Hair loss. Learn about hair loss.

A Scar-Free Technique for Hair Transplantation: Follicular Unit Extraction

2008-02-28T23:09:00.002-08:00

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."

Incision Decisions: Dealing with Displaced Hairlines After a Lift

2008-02-28T23:09:00.001-08:00

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.

Corrective Hair Transplantation

2008-02-28T23:08:00.000-08:00

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."

Hair Transplant FAQs

2008-02-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

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.

All You Need to Know About Hair Transplantation

2008-02-28T23:06:00.000-08:00

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.

Hair Transplantation 101

2008-02-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

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."

No Time Like the Present: When to Seek a Hair Loss Specialist

2008-02-28T23:04:00.000-08:00

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.

Eating Well for Hair Health

2008-02-28T23:03:00.000-08:00

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."

Diet and Hair Loss

2008-02-28T23:01:00.002-08:00

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.

Pumping Iron: Can Low Iron Levels Cause Hair Loss?

2008-02-28T23:01:00.001-08:00

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.

Men Place a High Value on Hair

2008-02-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss?

2008-02-28T22:59:00.002-08:00

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."

Going Bald: Thanks Mom!

2008-02-28T22:59:00.001-08:00

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.

Untangling the Genetics of Hair Loss

2008-02-28T22:58:00.001-08:00

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."

Debunking Hair Loss Myths

2008-02-28T22:55:00.000-08:00

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 Truth About Hair Loss

2008-02-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Alopecia Areata

2008-02-28T22:53:00.000-08:00

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.

Natural Treatments for Hair Loss

2008-02-28T22:51:00.000-08:00

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.

Hair Loss Solutions For Thyroid Patients

2008-02-28T22:46:00.000-08:00

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.

Diet and Hair Loss Tips

2008-02-28T16:25:00.001-08:00

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.

Frontal Hair Loss - Causes and Treatment

2008-02-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

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.

Facts About Baldness in Men

2008-02-28T16:23:00.002-08:00

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.

Hair Loss Remedies

2008-02-28T16:23:00.001-08:00

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.

Advice for Hair Loss Sufferers

2008-02-28T16:22:00.002-08:00

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.

Pregnancy and Hair Loss in Women

2008-02-28T16:22:00.001-08:00

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.

Excessive Hair Loss Facts

2008-02-28T16:21:00.000-08:00

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.

Vitamins for Hair Loss

2008-02-28T16:20:00.002-08:00

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.

Natural Hair Loss Treatment

2008-02-28T16:20:00.001-08:00

So you are starting to lose you hair? This should be a crime against nature. What are you going to do about it? You’ve decided no on hair transplants and you to go with an all natural hair loss treatment. There are many ways to help your problem from natural herbs. One of the biggest problems in women and men experiencing hairloss starts with DHT. This is Dihdrotestosterone, which is one of the many male hormones found in the body and is developmentally important early on in a man’s life.

So you may have considered looking for a natural hair loss treatment that containts herbal formulas to block this compound. The main DHT blockers are Saw, Palmetto, and also Nettles. These DHT inhibitors naturally and gently reduce the effects DHT plays in hair loss and thinning hair. Saw- Palmetto Also appears to block the androgen receptors which are found on the follicles. There is not a natural treatment for hair loss, but these natural herbs may help prevent male pattern baldness.
Nettles have been shown in clinical studies to inhibit 5- Alpha Reductase it at possesses stimulating qualities that increase the circulation of the scalp in vitamins A and C, as well as a wide range of minerals, mucilages and amino acids which are required for proper hair growth and may serve for some people as a natural treatment for hair loss.

Green Tea is rich in minerals to help as nutrients nourish the hair follicles. Lemongrass is an herb to remove scalp build up and normalizes oil product in the scalp. Also, increasing body and fullness to the hair. Another helpful herb in terms of natural hair loss treatments is horsetail. Horsetail normalizes oil production of skin and hair, so that hair follicles won’t get clogged by oil and sebum.

Sage- is an active agent to eliminate thinning hair but strengthens and thickens the current hair shaft as well. Rosemary- The herb is a purifying and antiseptic agent that cleanses the hair follicles of any build up and stimulates the hair root to grow hair.

Zinc is a mineral that some doctors and herbalists recommend to naturally treat hair loss. It is used in two forms, as a supplement, and as part of many topical creams and solutions. Most people in developed countries do not lack zinc and other minerals in their diet, but vegetarians and some other people may have a diet that is naturally low in zinc.

Aloe Vera- Is also a good natural hair loss treatment because the gel found within the leaves of the plant has remarkable properties, including healing, soothing, antibacterial, antiseptic, emollient, and moisturizing qualities. Studies have shown aloe vera enhances cellular regeneration results for both the hair and the scalp.

Alpha Hydroxy- This unclogs hair follicles so new hair can grow. By cleaning the pores of the scalp it allows for fast and complete absorption of our herbal nutrients that stimulate and nourish hair follicle.

Burdock- Helps reverse scalp conditions due to alopecia and promotes recovery of scalp irritation. Some hair regrowth stimulators and Capsicum, Ginger, and Rosemary. Also try Lavender, which has very strong anti-inflammatory properties to help combat against Androgenic Alopecia.

Though the best natural solution for hair loss is thought to be hair transplantation surgery. This replaces balding areas with natural hair.

Stop Hair Loss

2008-02-28T16:19:00.002-08:00

If you have been losing a lot of hair lately, you are probably wondering how to slow hairloss before you end up going bald. Here, you will find out how you can slow or stop hair loss now, and limit the amount of hair that you lose to help prevent the problem.
Unfortunately, the loss of hair in men and women can be caused by a genetic predisposition which may lead to rapid hair loss or balding at a fairly early age. This age tends to start in the late teens within men and in the late thirties within women. You may feel hopeless, as though you will never be able to know how to stop hair loss, or at least slow it down. Well, this is not the case. In fact, there are several preventative steps that you can take which will help you to stop losing hair, or slow it down.

Some Natural steps that you can take

One of the factors can may lead to baldness is consuming too much copper. You might be wondering when you have ever consumed copper. Well, if you live in an older home, chances are that you might have copper pipes. This means that every time you drink tap water, you are consuming a certain amount of copper…a certain amount that should not be consumed at all. Drinking these types of ions can disrupt the body functions, so cutting out that element may help to stop hair loss. Another way that everybody gets a bit of copper is through food that is bought at the grocery store, as farmers usually add copper to animals’ diets and to spray vegetables. Women are the most likely to consume copper because birth control pills tends to composed of a certain amount of copper. Although there is not much that you can do about most of these things, one of the things that you can do if you live in an old home is make sure that you drink bottled water. Switching to bottled water may help have an impact on stopping hair loss. If you are on the birth control pill, you might want to consider another form of birth control such as the birth control patch.

Another factor that may lead to low hair growth is consuming too much salt everyday. One of the things that you might not know is that stress causes sodium retention. So, whether you are stressed or if you consume a lot of salt at every meal, you should try to decrease these habits.

Other steps that you can take to stop hair loss now:

If you have tried the following steps and have found that nothing has worked for the amount of hair that you are losing, there are other options for you. One of these options is to use a hair loss shampoo which will provide your hair with the right nutrients that it needs and will block DHT from binding to your hair’s follicles, one of the biggest cause of male pattern baldness or MPB.

Another option is for you that may help you to stop hair loss is to use a topical medication that you apply to your scalp. After using it for twice a day for about four hours for duration of six months, you may see results. This medication can be used for both men and women.

There are also more permanent surgical and non- surgical thinning hair solutions such as restoration of hair via hair replacement. This type of procedure involvest taking samples of donor hair from one area of the scalp and transplanting them to another bald area.

If you are a man and are experiencing male pattern hair loss, then there are ways that might help you stop hair loss. With Propecia, the medication will block an enzyme that is needed to produce DHT, which should result in no further hair loss and a growth of new hair in most men.

As you can see, many options are available for you. You should never feel hopeless about slowing down your hairloss because it is possible to do. To find out the best way for you to stop your hair loss now, you should speak with your doctor.

Losing Your Hair - Tips and Advice

2008-02-28T16:19:00.001-08:00

Hair is referred to as our “Crowning glory”. Society has placed a great deal of social and cultural importance on hair and hairstyles. Due to conditions, diseases, and improper hair result in excessive loss of hair. Those who notice their hair shredding in large amounts after combing or brushing, or their hair has become thinner of start or it starts to fall out. You should contact a dermatologist. The advancement in technology has made diagnosis much helpful to almost anyone.

When your hair’s delicate growth cycle is upset, gradual hair loss may start to occur. Other things that present a problem for steady growth of hair is diet, taking medication, becoming pregnant, improper hair care, and other underlying diseases. Other factors can cause too many follicles to rest at once, producing bald patches or diffuse thinning. When you lose your hair suddenly it’s usually caused by a condition called Alopecia areata. This rare condition causes smooth, circular bald patches up to 3 inches across, these may overlap. Two large roles that give you more chances to have this disorder are heredity and stress. About 90 percent of the time the hair grows back within 6 to 24 months with no treatments.

There are many different hair loss solutions. Some are surgical, some lotions, foams, and even pills. Here are many examples along with information to help with the ongoing problem of hairloss.

Toppick, helps hair build fibers to eliminating the contrast between you hair and scalp. You will immediately be able to see a fuller head of hair. Also, try Hair Thickener, which is a revolutionary new concept in the treatment of thinning and balding hair. It is formulated for men and women who want to look their best. This product goes on quickly, not only covering bald spots but adding texture and fullness.

Another form of solution for female and male hair loss is surgical hair restoration. It is without question the only permanent and most natural solution for hair loss. The hair to be transplanted is removed from the back or sides of the scalp and inserted into the area of loss. This type of medical hair restoration works well because the hair that has been transplanted will continue to grow in its new location for as long as it would have in its original location.

This procedure began more than 40 years ago. It has been redefined so that today excellent cosmetic results can be achieved. Another hair loss solution is well known and it’s Rogaine, which may provide moderate hair growth in 15-20% of cases. Although the benefit only lasts as long as it is applied. Your hair will start to fallout if you discontinue use, which has to applied twice daily. Rogaine can be used in conjunction with hair transplantation by those who wish to continue using it after getting hair transplants. Some people choose hairpieces or a hair attachment system. However some feel they are very unnatural feeling.

There are many ways to feel as if you never lost your hair, though researching each and every theory is definetly the best thing you could do.

Hormones and Hair Loss

2008-02-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

Hair loss occurs among both men and women due to several reasons, and hormones play a key role in this problem in many cases. On a number of occasions, it is the hormones that are the sole reasons for hair loss. For example, as far as male pattern hair loss (MPB) is concerned, the main reason is hormonal imbalance, which could have a hereditary origin as well. In the case of women too, hormonal imbalance is a frequent cause for losing hair, more so during the menopause and pregnancy, when considerable hormonal changes take place in a woman’s body. One thing should be noted here is that the hormonal imbalance, and not the lack of hormones, that is usually responsible for hair loss. Put differently, hormones and hair loss are likely linked when the correlation between the key hormones deviates from the normal levels.
Thyroxin, which is produced by the thyroid gland, is one of the hormones in hair loss research. This hormone controls how your body utilizes food. If thyroxin is produced in excessive amounts, this could result in hair loss via hair shedding. When the thyroid gland is under-active, one’s hair becomes brittle leading finally to loss of hair. In case one suspects the hands of hormone behind his/her hair loss, it is better to have thyroxin levels checked by a doctor.

