Educational
Treating Hair Loss with Stem Cells
As an expert in hair restoration surgery who is dedicated to ongoing hair loss research, Dr. Edmond I. Griffin prides himself on staying abreast of new hair loss studies and possible treatment methods. If you keep up with his blog, you’ve probably read about some of the newest techniques for hair regrowth, those used at The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research and those currently still being researched like the MartiStem® MicroMatrix. Research in the field of hair loss and hair restoration is becoming more promising every day with possible options for hair loss treatment like the aforementioned pixie dust, Botox® injections, and the use of platelet rich plasma. Recently, Yale researchers have been studying the use of stem cells for hair loss treatment.
Researchers have studied stem cells previously for disease treatment, but it was just recently that Yale researchers pinpointed stem cells in the scalp of bald men as an underlying cause of androgenetic alopecia (patterned baldness). The researchers concluded that hair growth is dependent upon fat within the scalp. In men with male pattern baldness, the strip of fat on the scalp shrinks and hair cannot grow. When hair grows, the scalp’s layer of fat expands (a process called adipogenesis). Specialized stem cells, known as precursor cells, are responsible for expanding the layer of fat.
The researchers reached this conclusion after injecting precursor cells into mice that were unable to produce hair or the fat necessary to produce hair, and in two weeks hair began to grow. The precursor cells produced a chemical called platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) that produced hair growth 100 times faster than the rate of non-treated mice. Overall, the mice treated with PDGF saw 86% restored hair follicle growth. Before stem cells can be used for hair growth in humans, scientists must determine that the cellular signaling in humans is the same as that of the mice.
It may be a while before humans are treated for baldness with stem cells, but the research shows promise. The providers at The Griffin Center are watching this research closely for further developments. Whether you’re searching for a hair loss prevention regimen or debating hair transplant surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Griffin today so that he can listen to your concerns, determine a cause for hair loss, and recommend a method of treatment. To stay on top of new techniques for hair restoration, be sure to find us on Facebook and keep reading his blog.
Low Level Laser Therapy: How Light Therapy could be an Effective Hair Restoration Option
No doubt you’ve heard of Atlanta laser hair removal that uses varied wavelengths of laser light to damage hair follicles and impede future growth of unwanted body hair, but have you heard of laser light therapy as a hair growth option?
Several research groups have shown that the application of low intensity laser light is effective in encouraging healthy hair growth in hair loss patients with androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness or male pattern baldness) and non-patterned types of alopecia. Known as photobiomodulation of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) amongst hair restoration specialists, there are two schools of thought as to how this non-surgical hair restoration option really works. According to studies published in the 1997 edition of The Hair Transplant Forum, this treatment works by increasing circulation to the dermal papilla, or bulb-shaped layer of skin surrounding the base of the hair follicle, thereby promoting enhanced hair growth.
Conversely, there are those, such as stated in the September 2010 issue of Cosmetic Dermatology magazine, that believe that the low level laser therapy increases the metabolic activity within the skin cells of the scalp exposed to the light to maximize hair growth. Patients typically need 15-30 minutes of laser light exposure for 2-4 weeks followed by a series of equally long treatments 1-2 times per week over 6-12 months for maximum benefit. In addition, most laser light hair loss treatments should be performed as an ancillary technique along with more traditional methods known to be effective such as topical and/or oral finasteride (Propecia®) and minoxidil (Rogaine®) treatment.
Laser light hair loss treatment is currently available in two forms: 1) a hood type device (similar to commercial hair dryers) in your hair transplant surgeon or hair restoration physician’s office that emits low doses of laser light to the patient under the supervision of an experienced hair loss professional or 2.) a “helmet” type device known as Oaze that can be worn for concentrated light treatments for both male and female hair loss patients. The helmet shape has replaced the laser comb tool (also known as the laser hair brush) because of the head gear’s advantageous ability to maintain constant contact with treatment area whereas the older comb technology required constant brushing for extended amounts of time.
At The Griffin Center, LLLT treatment is currently used to help encourage successful growth of new follicular unit grafts in post-hair transplant surgery patients. Because hair transplant surgery results depend solely on the survival of the transplanted hair follicles in their new scalp location, LLLT is applied to increase circulation and metabolic activity amongst the hairs so that they can more easily acclimate to their new location; and trauma from the act of transplantation is minimized. Additionally, because medications like finasteride and minoxidil are traditionally seen as more of a hair preservation and hair loss prevention method, Dr. Edmond Griffin also thinks a non-surgical hair restoration method like LLLT could be useful in patients’ treatment regimes that’ve already experienced hair loss.
