you bargained for.
Corrective Hair Transplantation
Most hair transplants are performed in men and women who have lost their hair because of age-related pattern baldness. But sometimes hair transplant surgeons restore hair that has been lost due to surgery or an accident. These hair transplant procedures, which are often more complex than standard hair transplants, are known as corrective hair transplants.
Women who have facial cosmetic surgery make up the bulk of corrective hair transplantation, says Edwin S. Epstein, MD, a hair transplant surgeon in private practice in Richmond, Virginia and Virginia Beach.
During a facelift, incisions are usually made near the hairline at the temple and run down to the front of the ear and behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. After removing fat and tightening muscle, the surgeon pulls the skin back, trims the excess and stitches the tissue together. The hairline is therefore pulled back on the head and hair loss may occur due to scarring. In men, the sideburns are often lost and women can lose their bangs. The hair loss may be especially problematic for women who like to wear their hair off their face in a ponytail.
Likewise, a forehead lift, also known as an eyebrow lift, can lead to hair loss because incisions are usually made at or behind the hairline and the skin is then pulled back. In men who are bald, the incision may be made at mid-scalp. Newer brow lift techniques leave less of a scar and cause less hair loss, but some people may still require a hair transplant.
"The goal of hair transplantation in these situations is to recreate and dense up the hairline," explains Bob Leonard, DO, founder and chief surgeon of the Leonard Hair Transplantation Association in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
People may also seek corrective hair transplantation if hair loss has occurred as a result of trauma such as an accident or burn. The surgeon may perform hair transplants in the upper lips of men who had cleft palates repaired as babies, so that they can grow a mustache. They also do a lot of corrective procedures in people who had hair transplants performed with outdated plug techniques. These less precise procedures left wide spaces around each plug as well as scarring in the donor area in the back of the head.
Corrective procedures are more challenging procedures than standard transplants. Dr. Leonard says that's why it's particularly important that people find a hair transplant surgeon who has a great deal of experience performing transplants on a variety of patients.
When transplanting in a scarred area, surgeons have to be extra cautious about how close together they place the tiny grafts of hair to ensure that the hair is properly nourished. Hair growth in or near scarring may also be slower than it is healthy tissue, but Dr. Epstein says, "transplanted grafts often attract a blood supply, and that makes subsequent transplants work better."
People having this kind of transplantation may therefore require one or two additional procedures. In most cases, surgeons say, people who are patient and have enough donor hair are very satisfied with their new look.
"In people who have had a disfiguring scar, it doesn't always take a lot to make a dramatic improvement," Dr. Epstein says. "For them, a hair transplant offers a huge change in what they see in the mirror."
Women who have facial cosmetic surgery make up the bulk of corrective hair transplantation, says Edwin S. Epstein, MD, a hair transplant surgeon in private practice in Richmond, Virginia and Virginia Beach.
During a facelift, incisions are usually made near the hairline at the temple and run down to the front of the ear and behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. After removing fat and tightening muscle, the surgeon pulls the skin back, trims the excess and stitches the tissue together. The hairline is therefore pulled back on the head and hair loss may occur due to scarring. In men, the sideburns are often lost and women can lose their bangs. The hair loss may be especially problematic for women who like to wear their hair off their face in a ponytail.
Likewise, a forehead lift, also known as an eyebrow lift, can lead to hair loss because incisions are usually made at or behind the hairline and the skin is then pulled back. In men who are bald, the incision may be made at mid-scalp. Newer brow lift techniques leave less of a scar and cause less hair loss, but some people may still require a hair transplant.
"The goal of hair transplantation in these situations is to recreate and dense up the hairline," explains Bob Leonard, DO, founder and chief surgeon of the Leonard Hair Transplantation Association in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
People may also seek corrective hair transplantation if hair loss has occurred as a result of trauma such as an accident or burn. The surgeon may perform hair transplants in the upper lips of men who had cleft palates repaired as babies, so that they can grow a mustache. They also do a lot of corrective procedures in people who had hair transplants performed with outdated plug techniques. These less precise procedures left wide spaces around each plug as well as scarring in the donor area in the back of the head.
Corrective procedures are more challenging procedures than standard transplants. Dr. Leonard says that's why it's particularly important that people find a hair transplant surgeon who has a great deal of experience performing transplants on a variety of patients.
When transplanting in a scarred area, surgeons have to be extra cautious about how close together they place the tiny grafts of hair to ensure that the hair is properly nourished. Hair growth in or near scarring may also be slower than it is healthy tissue, but Dr. Epstein says, "transplanted grafts often attract a blood supply, and that makes subsequent transplants work better."
People having this kind of transplantation may therefore require one or two additional procedures. In most cases, surgeons say, people who are patient and have enough donor hair are very satisfied with their new look.
"In people who have had a disfiguring scar, it doesn't always take a lot to make a dramatic improvement," Dr. Epstein says. "For them, a hair transplant offers a huge change in what they see in the mirror."
Hair Transplant FAQs
Why have a hair transplant?
The reason why men get hair transplants is to achieve a more or less “permanent” correction of hair loss in order to improve self-esteem and restore a more youthful self-image.
Who can get a transplant?
Any person with noticeable hair loss that includes thinning hair and bald areas, and whose remaining hair is capable of growing in a transplanted location (called a donor-dominant condition), is a candidate for hair transplantation. A donor-dominant condition is one in which transplanted hairs are able to survive at a new location and will live and produce hairs as long as they would have in their previous location. The most common condition seen is so-called male- and female-pattern androgenic alopecia (hereditary hair loss). However, other conditions such as scarring disorders resulting from injury, diseases, or previous surgery of the scalp, can also be treated with hair transplantation.
When should a hair transplant be done?
A hair transplant can be done any time after there is enough hair loss in a particular area, such as the front, middle, or top of the scalp so that noticeable thinning is present on casual examination of the affected area. Hair loss actually begins long before it is noticeable and approximately 50 percent of the hairs in a given area are lost before noticeable thinning becomes apparent.
How is a hair transplant done?
A variable sized section of living scalp containing live hair follicles is removed from the back of the head (donor area) and subsequently microdissected into small so-called follicular unit grafts that are implanted into small surgically produced recipient sites in the balding area (recipient area). The surgical sites are well-healed in 7 to 14 days, and after a delay of 8 to 12 weeks, the transplanted hairs begin to produce new hair shafts.
Where is a hair transplant done?
Hair transplants are done in an outpatient setting. Patients walk in and walk out the same day. Patients are given oral, or in some cases inhalant/intravenous sedation, followed by local anesthesia to the donor and recipient sites.
What are the main difficulties experienced by a patient before, during, and after a hair transplant?
The main problems encountered by patients before hair transplantation are usually concern about the cosmetic down time in the postoperative period, and varying degrees of anxiety about potential discomfort during and after the procedure. During the procedure, the patients often become restless due to the prolonged time required to achieve the results and because of this, sometimes have difficulty refraining from talking and moving, which makes the procedure more difficult for the surgeon and the assistants. Finally, after the procedure, the patients experience variable degrees of discomfort at the donor site and variable degrees of swelling of the forehead that resolve in a few days. Also, there are variable degrees of self-consciousness caused by the tiny scabs that are present in the recipient sites. However, most patients will say that the difficulties experienced in the postoperative period in no way equal the level of anxiety experienced during the preoperative period. The subconscious fear of detection by casual observers is not realized in the vast majority of patients during the postoperative period.
Which regions of the scalp are best suited for hair transplantation?
The frontal scalp and the midscalp are the areas best suited for microsurgical hair restoration. The so-called bald spot (vertex) can also be corrected, but is somewhat less desirable.
Can a completely bald head be completely restored by hair transplant surgery?
The answer is no, but this is a trick question. Obviously, a completely bald head cannot be transplanted because it has no donor hair to transplant! However, even a very bald scalp cannot be completely transplanted since the size of the donor area and the number of hairs present are smaller than the potentially bald area on the top of the head. However, if the potential donor site is sufficiently large and reasonably dense, a surprisingly large number of hair follicles are available for transplantation to the top of the head, and fairly large areas of balding scalp can be covered adequately with hair that is both natural and reasonably dense in appearance.
The reason why men get hair transplants is to achieve a more or less “permanent” correction of hair loss in order to improve self-esteem and restore a more youthful self-image.
Who can get a transplant?
Any person with noticeable hair loss that includes thinning hair and bald areas, and whose remaining hair is capable of growing in a transplanted location (called a donor-dominant condition), is a candidate for hair transplantation. A donor-dominant condition is one in which transplanted hairs are able to survive at a new location and will live and produce hairs as long as they would have in their previous location. The most common condition seen is so-called male- and female-pattern androgenic alopecia (hereditary hair loss). However, other conditions such as scarring disorders resulting from injury, diseases, or previous surgery of the scalp, can also be treated with hair transplantation.
When should a hair transplant be done?
A hair transplant can be done any time after there is enough hair loss in a particular area, such as the front, middle, or top of the scalp so that noticeable thinning is present on casual examination of the affected area. Hair loss actually begins long before it is noticeable and approximately 50 percent of the hairs in a given area are lost before noticeable thinning becomes apparent.
How is a hair transplant done?
A variable sized section of living scalp containing live hair follicles is removed from the back of the head (donor area) and subsequently microdissected into small so-called follicular unit grafts that are implanted into small surgically produced recipient sites in the balding area (recipient area). The surgical sites are well-healed in 7 to 14 days, and after a delay of 8 to 12 weeks, the transplanted hairs begin to produce new hair shafts.
Where is a hair transplant done?
Hair transplants are done in an outpatient setting. Patients walk in and walk out the same day. Patients are given oral, or in some cases inhalant/intravenous sedation, followed by local anesthesia to the donor and recipient sites.
What are the main difficulties experienced by a patient before, during, and after a hair transplant?
The main problems encountered by patients before hair transplantation are usually concern about the cosmetic down time in the postoperative period, and varying degrees of anxiety about potential discomfort during and after the procedure. During the procedure, the patients often become restless due to the prolonged time required to achieve the results and because of this, sometimes have difficulty refraining from talking and moving, which makes the procedure more difficult for the surgeon and the assistants. Finally, after the procedure, the patients experience variable degrees of discomfort at the donor site and variable degrees of swelling of the forehead that resolve in a few days. Also, there are variable degrees of self-consciousness caused by the tiny scabs that are present in the recipient sites. However, most patients will say that the difficulties experienced in the postoperative period in no way equal the level of anxiety experienced during the preoperative period. The subconscious fear of detection by casual observers is not realized in the vast majority of patients during the postoperative period.
Which regions of the scalp are best suited for hair transplantation?
The frontal scalp and the midscalp are the areas best suited for microsurgical hair restoration. The so-called bald spot (vertex) can also be corrected, but is somewhat less desirable.
Can a completely bald head be completely restored by hair transplant surgery?
The answer is no, but this is a trick question. Obviously, a completely bald head cannot be transplanted because it has no donor hair to transplant! However, even a very bald scalp cannot be completely transplanted since the size of the donor area and the number of hairs present are smaller than the potentially bald area on the top of the head. However, if the potential donor site is sufficiently large and reasonably dense, a surprisingly large number of hair follicles are available for transplantation to the top of the head, and fairly large areas of balding scalp can be covered adequately with hair that is both natural and reasonably dense in appearance.
All You Need to Know About Hair Transplantation
Hair transplantation is a relatively simple operation that can do wonders for people who suffer from hair loss-whether it is hereditary, due to an illness or accident. Getting a full head of hair often provides the confidence that allows people to feel better about their appearance. Below, Dr. Michael Reed answers some common questions about this procedure.
Why have a hair transplant?
Men get hair transplants to achieve a more or less permanent correction of hair loss in order to restore a more youthful self-image and improve self-esteem.
Who can get a transplant?
Any person with noticeable hair loss-including thinning hair and bald areas-and whose remaining hair is capable of growing in a transplanted location (called a donor-dominant condition), is a candidate for hair transplantation. A donor-dominant condition is one in which transplanted hairs are able to survive at a new location, and will live and produce hairs as they would have in their previous location.
The most common condition treated is so-called male-and female-pattern androgenic alopecia (hereditary hair loss). However, other conditions such as scarring disorders resulting from injury, diseases, or previous surgery of the scalp, can also be treated with hair transplantation.
When should a hair transplant be done?
A hair transplant can be done any time after there is sufficient hair loss in a particular area-such as the front, middle, or top of the scalp-so that noticeable thinning is present on casual examination. Hair loss actually begins long before it is noticeable; Approximately 50 percent of the hairs in a given area are lost before noticeable thinning becomes apparent.
How is a hair transplant done?
A variable sized section of living scalp containing live hair follicles is removed from the back of the head (donor area) and subsequently microdissected into small follicular unit grafts that are implanted into small surgically prepared recipient sites in the balding area (recipient area). The surgical sites heal in 7 to 14 days, and after a delay of 8 to 12 weeks, the transplanted hairs begin to produce new hair shafts.
Where is a hair transplant done?
Hair transplants are done in an outpatient setting. Patients walk in and walk out the same day. They are given oral, or in some cases inhalant or intravenous sedation, followed by local anesthesia to the donor and recipient sites.
What are the main difficulties experienced by a patient before, during, and after a hair transplant?
The main problems encountered by patients before hair transplantation are usually concern about the cosmetic down time in the postoperative period, and varying degrees of anxiety about potential discomfort during and after the procedure. During the procedure, the patients often become restless due to the prolonged time required to achieve the results and because of this, sometimes have difficulty refraining from talking and moving, which makes the procedure more difficult for the surgeon and the assistants. Finally, after the procedure, the patients experience variable degrees of discomfort at the donor site and variable degrees of swelling of the forehead that resolve in a few days. Also, patients often experience self-consciousness caused by the tiny scabs that are present in the recipient sites.
Which regions of the scalp are best suited for hair transplantation?
The frontal scalp and the midscalp are the areas best suited for microsurgical hair restoration. The so-called bald spot (vertex) can also be corrected, but is somewhat less desirable.
Can a completely bald head be completely restored by hair transplant surgery?
The answer is no, but this is a trick question. Obviously, a completely bald head cannot be transplanted, because it has no donor hair to transplant! Even a very bald scalp cannot be completely transplanted since the size of the donor area and the number of hairs present are smaller than the potentially bald area on the top of the head. However, if the potential donor site is sufficiently large and reasonably dense, a surprisingly large number of hair follicles are available for transplantation to the top of the head, and fairly large areas of balding scalp can be covered adequately with hair that is both natural and reasonably dense in appearance.
Why have a hair transplant?
Men get hair transplants to achieve a more or less permanent correction of hair loss in order to restore a more youthful self-image and improve self-esteem.
Who can get a transplant?
Any person with noticeable hair loss-including thinning hair and bald areas-and whose remaining hair is capable of growing in a transplanted location (called a donor-dominant condition), is a candidate for hair transplantation. A donor-dominant condition is one in which transplanted hairs are able to survive at a new location, and will live and produce hairs as they would have in their previous location.
The most common condition treated is so-called male-and female-pattern androgenic alopecia (hereditary hair loss). However, other conditions such as scarring disorders resulting from injury, diseases, or previous surgery of the scalp, can also be treated with hair transplantation.
When should a hair transplant be done?
A hair transplant can be done any time after there is sufficient hair loss in a particular area-such as the front, middle, or top of the scalp-so that noticeable thinning is present on casual examination. Hair loss actually begins long before it is noticeable; Approximately 50 percent of the hairs in a given area are lost before noticeable thinning becomes apparent.