Two other hormones, androgens and estrogens (the male and female ones respectively), are also capable of affecting our health. Here too, the hormonal imbalance rather than the lack of hormones is the root cause. Whenever the balance between the necessary hormones is destroyed, this causes loss of hair. Typical examples are the menopause in women, when ovaries stop working and the level of the male hormone testosterone rises considerably. At the same time, there is a drop in the estrogen levels which leads to hair loss because estrogen essentially resists the negative effects of androgen on your hair.

The DHT factor

With men, the hormonal hair loss factors are rather different. Men begin losing hair when their scalp is too sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a derivative product of testosterone that makes the hair follicles shrink, and thus stops the growth of new hair. This sensitivity to DHT is hereditary and can be treated if detected early. For women also, DHT is a major reason for losing hair, though the pattern of female baldness is different from the male one.

Apart from thyroxin, estrogen and testosterone, there are many other hormones that can cause hair loss. FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) stimulates the production of estrogen and GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone) in turn stimulates the production of FSH. In fact, the human body produces about 50 hormones and as their interaction is highly complex, it is difficult to guess right away what in the hormonal imbalance causes hair loss.

Hair Loss Care - Natural Cures?

2008-02-28T16:16:00.002-08:00

An overwhelming number of men and women today are worried about saving themselves from baldness and finding a hair loss cure. Getting an effective hair loss solution is central to their health (and beauty) care concerns. By a sad chance, the treatment options available to balding people, especially to balding men (men suffer from hair loss more often and more severely than do women), are limited. Still we see, as follows, that a hope for hair loss cure is not confined to a single method.
Is There a Hair Loss Cure for Men

Currently, only two medical treatment options for hair loss are available for men in UK and most of the western world. These are: drug therapy, and transplants for hair. However, since hairloss is primarily genetic, there is no essential man-made or natural cure for hair loss. Losing hair simply part of life and growth, and maturity as well as age.

Drug Therapy

While drugs are not a permanent hair loss cureand do not at all guarantee complete hair recovery, some improvement results from their use. The following drugs have been more successful in countering hair loss problem.

Minoxidil

Sold by the trade name Regaine, Minoxidil tablet was originally made for treating high blood pressure. Noticing that the drug worked in growing new hair, Minoxidil was developed further as preventative use medication. Now it is widely used as topical drug especially by men with male pattern baldness. It is available as lotion for rubbing into the scalp daily. The lotion can be bought without a prescription provided that the pharmacist is present on the premises where the purchase is made and confirms that it is safe for you to get Regaine. Minoxidil has been reported to stop hair loss effectively but good new hair growth comes only in about one third of the users, so it should not be classified as a natural cure for hair loss. Response time is about four months. It has also been found that stopping the use of Minoxidil again results in the onset hair loss.

Finesteride

Finesteride is available by the name Propecia. Finesteride works by inhibiting the conversion of the hormone testosterone into DHT, a process responsible for hair loss. Reversible side effects related to sex drive, volume of semen etc. have been reported from the use of Finesteride. The drug is available on prescription only, and does not claim to cure hair loss due to the fact it does not work for everyone.

Anti-Androgen Therapy

Different hormonal drugs have been used, by experts in hormone therapy, to directly block the activity of DHT and thus stop hair loss. This approach comes under the rubric anti-androgen therapy.

Hair Transplant Surgery

In simple words, hair transplant surgery rearranges the scalp surface to bring the volume of bald areas on head to a minimum, thus maximizing the spots with good hair growth. Surgery is meant for long-term hair treatment and is obviously more expensive than drug therapy, but is also not a hair loss cure. Instead, the process uses other hair units to fill in the missing spots and affected area. Finding an expert surgeon is also not easy. One thing to remember is that surgery does not guarantee the cessation of hair loss around the reconstructed areas and more than one surgeries are usually required to get your hair nicely growing.

Hair Loss in Women

Women suffer hair loss less often and less severely than men. The cure for women runs along the same lines as men - there is no permanent cure yet. Rogaine (another trade variant of Regaine) and Propecia are the two most commonly used drugs for hair loss in women. Hair transplant therapy has also become popular in recent years. In retrospect, it is easy to see that there is no cure for hair loss, because the condition is a natural process and phenomenon.

Estrogen and Hair Loss in Women

2008-02-28T16:16:00.001-08:00

When estrogen levels drop, baldness can occur in women. Estrogen is the female hormone that encourages hair to grow on the head. Things like pregnancy, childbirth, and illnesses can sometimes affect estrogen levels which also causes lost and thinning hair. As women advance in age, hair loss and thinning become common problems, which occur again due to the change in the level of estrogen. Androgenetic Alopecia, is also a problem among women, this is a patterned hairloss, and is caused by DHT.
Women in their forties take hormone replacement therapy for treatment of pattern baldness. You should also try herbal nutrition supplements to treat estrogen related hair loss.

The best treatment for thinning hair from diet is to keep hair clean and ensure you eat a balanced diet. Although the market is flooded with various types of hair products, use only high quality products. You should use a mild DHT shampoo two to three times a week; this will help to remove dirt and buildup on the hair that can deteriorate the condition of the scalp. Also good hair conditioners can prevent dryness that can be otherwise cause by frequent shampooing. You should also prevent exposure to the sun’s UV rays and also eat a diet that includes brewer’s yeast, soybeans, green peas, lentils, oats, sunflower, seeds and nutritious nuts.

When it comes to hair loss and hair thinning, control over hereditary factors is limited. However you may begin an effective treatment by using good hair care products, maintaining your hair and also by eating healthy and nutritious food.

For over 25 million women in the U.S. alone suffer from hair loss. Women who are losing their hair do to female pattern baldness will usually experience and overall thinning of the rather than patches of baldness although patches do occur in a small percentage of women.

Female hair loss of this type usually begins around age 40 and is typically associated with the onset f menopause where estrogen levels decline and male testosterone levels increase.

Continuing with estrogen hair loss, noticeably when it declines it begins to loose it ability to block the steroid hormones which cause the woman’s hair loss symptoms to begin. This results in the hair becoming thinner and in some cases, clumps of hair start to fall out.

Thought many women hope for a quick cure for hair loss, one that they can pour from a bottle, it’s just not that easy. If you are experiencing hair hair it might be a great ideal to go and talk to your health care provider to determine the cause. After the problem has been diagnosed then the right course of treatment can be found.

Causes of Hair Loss

2008-02-28T16:15:00.002-08:00

If you are wondering about the causes for losing hair, this article may be for you. Here you will learn what hairloss is, some of the common causes of hair loss, what ways in which this may occur, and how common it is.
What is hair loss?

It is normal to lose between sixty to one hundred hairs each day through showering or brushing your hair. When scalp hairs begin to thin and more hair is lost through normal shedding than the scalp is able to recreate, this is hair loss, and is something happens to many people, both men and women, as they get older in years.

How is it hair loss caused?

There are a number of factors that may determine why you are experiencing hair fall. One of the main factors is through genetics. Usually, the real cause of hair loss is hereditary. If your father experienced hair loss, and his father experienced the same, chances are that you could end up experiencing it as well. Other common reasons that may be causes of hair loss loss for you are thyroid problems, childbirth, a protein or iron deficiency, and cancer treatments. Certain medications also may cause thinning hair in men and women.

What ways is hair lost?

There are two ways in which hair is lost. The first way is patchy hair loss, in which hair is lost in well defined and evident areas. The rest of the scalp will have a good amount of hair which it does not lose. If you notice certain areas in which your head appears to be balding, or your hair seems to be thinning, chances are that you are experiencing patchy hair loss - the cause of which is generally not pattern baldness or genetics related. The second way which in which you hair may be lost is generalized hair loss. This is when there is a complete thinning of the entire scalp. There will be absolutely no areas that appear to be experiencing normal hair growth. If your entire head seems to be losing hair, with no patches of normal growth, then your scalp is most likely experiencing generalized hair loss, caused by a temporary situation.

How common is hair loss?

Unfortunately, it is probably more common than you think. About two out of every three men experience complete pattern balding as they get older. Since a major cause of most hair loss is the attack of hair follicles by DHT over age, it makes sense that people would begin losing more hair on average after the age of 30. An even higher percentage of men and women experience some type of hair loss at some point during their lives. If you feel embarrassed because you are losing hair, this is not necessary. There are more people out there who experience hair loss than those who do not.

Female Hair Loss Treatment

2008-02-28T16:15:00.001-08:00

Women, do you think that you might be losing hair? Does it seem as though you have seen alot of hair on the brush lately? Does your scalp appear to be thinning more than most ladies? Chances are that you are a women who is experiencing female hair loss. Here, you will learn how much hair is normal to lose, the patterns in which hairloss in women can occur in, and whether or not a transplant will work for you.
How much of a loss is too much?

If you have noticed that you have been losing hair lately, you are probably wondering how much is normal to lose and how much is too much. It is normal for a person to lose between fifty and one hundred strands of hair a day. If you notice what seems to be a significantly larger amount of hair fall than this, you are most likely experiencing female hair loss.

Female pattern baldness?

There are several ways in which women's hair loss can occur. The first and most common way is when the hair begins to thin from the top in a gradual manner, directly behind the hair line. This is referred to as the Ludwig pattern. The second most common way that hair is lost is when the women experiences hair loss due to telogen effluvium. With this condition, hair is lost in a pattern so that the hair thins from the front hairline to the crown. Another common pattern in which hair is lost is when it occurs throughout the entire scalp. This hair loss pattern is referred to as diffuse alopecia, and is by far the most serious female hair loss pattern. Another rare way in which hair loss can occur is in a “Christmas tree pattern,” where the hair thins in a zigzagged sort of pattern on the top. There is much evidence that now supports the role of DHT in the gradual thinning and miniaturization of hair follicles.

Do hair transplants work for everyone who experiences female hair loss?

Although it would be wonderful if hair transplants worked for everybody who received them that were going through hair loss, this is not the case. Majority of the time, these restoration techniques work the best for women whose hair has been lost in the Ludwig pattern. Ladies that experience diffuse alopecia pattern are not suitable for hair transplants. There is not enough replaced hair that is donated that is suitable enough to be transplanted into a person who has lost their hair in the diffuse alopecia pattern.

Male Pattern Baldness, Hair Loss and DHT

2008-02-28T16:13:00.000-08:00

Today nearly 90% of men suffer from male pattern baldness, which is called Androgenetic Alopecia. Most men experience moderate hair loss by the time they reach the age of 50. Men usually start losing hair with a receding hair line or thinning of the crown of the head.

Male hair loss is mainly due to the chemical dihydrotestosterone which accumulates around hair follicles deteriorate the hair shaft. Not all follicles fall out; it all depends on genetics. This is the reason some men go bald, and some don’t. It is usually through aging and genetics that men go bald. Some men don’t go bald; their hair starts thinning due to male pattern baldness. Genetics causes this gradual deterioration of follicles for each new phase of hair growth, and each round the hair is less pigmented and shortened, until eventually the follicle expires. The condition is not as pronounced in women because women on the whole produce less testosterone, which is the main constituent of DHT.

Besides aging, braiding that African American men, stress, chemicals in hair products and Alopecia Areata are the other causes of male hair loss. And to help you overcome this hairloss, there are many male hair loss treatments in the market available today.

Before starting or buying any treatment for male pattern baldnes, it is better to first consult your doctor. This is because through the right questions, the doctor will be able to find out the cause of your hair loss and give the corresponding treatment. Most of the causes for male pattern baldness are reversible; and by pinpointing these causes, the right treatment can be rendered.

There are some medical and treatments that induce hair loss in women and men; and on its termination, hair starts growing back. Similarly, some medical conditions induce male hair loss and on treating this, hair starts growing back. In such areas, there is no specific need of hair loss treatment. Sometimes, heredity also induces pattern baldness in men and there is nothing much that can be done to treat the condition.

