hair loss
Original Herbal Compound Promising for Hair Re-growth In Women
Dr. Edmond Griffin, the founder of The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research, devotes much of his time to researching non-surgical options for hair restoration treatments. Women’s hair-loss, like hair loss in men and hair loss in children, has numerous causes; women’s hair-loss is often the result of genetics (Androgenetic Alopecia), stress resulting from injury or illness, or hormonal imbalances. Recent case studies with his patients have led Dr. Griffin to develop a topical compound that has proven effective in re-growing the hair of women in which many other non-surgical treatments were unsuccessful.
As Dr.Griffin detailed in a previous blog on topical botanical Alopecia treatments, scientists are recognizing the powerful promise of several compounds in treating hair-loss. Among the effective ingredients in Griffin’s compound is melatonin: the hormone secreted by the brain’s pineal gland that is most widely known to control an individual’s sleeping cycles (circadian rhythms.) Not so well known is the fact that melatonin is also largely responsible for cycling reproductive hormones in females.
As previously noted, one of the causes of hair-loss in women is hormone fluctuation or imbalance. While melatonin consumption does not directly address the causes of hormonal problems, it (along with the oral compound’s other four ingredients) does seem to positively affect the hair-growth cycle in some females and re-grow some of their lost hair. It’s important to note however, that Dr. Griffin’s compound is produced exclusively by reputable compounding pharmacies. Even though the positive results and potential of hair-loss compounds are exciting, it takes qualified physicians working with qualified pharmacists to produce a safe, effective product.
If you are interested in learning more about the hair-loss treatments and hair restoration procedures Dr. Griffin provides, contact his office, visit his website, or subscribe to his blog. For up-to-the –minute news on hair restoration research and treatment you can also join Dr. Griffin on Facebook and Twitter.
The Various Methods of Eyebrow Restoration
Many people tend to overlook the importance of the eyebrows to the aesthetics of the overall face. A simple shaping of the brows can open a person’s eyes, give them a more youthful arch, restore symmetry, and/or brighten up their face all together. While a person’s eyebrows may not be the first thing you notice about them, you would be hard pressed to ignore the area if a person’s eyebrows were no longer there.
As Dr. Edmond Griffin discusses in his previous blog post on eyebrow transplants, eyebrow loss can be caused by a variety of different factors such as burns, accident or trauma, various hair loss diseases, effects of chemotherapy, or a congenital inability to grow hair in the area. Another very common cause of eyebrow loss is one that is self-induced by excessive plucking. This can be for cosmetic reasons or the result of a person suffering from trichotillomania (obsessive plucking of hair) and can cause permanent damage to the hair follicles, preventing them from future growth.
Over the years, specialists in hair restoration, like Dr. Griffin of The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research, have tweaked and refined traditional hair transplantation techniques to develop ways to successfully restore the eyebrows. Whether a person has insufficient eyebrow hair or is missing their entire eyebrow, various restoration techniques can successfully restore hair into the brows.
One such technique is transplantation using a graft. Here the surgeon removes an area of tissue and hair from the scalp, with properties similar to the eyebrows, and grafts the donor site into the eyebrow area. This is the most common type of eyebrow grafting and can result in natural looking brows with minimal scarring, if performed properly.
In very rare cases, some surgeons will employ a transplantation technique utilizing flaps from the temple area, just in front of the ear. In this method, a strip of hair-bearing skin and tissue is surgically removed from the temple area with a branch of the superficial temporal artery and vein still attached. This type of graft is called a pedicle flap because the blood supply is still intact and is able to nourish the grafted tissue until it develops its own bloody supply from its new location.
More commonly, as is the case with the Griffin center, micrografting is also used to create a natural brow contour. Here, donor hair that most closely matches the look and feel of the original eyebrow hair is taken from the scalp or other areas of the body. The micrografts (consisting of only one or two individual hairs) are then carefully transplanted by hand with an angular insertion into a prepared incision site. It is common that patients of this method require two or more procedures to achieve the best results.