How is a hair transplant done?
A variable sized section of living scalp containing live hair follicles is removed from the back of the head (donor area) and subsequently microdissected into small follicular unit grafts that are implanted into small surgically prepared recipient sites in the balding area (recipient area). The surgical sites heal in 7 to 14 days, and after a delay of 8 to 12 weeks, the transplanted hairs begin to produce new hair shafts.
Where is a hair transplant done?
Hair transplants are done in an outpatient setting. Patients walk in and walk out the same day. They are given oral, or in some cases inhalant or intravenous sedation, followed by local anesthesia to the donor and recipient sites.
What are the main difficulties experienced by a patient before, during, and after a hair transplant?
The main problems encountered by patients before hair transplantation are usually concern about the cosmetic down time in the postoperative period, and varying degrees of anxiety about potential discomfort during and after the procedure. During the procedure, the patients often become restless due to the prolonged time required to achieve the results and because of this, sometimes have difficulty refraining from talking and moving, which makes the procedure more difficult for the surgeon and the assistants. Finally, after the procedure, the patients experience variable degrees of discomfort at the donor site and variable degrees of swelling of the forehead that resolve in a few days. Also, patients often experience self-consciousness caused by the tiny scabs that are present in the recipient sites.
Which regions of the scalp are best suited for hair transplantation?
The frontal scalp and the midscalp are the areas best suited for microsurgical hair restoration. The so-called bald spot (vertex) can also be corrected, but is somewhat less desirable.
Can a completely bald head be completely restored by hair transplant surgery?
The answer is no, but this is a trick question. Obviously, a completely bald head cannot be transplanted, because it has no donor hair to transplant! Even a very bald scalp cannot be completely transplanted since the size of the donor area and the number of hairs present are smaller than the potentially bald area on the top of the head. However, if the potential donor site is sufficiently large and reasonably dense, a surprisingly large number of hair follicles are available for transplantation to the top of the head, and fairly large areas of balding scalp can be covered adequately with hair that is both natural and reasonably dense in appearance.
Hair Transplantation 101
It's not hard to spot a man with a bad hair transplant. The transplanted hair looks unnatural, as if it were plugged into the head. What few people realize, however, is that it's likely they've also seen a man or woman with a good hair transplant. The trick is that a good hair transplant is virtually undetectable.
Hair transplantation has changed dramatically over the last decade. "It's almost unfair to call it the same the same thing, it's so different," says Robert Haber, MD, president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, an educational organization, and an assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Pittsburgh. "There have been huge improvements in every aspect of transplantation."
New techniques
In the transplant procedure, hair is taken from a donor area, usually at the back or sides of the head, and moved to the area where there is hair loss. While donor hair used to be harvested and transplanted in large bunches of 10 to 20 hairs, surgeons now transplant tiny bundles of three or four hairs that grow together in what are called follicular units.
"Surgeons used to use instruments called punches, which looked like cookie cutters, to make circular incisions in the head, and it gave the appearance of a doll's head," says Dr. Ivan Cohen, an associated clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine and a hair transplant surgeon in private practice in Fairfield, Conn. "With new techniques, we take hair from the back of the head in tiny strips and then separate it into follicular unit. We then use tiny needles to plant the hairs back into the scalp."
This technique, known as follicular unit transplantation, is most widely used transplant approach. Some surgeons, however, use a technique called follicular unit extraction in which hair is removed and transplanted with a 1-mm punch that can grab the follicular unit. Follicular unit extraction is considered most appropriate for people with limited hair loss, athletes who need to resume activity right after surgery, and those whose scars widen over time.
With the new techniques, experts say most people with pattern baldness who have a sufficient amount of donor hair are good candidates for hair transplantation. This includes people with any kind of hair type, and women, who are having more and more transplants.
Surgeons note that a large part of their practices is devoted to corrective work, which usually involves repairing old transplants by dividing the transplanted hair into follicular units and re-transplanting it.
In order for patients to be truly satisfied with surgery results, it's essential that they have realistic expectations of what can be accomplished. "The amount of coverage will be determined by how extensive their balding pattern is," says Bernard Nusbaum, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon in Coral Gables, Fla. "An extremely bald individual may only be able to achieve coverage of the front area, while someone with a more limited balding area can achieve total coverage."
The surgeon and patient should discuss the patients' expectations prior to the procedure. As Dr. Haber explains, "If they give me a photo of themselves at 16, I can't help them. But I can help those who are interested in turning the clock back a little and creating a better frame for their face."
Recovery
Hair transplantation is an outpatient surgery, which usually requires two or more sessions. With follicular unit transplantation, patients should expect a thin scar in the harvest area, but even three-quarters of an inch of hair should hide the scar. Potential side effects such as bleeding and infection are rare. Patients should abstain from strenuous activity for the first 48 hours, however, and avoid exposure to prolonged sunlight for the first month.
According to Dr. Nusbaum, patients initially develop scabbing over the transplanted area that can last for up to 14 days. Within four weeks, the transplanted hair, which has been shaven before harvesting, falls out, and new hair begins to grow within four months.
It's generally recommended that patients use FDA-approved medication after surgery to prevent further hair loss. These include Propecia, for men, and Rogaine, which is available to men and women. People who continue to lose hair, however, may want more transplants over time.
Choosing the Right Surgeon
Hair transplant surgeons come from a wide variety of medical backgrounds. While many are dermatologists, others are former family practioners, plastic surgeons or even urologists. Experts say the important thing is that hair transplant surgeons are open about their backgrounds.
To check the credentials of the surgeon they are considering, patients can look for membership in professional organizations such as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, board certification in hair restoration surgery or another specialty, journal publications, and hospital and academic affiliations.
It's also suggested that patients view photos of other people whose hair the surgeon has transplanted, and possibly meet with other patients of that doctor. A good comfort level with the surgeon is also important.
Getting recommendations is also a good idea, though it might be hard to know who to ask. "People ask me why more people aren't having transplants," says Dr. Cohen. "But unless someone shares that information, you just don't know if they've had one."
Hair transplantation has changed dramatically over the last decade. "It's almost unfair to call it the same the same thing, it's so different," says Robert Haber, MD, president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, an educational organization, and an assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Pittsburgh. "There have been huge improvements in every aspect of transplantation."
New techniques
In the transplant procedure, hair is taken from a donor area, usually at the back or sides of the head, and moved to the area where there is hair loss. While donor hair used to be harvested and transplanted in large bunches of 10 to 20 hairs, surgeons now transplant tiny bundles of three or four hairs that grow together in what are called follicular units.
"Surgeons used to use instruments called punches, which looked like cookie cutters, to make circular incisions in the head, and it gave the appearance of a doll's head," says Dr. Ivan Cohen, an associated clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine and a hair transplant surgeon in private practice in Fairfield, Conn. "With new techniques, we take hair from the back of the head in tiny strips and then separate it into follicular unit. We then use tiny needles to plant the hairs back into the scalp."
This technique, known as follicular unit transplantation, is most widely used transplant approach. Some surgeons, however, use a technique called follicular unit extraction in which hair is removed and transplanted with a 1-mm punch that can grab the follicular unit. Follicular unit extraction is considered most appropriate for people with limited hair loss, athletes who need to resume activity right after surgery, and those whose scars widen over time.
With the new techniques, experts say most people with pattern baldness who have a sufficient amount of donor hair are good candidates for hair transplantation. This includes people with any kind of hair type, and women, who are having more and more transplants.
Surgeons note that a large part of their practices is devoted to corrective work, which usually involves repairing old transplants by dividing the transplanted hair into follicular units and re-transplanting it.
In order for patients to be truly satisfied with surgery results, it's essential that they have realistic expectations of what can be accomplished. "The amount of coverage will be determined by how extensive their balding pattern is," says Bernard Nusbaum, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon in Coral Gables, Fla. "An extremely bald individual may only be able to achieve coverage of the front area, while someone with a more limited balding area can achieve total coverage."
The surgeon and patient should discuss the patients' expectations prior to the procedure. As Dr. Haber explains, "If they give me a photo of themselves at 16, I can't help them. But I can help those who are interested in turning the clock back a little and creating a better frame for their face."
Recovery
Hair transplantation is an outpatient surgery, which usually requires two or more sessions. With follicular unit transplantation, patients should expect a thin scar in the harvest area, but even three-quarters of an inch of hair should hide the scar. Potential side effects such as bleeding and infection are rare. Patients should abstain from strenuous activity for the first 48 hours, however, and avoid exposure to prolonged sunlight for the first month.
According to Dr. Nusbaum, patients initially develop scabbing over the transplanted area that can last for up to 14 days. Within four weeks, the transplanted hair, which has been shaven before harvesting, falls out, and new hair begins to grow within four months.
It's generally recommended that patients use FDA-approved medication after surgery to prevent further hair loss. These include Propecia, for men, and Rogaine, which is available to men and women. People who continue to lose hair, however, may want more transplants over time.
Choosing the Right Surgeon
Hair transplant surgeons come from a wide variety of medical backgrounds. While many are dermatologists, others are former family practioners, plastic surgeons or even urologists. Experts say the important thing is that hair transplant surgeons are open about their backgrounds.
To check the credentials of the surgeon they are considering, patients can look for membership in professional organizations such as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, board certification in hair restoration surgery or another specialty, journal publications, and hospital and academic affiliations.
It's also suggested that patients view photos of other people whose hair the surgeon has transplanted, and possibly meet with other patients of that doctor. A good comfort level with the surgeon is also important.
Getting recommendations is also a good idea, though it might be hard to know who to ask. "People ask me why more people aren't having transplants," says Dr. Cohen. "But unless someone shares that information, you just don't know if they've had one."
No Time Like the Present: When to Seek a Hair Loss Specialist
Many people’s first reaction to the realization that they are losing their hair is denial. And not surprisingly, experts say that denial, which is often followed by months or years of fretting and inaction, is precisely the wrong reaction. It’s recommended that both women and men seek treatment as soon as they notice hair loss.
"Usually, once you see hair thinning, you’ve already lost 50 percent of your hair," says Dr. Neil Sadick, a clinical professor of dermatology at Weil Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. "Although the speed of hair loss progression varies, the earlier people get treated, the better."
In general, pattern baldness, also known as genetic hair loss, begins later in women than in men. It tends to start while men are in their 30s or 40s as opposed to 40s or 50s for women. However, pattern baldness can occur at any time after puberty in both sexes. According to Sadick, hair loss is actually as common in women as it is in men, though not as severe. Also the patterns of hair loss are different. Men tend to lose hair in the front and in the "monk’s cap" area at the top of the head, while women experience more diffuse thinning throughout the scalp.
Even though genes are the main culprit behind hair loss there are other possible causes including thyroid problems, anemia, lupus and the excess production of androgen hormone. Hair loss can be a side effect of medications such as ibuprofen, antidepressants, hypertension drugs, anticoagulants and chemotherapy. And any shock to the system, such as weight loss or gain, or emotional stress, can be a trigger. All of these sources of hair loss cannot only cause shedding and thinning if uncorrected, but may also accelerate the progression of hair loss.
For women particularly, one major reason to see a hair loss specialist is to rule out other medical causes. "When women see hair loss, they should talk to a dermatologist immediately because the reason for it might demand a medical work-up," explains Dr. Joseph P. Bark, a dermatologist in private practice and the past chair of dermatology at St. Josephs Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
According to Bark, a common cause of hair loss in women is hormonal either due to a change in birth control pills or the end of a pregnancy. Both can cause telogen effluvium, a generally reversible form of hair loss that occurs when hair goes into a resting phase. "Pregnancy locks hair into a long growth phase," Bark says. "This ends at delivery, at which time point the hair thinks it’s time to fall out. Women can shed between 20 percent and 30 percent of their hair starting several months after delivery, but it will start growing again in about 6 to 9 months."
Once non-genetic causes have been eliminated, a patient can begin treatment. The only drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hair loss are Rogaine (minoxidil), used in men and women, and Propecia (finasteride), approved only for men but sometimes used in postmenopausal women. Generic minoxidil, which is also sold under the brand name Rogaine, is available over-the-counter in 2 percent and 5 percent concentrations. Propecia is only available by prescription.
Both of these medications are most effective early in the hair loss process. "Rogaine and Propecia hang onto hair better than they produce it," Bark says. “For example, Propecia maintains hair almost 90 percent of the time, but only re-grows significant amounts of hair in perhaps 40 percent of men.”
Hair transplantation, which involves grafting hair follicles from one site on the head to another, should only be considered when hair loss is significant and medical therapy options have been exhausted. Some experts say that surgery is often viewed by people with hair loss as a quick fix, but is often more complicated. Bark says, “they don’t realize that a small procedure performed too early may lock them into a series of surgeries as their hair loss progresses and leave them with a pattern that may not be appropriate as they mature.” The good thing, however, is that a properly timed and skillfully executed hair transplant can look very natural.
Since early treatment is the best treatment, Sadick and Bark emphasize that both men and women consult a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss as soon as they start to see thinning of the hair. With today’s therapies, proactive patients will often be more than satisfied with the results.
"Usually, once you see hair thinning, you’ve already lost 50 percent of your hair," says Dr. Neil Sadick, a clinical professor of dermatology at Weil Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. "Although the speed of hair loss progression varies, the earlier people get treated, the better."
In general, pattern baldness, also known as genetic hair loss, begins later in women than in men. It tends to start while men are in their 30s or 40s as opposed to 40s or 50s for women. However, pattern baldness can occur at any time after puberty in both sexes. According to Sadick, hair loss is actually as common in women as it is in men, though not as severe. Also the patterns of hair loss are different. Men tend to lose hair in the front and in the "monk’s cap" area at the top of the head, while women experience more diffuse thinning throughout the scalp.
Even though genes are the main culprit behind hair loss there are other possible causes including thyroid problems, anemia, lupus and the excess production of androgen hormone. Hair loss can be a side effect of medications such as ibuprofen, antidepressants, hypertension drugs, anticoagulants and chemotherapy. And any shock to the system, such as weight loss or gain, or emotional stress, can be a trigger. All of these sources of hair loss cannot only cause shedding and thinning if uncorrected, but may also accelerate the progression of hair loss.
For women particularly, one major reason to see a hair loss specialist is to rule out other medical causes. "When women see hair loss, they should talk to a dermatologist immediately because the reason for it might demand a medical work-up," explains Dr. Joseph P. Bark, a dermatologist in private practice and the past chair of dermatology at St. Josephs Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
According to Bark, a common cause of hair loss in women is hormonal either due to a change in birth control pills or the end of a pregnancy. Both can cause telogen effluvium, a generally reversible form of hair loss that occurs when hair goes into a resting phase. "Pregnancy locks hair into a long growth phase," Bark says. "This ends at delivery, at which time point the hair thinks it’s time to fall out. Women can shed between 20 percent and 30 percent of their hair starting several months after delivery, but it will start growing again in about 6 to 9 months."
Once non-genetic causes have been eliminated, a patient can begin treatment. The only drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hair loss are Rogaine (minoxidil), used in men and women, and Propecia (finasteride), approved only for men but sometimes used in postmenopausal women. Generic minoxidil, which is also sold under the brand name Rogaine, is available over-the-counter in 2 percent and 5 percent concentrations. Propecia is only available by prescription.