Male hair loss treatments are available as topical applications like minoxidil, which is applied on the scalp. It is found in various names in the market and cleaims to slow hair loss. Finasteride is another treatment taken as a tablet that slows hair fall and promotes hair growth in some men. Most topical solutions for male pattern baldness are centered around disrupting the effects of DHT, in other words, acting as a DHT Blocker on the hair follicle, which delays deterioration.

Sometimes it may be necessary to adopt surgical methods like hair transplant surgery where hair from other parts of the body is removed and replanted on the affected area. Scalp reduction is a surgical method where a small part of the good hair area is removed to stretch over areas affected by hair loss. All these hair restoration procedures may not be possible for everyone as these treatments are rather expensive and male pattern baldness, in all seriousness, is simply a natural phenomenon. So one choice is to simply go bald, and to start a fad showing the beauty of baldness!

Is there any treatment for hair loss?

2008-02-28T16:12:00.004-08:00

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

2008-02-28T16:12:00.003-08:00

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.

What is common baldness?

2008-02-28T16:12:00.001-08:00

The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?

2008-02-28T16:11:00.001-08:00

Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

What causes excessive hair loss?

2008-02-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

2008-02-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

How can I find a recommended laser center in my area?

2008-02-17T16:32:00.002-08:00

There are several things you can try. You can run a search on any of the laser hair removal forums, like the Cosmetic Enhancements Forum, using the search box for your city name to read about experiences of previous consumers at the clinics in your area. You can also try running a provider search on the laser manufacturer websites (Cutera and Candela offer this option on their sites). Finally, you can check your local Yellow Pages or citysearch.com for listings in your area.

What should I expect to pay for laser hair removal?

2008-02-17T16:32:00.001-08:00

Prices vary widely from clinic to clinic. Some also offer discounts for paying up front for multiple treatments. Although the upside is possibly paying less money overall, this also involves signing a contract which will prevent you from getting any refunds in case something goes wrong or you are not happy with the services before and/or after you are done. Remember, that laser doesn’t work on everyone also when making this decision. It’s recommended that you get 3-4 consultations before deciding on a clinic as well to compare prices and technician’s experience etc.

Here is VERY general average pricing information in the U.S for commonly treated areas. You can estimate other areas based on the size. Keep in mind that these are just estimates based on consumers reporting what they have paid for treatments on various forums:

Price per 1 treatment:

Full face - $150-300
Upper lip - $50-150
Chin - $50-150
Underarms (both) - $50-150
Regular bikini - $100-200 (definition at each clinic is different – ask!)
Brazilian bikini - $200-300
Half legs (both) - $200-400
Half arms (both) - $200-400
Butt - $150-300
Back - $200-500
Chest - $100-300 (ask for definition)
Abdomen - $100-300 (ask for definition)

Can I just reduce the density of hair on an area instead of removing it completely?

2008-02-17T16:31:00.003-08:00

Yes, this can be achieved with having only a few treatments instead of the complete set of 6-8 and by an experienced technician who is careful not to miss areas during treatments.

Is it true that laser hair removal can cause more hair growth than what I started with?

2008-02-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

This occurrence HAS been reported by consumers on various forums, although it has not been medically proven or confirmed. It is a rare occurrence and usually seems to happen when treating woman’s face or men’s back/shoulders/upper arms – usually when treating SPARSE SINGLE HAIRS or FINE VELLUS hairs and at lower settings. The best way to stay on the safe side is to only treat areas with laser that have coarse dark hair and make sure the technician doesn’t touch any sparse or vellus hairs. Those hairs should be removed with electrolysis.

What is the hair growth cycle and how does hair growth work?

2008-02-17T16:30:00.002-08:00

Under normal circumstances hair growth in each hair follicle occurs in a cycle. There are three main phases of the hair growth cycle: anagen, catagen and telogen.

Anagen (active) is the growing phase or when the hair fiber is produced. During anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin, the pigment which gives your hair its color. This is the phase during which laser hair removal treatment is most effective.

Catagen (club hair) is the period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. This phase is when the lower part of the hair stops growing, but does not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed. It will be difficult for permanence to be achieved when the hair is in the catagen growth cycle.

Telogen (tired) is the last of the hair growth cycle. In this resting phase, the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of a new anagen hair. Permanence cannot be achieved when the hair are in the telogen growth cycle.

Remember, anagen is followed by catagen, a period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. Ultimately the hair follicle enters telogen, when the follicle is in a so-called resting state.

Normally this cycle of hair production will continue for the duration of the individual's life. However, other factors can influence, promote and inhibit hair production. How well the laser can eliminate the hairs, depends on the skin type/color, hair type/color and what initially caused the hair to grow.

What things should I consider when finding a laser hair removal center near me?

2008-02-17T16:30:00.001-08:00

The clinic: Make sure that you go in for a "free" consultation to see if you are happy with the way the clinic looks and feels (clean, up-to-date and informative) and avoid being pressured by sales reps to sign up on the spot (often prevalent at chain clinics). It’s recommended to sample 3-4 places before committing. You will probably find that prices can vary as much as 100-200% (and some will have options of paying up front for a package of treatments, while others won’t). Make sure you feel that they showed more interest in how the treatment will work for you and your personal results instead of being more interested in how much you will be paying.

The laser technician: Make sure that the person treating you has extensive experience of hair removal and has knowledge of how to best kill the hair (Ask a lot of questions about this at a chain clinic as you might get a different tech every time you come for treatment. Chain clinics vary by location, so make sure you are comfortable with everyone there and they don’t have a high employee turnover if you do decide to go with it). Ask questions and make sure they answer them based on your research. If you are an informed consumer, you will be able to better judge whether what they’re saying is in your best interests or not. Keep in mind that whether a person treating you has an MD or not does not necessarily reflect their laser hair removal skills. Hair removal is not taught in medical schools, so what you should be looking for instead is specific knowledge of and experience in hair removal.

The laser: Make sure that the laser being used is best for your skin and hair type. Do not fall for “marketing hype”. Every laser can technically be used on any skin type, but you should be looking for one that will produce the most efficient results for YOU.

Alexandrite long pulse and diode lasers are very effective when the skin type is light (I-III - see question #11 to determine your skin type) and the hair is dark enough to attract the laser within the follicle. Just because it is an alexandrite, does not make it the best on the market. Precision cooling of the skin prior to laser application, exact delivery of an effective energy beam deep into the tissue, and proper training can make all the difference between maintenance or permanence. Some of the most popular alexandrite lasers include GentleLASE by Candela Corporation and Apogee by Cynosure.

Diode lasers work best on skin types I-IV. The most popular on the market is the LightSheer laser by Lumenus.

Nd:YAG long pulse lasers are best for treating darker skin types (IV-VI) or patients of color such as: Afro-American, Asian, Hispanic, Mediterranean, European and Middle Eastern.

Alexandrites and diodes are generally more effective on finer hair given higher settings than Yag lasers. So, if your skin type falls into types III-IV and the hair is finer, an alex or a diode is preferred. If your skin is darker than a type V and the hair is fine, the hair might not have enough pigment to be treated, so a test spot might be necessary before committing to a treatment.

What are the possible causes of excessive hair growth and how can it affect my treatments?

2008-02-17T16:29:00.002-08:00

The causes of excessive hair growth pattern are many and varied, including:
Heredity
Pregnancy
Glandular and/or hormonal imbalances (possible PCOS condition for women), including diseases causing these effects
Insulin resistance issues
Reactions to certain medications
Normal aging processes
Excessive temporary removal methods like waxing, tweezing, creams and depilatories, etc

Every laser candidate should explore a possible underlying reason of the extreme hair growth before starting laser because if there is something in the body consistently triggering hair growth, laser treatments might seem ineffective because the body will keep developing new hair. So, it will always seem like there is not reduction, when in fact it’s NEW hair your body is producing that you are seeing, not that treated by laser growing back. Women with PCOS hair growth patterns (upper lip, chin, cheeks, etc) should see an endocrinologist and have hormonal tests taken. Men can get tested for insulin resistance etc. Talk to your doctor if you suspect you might have an underlying medical condition causing excessive hair growth before starting laser hair removal. Once the condition is control through treatment/medication, laser hair removal can then be performed. Laser can affect the hair that’s currently present, but cannot prevent NEW hair from developing.

What are the possible risks, side effects, and complications of laser hair removal?

2008-02-17T16:29:00.001-08:00

The possibility exists that some side effects or complications can occur given various variables, including:

Normal
Itching, during treatment
Redness for up to 3 days
Swelling (around mouth of follicle) for up to 3 days
Pain, tingling, or feeling of numbness (cold spray)

Rare
Crusting/scab formation (on ingrown hairs)
Bruising
Purpura (purple coloring of the skin) on tanned areas
Infection
Temporary pigment change (hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation)

Side effects occur infrequently and, as a rule, generally are temporary. If any of the above last for more than 3 days, make sure to contact your technician and/or doctor. There is a possibility that settings were set too high and the technician needs to know in order to adjust on your following treatment.

Is laser hair removal treatment painful?

2008-02-17T16:28:00.004-08:00

In one pulse, the laser can remove all the hair on a patch of skin the size of a nickel (depending on the specific laser spot size ranging from 9-18mm on average – i.e. the “head” of the laser from which the power is coming with every pulse). Everyone’s pain threshold is different, but generally laser hair removal is not much more painful than waxing, but the sensation is different. It resembles a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second with each pulse. Most people do not require an anesthetic cream (like EMLA), but one may be used for very sensitive patients/areas (can be provided or prescribed at the clinic). Be aware that using anesthetic creams is only safe on small areas (like upper lip, bikini, or underarms) and in small quantities. Using it on large areas like the back can cause adverse effects or even death. Consult with your tech and doctor if unsure.

How many laser hair removal treatments are required and spaced how far apart?

2008-02-17T16:28:00.003-08:00

Most people need at least 6-8 initial treatments spaced 6-10 weeks apart. This is because hair grows in 3 phases and is killed in the first “anagen” active growing phase. Several treatments are needed to target ALL hair in the active growth phase. Approximately 6-10 weeks after every treatment, additional treatment is required to eliminate the hairs that came out of the dormant phase and are now active. After 6-8 treatments or so, patients should experience a considerable percentage of hair reduction. Depending upon hair type and genetic factors, some clients may require additional treatments beyond these initial treatments. If it seems like the treatments are not working after 6-8 treatments, patients should look into possible underlying reasons (see Question #9 below).

Usually, treatments are spaced 6-8 weeks apart to start, and gradually move to 8-10 weeks apart after the initial 2-3 treatments. Instead of following an arbitrary schedule, wait until you have experienced shedding of the treated hairs (should complete within 2-3.5 weeks) and you see enough hair come in after the hairfree period to justify the next treatment.

How should I prepare for treatment and what should I expect after treatment?

2008-02-17T16:28:00.001-08:00

You should shave the area to be treated 1-3 days before treatment (some clinics will offer to do this for you, but beware of irritation caused by disposable razors etc). No waxing or removing hair with the root with any other way is allowed 4-6 weeks before and throughout the course of treatment as hair needs to be in place to be targeted by laser. The area should be shaved as closely as possible so that laser can target the most energy towards the hair follicle and not waste energy on the part of the hair above the skin’s surface. If your hair is the type that you can’t see where it was right after you shave, make it a bit easier on your tech not to miss the spots you want treated by shaving 1-3 days before so the outline of where hair is growing is just VERY slightly visible.

After treatment is completed (underarms take under 10 minutes, back treatment can take 1 hour or so), you should apply aloe vera to soothe the skin for a few days. Within 2-3.5 weeks, you should experience shedding of all treated hair. At first, hair will look like it’s growing back in, but it is just coming through the skin to shed. Shedding starts at about 1.5 weeks and can last until 3.5 weeks post-treatment or so. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the process. After shedding finishes, you might experience little black dots still “stuck” in the skin. These are commonly referred to as “pepperspots” and will shed eventually, but might take a bit longer. Exfoliate to help those out as well.