Regardless of which method is used, transplanted hairs will most likely have to be regularly trimmed, gelled, waxed, or shaped in an attempt to “train” the hair to look and grow more like natural eyebrow hair.
For more information on eyebrow restoration or other forms of hair restoration, contact the office of Dr. Edmond Griffin in Atlanta and schedule a consultation.
A Griffin Center Series: Myths and Truths about Hair Loss Part III: Do over-the-counter, topical hair loss products really work?
There is a huge market for over –the–counter topical medications that claim to be the miracle solution to hair re-growth. But do these hair restoration products really work? The best answer I can give to this question is that “other products work better.”
The majority of these hair tonics, shampoos, and lotions available in drug stores prove to be ineffective. In fact, the only proven effective topical drug on the market is Rogaine® (5% Minoxidil), which has actually worked in some cases to restore hair. However, these results were almost always seen in patients that are just starting to lose their hair, and work better to slow down hair loss instead of re-growing more hair. There are also other effective topical prescription compounds for hairloss such as Rogaine 5% mixed with Retin-A that may be prescribed by Dr. Griffin. It is important to note, that restoring hair, especially through topical medications, is a very gradual process – taking anywhere from 6 months to a year of daily application.
Non-topical medications, such as Propecia ® and Avodart®, can be a more effective medical solution for hair re-growth. The oral medication Propecia ® contains Finasteride, which is actually FDA approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness. Propecia ® and oral medications like it have shown better results however, in conjunction with topical products, like Rogaine®, that contain Minoxidil (namely the 5% Extra Strength formula). Avodart® is usually only prescribed for patients who have not had favorable results with Finasteride. Additionally, your doctor may choose to increase your Finestride dose from the typical 1mg to 2.5mg (for women who cannot become pregnant and men) if favorable results aren’t obtained in a timely manner.
While over-the-counter options continue to evolve, and may seem like the easy fix, it’s important to note that the best hair restoration results are obtained through a customized treatment plan along with a proper evaluation by a certified professional.
For more information about these medications, or other hair restoration options, contact The Griffin Center.
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.
Are Hair Loss and Wrinkling directly related?
There are several inevitable things in life, wrinkling is one of them. A natural part of the aging process, wrinkles are lines of varying depth that develop most commonly on the face, backs of hands, and the forearms of most mature adults.
Believe it or not hair loss affects wrinkling and aging in addition to a variety of other factors like exposure to Ultraviolet light and whether or not an individual is a smoker, as well as, genetic factors like skin pigmentation and family history of wrinkling.
It might be strange to think of wrinkling in terms of the amount of hair you have – but there is a definite connection. Just like protective clothing, hair can protect areas of the head and neck from sun damage. Those who often wear longer hair styles or styles with bangs tend to develop fewer wrinkles because these styles shield the wrinkle-susceptible skin on the back of the neck and on the forehead from direct exposure to the damaging Ultraviolet rays from the sun. Once the hair begins to thin, the development of skin cancers and precancers begin to rise in number.
Both skin and hair are elements of the human body’s integumentary system. Designed to protect the internal body systems from trauma, regulate temperature, and receive and send sensations to the nervous system – the integumentary system is the body’s first line of defense from outside damage. It makes sense then that the individual elements of the system would serve to protect each other. Thus, an individual experiencing hair loss will probably start to notice wrinkling sooner as the sensitive skin covering their head, face, and neck (normally shielded by hair) is more exposed. He/she should also become more vigilant about the early development of skin cancers.
Even though it provides some protection, it is important to note that hair cannot and should not serve as your only line of defense from sun; thus you should always practice safe sun exposure.
If you are concerned about your hair loss, you may consider hair restoration therapy to slow, prevent, and in some cases, even reverse the symptoms of the conditions. If you have questions about hair-loss or hair restoration, visit our website or call our office (404)256-4369 to set up a consultation.