Both of these medications are most effective early in the hair loss process. "Rogaine and Propecia hang onto hair better than they produce it," Bark says. “For example, Propecia maintains hair almost 90 percent of the time, but only re-grows significant amounts of hair in perhaps 40 percent of men.”
Hair transplantation, which involves grafting hair follicles from one site on the head to another, should only be considered when hair loss is significant and medical therapy options have been exhausted. Some experts say that surgery is often viewed by people with hair loss as a quick fix, but is often more complicated. Bark says, “they don’t realize that a small procedure performed too early may lock them into a series of surgeries as their hair loss progresses and leave them with a pattern that may not be appropriate as they mature.” The good thing, however, is that a properly timed and skillfully executed hair transplant can look very natural.
Since early treatment is the best treatment, Sadick and Bark emphasize that both men and women consult a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss as soon as they start to see thinning of the hair. With today’s therapies, proactive patients will often be more than satisfied with the results.
Eating Well for Hair Health
If you need more reasons to consider eating a balanced diet, add good hair. Nutrition experts say that people with certain nutritional deficiencies tend to have dry, stringy and dull hair, and sometimes experience hair loss. Fortunately, nutrition-related hair loss can be restored once the deficiency is addressed. While male- and female-pattern baldness is considered a genetic trait, people experiencing any kind of hair loss should take the time to ensure they are getting good nutrition—for their hair health and general health.
"What you eat or do not eat can affect your hair and skin," says Doug Kalman, RD, a nutritionist with Miami Research Associates. This is important for dieters to keep in mind, Kalman says, particularly those who choose diets that severely restrict calories or eliminate groups of food.
At least one study has shown that people on crash diets experience temporary hair loss because such diets result in poor overall nutrition. Thus, people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are at risk of temporary hair loss, as well as many other medical conditions. According to Wahida Karmally, DrPH, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, zinc deficiencies, which are associated with hair health, may be a problem among people on low-calorie diets, especially young women. Zinc is found in meat, eggs and seafood.
Kalman says that people on low-fat and non-fat diets are at risk for nutrition-related hair loss because hair needs essential fatty acids. "Essential fatty acid deficiency causes a drying-up of the scalp and skin," he says. "These are vital nutrients that support follicular health. When the follicle is not healthy, hair loss or thinning occurs."
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, and in flaxseed oil and macadamia nuts and walnuts. It's recommended that women, in particular, try to eat a food source of omega-3 fatty acids three times a week to maintain skin and hair health.
Biotin, part of the vitamin B complex, is another nutrient associated with hair loss. According to Kalman, people who are eating adequate amount of protein—which includes most Americans—should not have a problem with biotin deficiency, though vegans may be at risk. Good food sources of biotin are eggs, liver and soy.
Karmally says that it's not known if biotin supplements, which are marketed to help with male- and female-pattern baldness, can help with hair loss, and adds that she is unaware of any research indicating that the biotin in biotin hair products, such as shampoos, can be absorbed through the hair or scalp.
Karmally recommends that people experiencing hair loss see a physician, who can help determine the cause of their hair loss, and registered dietician, who can assess their diet and health status. "When you are looking for symptoms of nutrition deficiency in someone with skin and hair changes, it's difficult to pinpoint the cause," she says. "People should pay attention to all aspects of their diet for their total health, as well as their hair and skin."
"What you eat or do not eat can affect your hair and skin," says Doug Kalman, RD, a nutritionist with Miami Research Associates. This is important for dieters to keep in mind, Kalman says, particularly those who choose diets that severely restrict calories or eliminate groups of food.
At least one study has shown that people on crash diets experience temporary hair loss because such diets result in poor overall nutrition. Thus, people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are at risk of temporary hair loss, as well as many other medical conditions. According to Wahida Karmally, DrPH, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, zinc deficiencies, which are associated with hair health, may be a problem among people on low-calorie diets, especially young women. Zinc is found in meat, eggs and seafood.
Kalman says that people on low-fat and non-fat diets are at risk for nutrition-related hair loss because hair needs essential fatty acids. "Essential fatty acid deficiency causes a drying-up of the scalp and skin," he says. "These are vital nutrients that support follicular health. When the follicle is not healthy, hair loss or thinning occurs."
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, and in flaxseed oil and macadamia nuts and walnuts. It's recommended that women, in particular, try to eat a food source of omega-3 fatty acids three times a week to maintain skin and hair health.
Biotin, part of the vitamin B complex, is another nutrient associated with hair loss. According to Kalman, people who are eating adequate amount of protein—which includes most Americans—should not have a problem with biotin deficiency, though vegans may be at risk. Good food sources of biotin are eggs, liver and soy.
Karmally says that it's not known if biotin supplements, which are marketed to help with male- and female-pattern baldness, can help with hair loss, and adds that she is unaware of any research indicating that the biotin in biotin hair products, such as shampoos, can be absorbed through the hair or scalp.
Karmally recommends that people experiencing hair loss see a physician, who can help determine the cause of their hair loss, and registered dietician, who can assess their diet and health status. "When you are looking for symptoms of nutrition deficiency in someone with skin and hair changes, it's difficult to pinpoint the cause," she says. "People should pay attention to all aspects of their diet for their total health, as well as their hair and skin."
Diet and Hair Loss
Alopecia is the medical or technical name for hair loss. The loss of hair can occur on the scalp or on any part of the body that normally has hair, such as eyebrows or eyelashes. A certain amount of hair loss is normal. The average person normally sheds 50 to 100 hairs every day. The hair shed daily is not necessarily permanent hair loss. Most of the hair we shed grows back. All hairs have a life expectancy of three to six years. At any given time, some of our hair is growing, some is done growing and in the resting stage, and some is in the falling-out stage. Everyone sheds hair at about the same rate, but there are some people, through genetics, who have fewer new hairs that grow to replace those that shed. Pattern baldness or permanent hair loss is simply the result of genetic programming. Increased hair shedding, or temporary hair loss can be caused by a host of different reasons. Some of these reasons include poor nutrition and diet, genes, hormones, age, medications such as chemotherapy, radiation treatment, infections, stress, chemicals used for certain hairstyles, and rapid weight loss. Certain illnesses and diseases can also cause hair loss or hair shedding. Examples include anemia, low thyroid hormone levels, lupus, and sometimes cancer. In most of these cases, hair loss is not permanent.
Nutrition and Dietary Recommendations
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth. Hair problems that are caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet. Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, protein, and water.
Vitamin A
Adequate intake of vitamin A is vital in helping to promote the growth and health of cells and tissues throughout the body, including the hair and scalp. Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can lead to hair loss and dandruff caused by the buildup of cellular debris in the hair follicles. The daily intake of vitamin A for adults is 5,000 IU (international units). The body actually gets vitamin A in two ways: from plant sources in the form of carotenoids, such as beta carotene, that convert to vitamin A in the body. These sources include red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables as well as some dark green leafy vegetables. The body also gets vitamin A from animal sources in the form of retinol. Good animal sources include:
liver
fish oil
eggs
fortified milk
other foods fortified with vitamin A
Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12
All three of these B vitamins are essential to the normal formation of red blood cells or the hemoglobin (iron-containing) portion of red blood cells. The primary function of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues in the body, including the hair. Healthy and strong hair is dependent on a constant supply of blood and oxygen. A deficiency of these B vitamins can cause reduced blood and oxygen supply to the hair, leading to increased hair shedding, damaged hair, and slow regrowth. The reference daily intake of vitamin B6 is 2.0 milligrams per day for the average adult. The best sources of vitamin B6 are protein-rich foods such as:
chicken
fish
pork
liver
kidney
soybeans
Whole grains, cereals, nuts, and legumes also contain reasonable amounts.
The reference daily intake of folic acid is 400 micrograms for the average adult. Sources of folic acid include:
leafy vegetables
orange juice
avocado
beets
broccoli
brewer’s yeast
liver
wheat germ
some fortified cereals
Most enriched grain products, such as bread, flour, rice, macaroni, and noodles, must be fortified with folic acid according to a new law.
The reference daily intake of vitamin Bl2 is 6.0 micrograms for the average adult. B12 is found mostly in animal foods such as:
meat
fish
poultry
eggs
milk
other dairy foods
Biotin
For people who eat a healthy diet, biotin deficiency is rare. Besides getting biotin from select food sources, biotin is also manufactured in our intestines by gut bacteria. In rare instances though, biotin deficiency can cause hair loss. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition researched two adult patients receiving TPN (total parenteral nutrition, which is a form of nutrition used by the very ill who cannot use their gut for digestion and must have specialized nutrition through a large catheter inserted directly into the vein) on a long-term basis. Both patients had severe loss of hair. These patients, due to their medical condition, did not manufacture biotin in their gut and consumed no biotin orally or parenterally. Daily supplementation of biotin resulted in the gradual regrowth of healthy hair.
Nutrition and Dietary Recommendations
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth. Hair problems that are caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet. Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, protein, and water.
Vitamin A
Adequate intake of vitamin A is vital in helping to promote the growth and health of cells and tissues throughout the body, including the hair and scalp. Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can lead to hair loss and dandruff caused by the buildup of cellular debris in the hair follicles. The daily intake of vitamin A for adults is 5,000 IU (international units). The body actually gets vitamin A in two ways: from plant sources in the form of carotenoids, such as beta carotene, that convert to vitamin A in the body. These sources include red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables as well as some dark green leafy vegetables. The body also gets vitamin A from animal sources in the form of retinol. Good animal sources include:
liver
fish oil
eggs
fortified milk
other foods fortified with vitamin A
Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12
All three of these B vitamins are essential to the normal formation of red blood cells or the hemoglobin (iron-containing) portion of red blood cells. The primary function of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues in the body, including the hair. Healthy and strong hair is dependent on a constant supply of blood and oxygen. A deficiency of these B vitamins can cause reduced blood and oxygen supply to the hair, leading to increased hair shedding, damaged hair, and slow regrowth. The reference daily intake of vitamin B6 is 2.0 milligrams per day for the average adult. The best sources of vitamin B6 are protein-rich foods such as:
chicken
fish
pork
liver
kidney
soybeans
Whole grains, cereals, nuts, and legumes also contain reasonable amounts.
The reference daily intake of folic acid is 400 micrograms for the average adult. Sources of folic acid include:
leafy vegetables
orange juice
avocado
beets
broccoli
brewer’s yeast
liver
wheat germ
some fortified cereals
Most enriched grain products, such as bread, flour, rice, macaroni, and noodles, must be fortified with folic acid according to a new law.
The reference daily intake of vitamin Bl2 is 6.0 micrograms for the average adult. B12 is found mostly in animal foods such as:
meat
fish
poultry
eggs
milk
other dairy foods
Biotin
For people who eat a healthy diet, biotin deficiency is rare. Besides getting biotin from select food sources, biotin is also manufactured in our intestines by gut bacteria. In rare instances though, biotin deficiency can cause hair loss. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition researched two adult patients receiving TPN (total parenteral nutrition, which is a form of nutrition used by the very ill who cannot use their gut for digestion and must have specialized nutrition through a large catheter inserted directly into the vein) on a long-term basis. Both patients had severe loss of hair. These patients, due to their medical condition, did not manufacture biotin in their gut and consumed no biotin orally or parenterally. Daily supplementation of biotin resulted in the gradual regrowth of healthy hair.
Pumping Iron: Can Low Iron Levels Cause Hair Loss?
Most assume that their ever-thinning hair is a result of genetics and there is little to do to stop it. While that's somewhat true, researchers have found that some cases of hair loss may be tied to diet, not DNA.
In a review of previous work, doctors from the Cleveland Clinic have found that low iron levels in the body may be linked to hair loss in both men and women. While there is no hard evidence to suggest that iron supplements would help to regrow hair, some experts do see iron as a potential supplement to other forms of hair-loss treatment.
"We believe that treatment for hair loss is enhanced when iron deficiency…is treated," the study authors wrote in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Most associate iron deficiency with anemia, an inability of the blood to carry oxygen due to low levels of hemoglobin. In fact, iron deficiency anemia commonly causes the symptom of large amounts of hair loss. But iron deficiency can also occur without showing any symptoms. In fact, iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, often going unnoticed by both patients and their doctors.
In this review, however, Dr. Leonid Trost and colleagues found that iron deficiency may be at least somewhat linked to one very noticeable symptom—hair loss. But it isn't clear if low iron levels cause hair loss or if it just makes hair loss worse.
"Hair loss is not just caused by one thing," said Trost, "But milder forms of iron deficiency are linked to some types of hair loss."
While many doctors will check hemoglobin levels to test for anemia, not all will go to the next step of checking for iron deficiency without anemia. To check for this, Trost recommends that patients who may be iron deficient be screened for ferritin, a direct measure of the amount of iron in the body. These hair loss patients include pre-menopausal women, women who just gave birth and patients who recently had surgery, all of whom may have low iron levels as a result of blood loss. Additionally, vegetarians and recent crash dieters should also be tested as they may not eat enough iron in their diet.
If iron levels are low, Trost recommends that patients be taught which foods contain high levels of iron, like red meats, spinach and raisins. Iron supplements are also helpful, however, patients who take these pills need to be monitored closely by a doctor. Too much iron can be very dangerous, affecting the heart and pancreas, among other organs.
In many cases, the additional iron helps the body re-grow the hair. "For some people, it makes a profound difference," said Trost, who gives the example of a pre-menopausal woman who is losing her hair mostly because of iron deficiency.
However, Trost cautions that a 60-year-old man with male-pattern baldness may not see such astounding results with iron alone. For these patients, iron supplementation needs to be part of a more comprehensive treatment for the hair loss.
In a review of previous work, doctors from the Cleveland Clinic have found that low iron levels in the body may be linked to hair loss in both men and women. While there is no hard evidence to suggest that iron supplements would help to regrow hair, some experts do see iron as a potential supplement to other forms of hair-loss treatment.
"We believe that treatment for hair loss is enhanced when iron deficiency…is treated," the study authors wrote in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Most associate iron deficiency with anemia, an inability of the blood to carry oxygen due to low levels of hemoglobin. In fact, iron deficiency anemia commonly causes the symptom of large amounts of hair loss. But iron deficiency can also occur without showing any symptoms. In fact, iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, often going unnoticed by both patients and their doctors.
In this review, however, Dr. Leonid Trost and colleagues found that iron deficiency may be at least somewhat linked to one very noticeable symptom—hair loss. But it isn't clear if low iron levels cause hair loss or if it just makes hair loss worse.
"Hair loss is not just caused by one thing," said Trost, "But milder forms of iron deficiency are linked to some types of hair loss."
While many doctors will check hemoglobin levels to test for anemia, not all will go to the next step of checking for iron deficiency without anemia. To check for this, Trost recommends that patients who may be iron deficient be screened for ferritin, a direct measure of the amount of iron in the body. These hair loss patients include pre-menopausal women, women who just gave birth and patients who recently had surgery, all of whom may have low iron levels as a result of blood loss. Additionally, vegetarians and recent crash dieters should also be tested as they may not eat enough iron in their diet.
If iron levels are low, Trost recommends that patients be taught which foods contain high levels of iron, like red meats, spinach and raisins. Iron supplements are also helpful, however, patients who take these pills need to be monitored closely by a doctor. Too much iron can be very dangerous, affecting the heart and pancreas, among other organs.
In many cases, the additional iron helps the body re-grow the hair. "For some people, it makes a profound difference," said Trost, who gives the example of a pre-menopausal woman who is losing her hair mostly because of iron deficiency.