After shedding occurs, you should experience a hairfree period for a few weeks, until next set of hair that was dormant before starts to come in. Once you have enough to justify one, go in for another treatment. This usually happens within 6-10 weeks post-treatment. Patient continues this process until he/she has reached diminishing returns and the remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until you have reached you desired reduction.

If you don’t experience shedding, the settings used might have been too low and you should inform your technician that it didn’t happen. Also, if you feel that a lot of hair didn’t shed, the technician might have missed a lot of areas, and you might consider asking for a free touch-up. This should be done 4 weeks after treatment as by then shedding will be complete and you will know that whatever remains wasn’t affected. Certain clinics might offer these touch-ups free of charge when you sign up for treatments as their standard practice.

How does the laser hair removal treatment work?

2008-02-17T16:27:00.002-08:00

Lasers are optical devices which produce intense coherent, collimated and mono-chromatic beams of light. A laser consists of an active medium such as a crystal, gas or liquid that amplifies light when excited by an external energy source (a flash amp or electric discharge, for example). When the appropriate medium is employed, the laser can be fine-tuned to generate a very narrow band of light wavelengths (such as the individual colors of the visible spectrum).

Lasers designed for permanent hair reduction emit wavelengths of light designed to be absorbed by the pigment in the hair (melanin). If the surrounding skin is relatively light compared to the color of the hair, then the entire energy of the laser will be concentrated in the hair shaft, effectively destroying it without affecting the skin or follicle. Hair removal lasers target the dark pigment in the hair. That’s why laser hair removal works best on light skin (so laser passes right through) and dark coarse hair (has most pigment).

The ability of the laser to produce a very narrow bandwidth on a consistent basis is the key to a safe efficient treatment. The types of lasers used for permanent hair reduction include the ruby (old machines only safe for very pale skin types - not recommended), Nd:YAG, diode, and alexandrite.

While the laser emits a beam that only heats the hair shaft, heat is transmitted from the hair shaft to the surrounding tissue for several milliseconds after the laser pulse. Several lasers possess cooling attachments which cool the surrounding skin to fully absorb any heat transmitted from the destroyed hair shafts.

Be aware that hair removal systems that use traditional light for treatment (Intense Pulse Light machines or IPLs) are not true hair removal lasers. These devices use a highly concentrated beam of traditional incoherent light, often in conjunction with a cream or gel, to burn the hair shaft. A serious flaw with these systems is that they lack the laser's ability to produce a selective bandwidth of light that will only affect the hair shaft (selective photothermolysis). These devices produce a wide bandwidth of light that can heat up all of the surrounding tissue. IPLs are generally cheaper devices and are used for various skin procedures first and foremost, with hair removal as more of an afterthought. Judging from consumer feedback, true lasers usually achieve better and faster results for hair removal purposes.

Is laser hair removal permanent?

2008-02-17T16:27:00.001-08:00

The general opinion is that laser hair removal is permanent, and the Food and Drug Administration approved it as “permanent reduction,” but doesn’t work on everyone. Generally, this means that you shouldn’t expect laser to remove every single hair from an area. Most people need to follow up with electrolysis treatments for any remaining hairs for complete clearance as hair becomes too fine for laser to target and you reach diminishing returns. Most will also need touch-up treatments 1-2 times a year after the initial set of treatments for any new growth your body develops with age.

It has also been observed that some people seem to be non-responders – this is not confirmed and reasons are not known as not enough research has been done in this area. Keep in mind that it's also difficult to judge whether someone’s lack of results is due to the person’s potential underlying medical condition that causes continuous growth and makes it seem like laser isn’t working, whether the treatment wasn't performed properly, or whether for some people it just doesn't work and we don't know why. Basically, you can’t determine this for yourself unless you try it. In addition, results also depend on many variables involved, including the tech's experience, type of laser used and how settings are set, etc.

A set of at least 6-8 treatments at specified intervals are generally necessary to achieve substantial hair removal with laser. Factors that determine the length of treatment include the particular area to be treated, the texture of hair, frequency of treatments, history of temporary measures to remove hair (waxing, tweezing, shaving, and depilatories, etc.) etc.

Electrolysis is considered a permanent hair removal method that has been used for the past 125 years. It involves treating one hair at a time and can take a considerably long time to complete a large area, but IS an option as well. It is also the recommended method for small areas (generally, chin, upper lip, eyebrows, etc), as well as for fine and light-colored hair. The most cost-efficient treatments to completely clear an area should start with laser to remove the bulk of the hair and finish with electrolysis to remove the remaining finer sparse hair.

Who is a candidate for laser hair removal?

2008-02-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Both men and women seek laser hair removal services to have unwanted hair removed. Hair removal is commonly done on the hairline, eyebrow, top of the nose, lip, chin, ear lobe, shoulders, back, underarm, abdomen, buttocks, pubic area, bikini lines, thighs, face, neck, breast, arms, legs, hands, and toes.

Laser works best on pale skin and dark coarse hair. The closer you are to this combination (i.e. the lighter the skin and the more coarse and dark the hair), the better the results will generally be. Alexandrite long pulse and diode types of lasers work best on light-colored skin. Nd:YAG long pulse lasers are better and safer on darker skin (skin types IV and darker – see Question #12 below to determine your skin type). Since laser works by being attracted to and targeting the dark pigment, using an alexandrite or a diode laser on darker skin can result in skin burning or loss of skin pigment (hypo-pigmentation). Long pulse Nd:YAG lasers were created to cater to dark-skinned patients, so they are safer on the skin at settings that actually affect the hair than alexandrite and diode lasers.

When choosing your hair removal options, select an environment whose main priorities are your safety, health, and results.

What is Laser Hair Removal?

2008-02-17T16:23:00.002-08:00

Laser hair removal is a procedure by which hair is removed from the body by utilizing a long pulse laser. Lasers are developed and designed from years of research. The laser parameters are carefully defined by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser light and pulse duration to the follicle size, depth and location to inhibit the re-growth of the hair.

Laser hair removal is performed by a specially-trained laser specialist or a doctor depending on where you go, who distributes the light of a long pulse laser onto the skin. The laser works by disabling hairs that are in their active growth cycle at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter their growth cycle at different times, several treatments are necessary to disable all of the follicles in a given area.

Choosing a Laser Hair Removal Specialist

2008-02-17T16:23:00.001-08:00

State Requirements for Laser Hair Removal Technicians
Laser hair removal is essentially a medical procedure and as such is regulated by state laws. Most state laws follow broad FDA guidelines, but each state has its own approach. That means it’s necessary for you to check to guarantee that a potential technician meets your state requirements. (Just find your state's website link in that list and click on it. Typing "laser hair removal" into their search feature should give you the information you need.)

State regulations fall into within three broad types. Each type is based on FDA-instituted guidelines that describe different levels of physician involvement.

Supervision:
Some states do not require that a medical doctor perform or even directly supervise the laser procedure. The doctor does not necessarily have to be on site. The doctor must, however, take personal responsibility for the procedure. In other words, the doctor assures you that the technician is competent and that the procedure will be done correctly. States that require only this limited supervision will define doctor responsibility in different ways. Either a doctor or a non-medical professional may own the clinic.

Direct:
Some states do not require that a medical doctor perform the laser procedure. However, the doctor must provide supervision. This means the doctor must be must be on-site and available to provide medical assistance should any complications arise. Either a doctor or a non-medical professional may own the clinic.

Physician Only:
Some states will only allow a medical doctor to do laser surgery. However, even then, a doctor can use his or her discretion to allow a PA, RN, or other medically licensed professional to operate the laser. But that professional is performing the procedure under the protection of the doctor’s medical license and insurance. In these states, a non-medical professional may not own the clinic.

Laser Technician Experience
Technician experience is the key to a successful laser hair removal experience. There isn’t any one top school or any standard test for laser hair removal technicians, so credentials won’t always provide you the best measure of their skill. But there are plenty of skilled laser professionals out there! The trick is asking the right questions.

Be sure to evaluate a few technicians before making a choice. Find out where each of the technicians received laser training, how long they have been performing treatments, how many treatments they have performed, and which lasers they have used. You should also inquire about the technicians’ continuing education. Ask if they are actively involved in laser or medical societies or partake in ongoing training. Use what you’re reading today to get a feel for the technician’s expertise. Discuss types of lasers, your skin and hair types, and even state regulations.

Laser Hair Removal Consultations
Savvy consumer, meet the personal consultation. Personal consultation, meet the savvy consumer. You two will be fast friends!

The consultation is your chance to ask all your smart questions about the technician’s experience and training, and evaluate the clinic as a whole. Of course, it’s also the time for discussing and possibly planning your potential laser treatments. This is when the technician will analyze your skin and hair type to determine the best treatment schedule for you. Most laser hair removal consultations are free of charge. Take full advantage of this. Attend more than one. Ask lots of questions and take notes if you need to.

Questions to ask during your laser hair removal consultation

What kind of laser do you use? Is it right for my skin type? Have you treated many other patients with a skin type similar to mine? And how about my hair color?

How long have you been performing laser hair removal treatments? Can you tell me about your training and experience?

Do you know how many treatments you have performed?

If I felt I could benefit from it, would you be able to have one of your previous patients call me to talk about their experience?

I’ve heard that tanned skin is a laser hair removal no-no. Can you explain that to me a little better? For how long before and after my treatment do I need to avoid the sun?

I know it’s prohibited to “pluck” any hairs out by the roots before treatment. What are your rules about shaving before treatment? Should I shave just before? Should it be a close shave?

Laser Hair Removal Treatment Areas: It Works There?

2008-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

First, Understanding What’s Off Limits
Want to know where on the body laser hair removal can be performed? Let’s start with the one place it can’t: beneath the eyebrows. This is especially disappointing to women who would love to retire their tweezers and always have perfectly sculpted brows. However, this area is simply too close to the eyes, and would require removing the standard eye protection worn during laser hair removal treatments. Also, the spot size of many lasers is about the circumference of a nickel, so it’s unfortunately very difficult to pinpoint the laser enough within that small area to shape and sculpt the brows the way most women would prefer. Worried about a unibrow? No problem—the area between the eyebrows is safe. It’s a commonly and successfully treated area.

Common Laser Hair Removal Treatment Areas
So let’s recap so far: laser hair removal can’t be performed under the eyebrows. That leaves a lot of surface area that can be treated. A lot:
You Probably Assumed
Legs (upper, lower, or both), women’s bikini area, back and shoulders, underarms, arms, chest, upper lip, between brows

You might have figured
Buttocks, pubic area, stomach, lower back, chin, face, neck, breasts

You may not have considered
Feet, toes, hands, fingers, nostrils (treated from outside the nose), ears, hairline

Laser Hair Removal: Men Are Allowed!
Many men are shy about laser hair removal treatments, perhaps largely because so many laser technicians are women. No need! A professional laser technician will be, well, professional about administering treatments wherever your unwanted hair may be. Plus, not all technicians are female, so check around for males if that makes you more comfortable.

Also, there is no need to worry that you’re requesting a “unique” treatment area. Odds are you’re not the only one with hair…there…so most laser operators wouldn’t even think twice. Common laser hair removal treatment areas for men include hairline, ears, nose, beard, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, back, chest, buttocks, pubic area, and feet.

Let’s Be Fair: Exploring All Your Hair Removal Options

2008-02-17T16:19:00.000-08:00

When it comes to removing unwanted facial and body hair, you have your fair share of options. Each hair removal method has its own set of pros and cons—some you’re probably painfully familiar with. But when considering laser for removing unwanted hair, it’s worth doing a quick review of all your alternatives.