To learn more about the hair restoration options available at The Griffin Center, visit their website and continue to read our blog. For regular, up-to-date hair restoration treatment news, be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
Lady Gaga Demonstrates Prevalence of Women’s Hair Loss
Did you know that the American Hair Loss Council states that one out of every four women will encounter some degree of hair loss during their lifetime? According to a spring People Magazine article, Lady Gaga is one of them. In her May interview, Gaga cites repeated chemical dye application as the primary reason she is losing her famously dramatic hair.
If you’ve read our blog series on female hair loss treatment and female hair loss prevention, you know that the causes of hair loss are numerous. Just as skin conditions like rosacea and acne can flare with environmental and emotional triggers, so can hair loss. While identifying the cause of your hair loss is an important part of determining an appropriate treatment, it’s also important to realize that there are two types of treatment for most hair loss: restorative and preventative.
More recent reports regarding the pop diva’s hair loss condition speculate that she has begun using Rogaine® (minoxidil) to prevent further loss. While the exact cause of hair loss cannot be diagnosed without a proper hair restoration consultation, it would seem that stress related hair loss might be the culprit of Gaga’s condition. Besides topical minoxidil treatment, oral Propecia may also prove an effective treatment for female hair loss patients who do not plan to become pregnant as exposure to the drug, even handling it, has been linked to increased birth defects. › Continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions about Women’s Hair Loss
Q.) I’ve heard of male patterned baldness. Is pattern baldness a hair loss condition that women can develop as well?
A.) Caused by genetic predisposition to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the hair follicle, male patterned baldness (MPB) is the most common type of hair loss for men, and yes, women can have hereditary hair loss as well. However, the pattern in female pattern baldness (FPB) differs from MPB due to the fact that the areas of hair loss and rate at which hair is lost differ. The most significant difference between MPB and FPB is that women rarely progress to total baldness whereas men do frequently. Under the microscope, a biopsy of an MPB sample is indistinguishable from FPB.
Q.) What causes a woman’s hair to fall out?
A.) There are numerous possible causes of women’s hair loss as you can read in our previous blog series on women’s hair loss. By far the most common cause of hair loss in women is female patterned baldness. Other causes of hair loss in women include hormonal changes (e.g. menopause, birth control, and thyroid conditions), childbirth, surgery, chemotherapy, stress, ongoing illness, anemia, rapid weight loss, and certain medications.
Q.) How is the type of women’s hair loss determined?
A.) The first step in determining the cause of hair loss is finding the right doctor. With experience treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails, a dermatologist is a good place to start. Dedicating his life to researching hair loss and hair restoration, Dr. Edmond Griffin can usually determine the cause of hair loss after a thorough consultation with examination of the scalp. Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s Dr. Ashley R. Curtis specializes in women’s hair loss specifically, and works with Dr. Griffin to effectively diagnosis and treat female hair loss patients. Many clues become obvious to their experienced eyes. Occasionally, additional tests like a skin biopsy may be needed to make an accurate diagnosis. Part 2 of our women’s hair loss series highlights the components of tests that determine hair loss.
Q.) Can women undergo hair restoration surgery?
A.) As long as there is an adequate donor region from which follicular grafts can be harvested, women can benefit from hair restoration surgery. Women experiencing androgenetic alopecia or hair loss caused by scars from accidents, burns or cosmetic procedures often make good candidates for hair transplant surgery as long as they have an ample donor region.
Q.) Is there any way to prevent women’s hair loss?
A.) Yes, although there are many hair loss medications on the market that promise to prevent further loss and regrow hair, oral Propecia® (finasteride) and topical Rogaine® (minoxidil) are the two main proven hair loss prevention medications. Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should not take or even handle oral Propecia®, but may use topical custom prescriptions. In Dr. Griffin’s experience, 80-90% of those patients who combine both topical and oral medications see a halt in hair loss with 25% showing substantial hair regrowth. Your hair loss specialist my also suggest certain shampoos, vitamins, or the use of anti-androgens such as Flutamide, Spironalactone, estrogens or birth control pills to prevent further loss.
If you are interested in hair restoration options or are looking for your hair loss cause, take a look at our website or schedule a consultation today. Be sure to find the Griffin Center on Facebook.