However, Trost cautions that a 60-year-old man with male-pattern baldness may not see such astounding results with iron alone. For these patients, iron supplementation needs to be part of a more comprehensive treatment for the hair loss.
Men Place a High Value on Hair
Most men with male pattern hair loss would part with their prized possessions for more hair, according to a recent survey.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) participated in a national online survey of men with male pattern hair loss. The 2,338 men who were polled were asked whether or not they would trade a personal possession for more hair. They were also asked to choose the item they treasure the most and would be willing to part with from a list of six items.
The majority of respondents (57 percent) reported that they would be willing to give up something they owned in exchange for more hair. Of this group, 26 percent stated they would be willing to part with their stereo system, 21 percent chose their cell phone and 17 percent said they would give up an expensive car. Another 17 percent stated that they would part with their laptop computer, 13 percent would give up their plasma TV, and 6 percent said they would do without a boat.
"This survey confirms that men place an extremely high value on their hair and would go to great lengths to restore it—even if it means giving up something valuable to them," said Dr. Paul C. Cotterill, president of the ISHRS, in a press release. "When most of us reflect on what would make us happy this holiday season, I think we would find that intangibles, such as looking or feeling better, would top more wish lists than expensive gifts."
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern hair loss is a hereditary condition distinguished by a receding hairline and the disappearance of hair from the top of the head, eventually balding a part or the entire top of the scalp. Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in humans, affecting millions of men worldwide.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) participated in a national online survey of men with male pattern hair loss. The 2,338 men who were polled were asked whether or not they would trade a personal possession for more hair. They were also asked to choose the item they treasure the most and would be willing to part with from a list of six items.
The majority of respondents (57 percent) reported that they would be willing to give up something they owned in exchange for more hair. Of this group, 26 percent stated they would be willing to part with their stereo system, 21 percent chose their cell phone and 17 percent said they would give up an expensive car. Another 17 percent stated that they would part with their laptop computer, 13 percent would give up their plasma TV, and 6 percent said they would do without a boat.
"This survey confirms that men place an extremely high value on their hair and would go to great lengths to restore it—even if it means giving up something valuable to them," said Dr. Paul C. Cotterill, president of the ISHRS, in a press release. "When most of us reflect on what would make us happy this holiday season, I think we would find that intangibles, such as looking or feeling better, would top more wish lists than expensive gifts."
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern hair loss is a hereditary condition distinguished by a receding hairline and the disappearance of hair from the top of the head, eventually balding a part or the entire top of the scalp. Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in humans, affecting millions of men worldwide.
Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss?
Standing in the shower shampooing, you notice clumps of hair washing down the drain. At first, you're confused and worried, but a visit to the dermatologist reveals that the very feeling you are likely experiencing as a result of your suddenly-thinning scalp could also be its cause: stress.
That's right, stress may make you want to pull out your hair, but extreme stress may cut out the middle man.
Usually, it's not mild job or life stress that triggers hair loss, more likely it is extremely serious stress to the body that causes hair to stop growing and fall out. These types of stress can be initiated by some types of medications, diabetes, thyroid disorders and even extreme emotional stress, but also can be caused by commonplace life events like childbirth, miscarriage and surgery.
"The biggest cause of all is pregnancy," says Dr. Michelle Pelle, assistant professor in the division of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego.
In fact, it is estimated that up to 45 percent of new mothers experience some degree of hair loss from the stress of having a baby. Since this type of hair loss is caused by such common triggers, many may suffer from it without realizing its cause. Most of the time, hair will grow back within six months, but sometimes this kind of hair loss can be the start of a more long-term problem.
How Stress Causes Hair Loss
Hair grows in repeating cycles. The active growth phase lasts around two years and is followed by a resting phase that spans three months, after which the hair falls from the scalp. Normally, every strand of hair in your head is at a different point in this cycle, so the shedding is barely noticeable: a few strands in the shower drain, some more on your brush, a hair or two on your pillow. A normal head sheds at most 100 strands of hair a day.
However, when the body undergoes extreme stress, as much as 70 percent of your hair can prematurely enter the resting phase, called the telogen phase. Three months later, these hairs begin to fall out, causing noticeable hair loss called telogen effluvium.
The person will not become completely bald and the thinning will be fairly unnoticeable. However, it's this three month delay and the fact that the trigger seems so unrelated that causes confusion on the part of the patient concerned about hair loss.
Fortunately, in most cases hair will begin to grow back within six months. In a very small percentage of people, however, telogen effluvium may be only the trigger for more long-term hair loss.
Ensuring a Covered Scalp
Whenever a patient has sudden hair loss, he or she should see a board-certified dermatologist, preferably one with experience in this area. Even when the doctor is able to determine the source of the stress, such as with a mom who just gave birth, a father coping with the recent loss of a child or a young woman who stopped taking birth control pills, additional testing should be done, says Pelle.
These tests will check for iron and certain hormone levels and thyroid function. Any abnormalities may slow the re-growth of hair. Low iron levels, for example, is particularly common in young women, says Pelle, and by taking an iron supplement or increasing the amount of red meat in one's diet, a young woman can reduce the amount of time she has to worry about her hair.
Unfortunately, telogen effluvium may also reveal a woman who has a genetic predisposition to lose her hair. Much like male-pattern baldness, these women will lose their hair from the top of their heads and not be able to re-grow it without more extensive medical interventions.
But if you notice a clump of hair in your drain, the worst thing to do is worry about this extreme case of hair loss. If you do have telogen effluvium, worry only causes more stress, possibly making your hair loss worse.
"There's such an anxiety about losing hair," says Pelle. "I tell my patients, the worst thing to do about losing your hair is to be worried about it."
That's right, stress may make you want to pull out your hair, but extreme stress may cut out the middle man.
Usually, it's not mild job or life stress that triggers hair loss, more likely it is extremely serious stress to the body that causes hair to stop growing and fall out. These types of stress can be initiated by some types of medications, diabetes, thyroid disorders and even extreme emotional stress, but also can be caused by commonplace life events like childbirth, miscarriage and surgery.
"The biggest cause of all is pregnancy," says Dr. Michelle Pelle, assistant professor in the division of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego.
In fact, it is estimated that up to 45 percent of new mothers experience some degree of hair loss from the stress of having a baby. Since this type of hair loss is caused by such common triggers, many may suffer from it without realizing its cause. Most of the time, hair will grow back within six months, but sometimes this kind of hair loss can be the start of a more long-term problem.
How Stress Causes Hair Loss
Hair grows in repeating cycles. The active growth phase lasts around two years and is followed by a resting phase that spans three months, after which the hair falls from the scalp. Normally, every strand of hair in your head is at a different point in this cycle, so the shedding is barely noticeable: a few strands in the shower drain, some more on your brush, a hair or two on your pillow. A normal head sheds at most 100 strands of hair a day.
However, when the body undergoes extreme stress, as much as 70 percent of your hair can prematurely enter the resting phase, called the telogen phase. Three months later, these hairs begin to fall out, causing noticeable hair loss called telogen effluvium.
The person will not become completely bald and the thinning will be fairly unnoticeable. However, it's this three month delay and the fact that the trigger seems so unrelated that causes confusion on the part of the patient concerned about hair loss.
Fortunately, in most cases hair will begin to grow back within six months. In a very small percentage of people, however, telogen effluvium may be only the trigger for more long-term hair loss.
Ensuring a Covered Scalp
Whenever a patient has sudden hair loss, he or she should see a board-certified dermatologist, preferably one with experience in this area. Even when the doctor is able to determine the source of the stress, such as with a mom who just gave birth, a father coping with the recent loss of a child or a young woman who stopped taking birth control pills, additional testing should be done, says Pelle.
These tests will check for iron and certain hormone levels and thyroid function. Any abnormalities may slow the re-growth of hair. Low iron levels, for example, is particularly common in young women, says Pelle, and by taking an iron supplement or increasing the amount of red meat in one's diet, a young woman can reduce the amount of time she has to worry about her hair.
Unfortunately, telogen effluvium may also reveal a woman who has a genetic predisposition to lose her hair. Much like male-pattern baldness, these women will lose their hair from the top of their heads and not be able to re-grow it without more extensive medical interventions.
But if you notice a clump of hair in your drain, the worst thing to do is worry about this extreme case of hair loss. If you do have telogen effluvium, worry only causes more stress, possibly making your hair loss worse.
"There's such an anxiety about losing hair," says Pelle. "I tell my patients, the worst thing to do about losing your hair is to be worried about it."
Going Bald: Thanks Mom!
Men who start to go bald even before a mid-life crisis may have their mothers to blame, according to a new study. Researchers have found that the main construction manual for a full head of hair is located on the X chromosome, which sons always inherit from their mothers.
This genetic storage space contains the so-called androgen receptor gene, a long time balding suspect. Looking at men who were losing their hair at a relatively young age, a team led by Markus Nothen, PhD, of the Life & Brain Center at Bonn University, Germany systematically examined all of the genetic patterns within the X chromosome to see why certain hairlines recede faster than others.
It's not a pretty picture. The study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, claims that a single alteration in the androgen-receptor gene is the major reason why some men end up going bald before their fathers.
Nearly half of bald men would not be bald if they did not have this genetic variation, said Nothen. The hair loss in these younger men, he added, was much more severe than in the men who still had a reason to use a comb in their 60s.
There are clearly other genetic factors involved with balding, said Nothen, "which is obvious when we look at non-affected men over 60 years of age." About 40 percent had the same genetic alteration, yet managed to keep their hair, he said. Still, the findings help define why some vulnerable men may be at risk for early hair loss.
As part of the study, Nothen and colleagues looked at 95 families in which at least two brothers started going bald before they turned 40. DNA was collected from 200 young, balding men and compared to their hairier brothers, as well as some 150 unrelated guys in their 60's who still had a full head of hair.
The men with an alteration in the androgen-receptor gene had a 46 percent higher risk of going bald before the age of 40. This variation essentially acts like a repeat button, churning out more bald genetic code than normal. To the study authors, this suggests that a guy can lose his hair because he has more of these androgen receptors on his scalp. How this excess happens is not really clear. The researchers are planning further studies to find out.
Many key insights into balding have relied on animal models, but the current research "is truly relevant to human hair loss," said George Cotsarelis, PhD, an expert on the genetic causes of hair loss from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Still, he added that the small number of men who were studied makes it hard to determine if new hair growth interventions can sprout up anytime soon.
Like other studies, the German findings point to excess androgen receptors as a key target for saving hair. Designing a drug to block these receptors may keep the need for toupees at bay, but they could also interfere with male hormones that men need to be men. Ideally, a topical cream could be developed that blocks just the male hormones responsible for shiny scalps. In the meantime, men concerned about hair loss should not give up hope. "The research raises the chance that something can happen," said Cotsarelis.
This genetic storage space contains the so-called androgen receptor gene, a long time balding suspect. Looking at men who were losing their hair at a relatively young age, a team led by Markus Nothen, PhD, of the Life & Brain Center at Bonn University, Germany systematically examined all of the genetic patterns within the X chromosome to see why certain hairlines recede faster than others.
It's not a pretty picture. The study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, claims that a single alteration in the androgen-receptor gene is the major reason why some men end up going bald before their fathers.
Nearly half of bald men would not be bald if they did not have this genetic variation, said Nothen. The hair loss in these younger men, he added, was much more severe than in the men who still had a reason to use a comb in their 60s.
There are clearly other genetic factors involved with balding, said Nothen, "which is obvious when we look at non-affected men over 60 years of age." About 40 percent had the same genetic alteration, yet managed to keep their hair, he said. Still, the findings help define why some vulnerable men may be at risk for early hair loss.
As part of the study, Nothen and colleagues looked at 95 families in which at least two brothers started going bald before they turned 40. DNA was collected from 200 young, balding men and compared to their hairier brothers, as well as some 150 unrelated guys in their 60's who still had a full head of hair.
The men with an alteration in the androgen-receptor gene had a 46 percent higher risk of going bald before the age of 40. This variation essentially acts like a repeat button, churning out more bald genetic code than normal. To the study authors, this suggests that a guy can lose his hair because he has more of these androgen receptors on his scalp. How this excess happens is not really clear. The researchers are planning further studies to find out.
Many key insights into balding have relied on animal models, but the current research "is truly relevant to human hair loss," said George Cotsarelis, PhD, an expert on the genetic causes of hair loss from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Still, he added that the small number of men who were studied makes it hard to determine if new hair growth interventions can sprout up anytime soon.
Like other studies, the German findings point to excess androgen receptors as a key target for saving hair. Designing a drug to block these receptors may keep the need for toupees at bay, but they could also interfere with male hormones that men need to be men. Ideally, a topical cream could be developed that blocks just the male hormones responsible for shiny scalps. In the meantime, men concerned about hair loss should not give up hope. "The research raises the chance that something can happen," said Cotsarelis.
Untangling the Genetics of Hair Loss
If you have male pattern baldness, you've probably heard that either your mother's father or your father's father is to blame. But before you start resenting one of your dear grandfathers, you should know that this piece of misinformation is derived from a study that is almost 100 years old. New studies and a more through understanding of the human genome confirm that male and female pattern baldness is a complex genetic trait.
"There is evidence that [male and female pattern baldness] is genetically based, but we don't know the inheritance pattern," says Animesh A. Sinha, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City who studies the genetics and immunology of complex skin disease. "We do know that it's not likely to be due to one gene or one gene mutation: it's likely to be due to multiple genes."
To understand male and female pattern baldness, it helps to understand the hair growth cycle, which is divided into three phases: the growth phase, the involution, or regression, phase and the resting phase. As Barry I. Resnik, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Aventura, Florida and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, explains, "In hair loss, the sleeping phase gets longer and the growing phase gets shorter until it goes to sleep. This is mediated, in part, by increasing amounts of, and/or increasing sensitivity to, active male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT)." As a result of this altered growth cycle, hair shafts become shorter and thinner, a process called follicular miniaturization.
It's unclear what is happening genetically to bring about miniaturization. As Dr. Sinha says, "We don't know what genes are involved; how many there are; or how the genes interact with themselves or with environmental factors."
To address these issues, large-scales studies of families are needed. Such studies would involve people with pattern hair loss and their siblings, as well as people without hair loss who can be used as controls. All study participants would be screened for genetic mutations, or changes, that might be linked to hair loss. The identification of such changes would help scientists locate the genes responsible for pattern baldness.
Angela M. Christiano, PhD, an associate professor at Columbia University in New York City, has identified several genes in mice and humans that are involved in different forms of inherited alopecias. These discoveries may, at some future point, shed some light on the genetics of male and female pattern hair loss as well. Many scientists are hard at work to understand the role of genetics in normal hair growth and cycling, so that these basic principles can then be applied to the study of male and female pattern baldness.
Once the genes for male and female pattern baldness are identified, Dr. Sinha says, scientists can begin to look at how the condition evolves, because not everyone with a gene for a particular medical condition will develop that condition. For this to occur, the relevant genes must interact with each other and certain environmental, or outside, influences in a specific way, which, for now, remains unknown.
Dr. Sinha's lab is currently examining how genes express themselves in order to figure out the pathway that leads to alopecia areata, a type of sudden hair loss that affects children and adults. Thanks to new technologies such as the gene microarray, which allows scientists to look at thousands of genes at a time, identifying groups of genes and observing gene expression patterns is far easier than it was in the past.