Shaving
For both men and women, shaving is a hair removal method that requires frequent, often daily, upkeep. As many of us can attest, shaving easily leads to cuts, as well as razor bumps and dryness, and usually the results are not as smooth as desired. The upside: low cost. Although we might cringe at an end-of-year tally of all the money put toward razors, blades, gels, and creams, shaving calls for minimal spending at tolerable intervals, which is gentle on the pocketbook. You also may want to consider the environmental impact of disposable razors and blades when weighing your hair removal options.

Bleaching
Since bleaching is a method of hiding unwanted hair and not removing it, it’s most effective on hair that is dark but not dense. An area of dense, bleached hair might attract extra attention, defeating the purpose of this treatment. Instead, most people rely on bleaching for hair above the lip and on other areas of the face, neck, and arms. It usually has to be repeated every 3-4 weeks, but like shaving, bleaching comes with a manageable price tag.

Tweezing
It’s no secret what the downsides to tweezing are: 1. It hurts. 2. It takes patience. Tweezing is done one hair at a time, so it’s not really meant for, say, a full back or leg. Usually reserved for the eyebrows and chin, the upside to tweezing is that it removes hair from its root. This means you get a nice, smooth surface and the hair takes longer to reappear. Also, lasers can’t be used on hair under the brows, so tweezing is still probably the best method available for sculpting the eyebrows. (Myth buster: Tweezing does not increase hair growth or make it grow in heavier or darker. When hair grows back and first emerges, it naturally starts out stubby and seems darker and heavier than soft, fully grown hair. Hair characteristics are based purely on genetics, not on beauty regimens.)

Waxing
Much like tweezing, waxing removes hair from its root and leaves the skin quite smoother, for much longer, than shaving. Women commonly wax hair on their legs, bikini area, and face, while many men opt to have their chest or back hair waxed. The downside of waxing can be summed up in one word: ouch! The process requires that a layer of wax be applied to the skin, in the direction of hair growth, and then quickly pulled off, in the opposite direction of hair growth. Other downsides: It can irritate the skin and lead to ingrown hairs. It can cause a mess when done at home. It can be pretty pricey when done by a professional.

Sugaring
Sugaring works like waxing, except it involves an all-natural substance: sugar (go figure). The most well known sugaring brand is probably infomercial phenomenon Nad’s. While waxes usually have to be heated to be effective, sugaring substances do not, which makes them much less damaging to the skin. They can still be a bit of an irritant, however, since the hair is being pulled out from the root. This caramel-like substance is also easier to wash away than waxes, making sugaring a less messy treatment for unwanted hair.

Depilatories
Depilatories are made of chemicals that melt and dissolve hair. The process: apply a thick layer of the substance to the skin, and then firmly rub a washcloth up and down the surface of the skin, wiping away both depilatory and hair. Simply rubbing your hair off doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Unfortunately, as with many unwanted hair treatments, there’s a drawback. First, depilatories remove hair just from the surface, so it will reappear in a few days. Also, there’s a risk of burning or irritating the skin or eyes. You should always start with a small test spot and never use depilatories on the brows, genitals, near the eyes, or on inflamed or broken skin.

Electrolysis
Electrolysis is the only unwanted hair treatment that can legally be marketed as permanent hair removal. However, this takes time, can be pricey, and it hurts! A treatment involves the insertion of an ultra fine wire beneath the skin and into the hair follicle. A slight electric current then travels down the wire and destroys the root at the base of the hair follicle. This process is repeated for each hair individually! So, one session of electrolysis can take some time, and since only the visible hair can be treated, multiple sessions are required. Many people opt for electrolysis just for smaller areas of unwanted hair, or as a maintenance treatment after laser hair removal on a larger area. Electrolysis does carry some risk of scarring, electric shock if the needle isn’t properly insulated, and infection from non-sterile needles. However, these risks are rare, especially if the treatment is performed by a skilled, experienced electrolysis practitioner.

Rogaine Hair Growth Treatment

2008-02-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

Unlike Propecia, Rogaine is an over-the-counter hair loss treatment. Also unlike Propecia, Rogaine is a drug that can be used on both men and women. Rogaine is a topical solution with the active ingredient Minoxidil, and is available in 2% solutions for women and 5% solutions for men. The liquid solution is spread over the balding area twice daily and must dry in order to remain effective. The manufacturers of Rogaine have recently released Rogaine foam that was designed for easier application as well as greater absorption of Minoxidil into the scalp.

Rogaine works by revitalizing shrunken hair follicles. Studies have shown that Rogaine can slow hair loss and promote partial regrowth in some (but not all) patients. While Rogaine really does work, scientists are still baffled at exactly how it works. Minoxidil was first developed as a high blood pressure medication and this may explain part of its effectiveness. Rogaine increases blood flow to the areas surrounding bald spots. This blood flow increases follicle size and the growing phase of hair. Some researchers believe Rogaine works by opening potassium channels located in the hair follicle. No matter how it works, Rogaine’s results are measurable; however, its effects disappear rapidly after its discontinuation.

It should be noted that both consumers and professionals have reported that Rogaine works better for women than it does for men. This has made Rogaine for Women a popular first option for women with hair loss. Since Rogaine is FDA approved for over-the-counter use, it is much safer than other hair loss options such as Propecia. Rogaine is, however, not without its side effects. Side effects for Rogaine include itchy scalps, acne, and mild to moderate headaches. These Rogaine side effects can be an indication that you’re taking too high a dose of Minoxidil. It’s also believed that Rogaine’s effectiveness diminishes over time, leading doctors to theorize that patients can build up a tolerance after years of use.

Rogaine prices are fairly reasonable and are much less expensive than those of Propecia. Rogaine is typically sold for $25-30 for 60ml (a one month supply). Learn more about Rogaine and other hair restoration options during your free consultation with a hair loss specialist near you.

Hair Growth Drugs

2008-02-17T16:17:00.002-08:00

Propecia® and Rogaine® are the only two hair loss medications that are approved by the FDA. With the ability to partially stabilize current hair loss and to prevent future hair loss, Propecia and Rogaine products can provide adequate results for plenty of patients. More often, though, they act as the perfect companion to hair transplant surgery.

What is Propecia®?
Propecia is the oral medication of the two hair loss treatment drugs that the FDA has approved. It can provide a defense against DHT—the hormone that causes hereditary hair loss—and help to stave off balding. The Propecia drug also has the ability to improve the amount of shedding a patient suffers in as few as three months. Hair transplantation will restore the hair you've lost, but Propecia can be added to help keep the rest of the hair that you are genetically destined to lose.

Rogaine® Hair Products
Rogaine is an over-the-counter hair loss treatment that can, like Propecia, provide a defense against the initial stages of hair loss. Rogaine can also sometimes be used after hair transplantation to promote new hair growth. The first FDA-approved unisex hair loss drug, Rogaine can also be effective for women. Rogaine comes in Men’s Rogaine, Women’s Rogaine, Rogaine Extra Strength, and Rogaine Foam. It is a topical solution, so patients apply this hair loss drug directly onto the scalp in the thinning areas.

Both Rogaine and Propecia are hair loss products that can be further explored and purchased at most of our listed locations.

Hair Loss Treatment for Women

2008-02-17T16:17:00.001-08:00

Alternatives to Surgery
Propecia® and Rogaine® are the only two hair loss medications approved by the FDA. However, while both are effective for men, only Rogaine is an approved hair loss treatment for women.

Rogaine® for Women
Women’s Rogaine® is an over-the-counter hair loss treatment for women that can provide a defense against the initial stages of hair loss. Rogaine for women can also sometimes be used after hair transplantation to promote new hair growth. The first FDA-approved unisex hair loss drug, it is a topical solution, so patients apply it directly onto the scalp in the thinning areas.

Extensions, Weaves, and Hair Replacement Systems
Many women turn to extensions, weaves, wigs, and hair systems as a non-surgical alternative to hair restoration surgery. While not necessarily a hair loss treatment for women, hair replacement systems can be temporary relief for those unable to grow hair. Common hair system materials include human hair, synthetic fibers, or a combination of hair and fibers. Hair replacement systems, as opposed to extension, have grown in popularity with women because of their comfortable fit and more life like looks.

Vitamins for Hair Loss in Women
Some health experts believe that for some women hair loss is caused by a vitamin deficiency. So, a simple hair loss treatment for women could include a daily vitamin high in iron and vitamin C. A vitamin supplement as a hair loss cure only works for women (sorry, guys). Whether vitamins really work to restore hair is unknown, but it couldn’t hurt and could be a good first step if you notice early hair loss.

Hair Loss Shampoos
There a number of different shampoos on the market that claim to fight hair loss. Everyone has their theories about hair loss and some experts believe hair loss can be caused through an autoimmune disease that recognizes a balding woman's own hair follicles as foreign proteins that need to be eliminated. Hair loss shampoos are marketed to clean each follicle completely of accumulated oil and debris, and to ensure you that your follicles are not mistaken as foreign proteins. Like vitamins, the results of hair loss shampoos for women are somewhat questionable, but they certainly cannot hurt.

Hair Transplant Costs

2008-02-17T16:16:00.003-08:00

Hair transplant costs will vary from case to case. Because each patient's hair loss is unique, as are their expectations, the only way to learn the total expense of your own surgery is through an educational appointment with a qualified consultant.

Comparing Prices
You hear of hair transplant clinics charging by the graft, by the hair and even by the session, so it can be hard to really compare hair transplantation costs. For example, price per graft means nothing unless you know how many hairs you get in a graft and the experience of the doctor. Different hair restoration surgeons can perform a different number of micro-grafts per session. At a consultation, our specialists can break the hair transplant cost down into grafts or hairs once we've determined the price of your surgery.

Can you afford NOT to have a hair transplant?
As with any elective procedure, hair transplant cost is an important part of the research process. However, it shouldn't be the sole deciding factor. Hair restoration surgery can be custom-tailored, and planned out to fit each patient's individual budgetary needs. Plus, it's a valuable investment, producing results that last a lifetime. Can you really put a price tag on piece of mind? Hair transplant costs are no where near the costs some people pay worrying about their hair loss.

How do I know Hair Transplantation surgery will work?

2008-02-17T16:16:00.001-08:00

Hair transplantation has actually been around for quite awhile. For over 40 years, balding men and women have been turning to variations of this procedure, and finding successful results. However, the procedure is now better than ever. Heightened understandings of growth patterns and advancements in follicular unit grafting techniques have helped to produce remarkably natural results. Because the newly transplanted hair is taken from a healthy patch on your own head, it will continue to grow in its natural pattern for the rest of your life, blending with the hair that is already there. Obvious hair transplants are a thing of the past!

Hair Transplantation Surgery

2008-02-17T16:15:00.001-08:00

Originally developed in the 1930’s, hair transplant surgery has come a long way since its conception. When it became popular in the 60’s and 70’s, hair transplant surgery was unrefined and the technique utilized large hair grafts produced by round punches. This often led to the sparse plugged look associated with hair transplantation. That is, until modern breakthroughs. Today’s hair transplant surgeons use micro-grafts and follicular unit transplantations that are virtually indistinguishable even by professional hairdressers.

Hair transplant surgery always begins with your healthy donor hair. It’s simple: If you don’t have the donor hair then you don’t have the hair that can be transplanted. This donor hair is located on the sides and back of the head and is resistant to balding, allowing it to continue to grow throughout your lifetime. Most men suffering from standard male pattern baldness will have a healthy donor area. However, if your hair loss is not hereditary and is caused by other conditions such as stress or medication, you will want to see a dermatologist first before attending a hair transplant consultation.

