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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Dr. Griffin offers Eyebrow Hair Transplants

Eyebrow shape is one of the most important contributing factors to the overall aesthetics of the face. People with an excess of unruly eyebrow hair, can attest to the pains of plucking and overall eyebrow maintenance. On the other hand, people with insufficient eyebrows often complain that there is “nothing to work with” and are displeased with the artificial look of penciled in or tattooed eyebrows as a substitute.

Hair loss of the eyebrows can be caused by several factors including hair loss from chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer, alopecia areata, congenital inability to grow eyebrows, genetic tendency for thin eyebrows, facial burn injuries, or trauma. However, the most common cause of permanent eyebrow hair loss is damage to the hair follicles from repeated plucking.

For patients who wish to have fuller eyebrows or who need their eyebrows reconstructed after permanent hair loss, Dr. Griffin offers eyebrow hair transplantation. Using the most up-to-date follicular grafting techniques, a patient’s own hair is surgically inserted into each follicle strand by strand, yielding the most natural results possible.

The technique for eyebrow transplantation is different from hair restoration on the head, because unlike hair on the head, the follicles on the eyebrows contain only a single strand of hair. Eyebrows also have a very distinct growth pattern, sharply angled out and flat against the face; so the surgeon must use a special, very fine needle to control the direction of the hair and make the results natural.

Hair for eyebrow transplantation is taken from other parts of the body, usually the head, which obviously grow naturally longer than eyebrow hair. Thus, eyebrow transplantation patients must trim their eyebrows more often to maintain a natural look.

Because the eyebrows are prominent on the face, it is important that only an experienced and board certified hair restoration specialist performs this procedure. Unlike other practices that split the work between surgical assistants and other physicians, at the Griffin Center for Hair Restoration and Research, Dr. Griffin implants every single hair, personally, for the best results possible.

Visit our website or call our office (404)256-4369 to set up a consultation.

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