"The ultimate goal of understanding the genetics of these conditions is to identify individuals at risk by designing a screening test." Dr. Sinha explains. "That way you can develop preventative therapies." Such a test would identify at-risk individuals by looking for a particular genetic pattern, or signature.
In the meantime, don't try to pin your hair loss on any one family member. Instead, spread the blame around. As Dr. Resnick explains, "The more members of the your family who have male pattern loss, the more likely you are to have it."
"There is evidence that [male and female pattern baldness] is genetically based, but we don't know the inheritance pattern," says Animesh A. Sinha, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City who studies the genetics and immunology of complex skin disease. "We do know that it's not likely to be due to one gene or one gene mutation: it's likely to be due to multiple genes."
To understand male and female pattern baldness, it helps to understand the hair growth cycle, which is divided into three phases: the growth phase, the involution, or regression, phase and the resting phase. As Barry I. Resnik, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Aventura, Florida and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, explains, "In hair loss, the sleeping phase gets longer and the growing phase gets shorter until it goes to sleep. This is mediated, in part, by increasing amounts of, and/or increasing sensitivity to, active male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT)." As a result of this altered growth cycle, hair shafts become shorter and thinner, a process called follicular miniaturization.
It's unclear what is happening genetically to bring about miniaturization. As Dr. Sinha says, "We don't know what genes are involved; how many there are; or how the genes interact with themselves or with environmental factors."
To address these issues, large-scales studies of families are needed. Such studies would involve people with pattern hair loss and their siblings, as well as people without hair loss who can be used as controls. All study participants would be screened for genetic mutations, or changes, that might be linked to hair loss. The identification of such changes would help scientists locate the genes responsible for pattern baldness.
Angela M. Christiano, PhD, an associate professor at Columbia University in New York City, has identified several genes in mice and humans that are involved in different forms of inherited alopecias. These discoveries may, at some future point, shed some light on the genetics of male and female pattern hair loss as well. Many scientists are hard at work to understand the role of genetics in normal hair growth and cycling, so that these basic principles can then be applied to the study of male and female pattern baldness.
Once the genes for male and female pattern baldness are identified, Dr. Sinha says, scientists can begin to look at how the condition evolves, because not everyone with a gene for a particular medical condition will develop that condition. For this to occur, the relevant genes must interact with each other and certain environmental, or outside, influences in a specific way, which, for now, remains unknown.
Dr. Sinha's lab is currently examining how genes express themselves in order to figure out the pathway that leads to alopecia areata, a type of sudden hair loss that affects children and adults. Thanks to new technologies such as the gene microarray, which allows scientists to look at thousands of genes at a time, identifying groups of genes and observing gene expression patterns is far easier than it was in the past.
"The ultimate goal of understanding the genetics of these conditions is to identify individuals at risk by designing a screening test." Dr. Sinha explains. "That way you can develop preventative therapies." Such a test would identify at-risk individuals by looking for a particular genetic pattern, or signature.
In the meantime, don't try to pin your hair loss on any one family member. Instead, spread the blame around. As Dr. Resnick explains, "The more members of the your family who have male pattern loss, the more likely you are to have it."
Debunking Hair Loss Myths
You might be surprised to learn that many people are unable to untangle fact from fiction when it comes to hair loss. Some of the blame lies with the many companies and individuals exploiting hair loss myths in order to sell bogus hair products. Other myths may linger because people with hair loss, particularly women, are reluctant to talk about an issue that remains sensitive and sometimes emotional.
The following are some popular myths about hair loss to watch out for:
Myth: Pattern Baldness Comes From Your Mother's Side Only
For those of you secretly blaming your mother's grandfather for your male- or female- pattern baldness, it's time to let go. The hair loss gene does not get passed down from your mother, nor does it skip a generation. If fact, there isn't even a single hair loss gene; researchers think pattern baldness is probably due to the interaction of several genes inherited from both parents.
Myth: Only Men Experience Pattern Baldness
In reality, hair loss is just as common in women as it is in men, though the degree of loss tends to vary by gender. "By the age of 50, over 50 percent of men have significant hair loss," Dr. McAndrews says. "For women, about 25 percent have significant hair loss by the age of 50, though it may be less apparent because women are more conscientious about hiding it than men are."
The timing and pattern of pattern baldness is also different in men and women. While men tend to start losing hair in the 30s and 40s, hair loss begins in the 40s or 50s in women, though it can occur as early as the 20s. And while men first lose hair in the front and at the top of the head, women's hair thins diffusely throughout the scalp.
Until recently, women have been reluctant to seek treatment, but hair restoration surgeons say that women make up more and more of their practices.
Myth: Poor Blood Flow Causes Pattern Baldness
This myth has been used to sell hair loss products as bizarre as a device that allows you hang upside down in your closet overnight in order to restore blood flow. But as Paul McAndrews, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration surgeon and a clinical professor at the University of California School of Medicine, explains, "Blood supply is excellent in the balding region, which is why hair transplant works so well."
Myth: Pattern Baldness is Caused By Hair Mites, Plugged Follicles, Vitamin Deficiencies
Other manufacturers claim that pattern hair loss is due to a hair mite called the demodex mite that can be removed with certain shampoos, or to plugged hair follicles, which can be unplugged with a shampoo or laser comb.
Dr. McAndrews says there's no evidence to support either of those theories. "The dermodex mite has been seen for centuries on hair follicles on face and scalp. If the mite contributed to hair loss, my beard hair would be gone."
As for plugged hair follicles, they simply lead to ingrown hairs, he says.
Other manufacturers claim that vitamin deficiencies cause pattern baldness. Although some studies have linked crash diets to temporary hair loss, malnutrition is rarely a cause of hair loss in the United States. And consuming more of a given vitamin, such biotin or zinc, than required will not have an impact on hair re-growth.
So why are people so willing to buy into these myth-based products? "Hair loss can be devastating," says Gregory Pistone, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration surgeon practicing in Marton, New Jersey. "I think anytime you're dealing with an issue that concerns self-esteem, you will find a lot of people trying to make a quick buck by playing on people's weaknesses."
People who are looking for products to help their hair loss may want to consider medical therapies that have been Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the maintenance and possible regrowth of hair. Finasteride (Propecia) is approved for use in men, and minoxidil (Rogaine) is available to men and women.
Myth: Hair Transplant Can Only Produce a "Pluggy Look"
Older approaches to hair transplantation involved grafts containing 8 to 20 hairs. Such large grafts made the scalp look as if it had "plugs" of hair. Today's techniques, if performed by a qualified hair transplant surgery, allow the surgeon to transplant tiny grafts of one to four hairs, creating a very natural look.
"These days, unless hair transplant is done improperly, it's undetectable," Dr. Pistone says. One reason this myth persists may be because the people in whom a transplant is visible are usually those who've had older surgical techniques. That's why it's still important to ensure you see a hair qualified transplant surgeon; research their education and ask to meet patients who had their hair transplant performed by them.
Educate Yourself
By learning about the real causes of hair loss as well as the FDA-approved treatments, you can learn to face your hair loss head-on.
The following are some popular myths about hair loss to watch out for:
Myth: Pattern Baldness Comes From Your Mother's Side Only
For those of you secretly blaming your mother's grandfather for your male- or female- pattern baldness, it's time to let go. The hair loss gene does not get passed down from your mother, nor does it skip a generation. If fact, there isn't even a single hair loss gene; researchers think pattern baldness is probably due to the interaction of several genes inherited from both parents.
Myth: Only Men Experience Pattern Baldness
In reality, hair loss is just as common in women as it is in men, though the degree of loss tends to vary by gender. "By the age of 50, over 50 percent of men have significant hair loss," Dr. McAndrews says. "For women, about 25 percent have significant hair loss by the age of 50, though it may be less apparent because women are more conscientious about hiding it than men are."
The timing and pattern of pattern baldness is also different in men and women. While men tend to start losing hair in the 30s and 40s, hair loss begins in the 40s or 50s in women, though it can occur as early as the 20s. And while men first lose hair in the front and at the top of the head, women's hair thins diffusely throughout the scalp.
Until recently, women have been reluctant to seek treatment, but hair restoration surgeons say that women make up more and more of their practices.
Myth: Poor Blood Flow Causes Pattern Baldness
This myth has been used to sell hair loss products as bizarre as a device that allows you hang upside down in your closet overnight in order to restore blood flow. But as Paul McAndrews, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration surgeon and a clinical professor at the University of California School of Medicine, explains, "Blood supply is excellent in the balding region, which is why hair transplant works so well."
Myth: Pattern Baldness is Caused By Hair Mites, Plugged Follicles, Vitamin Deficiencies
Other manufacturers claim that pattern hair loss is due to a hair mite called the demodex mite that can be removed with certain shampoos, or to plugged hair follicles, which can be unplugged with a shampoo or laser comb.
Dr. McAndrews says there's no evidence to support either of those theories. "The dermodex mite has been seen for centuries on hair follicles on face and scalp. If the mite contributed to hair loss, my beard hair would be gone."
As for plugged hair follicles, they simply lead to ingrown hairs, he says.
Other manufacturers claim that vitamin deficiencies cause pattern baldness. Although some studies have linked crash diets to temporary hair loss, malnutrition is rarely a cause of hair loss in the United States. And consuming more of a given vitamin, such biotin or zinc, than required will not have an impact on hair re-growth.
So why are people so willing to buy into these myth-based products? "Hair loss can be devastating," says Gregory Pistone, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration surgeon practicing in Marton, New Jersey. "I think anytime you're dealing with an issue that concerns self-esteem, you will find a lot of people trying to make a quick buck by playing on people's weaknesses."
People who are looking for products to help their hair loss may want to consider medical therapies that have been Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the maintenance and possible regrowth of hair. Finasteride (Propecia) is approved for use in men, and minoxidil (Rogaine) is available to men and women.
Myth: Hair Transplant Can Only Produce a "Pluggy Look"
Older approaches to hair transplantation involved grafts containing 8 to 20 hairs. Such large grafts made the scalp look as if it had "plugs" of hair. Today's techniques, if performed by a qualified hair transplant surgery, allow the surgeon to transplant tiny grafts of one to four hairs, creating a very natural look.
"These days, unless hair transplant is done improperly, it's undetectable," Dr. Pistone says. One reason this myth persists may be because the people in whom a transplant is visible are usually those who've had older surgical techniques. That's why it's still important to ensure you see a hair qualified transplant surgeon; research their education and ask to meet patients who had their hair transplant performed by them.
Educate Yourself
By learning about the real causes of hair loss as well as the FDA-approved treatments, you can learn to face your hair loss head-on.
The Truth About Hair Loss
It is normal to shed hair every day and the truth is we loose between 100-125 hairs on any given day. Hair that is shed falls out at the end of growth cycle. At any given time 10% of our hair is in what is called a "resting phase" and after 2-3 months resting, hair falls out and new hair grows in its place. Some people, however, experience more hair loss than is normal.
As we get older, both men and women experience some hair loss. It is a normal part of the aging process. Called Androgenetic Alopecia, it accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Androgentic Alopecia often runs in families and affects some people more than others. In men it is often referred to as Male Pattern Baldness.
It is characterized by a receding hair line and baldness on the top of head. Women, on the other hand, don't go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp.
Hormones play the dominant role when talking about Androgenetic Alopecia. Simple put, both men and women produce testosterone. Testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT shrinks hair follicles causing the membranes in the scalp to thicken, become inelastic and restrict blood flow. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy. As a result, when a hair does fall out, it is not replaced.
Needless to say, men produce more testosterone than women and experience more hair loss.
While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss. Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes, chemotherapy and radiation.
Emotional stress, pregnancy, or surgery can also cause our hair to fall out and is usually not noticed until 3-4 months after the stressful event has taken place. Stress can cause a slowing of new hair growth because a larger number of hair follicles enter into the resting phase and no new hair growth is experienced.
Another way in which individuals experience hair loss is due to mechanical stressors on the hair and scalp. Wearing pigtails, cornrows or tight rollers that end up pulling on the hair can scar the scalp and cause permanent hair loss. Hair products such as hot oil treatments and chemicals used for permanents can cause inflammation to the hair follicles which can also result in scarring and hair loss.
Note: Hair loss may be the early warning sign of a more serious disorder such as lupus or diabetes, so it is important to talk to your doctor.
Recommendations For Wellness
If you are taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor and find out if your medication is contributing to your hair loss.
Avoid mega-doses of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause your hair to fall out.
Exercise, do yoga, meditate or find some other practice that will help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels.
If you are a women, have your female hormones tested. If they are imbalanced, talk to your health care provider about bio-identical hormone replacements.
If you wear pigtails, cornrows, use a curling iron, hair dryer or hot rollers, try changing your hair style to one that puts less pressure and stress on your hair and scalp.
If hot oil treatments or chemicals such as those used in permanents are causing inflammation to the scalp, discontinue their use, or reduce the number of times you are using them.
Use gentle shampoos and conditioners to avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair.
In men, herbs such as saw palmetto and licorice root help block the formation of DHT. The same holds true for supplementation with zinc. As an added benefit, studies show that these supplements can also help prevent prostate enlargement.
Massage your scalp with rosemary oil in an olive oil base. Both rosemary oil and massaging the scalp can stimulate the circulation in the scalp and promote hair growth.
Again, if you are experiencing hair loss, check with your doctor to ensure that a more serious disorder isn't the cause.
As we get older, both men and women experience some hair loss. It is a normal part of the aging process. Called Androgenetic Alopecia, it accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Androgentic Alopecia often runs in families and affects some people more than others. In men it is often referred to as Male Pattern Baldness.
It is characterized by a receding hair line and baldness on the top of head. Women, on the other hand, don't go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp.
Hormones play the dominant role when talking about Androgenetic Alopecia. Simple put, both men and women produce testosterone. Testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT shrinks hair follicles causing the membranes in the scalp to thicken, become inelastic and restrict blood flow. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy. As a result, when a hair does fall out, it is not replaced.
Needless to say, men produce more testosterone than women and experience more hair loss.
While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss. Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes, chemotherapy and radiation.
Emotional stress, pregnancy, or surgery can also cause our hair to fall out and is usually not noticed until 3-4 months after the stressful event has taken place. Stress can cause a slowing of new hair growth because a larger number of hair follicles enter into the resting phase and no new hair growth is experienced.
Another way in which individuals experience hair loss is due to mechanical stressors on the hair and scalp. Wearing pigtails, cornrows or tight rollers that end up pulling on the hair can scar the scalp and cause permanent hair loss. Hair products such as hot oil treatments and chemicals used for permanents can cause inflammation to the hair follicles which can also result in scarring and hair loss.
Note: Hair loss may be the early warning sign of a more serious disorder such as lupus or diabetes, so it is important to talk to your doctor.
Recommendations For Wellness
If you are taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor and find out if your medication is contributing to your hair loss.
Avoid mega-doses of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause your hair to fall out.
Exercise, do yoga, meditate or find some other practice that will help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels.
If you are a women, have your female hormones tested. If they are imbalanced, talk to your health care provider about bio-identical hormone replacements.
If you wear pigtails, cornrows, use a curling iron, hair dryer or hot rollers, try changing your hair style to one that puts less pressure and stress on your hair and scalp.
If hot oil treatments or chemicals such as those used in permanents are causing inflammation to the scalp, discontinue their use, or reduce the number of times you are using them.
Use gentle shampoos and conditioners to avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair.