In follicular unit hair transplantations, a small section of tissue is removed from the donor area and is broken down under magnification. This is where modern hair transplant surgeons show their true artistry. Follicular units grow in groups of 1-4 hairs. By keeping this composition intact, your hair transplant mimics real life. Hair transplant surgeons reproduce with micro-grafts exactly how hair grows in nature. Each hair is different and an experienced hair transplantation surgeon can make sure the hairs are transplanted in areas where they are best suited. For example, certain hair groupings belong at the hairline, while other belong at the crown of the head.

Different hair transplant clinics use different methods and technology to achieve results. For your hair transplantation you’ll want to keep in mind that you’re maximizing hair growth, ensuring naturalness, and minimizing trauma to the scalp. With any hair transplant surgery there will be scars, but a good surgeon can keep that scarring to minimum, and more importantly, undetectable. When done correctly your hair transplant is a customized experience; it’s living hair that you can style like you would before your hair loss.

Laser Hair Restoration

2008-02-17T16:09:00.000-08:00

You might know that lasers have been used to remove hairs for years, but did you know lasers can also help you grow back the hair you’ve lost? Laser hair therapy is a hair loss alternative to surgery and drugs. Laser hair restoration is a low level laser therapy (LLLT) that has similar properties to other light-based treatments used on skin, such as IPL Photofacial. However, low level lasers are often referred to as “cold” lasers. This is because laser hair therapy doesn’t contain that thermal component to burn or vaporize tissue. Although like Photofacial, laser hair therapy’s light is absorbed into your skin cells to promote improvement in the deepest layers of your scalp. What laser hair restoration does is increase blood supply to your scalp, which simulates microcirculation, protein synthesis, and cellular metabolism. The results of which should be fuller, thicker hair.

Laser hair growth therapy has been used in Europe and Asia since the 1980’s to treat hair loss. Originally developed to remedy diabetics with poor blood flow, low level lasers were found to also increase the thickness and length of body hairs within the laser's radius. Laser Hair therapy can repair and improve hair shaft quality and increase volume, and is often used in pre- and post- hair transplant surgeries. Many hair transplant surgeons believe laser hair restoration can help the transplant grow quicker and improve your recovery time.

Laser hair therapy is safe and easy to perform and is often recommended by hair transplant surgeons as an accompaniment to hair transplant surgery. A particularly common medium for low level laser therapy includes the HairMax and the Rezultz laser combs. Learn more about these laser hair restoration options during your free consultation!

Scientists Conquer Hair Loss

2007-12-19T03:55:00.000-08:00

Scientists have come up with the news many men and women have been praying for - a cure for baldness could be on the way!

They have managed to create new hair cells on the skin of mice, after identifying a mechanism that allows dormant genes to re-awaken.

The researchers believe the findings could “open a window” for new treatments not only for baldness, but for other aspects of wound healing and regeneration. They found mice regenerated hair at the site of a deep skin wound via molecular processes similar to those used in embryonic development. According to the research, published in the journal Nature, the findings show mammals possess greater regenerative abilities than commonly believed. While some amphibians can regenerate limbs and some reptiles can regenerate tails, regeneration in mammals is far more limited.

Dr George Cotsarelis, of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, who led the study, said the findings dispelled the dogma that hair loss is permanent in people and other mammals, and once they are lost new hair follicles cannot grow. In the mice, the hair was indistinguishable from neighbouring hair with a key exception - it lacked pigmentation and was white. The otherwise brown-haired mice had patches of white hair marking the site of the wound. But Dr Cotsarelis said the white hair issue might not be a problem for any baldness remedy in people, because the human pigmentation system differs from that in mice.

Healthy Hair - We are what we eat!

2007-12-19T03:54:00.000-08:00

Healthy Hair

Hair that’s healthy and lustrous has always been highly desirable. Read on to find out how eating right can improve your appearance.

The condition of our hair depends very much on our genetic make-up. However, our diet also has some impact on the health of our hair.

Hair is primarily made up of protein. Adequate protein intake is therefore necessary to supply amino acids needed in the metabolic process for constant hair growth.

Chicken, beef, lamb, seafood, eggs all support health, providing the system much- needed protein. Soybean or other vegtables combined with grains also provide a complete set of proteins for vegetarians.

In addition to proteins, these foods also supply vitamin B, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids that play a role in preventing hair from becoming brittle or life less.

Hair colour and softness

In our bodies, copper works as a coenzyme in our immune systems and is involved in bodily functions that involve energy produc tion. It works hand in hand with various metabolic enzymes especially cytochrome C oxidase, dopamine hydroxylase. If one lacks the mineral, he or she may feel weak and fatigued, have frequent infections, or skin problems.

More importantly, copper is also a mineral needed in the formation of haemoglobin, which flows in blood to the hair shaft and other parts of our bodies. A deficiency of copper may weaken the hair shaft and cause hair shedding. Furthermore, the production of the pigment melanin, that determines hair colour, requires the supportive function of copper enzyme.

Our diets should have sufficient intake of copper to effectively maintain the colour and softness of our hair, and lessen hair thinning.

This does not mean that we need to use copper utensils for cooking or ingest copper.

We can get the mineral from our daily nutritional intake. The following foods are good sources of dietary copper to meet the recommended daily intake of 0.9 mg for adults.

Meat, fish and other seafoods all supply copper. In particular, shellfish – such as oysters, crabs and clams – is known to be a good source of copper. Offal and liver have a higher copper content than cuts of meat. However, due to accumulation of toxins, liver is not a recommended food. If you like offal, the liver of younger chicken has a lower amount of toxins in it.

In a vegetarian diet, nuts and seeds are the best source of copper. Copper content in a 100 gram portion: soybean 1.0 mg, chickpea (kacang kuda) 0.9 mg, yellow dhal 0.7 mg, orange dhal 0.7 mg, black gram 0.6 mg, mung bean 0.8 mg, red gram 0.7 mg.

The fresh ulam served in traditional Malay dishes are flavourful greens which supply copper needed for healthy hair. Copper in 100 grams portion: Indian pennywort (pegaga) 0.3 mg, laksa leaf (kesom) 0.3 mg, fern shoot 0.3 mg, ulam raja 0.2 mg, red chilli 0.2 mg, canned peas 0.2 mg, spinach (por choy) 0.2 mg, bamboo shoot 0.1 mg, betel leaf (sireh) 0.3 mg.

Zinc hinders copper absorption.

As long as we eat a balanced diet, research has shown that deficiency of copper in our bodies rarely comes from not getting enough dietary copper. Other than genetic factors, an overdose of zinc supplements would inhibit the absorption of copper in the body. This may result in copper deficiency and affect hair conditions.

In our diet, beef, lamb, chicken, pork, shrimp, oysters, eggs, milk, mushroom, oats, peas, sesame seeds and other grains, cereals, nuts and seeds all supply zinc. If you wish to include a zinc supplement in your diet, con sult a medical professional to ensure there isn’t an excessive intake. Zinc is an important regulator of many genetic activities. Zinc is essential for the body to read genetic instructions. When one does not have sufficient zinc, genetic activities may be impaired. Zinc is also responsible for cell production, tissue growth and repair.

Thus, to a certain extent, zinc is believed to have a role in hair maintenance.

Balancing oily and dry hair.

In a hot and humid climate, we tend to per spire more. The acidic residue in the sweat may affect hair conditions. We need to con sume fruits and vegetables, especially the alkaline-producing foods to neutralise the acidic residue in our bodies. It is also impor tant to go easy on fatty and sugary foods, which the body will convert into acidic wastes.

Include generous portions of fruits and veg etable that are dark green, orange and yellow in your diet. Red and yellow plant pigments, vitamin A and carotenoids are required to maintain hair and ensure that it won’t become too oily or too dry.

While these are the nutrients that are inte gral to healthy hair, hair loss may not just be nutritionally related. For example, protein absorption can be hampered by low stomach acid and hair loss can be a symptom that accompanies other health problems. Low thy roid excretion, stress or drugs may also affect hair condition. Seek professional advice if necessary from a Trichologist.

Hard as nails.

A diet that’s good for hair maintenance will also sustain healthy nails. Eggs, seafood, meats and vegetables supply protein, biotin, vitamin A and calcium for the growth of firm, hard nails; thus, they are good for preventing brittle nails. White spots on nails could indi cate the need for more zinc while spoon- shaped nails could signal an iron deficiency.

Increasing the intake of red meat, seeds and nuts will be helpful to combat this. Horizontal or vertical ridges common among the elderly could be due to a vitamin B deficiency or stress that interferes with proper digestion and absorption.
The overall quality, and not quantity, of our diet is important, as we are what we eat.

Hair Loss: What really works?

2007-12-19T03:52:00.000-08:00

There are many pharmaceutical prescription drugs available to treat all kinds of ailments and that includes hair loss. However, some people who experience hair loss and scalp disorders don’t want to take drugs for their problems. They just don’t want to risk side effects; it’s simply not worth it. They don’t trust the ingredients the drugs are comprised of and they would rather stick to other treatments that don’t involve the use of drugs. These drug free hair loss treatments include everything from laser treatments that stimulate hair follicles to grow to specialty topical plant based treatments that use special ingredients to stimulate hair follicles. These drug free hair loss treatments (plant based treatments which are tried and clinically tested) work when correctly prescribed for many people so give them a try to cure your hair loss. Before starting any treatments make sure that you see one of our trichologists for a correct diagnosis.

Can A Thyroid Dysfunction Cause Hair Loss? What Are The Symptoms And Signs?

2007-12-19T03:51:00.001-08:00

There are many factors that contribute towards hair loss: hormonal changes, diet and nutritional deficiency, stress and poor health. A major cause of severe hair loss is developing a thyroid problem. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are responsible for causing severe early onset of hair loss in both men and women of all ages. Everyone seems to believe that these problems will never happen to them and that a thyroid dysfunction is something that happens to old people. This is far from the truth. We see male and female patients from all age groups. Ask your GP for a blood test immediately if you have a suspicion and consult one of our trichologists early on for advice. Early trichological treatment can prevent severe hair loss from this condition and its associated prescription drugs. Hair growth has a three phase growth cycle: anagen, catagen and telogen dormant phase. When a person suffers from hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism, the general mechanism of the hair growth process shuts down and loses balance. Thyroid malfunctions can force hair follicles to remain in the dormant phase for a longer period of time than normal. This leads to stalled hair growth and eventually to hair loss.

The thyroid is an endocrine gland, which is located on both sides of the trachea. It secretes the thyroid hormone, known as thyroxin, which regulates the rate of the metabolism. Any disruption in the mechanism can have great impact on overall metabolic activities. Once the metabolism is disturbed, it has been found to cause a series of abnormalities, one major factor being hair loss. Hypothyroidism has often been seen in women. It is often characterized by problems such as lethargy, menstrual imbalance and deceleration of metabolic rate. All of these factors contribute to hair loss. On the other hand, highly excessive functional activities of the thyroid gland can also cause hair loss.

Hormonal dysfunction within the body has a massive effect on hair loss. Hair loss occurs when dihydrotestosterone (DHT) shrinks the hair follicles and eventually causes them to disappear completely. The problem of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism both encourage the conversion process of testosterone into DHT which accelerates hair loss in both men and women of all ages.

Hair loss induced by hormonal abnormalities is serious. This requires immediate action. We suggest that if you are in any doubt then simply feel free to call one of our trichologists for advice.

Smoking Can Increase Hair Loss

2007-12-19T03:50:00.000-08:00

We have just seen some very interesting research in the Archives of Dermatology which suggests that the amount of cigarettes that a man smokes can influence the extent to which he will go bald. Male pattern baldness is influenced by genetic and hormonal factors but some research by scientists in Taiwan has concluded that there was a definitive link between men who were moderately to severely bald and the number of cigarettes that they smoked.