Dr. Edmond Griffin featured on CNN as Women’s Hair Loss Expert
If you are familiar with CNN, you are familiar with their “Health Minute” segment, a 60-second long televised segment highlighting an important health issue of the day. This week’s segment was titled, “Treating Women’s Hair Loss.” When looking for a renowned hair loss specialist to provide information on the topic, CNN turned to Dr. Griffin, founder of The Griffin Center for Hair Loss and Restoration and Dermatology Associates of Atlanta.
The segment featured a patient of Dr. Griffin’s, Judy Butler, a real estate broker that was troubled by her excessive hair loss. Concerned about her appearance and frustrated with her progressive hair thinning, Butler even considered scalp prosthesis before she decided to consult with Dr. Griffin.
“What might be very acceptable to men – not acceptable to women,” said Dr. Griffin, when reflecting on Judy’s situation. “Even a slight amount of loss is not acceptable.”
Dr. Griffin says that many women experience hair loss before menopause, but when that hair loss becomes excessive; it is considered a medical condition, known as alopecia. While the root cause of women’s hair loss is often genetic, it can be caused by many factors including a thyroid problem, anemia, reaction to medications, or an autoimmune problem that often requires blood tests or biopsies to diagnose. According to Dr. Griffin, for each cause of hair loss, there is a different treatment approach that can include everything from oral medications, topical creams, and surgery involving follicular grafting techniques.
For Judy, the recommended treatment was oral medications and topical creams; and she is thankfully experiencing hair growth. However, as the CNN video states, each patient has to be individual diagnosed in order to recommend a treatment plan. If you are a woman experiencing hair loss, contact The Griffin Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Griffin and discover the best treatment option for you.
Click here to view CNN Health Minute:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/01/06/hm.women.and.hair.loss.cnn
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Griffin Center News Trend: Chest Hair is Making a Comeback!
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted the popular reemergence of a trend for deeper cut shirts in men – revealing chest hair. While revealing the chest and chest hair was recently a fashion faux pas, unbuttoned shirts and deeper cut V-necks have made a comeback on New York runways and with mainstream American fashion.
The WSJ Article quotes a New York-based men’s style consultant, Tyler Thoreson who said, “The low-cut look is better if you have a little chest hair.”
Some say that the rising popularity of “man cleavage” also affectionately coined “heavage” is a throwback to legendary pop icons such as Marlon Brando (Streetcar Named Desire), Sean Connery as James Bond, and John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.
Luckily for men experiencing pattern baldness on their head, hair loss is not typical to occur anywhere else on the body, including the chest.
If you have any questions about hair care or hair loss, visit our website or call The Griffin Center to set up a consultation.
A Griffin Center Series: Myths and Truths about Hair Loss Part II: Can wearing a baseball cap cause me to lose my hair?
Increased hair loss from wearing a baseball cap is one of the oldest myths in the book – and it is just that, A MYTH! There is absolutely no evidence that wearing a baseball cap will make you go bald.
Wearing a baseball cap without adequately shampooing can be unhealthy for your hair and scalp though. Especially in the warmer months, wearing a hat leads to a buildup in sweat, dirt, and dead skin, which over long period of time, may lead to scalp irritation or clogged pores. Shampooing everyday and wearing a clear cap will help prevent any problem and will not increase your chances for going bald.
If you are a man losing your hair, it is most likely the cause of male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, which is a trait frequently seen in men due to the influence of the hormone dihydrotestosterone. Patten baldness in men most frequently causes balding on the top and or front of the head, while the hair on the back and sides remains intact. This type of baldness can be attributed to genetics, and unfortunately is progressive, and permanent. Baldness is very common, with at least 80 percent of all men affected by at least some degree of it.
If you are experiencing baldness or would like to ask questions about some other hair loss myths you have heard, contact Dr. Edmond Griffin of the Griffin Center for Hair Restoration & Research.
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