In men, herbs such as saw palmetto and licorice root help block the formation of DHT. The same holds true for supplementation with zinc. As an added benefit, studies show that these supplements can also help prevent prostate enlargement.
Massage your scalp with rosemary oil in an olive oil base. Both rosemary oil and massaging the scalp can stimulate the circulation in the scalp and promote hair growth.
Again, if you are experiencing hair loss, check with your doctor to ensure that a more serious disorder isn't the cause.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata - Bald Spot
Alopecia Areata is a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area. Any hair-bearing surface can be affected, but the most noticeable surface is the scalp. The reason alopecia areata occurs is not completely known. In some cases it is associated with other diseases, but most of the time it is not. Research is ongoing to determine the best treatment for this sometimes-striking disease.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
There are several different hypotheses as to what causes alopecia areata. Genetic factors seem to play an important role since there is a higher frequency of a family history of alopecia areata in people who are affected. Alopecia areata appears to also have an autoimmune factor causing the patient to develop antibodies to different hair follicle structures.
Certain chemicals that are a part of the immune system called cytokines may play a role in alopecia areata by inhibiting hair follicle growth. Some studies show that emotional stress may also cause alopecia areata.
Hair loss occurs because the hair follicles in a discreet area all enter the telogen or late catagen stage of hair growth. In the catagen stage the hair follicle stops growing and in the telogen stage it falls out. Normally hairs are going through these stages at random and the growing hairs on the rest of the head outnumber the hairs that fall out. In alopecia areata, something causes all the hairs in a certain area to enter the telogen or catagen stage at the same time.
Appearance of Alopecia Areata
The characteristic patch of alopecia areata is usually round or oval, and is completely bald and smooth. "Exclamation-mark" hairs may be seen at the margin of the patch. These are broken, short hairs that taper at the base. Pulling slightly on these hairs causes them to fall out. Some people may experience a slight burning or tingling in the area of hair loss.
Prognosis of Alopecia Areata
The progress of alopecia areata is unpredictable. Some people lose hair in only a small patch. Others may have more extensive involvement. Alopecia totalis is the loss of 100% of scalp hair. Alopecia universalis is the loss of 100% of body hair. These last two conditions are rare. In the majority of patients, the hair will regrow completely within 1 year without any treatment.
Other Hair Loss Conditions
Other diseases that may be mistaken for alopecia areata include:
Telogen effluvium - generalized hair loss caused by pregnancy, certain drugs, high fever, or stress.
Androgenic alopecia - also known as male-pattern baldness.
Trichotillomania - manually pulling the hair out caused by a psychological disorder.
Secondary syphilis - causing a "moth-eaten" baldness pattern over the entire scalp.
Treatment of Alopecia Areata
There are several different treatment options for alopecia areata. The most common is observation. If the patch of hair loss is small, it is reasonable to observe it and allow the hair to regrow on its own. Another option is applying a strong topical steroid such as Diprolene or Temovate to the patch. It may take several months for the hair to grow back using this method. Another common therapeutic option is injection of a steroid, such as Celestone into the involved scalp skin. Initial regrowth of hair can be seen in 4-8 weeks and treatments are repeated every 4-6 weeks. The main side effect from any steroid use is thinning of the skin.
Minoxidil has been used to promote hair growth and has shown cosmetically acceptable results in 30% of cases. Minoxidil does not stop the disease process so stopping applications after hair has started to grow back may cause the hair to fall out again.
Another type of treatment is designed to produce a contact dermatitis, or irritation, at the site seemingly stimulating hair growth. The most common irritant used is called anthralin. Some studies suggest using minoxidil and anthralin in combination may be more effective.
Finally, as a measure when "all else fails", PUVA may be used as a treatment. PUVA is also known as photochemotherapy. It involves taking a type of drug called psoralens (P) about 2 hours before measured exposure to long-wave ultraviolet light (UVA). This treatment is used most commonly in severe cases of psoriasis. The initiation of hair regrowth may take 40-80 treatments and complete regrowth up to 1-2 years.
Alopecia Areata is a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area. Any hair-bearing surface can be affected, but the most noticeable surface is the scalp. The reason alopecia areata occurs is not completely known. In some cases it is associated with other diseases, but most of the time it is not. Research is ongoing to determine the best treatment for this sometimes-striking disease.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
There are several different hypotheses as to what causes alopecia areata. Genetic factors seem to play an important role since there is a higher frequency of a family history of alopecia areata in people who are affected. Alopecia areata appears to also have an autoimmune factor causing the patient to develop antibodies to different hair follicle structures.
Certain chemicals that are a part of the immune system called cytokines may play a role in alopecia areata by inhibiting hair follicle growth. Some studies show that emotional stress may also cause alopecia areata.
Hair loss occurs because the hair follicles in a discreet area all enter the telogen or late catagen stage of hair growth. In the catagen stage the hair follicle stops growing and in the telogen stage it falls out. Normally hairs are going through these stages at random and the growing hairs on the rest of the head outnumber the hairs that fall out. In alopecia areata, something causes all the hairs in a certain area to enter the telogen or catagen stage at the same time.
Appearance of Alopecia Areata
The characteristic patch of alopecia areata is usually round or oval, and is completely bald and smooth. "Exclamation-mark" hairs may be seen at the margin of the patch. These are broken, short hairs that taper at the base. Pulling slightly on these hairs causes them to fall out. Some people may experience a slight burning or tingling in the area of hair loss.
Prognosis of Alopecia Areata
The progress of alopecia areata is unpredictable. Some people lose hair in only a small patch. Others may have more extensive involvement. Alopecia totalis is the loss of 100% of scalp hair. Alopecia universalis is the loss of 100% of body hair. These last two conditions are rare. In the majority of patients, the hair will regrow completely within 1 year without any treatment.
Other Hair Loss Conditions
Other diseases that may be mistaken for alopecia areata include:
Telogen effluvium - generalized hair loss caused by pregnancy, certain drugs, high fever, or stress.
Androgenic alopecia - also known as male-pattern baldness.
Trichotillomania - manually pulling the hair out caused by a psychological disorder.
Secondary syphilis - causing a "moth-eaten" baldness pattern over the entire scalp.
Treatment of Alopecia Areata
There are several different treatment options for alopecia areata. The most common is observation. If the patch of hair loss is small, it is reasonable to observe it and allow the hair to regrow on its own. Another option is applying a strong topical steroid such as Diprolene or Temovate to the patch. It may take several months for the hair to grow back using this method. Another common therapeutic option is injection of a steroid, such as Celestone into the involved scalp skin. Initial regrowth of hair can be seen in 4-8 weeks and treatments are repeated every 4-6 weeks. The main side effect from any steroid use is thinning of the skin.
Minoxidil has been used to promote hair growth and has shown cosmetically acceptable results in 30% of cases. Minoxidil does not stop the disease process so stopping applications after hair has started to grow back may cause the hair to fall out again.
Another type of treatment is designed to produce a contact dermatitis, or irritation, at the site seemingly stimulating hair growth. The most common irritant used is called anthralin. Some studies suggest using minoxidil and anthralin in combination may be more effective.
Finally, as a measure when "all else fails", PUVA may be used as a treatment. PUVA is also known as photochemotherapy. It involves taking a type of drug called psoralens (P) about 2 hours before measured exposure to long-wave ultraviolet light (UVA). This treatment is used most commonly in severe cases of psoriasis. The initiation of hair regrowth may take 40-80 treatments and complete regrowth up to 1-2 years.
Natural Treatments for Hair Loss
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that causes the rapid onset of round patches of baldness. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia areata has been associated with autoimmune diseases.
People are often in good health. In approximately one-fifth of people who develop alopecia areata, there is a family history.
Causes and conventional treatment of alopecia areata
Photo of alopecia areata with pustules
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
In most people with alopecia areata, hair usually grows back within a year without any treatment.
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that causes the rapid onset of round patches of baldness. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia areata has been associated with autoimmune diseases.
People are often in good health. In approximately one-fifth of people who develop alopecia areata, there is a family history.
Causes and conventional treatment of alopecia areata
Photo of alopecia areata with pustules
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
In most people with alopecia areata, hair usually grows back within a year without any treatment.
The following are some natural remedies that have been explored for alopecia areata.
1) Essential Oils
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the use of a combination of essential oils or a placebo oil in 86 people with alopecia areata. The combination oil was a mixture of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood essential oils in a mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed). This oil was massaged into the scalp daily. The control group used only the carrier oils for their massage, also daily.
After 7 months, 19 (44%) of 43 people using the essential oil blend showed an improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 people in the control group. Although no side effects were associated with the topical application of essential oils, they may cause allergic reactions in some people.
What are Essential Oils?
How to Use Essential Oils Safely
Essential Oil Buying Tips
Which Massage Oil is Best?
2) Onion Juice
A study published in the Journal of Dermatology examined the effectiveness of onion juice or placebo in people with alopecia areata. Twenty-three people with alopecia areata applied the onion juice twice daily for two months, and 15 people applied tap water twice daily for two months.
People in the onion group began to experience regrowth of hair after two weeks of treatment. At four weeks, hair regrowth was seen in 17 (73.9%) people and at six weeks, hair regrowth was observed in 20 (86.9%) people. Improvement was significantly higher among males. In the tap water control group, hair regrowth was apparent in only 2 people at 8 weeks.
3) Hypnosis
A preliminary study explored the use of hypnosis on hair growth and well-being in people with alopecia. The study involved 28 people with extensive alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, or alopecia universalis who did not respond to previous conventional treatments.
After treatment with hypnosis, all patients had a significantly lower score for anxiety and depression. Hair regrowth of 75% to 100% was seen in 12 people after 3 to 8 sessions of hypnotherapy. Total regrowth occurred in 9 of these 12 people. In 5 people, a significant relapse occurred.
There were major limitations to this study, however, including the small size of the study, the lack of a placebo group, and the fact that the study was not double-blind. Larger, well-designed studies are needed.
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that causes the rapid onset of round patches of baldness. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia areata has been associated with autoimmune diseases.
People are often in good health. In approximately one-fifth of people who develop alopecia areata, there is a family history.
Causes and conventional treatment of alopecia areata
Photo of alopecia areata with pustules
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
In most people with alopecia areata, hair usually grows back within a year without any treatment.
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that causes the rapid onset of round patches of baldness. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia areata has been associated with autoimmune diseases.
People are often in good health. In approximately one-fifth of people who develop alopecia areata, there is a family history.
Causes and conventional treatment of alopecia areata
Photo of alopecia areata with pustules
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
In most people with alopecia areata, hair usually grows back within a year without any treatment.
The following are some natural remedies that have been explored for alopecia areata.
1) Essential Oils
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the use of a combination of essential oils or a placebo oil in 86 people with alopecia areata. The combination oil was a mixture of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood essential oils in a mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed). This oil was massaged into the scalp daily. The control group used only the carrier oils for their massage, also daily.
After 7 months, 19 (44%) of 43 people using the essential oil blend showed an improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 people in the control group. Although no side effects were associated with the topical application of essential oils, they may cause allergic reactions in some people.
What are Essential Oils?
How to Use Essential Oils Safely
Essential Oil Buying Tips
Which Massage Oil is Best?
2) Onion Juice
A study published in the Journal of Dermatology examined the effectiveness of onion juice or placebo in people with alopecia areata. Twenty-three people with alopecia areata applied the onion juice twice daily for two months, and 15 people applied tap water twice daily for two months.
People in the onion group began to experience regrowth of hair after two weeks of treatment. At four weeks, hair regrowth was seen in 17 (73.9%) people and at six weeks, hair regrowth was observed in 20 (86.9%) people. Improvement was significantly higher among males. In the tap water control group, hair regrowth was apparent in only 2 people at 8 weeks.
3) Hypnosis
A preliminary study explored the use of hypnosis on hair growth and well-being in people with alopecia. The study involved 28 people with extensive alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, or alopecia universalis who did not respond to previous conventional treatments.
After treatment with hypnosis, all patients had a significantly lower score for anxiety and depression. Hair regrowth of 75% to 100% was seen in 12 people after 3 to 8 sessions of hypnotherapy. Total regrowth occurred in 9 of these 12 people. In 5 people, a significant relapse occurred.
There were major limitations to this study, however, including the small size of the study, the lack of a placebo group, and the fact that the study was not double-blind. Larger, well-designed studies are needed.
Hair Loss Solutions For Thyroid Patients
Your hair is a fairly accurate barometer of your health. Hair cells are some of the fastest growing in the body, and when your body is under stress or in crisis, hair cells can shut down in order to redirect energy elsewhere, to places where it is needed. The types of physical situations that can cause hair loss include hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, a variety of medications, surgery, and many medical conditions, in particular, thyroid disease.
Hair loss is actually fairly common. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly half of all adults in the U.S. will experience thinning hair by age 40. But thyroid patients in particular may experience hair loss earlier and more quickly than usual.
Normally, hair grows about a half inch a month for about three years, and then it goes into a resting period.
One in ten hairs is in a resting period at any one time, and after about three months a new hair pushes the old one out. When more hairs go into resting period, or the conversion process speeds up, the balance becomes disrupted, and hair loss occurs.
Hormonally induced hair loss takes place when an enzyme starts to convert the hormone testosterone on the scalp to its less useful version, dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT then attacks the hair follicle, and shrinks it, even making it disappear entirely. Hair becomes thinner and finer, and may stop growing entirely. This conversion of testosterone to DHT seems to be sped up in some patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and may be the cause of hair loss that continues for thyroid patients, despite what is considered sufficient thyroid treatment.
Some people actually complain that rapid hair loss is the worst symptom of their thyroid problem - the thinning hair, large amounts of hair falling out in the shower or sink, often accompanied by changes in the hair's texture, making it dry, coarse, or easily tangled. Interestingly, some people have actually written to tell me that their thyroid problem was initially "diagnosed" by a hairdresser, who noticed the change in their hair!
While thyroid disease frequently causes general hair loss from the hair on the head, a unique and characteristic symptom of hypothyroidism is loss of the hair on the outer edge of the eyebrows. General loss of body hair from areas other than the head can also be seen in thyroid disease.
If you have a thyroid condition, and are concerned about the amount of hair you are losing, here are some steps to take.
Get Evaluated by a Dermatologist.
Even if you are in the midst of dealing with a thyroid problem, it's still a good idea to see a dermatologist. A good dermatologist experienced in hair loss can do a complete workup in order to assess the various causes of hair loss, and run tests that may identify other autoimmune conditions besides thyroid that may cause hair loss. For a hair loss specialist, visit the American Hair Loss Council website at http://www.ahlc.org/members.htm, or contact the American Academy of Dermatology, who can provide a referral to a dermatologist in your area.
Make Sure It's Not Your Thyroid Drug
If you are taking levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, Levothroid) as your thyroid hormone replacement, and still losing hair, you may need to take action. Prolonged or excessive hair loss IS a side effect of these drugs for some people. Note: Many doctors do NOT know this, even though it is a stated side effect in the Synthroid patient literature, for example, so don't be surprised if your doctor is not aware of this.
Hair loss is actually fairly common. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly half of all adults in the U.S. will experience thinning hair by age 40. But thyroid patients in particular may experience hair loss earlier and more quickly than usual.
Normally, hair grows about a half inch a month for about three years, and then it goes into a resting period.