It is not clear how the cigarettes influence baldness but if there is a link then it is likely that it emphasises an already pre-existing predisposition to go bald. It has been suggested that smoking destroys hair follicles but surely this would be the case with female smokers as well. Whilst this research is interesting, further work needs to be done to determine if such a link does indeed exist, how it actually operates.

Alopecia: What is it?

2007-12-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

Everyone is familiar with male pattern baldness, a condition that sooner or later catches up to at least two-thirds of men. But what about those three bald spots that appeared recently on the back of your head? You’ve recently noticed quite a few of your own hairs clogging up the shower.

What’s going on? What’s happening?

The loss of some hair - about 80 to 120 a day - is normal, part of the natural process of growth and replacement cycle. At any given time, about 10 percent of hair on the scalp are in a resting (telogen) phase in preparation for being shed. A new hair then begins to grow in the same hair follicle. Excessive hair loss, partial or total, is known as alopecia. And it comes in many forms.

The male-type baldness that is most common typically occurs in certain patterns - a receding hairline, a bald patch at the crown or a completely bald top. This type of hair loss is primarily determined by genetics and male hormones.

In response to dihydrotestosterone, some hair follicles shrink or become miniaturized, producing progressively shorter, finer hair. Known as androgenetic alopecia, this type of progressive hair loss can begin as early as in your teens.

Women also suffer from androgenetic alopecia, although generally without a receding hair line or completely bald areas. A woman may notice general thinning on top with a more exaggerated part line, that can be masked through hair styling.

Women with androgenetic hair loss do not necessarily have higher levels of male hormone but rather more androgen receptors in hair follicles.

Similar appearing diffuse hair loss can be a result of telogen effluvium - a condition in which the normal growth cycle of hair become abnormally shortened, causing a predominance of hairs in the telogen or resting phase preparing to be shed.

Telogen effluvium is a temporary condition, usually caused by stress, either emotional or physical, or abnormalities of the thyroid, parathyroid or pituitary glands. It can be reversed by identifying and treating the underlying cause.

The patchy hair loss that are suffering is more than likely alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that affects about 2 percent of both men and women. Although it can occur at any age, this type of hair loss is actually more common in children and young adults.

There is usually no clear reason why the immune system starts to attack hair follicles, and the problem often goes away on its own, usually to recur later. In milder forms, no treatment may be necessary, but it is still a good idea to see a trichologist. In severe cases, the patient may lose every hair on the head or even every hair on the body.

Treatment may involve corticosteroids - taken orally, rubbed on the skin or injected into the scalp. Anthralin cream, a psoriasis medication, may also be used.

Treatment usually requires counseling, behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications. Damage to the scalp should also be repaired.

Traction alopecia refers to hair loss caused by hair styles such as ponytails or corn rows that put excessive pressure on hair follicles. With both trichotillomania and traction alopecia, it’s important to stop the damage before scarring of hair follicles occurs. Any disorder or infection that causes scarring of the scalp can cause irreversible hair loss.

In addition to treating the underlying cause, most types of hair loss can be reversed to some extent with minoxidil in a topical solution to apply to the scalp.

Minoxidil revitalizes and increases the size of hair follicles that are dwindling in size, creating increased hair density in a certain percentage of patients. Minoxodil should not be used on scalp areas that are inflamed, infected or irritated.

The other treatment for male pattern baldness, finasteride, works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. As an oral prescription medication, it is not approved for females. It’s too easy to dismiss thinning, receding or patchy hair as a cosmetic problem. Even though only about five percent of cases are caused by illness, hair loss can have a damaging effect on image and self confidence in social relationships.

Some persons have patchy hair because they can’t stop pulling it out. Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair pulling behavior that the individual may try to hide. Sometimes a response to stress, this disorder often starts in childhood. For further advice why not speak to one of our trichologists today.

Women get to the root of hair loss.

2007-12-19T03:47:00.000-08:00

Unlike the receding hair line creeping over a man's scalp, hair loss sneaks up on a woman.

Maybe she sees a few more hairs in her favorite brush. Her ponytail feels skinnier. Her part widens. Eventually she notices she can see her scalp peeking through in a photograph.

Whatever the telling sign, female pattern hair loss can be traumatic. But women today are less likely to suffer in silence than a decade ago; doctors report that women increasingly are coming forward to seek remedies.

Locks we love

In some cases, pinpointing the cause is the first step to a cure, though the source of hair loss in women is not always as clear as it is in men.

The hormone fluctuations of puberty, pregnancy and menopause can cause hair to shed. So can the stress of general anesthesia, illness, anemia, crash diets and thyroid abnormalities. Some women -- and a few men, too -- suffer a compulsion to tug at the hair, damaging the follicles.

Stress on the hair itself, whether from chemical treatments, extensions or tight hairstyles that tug at the scalp, can also break the hair or scar the follicle. Black women are particularly vulnerable due to the hair relaxing treatments and braiding often begun at a young age.

"Half of our hair loss visits are African-American women," said Dr. Marianne O'Donoghue, a dermatologist in Oak Brook and associate professor at Rush University Medical Center. "They have a terrible time keeping their hair in."

The most common cause of female hair loss is androgenetic allopecia, or female pattern baldness. Thought to be influenced by levels of sex hormones, this type of hair loss usually begins after menopause, but it can start as early as puberty. Instead of a woman losing 100 to 125 hairs a day, which is normal, she'll lose so many that her scalp will show through.

Help is available. The topical medicines, laser treatments and hair transplants designed for men can help women, too.

Stopping the loss

One of the oldest treatments for hair loss in men and women is Rogaine, the brand name of the drug minoxidil. Spread over the scalp twice a day, Rogaine works by increasing the growth phase of the hair follicles. It also helps hair grow thicker, stronger and with more pigmentation.

Women's Rogaine is less potent than men's -- a 2 percent strength rather than 5 percent -- though some doctors recommend the 5 percent strength for women, too.

"If you're going to fill your tank up with gas, you may as well fill it up," said Dr. Alan Bauman, a hair loss specialist in Florida.

A new foam version of Rogaine is less irritating to the scalp, Bauman said.

The mistake many women make with Rogaine is quitting too early, Bauman said. Many women quit after six weeks. But it will take six to 12 months to see the results in the mirror, Bauman said. As soon as you quit you'll start losing hair again.

"About 70 percent of women are going to get a response from it, but it's a long-term commitment," he said.

Since it has not been studied in pregnant women, women who are nursing or pregnant are usually advised against using Rogaine.

Propecia is an oral medication that stops hair loss in 90 percent of men, but it's not FDA-approved for use in women and poses risks to a developing male fetus. But some doctors prescribe Propecia to women who are not of childbearing age. While the evidence is not conclusive, a few studies show it works in women whose hormones are controlled with birth control pills or hormone therapy, Bauman said.

Other medications are available for specific types of hair loss. Women with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder signaled by circular bald patches, may get cortisone shots in the scalp or a topical cream. Low iron levels or thyroid disorders can be treated and the patient usually will regrow her hair, O'Donoghue said.

Laser therapy

A newer -- and less proven -- treatment involves beaming low-level lasers over the scalp, usually in a series of treatments lasting several months. The FDA recently approved a laser comb as a cosmetic device that can be used at home, though doctors said the laser hoods available in offices are more effective.

The lasers increase blood flow to the scalp and boost cell metabolism, said Dr. Stephen Dayan, a Chicago plastic surgeon who is testing a laser hair restoration device in his office.

"By increasing cell metabolism, you're creating more energy for the hair follicles, and the hair follicles are creating thicker hairs," he said.

The laser treatments work best on men and women with thinning -- not absent -- hair. They have to have functioning follicles.

"If they've been bald for a long time, it's probably not going to do a lot for them," Dayan said.

Jessica Hinkle of Streamwood is completing a series of laser treatments for thinning hair she first noticed five years ago. She didn't have a receding hair line, just more scalp where her bangs should be.

"My husband shaves his head on purpose," Hinkle said. "But a woman being bald is not OK."

Because she's planning to have more children, the 31-year-old didn't want to use Rogaine or other medications that pose any risk to a developing baby. So she entered a contest sponsored by a radio station and won a series of free laser treatments at Deerfield-based Natural Hair Growth Institute.

Once a week, Hinkle sits under a device shaped like a salon hair dryer while lasers glow on her scalp. Since she began treatments in May, Hinkle said her hair is thicker and her scalp less visible.

"I was skeptical, but it's noticeably different," she said. "A lot of people have noticed my hair has changed."

Not everyone can win a contest, and such treatments don't come cheap. Steve Bennis, a former engineer who launched Natural Hair Growth Institute after lasers helped with his own hair loss, says clients spend between $6,800 and $12,800 for a six-month series of treatments.

Bennis is not a doctor, so he requires clients visit one first to rule out medical conditions that could cause hair loss. He says clients start to see new hair growth within four weeks.

"When I started my business, I thought it was only for men," Bennis said. "Now I have 70 percent women. They like it because it's non-invasive, and it solves the problem."

You can also buy a variety of laser combs or brushes that range from $399 to $2,499. Newer versions cover wider areas in less time, Bauman said.

"The lasers are not a miracle cure, but I have noticed in my patients that laser therapy can certainly enhance hair quality and produce thicker, fuller, healthier, shinier hair," Bauman said. "It's not going to give you a teenager's head of hair, but you can see improvements over time."

Transplants

The growing awareness among the public about what cosmetic surgery offers has spread to include hair transplants, even for women, said Dr. Arthur Kaplan of Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook.

"Women are the fastest growing percentage of patients," he said.

Part of that is due to more refined technique. A surgeon can implant follicles taken from the back of the head one, two or three at a time, rather than plugs.

"For women, plugs were unacceptable from day one, whereas with men there was a time that was acceptable," Kaplan said. "The aesthetics women required were much higher. As the field has evolved, that has opened up the opportunity."

Micrografts are essential for women, who often have diffuse thinning in a part of the scalp. A surgeon must take care to preserve existing follicles, Bauman said.

"You can't put large grafts into diffuse areas or you're going to cause trauma," he said. "You can't go into a tomato garden with a backhoe. You have to use a small instrument to plant those seeds."

The cost depends on the number of follicles transplanted. Women are usually less expensive than men because a smaller area is involved. Most women spend between $4,500 and $6,000 for transplants at Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook.

The procedure takes two to four hours. Women start to notice new hair growth in three to five months, with full results taking a year to appear.

Female Hair Loss: Your health questions answered.

2007-12-19T03:46:00.000-08:00

Hormonal problems are top of the list of causes of hair loss in women. An underactive thyroid is more likely than an overactive thyroid. So the first thing I would suggest is another thyroid-function test at your GP. Eight years is a long time, and just because your thyroid was working well eight years ago doesn’t mean it is still OK. There is a long list of drugs that can interfere with hair growth, so if you are taking anything at all, you should read the small print carefully. Another possible problem is seborrhoeic dermatitis. This causes dandruff, together with oily, flaky skin and itchiness, which can cause hair loss. If you don’t get a solution from any of these routes, I would give yourself a six-month trial of vitamin and mineral supplements – poor hair growth is sometimes sensitive to deficiencies. You could also try massaging the brow area with regular-strength minoxidil lotion, used to treat male baldness. But you might end up with bushy eyebrows, so beware.

Your initial consultation and assessment are free. So why not take advantage of our expertise and get the facts so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of your hair today.

Take control of your hair loss so that it does not control your life.

However, not all cases are treatable. But with early diagnosis and treatment you will give yourself and us the best possible chance to help you.

British women’s hair loss ‘from stress’.

2007-12-19T03:45:00.000-08:00

Record numbers of women in Britain are suffering from hair loss and acne because of stress and busy lifestyles, researchers have said.

