dermatology
Oily Hair- It’s a Good Thing: A Revolutionary Addition to the Clean-Up Efforts for the Gulf Shore Oil Spill
Petco, a national chain of 1,000 pet supply and grooming stores, vowed to continue its daily donations of 1 ton of pet hair from its grooming operations to further the oil-spill cleanup efforts along the Gulf coast.
Petco has partnered with “The Matter of Trust”, an eco-focused non-profit group out of San Francisco, in making hair booms to absorb the wayward oil floating towards the Mississippi and Louisiana coastlines. Pet and human hair fibers are naturally oliolific (oil-loving) – thus the need for regular shampooing. The Matter of Trust volunteers create the booms by stuffing recycled nylons with the hair, floating them in the water allowing the oil-loving hair to absorb some of the mess, then rinsing and reusing the boom up to 100 times.
After the booms have reached their absorption capacity, the hair fibers are then digested by worm farms to create compost- an entirely “green” process. While the whole process does have a little bit of the ick factor, this resourceful, productive, and cost-effective cleanup method has EPA officials very interested.
Make sure to keep reading our blogs to stay up-to-date on hair related new stories, and the latest advancements in hair restoration therapy and research. If you have any questions visit The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research’s website or call (404) 256-4369.
Calling All Sun Bathers- Deadly Skin Cancer Rates Soar For Generation Of Baby Boomers
If you’ve read any of our past blogs, you’ve probably noticed how adamant the professionals at Dermatology Associates are about protecting your skin from sun exposure. Hopefully readers will now heed their warnings- SunSmart, a UK based Skin Cancer research organization, has compiled findings which show that adults of the Baby Boomer generation are now five times more likely to develop Melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) than previous generations.
The UK group attributes this trend to the rise in popularity of low-cost package vacations and the introduction of tanning beds in the 1970’s. Baby Boomers, who as a group were in their 20’s and 30’s during this period, remember a culture where “burning before tanning” was the norm for everyone. Even more astounding, the study also found that of the Baby Boomer cohort, men in their 60’s and 70’s were seven times more likely to develop Melanoma than men of the same age 30 years ago.
The most important thing to remember about sun damage is that it is preventable. Wearing a sunscreen with an appropriate SPF for your complexion (no lower than SPF 15) and remembering to re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours while outdoors are imperative. The information from this study isn’t just a call to Baby Boomers, this trend could very easily repeat itself with Generation X, Y, and Z’ers if proper preventative sun protection is ignored.
If you have a fair complexion with light hair, light eyes, freckles, or have lots of moles you are naturally more susceptible to sun damage. If you have a history of sunburn you are also at an increased risk for developing Melanoma or other forms of skin cancer. So, when it comes to sun exposure remember- lather with sunscreen and repeat!
To learn more about preventative skin care or to schedule a consultation with one of Dermatology Associate’s professionals, visit our website or call (404) 256-4457.
Is seasonal hair-loss normal? Dr. Griffin Provides the Answers
With warmer weather comes less clothing, and often a desire to have less body hair. But one place we don’t typically want to decrease the amount of hair is on our heads. While direct seasonal influences on normal amounts of hair loss are still being studied, it’s relatively common for individuals to report increased shedding starting in the spring and peaking in the fall.
While scientists have not been able to pin point direct environmental causes that lead to increased hair-loss beginning in the spring, many speculate that exposure to sunlight is directly related. As we know from research findings regarding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the amount of sunlight we’re exposed to during the day can directly affect hormone levels and emotions. Findings from experimental studies suggest that hair-loss might be controlled by limiting amounts of direct sun exposure, thus changing the melatonin secretion rate and its effects on the hormone receptors located in the scalp. Probably a wise decision as over-exposure to Ultraviolet light can have less than favorable dermatological effects.
One thing that is scientifically known is that shedding hair is a completely normal part of the hair growth cycle. The hair growth cycle is composed of three phases: anagan (growth phase), catagen (degradation phase), and telogen (resting phase.) Normally, individuals shed anywhere from 50-150 strands of hair on a daily basis. The rate of seasonal hair loss varies greatly from person to person, but like hair loss during any other part of the year can usually be minimized by maintaining a proper diet, not smoking, avoiding harsh chemical hair treatments, and seeking medical attention for any known hormonal imbalances.
If you have any questions about hair-loss or hair restoration, call our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Edmond Griffin, or visit our website.
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Why? Not only will The Griffin Center and Dermatology Associates of Atlanta post links to interesting hair restoration/dermatology news and information, but as a fan, you will be privy to exclusive specials not available to the general public! Fans of The Griffin Center and DAA will be given opportunities enter into contests/drawing for gift certificates and and/or receive special discounts on Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s most popular procedures. Becoming a fan is also an easy way to ask our Dr. Griffin and the experienced staff at The Griffin Center and DAA any questions you may have via the wall and/or discussion page! Even if you are not a facebook user, the Griffin Center and DAA fan page is public, meaning you can click on the link below and still view these pages. The Griffin Center and DAA fan pages are the ultimate resources for specials, dermatological and hair news, skin care tips and more! We invite you to become a fan and invite your friends and as always, we thank you for your support!
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