One in ten hairs is in a resting period at any one time, and after about three months a new hair pushes the old one out. When more hairs go into resting period, or the conversion process speeds up, the balance becomes disrupted, and hair loss occurs.
Hormonally induced hair loss takes place when an enzyme starts to convert the hormone testosterone on the scalp to its less useful version, dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT then attacks the hair follicle, and shrinks it, even making it disappear entirely. Hair becomes thinner and finer, and may stop growing entirely. This conversion of testosterone to DHT seems to be sped up in some patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and may be the cause of hair loss that continues for thyroid patients, despite what is considered sufficient thyroid treatment.
Some people actually complain that rapid hair loss is the worst symptom of their thyroid problem - the thinning hair, large amounts of hair falling out in the shower or sink, often accompanied by changes in the hair's texture, making it dry, coarse, or easily tangled. Interestingly, some people have actually written to tell me that their thyroid problem was initially "diagnosed" by a hairdresser, who noticed the change in their hair!
While thyroid disease frequently causes general hair loss from the hair on the head, a unique and characteristic symptom of hypothyroidism is loss of the hair on the outer edge of the eyebrows. General loss of body hair from areas other than the head can also be seen in thyroid disease.
If you have a thyroid condition, and are concerned about the amount of hair you are losing, here are some steps to take.
Get Evaluated by a Dermatologist.
Even if you are in the midst of dealing with a thyroid problem, it's still a good idea to see a dermatologist. A good dermatologist experienced in hair loss can do a complete workup in order to assess the various causes of hair loss, and run tests that may identify other autoimmune conditions besides thyroid that may cause hair loss. For a hair loss specialist, visit the American Hair Loss Council website at http://www.ahlc.org/members.htm, or contact the American Academy of Dermatology, who can provide a referral to a dermatologist in your area.
Make Sure It's Not Your Thyroid Drug
If you are taking levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, Levothroid) as your thyroid hormone replacement, and still losing hair, you may need to take action. Prolonged or excessive hair loss IS a side effect of these drugs for some people. Note: Many doctors do NOT know this, even though it is a stated side effect in the Synthroid patient literature, for example, so don't be surprised if your doctor is not aware of this.
Diet and Hair Loss Tips
Have you ever heard that you are what eat? Well, chances are that you probably thought that this only applied to your body. The truth is that not only does it apply to just your body, but it applies to your overall general health- even including your hair. Through this informative article, you will learn how this is possible and what type of foods you should be putting into your body to have the overall best hair diet.
Drinking water is a key factor to your hair’s health
You have probably been told time and time again that drinking water is healthy for you. Well, the truth is that not only is it an essential aid of weight loss, but it also is extremely important for your hair. Not only does it flush all of the toxins out of your system which makes them less likely to affect your hair, but it also will help ensure that your hair has a natural, healthy and glowing shine. It is important for your hair to be hydrated. You can get this by drinking between eight and ten glasses of water a day.
Protein, protein and more protein
Protein is important for the overall health of your hair. In order to make sure that it grows thick and strong, you need to have a certain amount of protein in your diet. Some of the simple ways to get this protein include eating lean meats, such as chicken and turkey, and eating protein replacements, such as eggs, nuts and beans.
Other nutrients that are important for your hair’s health
There are a number of other nutrients that your hair needs in order to be healthy. Most of these vitamins and nutrients can be found in complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetable and whole grains. They will all offer you important vitamins and antidioxidants that both your body, and your hair, need in order to be healthy.
Changes in diet can lead to hair loss
You may not know that your hair loss can be caused by changes in your diet. If your diet does not consist of the nutrients that are essential to your hair’s overall health, you can end up experiencing hair loss. Also, if you eat less than six hundred calories every day, you can experience this problem.. If you are trying to figure out why you have recently been losing hair, this is one thing that you should take into consideration.
Drinking water is a key factor to your hair’s health
You have probably been told time and time again that drinking water is healthy for you. Well, the truth is that not only is it an essential aid of weight loss, but it also is extremely important for your hair. Not only does it flush all of the toxins out of your system which makes them less likely to affect your hair, but it also will help ensure that your hair has a natural, healthy and glowing shine. It is important for your hair to be hydrated. You can get this by drinking between eight and ten glasses of water a day.
Protein, protein and more protein
Protein is important for the overall health of your hair. In order to make sure that it grows thick and strong, you need to have a certain amount of protein in your diet. Some of the simple ways to get this protein include eating lean meats, such as chicken and turkey, and eating protein replacements, such as eggs, nuts and beans.
Other nutrients that are important for your hair’s health
There are a number of other nutrients that your hair needs in order to be healthy. Most of these vitamins and nutrients can be found in complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetable and whole grains. They will all offer you important vitamins and antidioxidants that both your body, and your hair, need in order to be healthy.
Changes in diet can lead to hair loss
You may not know that your hair loss can be caused by changes in your diet. If your diet does not consist of the nutrients that are essential to your hair’s overall health, you can end up experiencing hair loss. Also, if you eat less than six hundred calories every day, you can experience this problem.. If you are trying to figure out why you have recently been losing hair, this is one thing that you should take into consideration.
Frontal Hair Loss - Causes and Treatment
While losing hair is very common among men, the sad truth is that frontal type loss is probably the most difficult type that a man is going to need to deal with. Not only can it be difficult to prevent and treat , but it is the most noticeable type of baldness because it is right in front of every one. If you are going through frontal receding, you are probably wondering whether or not it is even treatable, and what your treatment options are. Here, you will learn more about the most common causes of thinning hair as well as your available treatment options.
What causes it?
Male Pattern Baldness, or MPB, is a genetic condition, which is caused by a male sex hormone called DiHydroTestosterone, otherwise known as DHT. It is produced when testosterone combines with a certain type of enzyme. DHT then attacks the hair follicles and shrinks them, shortening their growth phase cycle. This happens slowly, and majority of the time, you will not even notice it taking place. In fact, some men may even lose up to fifty percent of their frontal hair before they even begin to notice that any type of hair loss is taking place.
So, what are the treatment options of frontal hair loss?
There are a number of different treatment options that you can decide to choose from a number of different available choices. One of these options is Propecia. Although Propecia is proven to work for majority of people who lose hair, there is no accurate evidence that shows that it works for people who have receding hair lines at the temples. However, it does help in preventing and treating hair loss that occurs in the frontal and mid scalp anterior regions. Of course, if you are looking for the best option for you cost wise, Propecia can be expensive, as it costs between sixty and one hundred fifty dollars per month.
Rogaine is another replacement option that you have for frontal hair loss. Although it will cause new hair growth throughout most of the head, including frontal regions, it will not grow new hair in the temple region of the head. When it is taken twice daily for at least four hours for a duration of four months, however, you will no longer anymore hair loss, even at times in the temple region.
Another option that you have for treating hair fall in the frontal region. You must visit a clinic that specializes in hairloss. Cost wise, hair restoration is probably the most expensive option for you to treat your hair loss. Although prescription drugs and topical creams may seem as though they are the best option, the amount of money that you will pay each month is going to add up in the end.
What causes it?
Male Pattern Baldness, or MPB, is a genetic condition, which is caused by a male sex hormone called DiHydroTestosterone, otherwise known as DHT. It is produced when testosterone combines with a certain type of enzyme. DHT then attacks the hair follicles and shrinks them, shortening their growth phase cycle. This happens slowly, and majority of the time, you will not even notice it taking place. In fact, some men may even lose up to fifty percent of their frontal hair before they even begin to notice that any type of hair loss is taking place.
So, what are the treatment options of frontal hair loss?
There are a number of different treatment options that you can decide to choose from a number of different available choices. One of these options is Propecia. Although Propecia is proven to work for majority of people who lose hair, there is no accurate evidence that shows that it works for people who have receding hair lines at the temples. However, it does help in preventing and treating hair loss that occurs in the frontal and mid scalp anterior regions. Of course, if you are looking for the best option for you cost wise, Propecia can be expensive, as it costs between sixty and one hundred fifty dollars per month.
Rogaine is another replacement option that you have for frontal hair loss. Although it will cause new hair growth throughout most of the head, including frontal regions, it will not grow new hair in the temple region of the head. When it is taken twice daily for at least four hours for a duration of four months, however, you will no longer anymore hair loss, even at times in the temple region.
Another option that you have for treating hair fall in the frontal region. You must visit a clinic that specializes in hairloss. Cost wise, hair restoration is probably the most expensive option for you to treat your hair loss. Although prescription drugs and topical creams may seem as though they are the best option, the amount of money that you will pay each month is going to add up in the end.
Facts About Baldness in Men
There many common misconceptions that people tend to have about balding. You may have even believed some of these misconceptions yourself. Here, you will learn whether some of the things that you may have learned about balding are a myth or fact.
It is possible for men to begin to bald as early as in their late teens.
This may have been one of the statements that you thought was a myth about balding. However, it is very true. Males can begin to bald in their late teens and end up going completely bald by the time they are in their late twenties.
You can only inherit baldness from your mother.
Previous research suggested that the baldness gene could only be inherited from your mother. This would have meant that you only had a fifty percent chance for inheriting the gene that could cause you to be bald. However, new research proves that you can inherit this gene from your father as well. This means that the fact that you could only inherit baldness from your mother was, in fact, a myth.
Hair loss can be prevented and treated before it makes you bald.
Many people think that once you begin to lose hair, you are going to end up going bald no matter what. However, this is not the case. By using certain hair loss medications, such as Propecia or Rogaine, you can prevent your head from going bald. By getting medical treatments for hair loss such as hair implantations, you will be able to treat your bald areas. This is, in fact, true.
Shaving hair will help it grow back in thicker.
This theory has always been a proposed way to prevent yourself from going bald if you begin to notice any hair loss. However, it is not a true theory. Shaving your head will not increase the amount of healthy hair that exists in the scalp. Unfortunately, this theory is simply a myth.
Standing on your head can prevent or treat baldness.
The theory that if you stood on your head, you could prevent yourself from becoming bald or you could treat your baldness, was believed for many long years. The idea behind this theory was that hairloss would no longer happen if your blood could flow to your hair follicles. However, as there is no evidence that proves that standing on your head can prevent or treat baldness, this theory is a myth.
As you can see, there are many common misconceptions and facts when it comes to balding. If you want to find out the truth about anything, you should speak with your primary care physician.
It is possible for men to begin to bald as early as in their late teens.
This may have been one of the statements that you thought was a myth about balding. However, it is very true. Males can begin to bald in their late teens and end up going completely bald by the time they are in their late twenties.
You can only inherit baldness from your mother.
Previous research suggested that the baldness gene could only be inherited from your mother. This would have meant that you only had a fifty percent chance for inheriting the gene that could cause you to be bald. However, new research proves that you can inherit this gene from your father as well. This means that the fact that you could only inherit baldness from your mother was, in fact, a myth.
Hair loss can be prevented and treated before it makes you bald.
Many people think that once you begin to lose hair, you are going to end up going bald no matter what. However, this is not the case. By using certain hair loss medications, such as Propecia or Rogaine, you can prevent your head from going bald. By getting medical treatments for hair loss such as hair implantations, you will be able to treat your bald areas. This is, in fact, true.
Shaving hair will help it grow back in thicker.
This theory has always been a proposed way to prevent yourself from going bald if you begin to notice any hair loss. However, it is not a true theory. Shaving your head will not increase the amount of healthy hair that exists in the scalp. Unfortunately, this theory is simply a myth.
Standing on your head can prevent or treat baldness.
The theory that if you stood on your head, you could prevent yourself from becoming bald or you could treat your baldness, was believed for many long years. The idea behind this theory was that hairloss would no longer happen if your blood could flow to your hair follicles. However, as there is no evidence that proves that standing on your head can prevent or treat baldness, this theory is a myth.
As you can see, there are many common misconceptions and facts when it comes to balding. If you want to find out the truth about anything, you should speak with your primary care physician.
Hair Loss Remedies
Losing hair is inevitable for many people, though there are natural remedies out there than can help to prevent such a thing from happening. Some herbal and natural hair loss remedies include different techniques involving food, sunlight, etc. These remedies can be found easily and really do help to fight male pattern baldness and can be effective against thinning hair as well.
The first easiest way to help stop losing hair naturally is to get the right vitamins that you need for your hair to grow. Many people don’t realize that by changing your diet and certain vitamin and mineral intake amounts, hair loss can be stopped. Begin by altering your diet to increase your zinc intake. Improving your consumption of this mineral is helpful as a hair loss remedy. This is a mineral that is responsible for an oily scalp and helps grow strong hair follicles. Other vitamins and minerals that help are silica and heme iron. These natural hair loss remedies will not prevent male pattern baldness, but may help keep hair thicker longer.
There are supplements that can be taken offer the vitamins and minerals needed to help with hair loss.
Besides natural hair loss remedies such as vitamins that help hair loss, natural and unnatural grooming habits may also have an affect hairloss. The first topic to discuss when it comes to grooming and hair loss is the brush. Brushing or combing your hair too much is damaging to your hair and can lead to damaged hair and, eventually lost hair. However, it is beneficial to brush your hair within reason, as it relaxes the scalp, and stimulates blod flow to the follicles on the scalp.
Also, avoid using a fine tooth combs on your hair. Usually these are used when the hair is wet, which is a time when hair is weakest and can be damaged much easier than if it were dry.
Shampoo can also be a leading cause of hair loss if you’re not using it correctly. Don’t use too much of it because it can strip your hair of the nutrient it needs. Letting your hair naturally accrue oils means it will be getting the nutrients necessary to become stronger and healthier. Shampoo/conditioner combinations are also not a wise choice because when they are combined they lose their respective strengths and do not give the hair what they are supposed to.
Perhaps the most natural hair loss remedy out there simply involves getting enough blood flowing to the scalp. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. One way is by massaging your scalp. This is a great way to relieve stress, which is what causes less blood flow to your scalp, and thus is a major factor in hair loss. Deep breathing and lying with your feet propped up are other good ways to get your blood flowing where it is needed. A strong supply of blood to the scalp means natural and healthy hair and a decreasing chance of hair loss.
The first easiest way to help stop losing hair naturally is to get the right vitamins that you need for your hair to grow. Many people don’t realize that by changing your diet and certain vitamin and mineral intake amounts, hair loss can be stopped. Begin by altering your diet to increase your zinc intake. Improving your consumption of this mineral is helpful as a hair loss remedy. This is a mineral that is responsible for an oily scalp and helps grow strong hair follicles. Other vitamins and minerals that help are silica and heme iron. These natural hair loss remedies will not prevent male pattern baldness, but may help keep hair thicker longer.
There are supplements that can be taken offer the vitamins and minerals needed to help with hair loss.
Besides natural hair loss remedies such as vitamins that help hair loss, natural and unnatural grooming habits may also have an affect hairloss. The first topic to discuss when it comes to grooming and hair loss is the brush. Brushing or combing your hair too much is damaging to your hair and can lead to damaged hair and, eventually lost hair. However, it is beneficial to brush your hair within reason, as it relaxes the scalp, and stimulates blod flow to the follicles on the scalp.
Also, avoid using a fine tooth combs on your hair. Usually these are used when the hair is wet, which is a time when hair is weakest and can be damaged much easier than if it were dry.
Shampoo can also be a leading cause of hair loss if you’re not using it correctly. Don’t use too much of it because it can strip your hair of the nutrient it needs. Letting your hair naturally accrue oils means it will be getting the nutrients necessary to become stronger and healthier. Shampoo/conditioner combinations are also not a wise choice because when they are combined they lose their respective strengths and do not give the hair what they are supposed to.