A study of 2,052 women aged 18 and over, found that 19 per cent suffer or have suffered from hair loss and 38 per cent have adult acne.

More than a third of women, or 35 per cent, have been to their doctor about the problem, the study said.

Anita Ellis, a registered nutritionist, described the results as “extremely worrying”.

She said: “The fact that over a third of women have been to their GPs highlights how serious the problem is. There needs to be more information for women on how to deal with these conditions.”

The research, carried out by Vitabiotics Perfectil, which makes vitamin supplements, also found that 27 per cent of women never wear the recommended level of sun protection factor cream on their face.

Why not call 0207 976 6868 and speak to one of our trichologist who will be happy to help and advise you.

Your initial consultation and assessment are free. So why not take advantage of our expertise and get the facts so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of your hair today.

Take control of your hair loss so that it does not control your life.

However, not all cases are treatable. But with early diagnosis and treatment you will give yourself and us the best possible chance to help you.

Hair Loss Immediately After Pregnancy Is Often Considered Abnormal: POSTPARTUM HAIR LOSS IS NORMAL.

2007-12-19T03:44:00.000-08:00

Hair loss immediately after childbirth is common and totally normal. Women are concerned for postpartum hair loss and consider it abnormal. Immediate thinning or hair loss convinces them into thinking that they have a fatal disease or illness manifested in the form of hair thinning.

Studies show postpartum or after pregnancy hair loss is totally normal and a part of regular hair growth life cycle. Your hair grows from hair follicles. Each follicle gives rise to a single hair shaft.

Each hair shaft undergoes a regular life cycle for its development and replacement with a new one. Anagen is the first phase of hair growth cycle in which it grows and takes 2 to 6 years. The longer the anagen phase, the longer the hair you will have.

Catagen is second phase starts just after ending of anagen. Catagen is intermittent or transitional phase lasting 2 to 3 weeks. During this phase, the hair shaft neither grows nor rests.

Telogen Phase is the third and last phase of the hair growth cycle. During this phase old hairs are lost and the hair enters an anagen phase again in order to maintain a normal hair growth cycle. It is this period when you notice hair in your comb and on your brush.

The duration of each phase is influenced by internal and external stimuli. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes uncontrolled hormonal fluctuations, irregular periods etc. It is often caused due to the lack of nutrients needed for healthy growth of cells and completion of pregnancy. Folic acid and iron are essential for pregnancy, while most women lack these due to junk foods and an insufficient diet.

Therefore, postpartum hair loss is usually not a result of fatal disease but merely a result of hormonal fluctuations and lack of nutrients.

To counteract postpartum hair loss, herbal hair loss treatments are often used to meet the nutrient requirements of the hair follicles and normalize severe hormonal fluctuations after pregnancy. These treatments are used topically twice or thrice a day for follicular nourishment.

Women Lose Their Hair Too

2007-12-19T03:43:00.000-08:00

Hair loss in women is not uncommon. Studies have shown that it takes place in more than one-third of all women sometime during their life.

Although certainly not life threatening, it can have a significant emotional effect.

The most common type of hair loss in women is female pattern hair loss.

Although female pattern hair loss can take place at any age after puberty, it occurs more frequently in older individuals. By age 70, 38 percent of women experience female pattern hair loss. Typically, the hair loss occurs in the center of the scalp, although the sides can also be affected.

Other types of hair loss include the loss of hair that takes place after certain physical or emotional situations such as stress, surgery, a major illness, rapid weight loss, hormonal abnormalities and poor nutrition.

In these situations the hair loss usually doesn’t appear until two or three months after the onset of the problem. If the physical or emotional situation is corrected the hair frequently returns.

A variety of medications may also cause hair loss. Some of these medications are allopurinol, used to treat gout; catopril that treats high blood pressure; and tegretol used to manage seizures.

A less common cause of female hair loss is alopecia areata in which clumps of hair are lost. At times there can be complete loss of hair. Alopecia areata appears to be due to some type of immunological problem.

Treatment of female pattern baldness includes medications such as minoxidil. Studies have shown that minoxidil used twice a day results in minimal hair growth in 50 percent of the patients and moderate hair growth in 13 percent after eight months of treatment.

An increasing number of women are undergoing hair transplantation for this condition. Hair is taken from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the center of the scalp where the hair is sparse. Hair transplantation can be fairly expensive.

Although sometimes difficult to do, it is important to determine the cause of the hair loss so the most effective treatment can be started.

Mycotic infection

2007-12-19T03:42:00.002-08:00

This is common in children and is caused by contact with a yeast or fungus, which invades the hair shaft and scalp. Symptoms include itching, hair breakage and often infection. The clinical features include circular patches where the hair has broken off with a very red, pruritic (itchy) area and weeping.

Follicultis decalvans

2007-12-19T03:42:00.001-08:00

Folliculitis decalvans is a slowly spreading inflammation of the hair follicle, which leads to progressive scarring. It is distinguished by follicular plugging and multiple rounded or oval patches can be found on the scalp, each surrounded by crops of follicular pustules. There may be no other changes, but successive crops of pustules, each followed by the destruction of the affected follicles, produce the slow extension of the alopecia. The exact cause of this condition is still uncertain, but is most likely an abnormal 'host response' to various common bacteria.

Folliculitis

2007-12-19T03:41:00.000-08:00

Folliculitis is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles and is fairly common as it can be spread through the use of clippers that have not been sterilised correctly. Without treatment, this condition can also lead to diffuse hair loss as the inflammation of the scalp leads to production of superoxide, which causes hair shedding. Though your hair will regrow, it may not be as thick as it was before.

Psoriasis

2007-12-19T03:40:00.002-08:00

Psoriasis is characterised by the presence of red, raised patches covered by silvery-white scales, which is caused by an abnormally fast cell division rate in the epidermis layer of the skin and is a genetically determined disorder. This condition often leads to increased shedding of hairs in the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle and some reduction in hair density.

Acne necrotica millaris

2007-12-19T03:40:00.001-08:00

This condition is recognised by pustules along the front hairline typically, although they can also occur elsewhere on the upper body. The pustules may be slightly painful and are often pruritic or itchy. When they involve the scalp the pustules may leave small patches of cicatricial (permanent) scarring as they have a central necrosis, which can destroy the hair follicle. This condition is considered to be of an unknown origin, although stress is often incriminated in precipitating occurrences

Pityriasis amiantacea

2007-12-19T03:39:00.002-08:00

Pityriasis amiantacea begins with a swollen, discoloured and weeping scalp, which causes the hairs to stick to each other and to the scalp. Following the first stage, the scalp begins to produce a thick layer of silvery white or dull gray scales that pile up along the hair shafts. Although the patches may often be found next to a hair part, the back of the head is a common site. Rather than spreading to the rest of the scalp, a fine, branny scale appears over the unaffected area.

Pityriasis simplex (dandruff)

2007-12-19T03:39:00.001-08:00

Pityriasis simplex is known more commonly as dandruff. It is characterised by the excessive shedding of the scalp's epidermal cells, which leads to visible flaking or scaling. These scales can accumulate on the surface of the scalp in localized patches or more diffusely. The exact cause is uncertain, although the bacteria pityrosporum ovale and increased sebaceous activity have been suggested as factors.

Seborrhoeic eczema

2007-12-19T03:38:00.000-08:00

This condition is distinguished by redness and patches of scale on the scalp, usually near the ears and hairline as the oil glands become sensitive to the levels of male hormones or androgens in the system. Individuals have a genetically determined predisposition towards this condition and outbreaks can be triggered by stress at different ages in the sufferer.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis

2007-12-19T03:37:00.002-08:00

This condition is distinguished by redness and patches of scale on the scalp, usually near the ears and hairline as the oil glands become sensitive to the levels of male hormones or androgens in the system. The precise cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is unknown, although a genetic factor is almost certainly implicated. Outbreaks can be triggered by stress and can often lead to a secondary bacterial infection.

Pseudopelade

2007-12-19T03:37:00.001-08:00

Pseudopelade is characterised by the development of small, smooth patches without any clinical changes other than transient erythema (redness). The initial patch is usually on the crown of the head, but can occur anywhere on the scalp. It is generally regarded as a clinical syndrome, which may be the end result of any one of a number of different pathological processes due to a weakened immune system.

Telogen effluvium

2007-12-19T03:36:00.002-08:00

This condition occurs when the growing phase of the hair is interrupted prematurely causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than normal. Two to four months later, following the normal cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins. When this happens there are not enough hairs left in the anagen phase, or growing phase, and the result is therefore diffuse thinning of the hair.

Diffuse thinning

2007-12-19T03:36:00.001-08:00

Diffuse hair loss is a gradual thinning of the hair as opposed to a straightforward bald patch and is the most common cause of hair loss in women. The causes can be numerous and include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.

Late onset thinning (age-related)

2007-12-19T03:35:00.002-08:00

This condition can be seen in diffuse hair loss across the scalp as density is reduced gradually. This is due to age-related hormonal changes as the natural reduction of oestrogen/progesterone production results in the hair follicles becoming smaller and smaller. These produce finer and finer hair until there is a general reduction in overall density

Weathering (trichorrhexis nodosa)

2007-12-19T03:35:00.001-08:00

Trichorrhexis nodosa can be a genetic weakness within the hair shaft or weakness and breakage due to weathering i.e. over use of heat during the drying process or manual trauma due to tension on the hair from tight ponytail clasps, rollers (particularly velcro) or smoothing irons. Ultra violet light, central heating and the wind can all exacerbate this further and the condition will become progressive without correct treatment.

Friction Alopecia

2007-12-19T03:34:00.002-08:00

Friction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant rubbing on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair. The action of rubbing on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer.

Traction alopecia

2007-12-19T03:34:00.001-08:00

Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair. The action of pulling on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer.

Alopecia totalis

2007-12-19T03:33:00.002-08:00

Alopecia totalis is recognized by the loss of all scalp hair. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. It can also affect the sufferer's nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an autoimmune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis.

Alopecia universalis

2007-12-19T03:33:00.001-08:00

Alopecia universalis is recognized by the loss of all body hair. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. In its early stages, the usual ratio of hairs in anagen (growing) and telogen (resting) phases is disturbed and more hairs enter the telogen stage, leading to sudden hair loss in small patches, which gradually widen with time until the hair loss is total. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an autoimmune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis.

Alopecia areata

2007-12-19T03:32:00.001-08:00

Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer's nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis.

Androgenetic thinning

2007-12-19T03:31:00.000-08:00

Androgenetic alopecia has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. This hair loss results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.

Androgenetic thinning

2007-12-19T03:30:00.002-08:00

Male hair loss products and treatments

2007-12-19T03:30:00.001-08:00

For many men, losing hair is something will have to be faced as part of the aging process. Common hair loss can be treated with preventative hair loss treatments and products. Iif this is happening to you, you are not alone, as a simple walk down the street will show you. About 25 per cent of men begin losing hair before they reach 30 and two thirds before the age of 60. Sometimes men can begin losing hair in their teens and can reach their early twenties with very little, if any, hair left on the crown of their head. Usually, however, the hair loss is gradual, developing over a period of twenty to thirty years.

The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic:

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. The hair above the ears and at the nape of the neck is unaffected. This hair loss results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.

If you are suffering from patchy hair loss you may be suffering from another form of alopecia:

Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost this is known as alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis if all the body hair is lost as well.

Hair loss can also result from a scalp problem. Inflammation of the scalp leads to production of superoxide, which causes hair shedding and will lead to diffuse hair loss.

These are just a few of the reasons for hair loss. It order to treat hair loss effectively we would recommend that you have a diagnosis made as soon as possible by one of our experienced trichologists. Stress can be an aggravator in almost all cases of hair loss and an accurate diagnosis will always, at the very least, take some of the stress away from you.