Perhaps the most natural hair loss remedy out there simply involves getting enough blood flowing to the scalp. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. One way is by massaging your scalp. This is a great way to relieve stress, which is what causes less blood flow to your scalp, and thus is a major factor in hair loss. Deep breathing and lying with your feet propped up are other good ways to get your blood flowing where it is needed. A strong supply of blood to the scalp means natural and healthy hair and a decreasing chance of hair loss.
Advice for Hair Loss Sufferers
Some people are under the impression that hair loss can be caused by stress, this is only if you have undergone extreme physical or mental torture for months. Also male pattern baldness is not caused by a lack of circulation or nutrients to the follicle, whether it is by hats, ponytails, or anything else. It is proven that sweat and dirt are not an issue either, just think about how many ingrown hairs there are all over your body.
Hair loss can occur when the two biological processes in a non-balding man begin to change as the man ages. Normally Testosterone and 5-alpha-reductase Enzyme combine to form DHT, the naturally occurring hormone which assists with sexual development. DHT and Androgen Receptors in the hair follicles combine to carry out the creation of normal proteins in follicles, which regulate the health, growth, and resting cycles of a follicle.
After puberty, the increase in testosterone also creates an increase in DHT and the Androgen Receptors. Overabundance of this activity directly affects the growth regulating that goes on in the follicle leading to slower and less healthy growth each time the hair grows, rests, and regrows again. The degradation process of the follicle is typically very slow, and takes many years, but the result is very apparent on the scalp to the hair loss sufferer. New hair growing from a DHT swamped follicle comes back thinner and shorter than it did the last time. Over several years, its growth degrades so much that it can no longer be seen. This is Androgenetic Alopecia also called Male Pattern Baldness.
If you have lost your hair due to male pattern baldness, then there are plenty of things to do to try and grow it back. However in this process of growing your hair back you must be willing to do that following.
Hair loss advice
Diet, you must focus on healthy food choices. Go with lean protein and soy products as well as beans, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables that can improve the strength of the hair.
Also, take very good care of your scalp. When the scalp is not fit growth is reduced. Over time styling product build up and excess sebum(oil) can have a negative effect on the hair follicle. Keep it clean with a good quality shampoo and conditioner as often as you need them. Even daily if possible.
Finally, understand that losing hair is simply a natural part of evolution and life. It is a natural event that is part of how we are made up.
Hair loss can occur when the two biological processes in a non-balding man begin to change as the man ages. Normally Testosterone and 5-alpha-reductase Enzyme combine to form DHT, the naturally occurring hormone which assists with sexual development. DHT and Androgen Receptors in the hair follicles combine to carry out the creation of normal proteins in follicles, which regulate the health, growth, and resting cycles of a follicle.
After puberty, the increase in testosterone also creates an increase in DHT and the Androgen Receptors. Overabundance of this activity directly affects the growth regulating that goes on in the follicle leading to slower and less healthy growth each time the hair grows, rests, and regrows again. The degradation process of the follicle is typically very slow, and takes many years, but the result is very apparent on the scalp to the hair loss sufferer. New hair growing from a DHT swamped follicle comes back thinner and shorter than it did the last time. Over several years, its growth degrades so much that it can no longer be seen. This is Androgenetic Alopecia also called Male Pattern Baldness.
If you have lost your hair due to male pattern baldness, then there are plenty of things to do to try and grow it back. However in this process of growing your hair back you must be willing to do that following.
Hair loss advice
Diet, you must focus on healthy food choices. Go with lean protein and soy products as well as beans, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables that can improve the strength of the hair.
Also, take very good care of your scalp. When the scalp is not fit growth is reduced. Over time styling product build up and excess sebum(oil) can have a negative effect on the hair follicle. Keep it clean with a good quality shampoo and conditioner as often as you need them. Even daily if possible.
Finally, understand that losing hair is simply a natural part of evolution and life. It is a natural event that is part of how we are made up.
Pregnancy and Hair Loss in Women
You may have noted big changes in your hair during pregnancy. Hormones affect the whole body, including the hair. Hair that was normally straight might suddenly begin to grow in curlier than ever during pregnancy. Or, hair that was curly may get straighter and straighter as pregnancy progresses. It can take a year for hair to readjust to its normal thickness and straight or wavy state after the baby is born.
One of the most interesting things about being pregnant is what it does to a woman’s hair. The hair becomes fuller; this is because the follicles don’t release hair at the same rate as when the body is not pregnant. So hair loss during pregnancy is not common but it is not unheard of either. A woman will notice more changes in her nails, rather in her hair while she is pregnant. For For example, the nails often become harder.
However female hair loss after pregnancy is a big issue. After you have your sweet bundle of joy, the extra hair you grew throughout the term maystart to fall out. This is very normal so you must not worry too much about it. It could take at the most a year for the hair to return to its normal rate of falling out, a few strands at a time.
It can actually startling to see such an increase in hair loss after your baby is born. You may find clumps of hair on the drain, or in your brush. You don’t have to worry about seeing thin patches on your head; if you do it’s not because of the birth.
Pregnancy is a whole body experience. After the baby is born, the mother’s body has a lot of things to do in order to return to its usual non-pregnant state. A mother who is nursing will have a longer period of readjustment than one who is not. Still, always remember, nine and a half months up, at least the same amount of time down.
Thereis no real cure for this type of hair loss in women because it is temporary. But it is important to that in most cases involving lost hair after pregnancy; the new hair is already growing in while old hair is falling out. Therefore, the situation is temporary and will remedy itself.
One of the most interesting things about being pregnant is what it does to a woman’s hair. The hair becomes fuller; this is because the follicles don’t release hair at the same rate as when the body is not pregnant. So hair loss during pregnancy is not common but it is not unheard of either. A woman will notice more changes in her nails, rather in her hair while she is pregnant. For For example, the nails often become harder.
However female hair loss after pregnancy is a big issue. After you have your sweet bundle of joy, the extra hair you grew throughout the term maystart to fall out. This is very normal so you must not worry too much about it. It could take at the most a year for the hair to return to its normal rate of falling out, a few strands at a time.
It can actually startling to see such an increase in hair loss after your baby is born. You may find clumps of hair on the drain, or in your brush. You don’t have to worry about seeing thin patches on your head; if you do it’s not because of the birth.
Pregnancy is a whole body experience. After the baby is born, the mother’s body has a lot of things to do in order to return to its usual non-pregnant state. A mother who is nursing will have a longer period of readjustment than one who is not. Still, always remember, nine and a half months up, at least the same amount of time down.
Thereis no real cure for this type of hair loss in women because it is temporary. But it is important to that in most cases involving lost hair after pregnancy; the new hair is already growing in while old hair is falling out. Therefore, the situation is temporary and will remedy itself.
Excessive Hair Loss Facts
As we all know hair loss is not only a male problem. Although a certain amount is normal, excessive hair fall can sometimes suggest that something is wrong somewhere in your body. Usually the hairs have a life expectancy of three to seven years. We normally shed somewhere between 50 to 120 hairs everyday. Rapid weight loss, dandruff, iron deficiency, a low protein intake, pregnancy or menopause, or even some pills can speed up the normal rate of hair loss.
One of the causes of excessive hair loss in women is a shift in the growth cycle, which means some the hairs are growing and some of them are already done growing.
Hereditary thinning and balding are most common causes for excessive hairloss. This can be inherited from either the mothers or father’s side of the family. Women who have this trait develop thinning hair, but do not become completely bald. One treatment involves applying lotions to the scalp twice a day. Another treatment for men is a daily pill that claims to block the formation of the active male hormone in the hair follicle.
When confronted with thinning hair or baldness, men and some women consider hair transplants, which is a permanent form of hair replacement. Anyone who has suffered permanent hair loss may be a candidate for hair transplantation. The procedure of hair transplantation involves moving some hair from hair-bearing portions (donor sites) of the head to bald or thinning portions (recipient sites) and/or removing bald skin.
Some advice on helpful ways to keep your hair around.
Don’t wear a hairstyle that pulls, such as ponytails or braids, because the constant pull can cause you to lose hair, especially along the sides of the scalp.
If you shampoo, comb or brush too often, it can damage the hair, causing it to break. If you use a cream or condition after you shampoo, it will makes you hair easier to manage and easier to comb. When your hair is wet, it is way more fragile, so don’t rub it with a towel for a long period of time or comb your hair to rough.
Also use shampoo no more than once a day, you should not forget to switch the shampoo every season. The vitamin B6 should be taken everyday to help you keep your hair. Excessive hair loss is not something you are going to die of but it is very hard on your self esteem.
One of the causes of excessive hair loss in women is a shift in the growth cycle, which means some the hairs are growing and some of them are already done growing.
Hereditary thinning and balding are most common causes for excessive hairloss. This can be inherited from either the mothers or father’s side of the family. Women who have this trait develop thinning hair, but do not become completely bald. One treatment involves applying lotions to the scalp twice a day. Another treatment for men is a daily pill that claims to block the formation of the active male hormone in the hair follicle.
When confronted with thinning hair or baldness, men and some women consider hair transplants, which is a permanent form of hair replacement. Anyone who has suffered permanent hair loss may be a candidate for hair transplantation. The procedure of hair transplantation involves moving some hair from hair-bearing portions (donor sites) of the head to bald or thinning portions (recipient sites) and/or removing bald skin.
Some advice on helpful ways to keep your hair around.
Don’t wear a hairstyle that pulls, such as ponytails or braids, because the constant pull can cause you to lose hair, especially along the sides of the scalp.
If you shampoo, comb or brush too often, it can damage the hair, causing it to break. If you use a cream or condition after you shampoo, it will makes you hair easier to manage and easier to comb. When your hair is wet, it is way more fragile, so don’t rub it with a towel for a long period of time or comb your hair to rough.
Also use shampoo no more than once a day, you should not forget to switch the shampoo every season. The vitamin B6 should be taken everyday to help you keep your hair. Excessive hair loss is not something you are going to die of but it is very hard on your self esteem.
Vitamins for Hair Loss
Compared with other nutrients like carbohydrates and proteins, vitamins are a minor part of a normal person's diet. Yet, their presence in food is as important as anything else and the deficiency of any one of the many known vitamins can be the cause of ill health. Hair loss is one such condition, which, besides other causes, is induced to a notable degree by improper intake of certain vitamins. Following is an overview of these vitamins for hair loss, their sources, and their role in keeping the hair healthy.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A keeps the hair healthy by helping them get natural skin oil, the sebum. Loss of vitamin A in the body causes the hair to turn rough and the skin to go dry. Vitamin A is stored in the liver. Natural food sources of vitamin A include cabbage, apricot, carrots, peaches, egg, milk, cheese, fish liver oil etc. A daily intake of 2500 to 5000 IU is recommended for most people. Vitamins for hair loss include Vitamins A, however It should be remembered that taking too much vitamin A can harm the health instead of boosting it. This is because the extra quantity that cannot be stored in the liver builds up in other body parts and causes symptoms like headache, nausea, drowsiness, and even hair loss.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is perhaps the most important of all hair loss vitamins. It has been found by some studies to not only prevent hair loss but also to reverse the process of hairs going gray. Vitamin E is also considered as anti-aging. Natural food sources of vitamin E include green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, dried beans, wheat germ, soya beans, and spinach. Taking about 400 IU daily meets the natural requirement of the body and this vitamin helps prevent hair loss to a degree. Since vitamin E is known to raise blood pressure, people who are experiencing high blood pressure should consult their physician before taking vitamin E.
Inositol
One of the types of vitamin B is Inositol, found in natural food sources like citrus fruits, whole grains, liver, and brewer's yeast. Recommended daily dose of Inositol is up to 600 mg. Its deficiency can cause hair loss and eczema (skin irritation), so this is an important vitamin for hair loss and to prevent scalp and skin related issues. Inositol has been found to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Vitamin H
Vitamin H, also called Biotin, is in fact a type of vitamin B, known as one of the main vitamins for hair loss. It plays a key role in preventing hair loss as well as remedying of graying hair. The richest natural source of biotin is egg yolk, followed by kidney, liver, yeast, and milk. Biotin supplements also help in preventing hairloss.
Vitamin B Group
Members of vitamin B group that are known as preventative vitamins for hair loss include B3, B5, B6, and B12. Natural sources of vitamin B3 include meats, fish, wheat germ, and Brewer's yeast. The daily recommended intake of vitamin B3 is about 15 mg. This should not be exceeded. Vitamin B5 is found in egg yolk, whole grains, meat, and brewer's yeast. Its recommended dose is up to 7 mg daily. Vitamin B6 is needed in lower amounts i.e. about 1.6 mg daily. But it is important to take since it gives the hair its natural color. Liver, whole grains, vegetables, and meats are its natural sources. 2 mg daily intake of vitamin B12 is recommended for healthy hair. Chicken, eggs, milk, and fish are its natural food sources.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A keeps the hair healthy by helping them get natural skin oil, the sebum. Loss of vitamin A in the body causes the hair to turn rough and the skin to go dry. Vitamin A is stored in the liver. Natural food sources of vitamin A include cabbage, apricot, carrots, peaches, egg, milk, cheese, fish liver oil etc. A daily intake of 2500 to 5000 IU is recommended for most people. Vitamins for hair loss include Vitamins A, however It should be remembered that taking too much vitamin A can harm the health instead of boosting it. This is because the extra quantity that cannot be stored in the liver builds up in other body parts and causes symptoms like headache, nausea, drowsiness, and even hair loss.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is perhaps the most important of all hair loss vitamins. It has been found by some studies to not only prevent hair loss but also to reverse the process of hairs going gray. Vitamin E is also considered as anti-aging. Natural food sources of vitamin E include green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, dried beans, wheat germ, soya beans, and spinach. Taking about 400 IU daily meets the natural requirement of the body and this vitamin helps prevent hair loss to a degree. Since vitamin E is known to raise blood pressure, people who are experiencing high blood pressure should consult their physician before taking vitamin E.
Inositol
One of the types of vitamin B is Inositol, found in natural food sources like citrus fruits, whole grains, liver, and brewer's yeast. Recommended daily dose of Inositol is up to 600 mg. Its deficiency can cause hair loss and eczema (skin irritation), so this is an important vitamin for hair loss and to prevent scalp and skin related issues. Inositol has been found to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Vitamin H
Vitamin H, also called Biotin, is in fact a type of vitamin B, known as one of the main vitamins for hair loss. It plays a key role in preventing hair loss as well as remedying of graying hair. The richest natural source of biotin is egg yolk, followed by kidney, liver, yeast, and milk. Biotin supplements also help in preventing hairloss.
Vitamin B Group
Members of vitamin B group that are known as preventative vitamins for hair loss include B3, B5, B6, and B12. Natural sources of vitamin B3 include meats, fish, wheat germ, and Brewer's yeast. The daily recommended intake of vitamin B3 is about 15 mg. This should not be exceeded. Vitamin B5 is found in egg yolk, whole grains, meat, and brewer's yeast. Its recommended dose is up to 7 mg daily. Vitamin B6 is needed in lower amounts i.e. about 1.6 mg daily. But it is important to take since it gives the hair its natural color. Liver, whole grains, vegetables, and meats are its natural sources. 2 mg daily intake of vitamin B12 is recommended for healthy hair. Chicken, eggs, milk, and fish are its natural food sources.
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