Hair Transplant Surgery: Frequently Asked Questions and Special Summer Savings Program
Dr. Edmond Griffin of the Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research is extending a special offer for hair restoration patients. Right now you can save $500 on a small or greater size hair transplant surgery performed before August 31st, 2011. Below are a few of our most frequently asked questions about hair restoration surgery. Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or to schedule you consultation.
Q.) How do I know if I’m a good candidate for hair transplant surgery?
A.) Most men and women who have androgenetic alopecia, better known as male or female patterned baldness, are appropriate candidates for hair restoration surgery. A patient whose hair loss condition is a result of scarring caused by an accident or surgery may also be suitable candidates for hair restoration. The main requirement of hair loss candidates is having an adequate donor region from which Dr. Griffin can harvest hair grafts to restore balding areas. › Continue reading
Answers to Common Questions about Hair Loss Prevention
Q.) Is it possible to prevent hair loss?
A.) Yes, in fact, the most important step in slowing the progression of hair loss is prevention. One of the most frustrating aspects of hair loss is that there are so many treatments that promise to prevent and regrow lost hair, but a majority of these products have never been really carefully studied, much less proven. The two main, proven hair loss medications are oral Propecia® (finasteride) and topical Rogaine® (minoxidil). Finasteride can now be prescribed in a topical solution with the hopes of avoiding any side effects of the oral medication. While hair regrowth is possible with the products, results are highly variable. Most patients use the products to prevent further androgenetic hair loss. It is important that all patients receiving hair transplantations are on a preventative program. In our experience the combination of both of the above medications results in the halting of hair loss between 80-90% of all patients.
Q.) If I discontinue my hair loss prevention medication, will it make my hair begin to fall out more rapidly or will all that I have gained be lost in a short time?
A.) No, but your hair loss will start occurring at the same rate it was before you began your medication. This is a common misconception about hair loss prevention medication. We have had many patients postpone their preventative programs and their hair begins to fall out at the same rate as before. When they begin prevention again, they do not have to start back at square one.
Q.) When should I start a hair loss prevention routine?
A.) Every hair loss case is unique, so without a proper consultation this is a difficult question to answer. › Continue reading
Answers to Common Questions about Hair Loss Causes
Q.) What causes hair loss?
A.)Although genetic predisposition is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women, there are numerous other factors to consider such as medical conditions, hormonal imbalances, medications, excessive weight loss, chemotherapy, radiation, and traumatic injuries (including burns to the scalp) that can also cause hair loss.
Q.) How is the cause of my hair loss determined?
A.) As highlighted in our previous women’s hair loss series, a dermatologist can help you identify the cause of your hair loss. The single most important thing when determining hair loss is the doctor’s experience. First, he or she will start by asking a round of questions to better understand your condition. Then he/she can order or perform tests which may include hair pull test, hair shed/pull collection, scalp biopsy, and blood tests.
Q.) Isn’t male patterned baldness the same thing as female patterned baldness?
A.) Both male and female patterned baldness(androgenetic alopecia) are caused by a predisposition to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the hair follicles due to an inherited gene. However, the pattern in female pattern baldness is different than that of male pattern baldness, meaning though the causes of these types of hair loss are similar, the rate and areas in which patients of opposite genders notice hair loss are still very different. › Continue reading
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Addresses Common Sun Myths For Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta celebrates skin cancer awareness month by addressing some of the most common sun myths. Do tanning beds cause skin cancer? If I am in the water can I still get a sunburn? Pick up a copy of Atlanta’s Best Self Magazine to find out!
MatriStem® MicroMatrix: Could Pixie Dust Regrow Hair?
Did you happen to hear the story about the man who regrew his finger (which he had accidentally chopped off) after sprinkling pixie dust on it? You may be confused as to why I, a dermatologist and hair restoration expert, am discussing “pixie dust” in my hair loss blog. The hope is that if this “pixie dust” can help regenerate soft tissues and skin cells, it should also (eventually) be able to regenerate hair growth.
Let’s take a walk back to high school science. Remember learning about animals that can regenerate body parts? Take lizards for example; if they lose a tail, their body with naturally repair the tendons and grow a new tail. Mammals (including humans) cannot do this. We do, however, regularly regenerate hair and skin cells, and the liver can regenerate itself to a point. Dr. Stephen Badylak of the University of Pittsburgh developed the pixie dust in an effort to help the bodies of wounded soldiers heal themselves and reduce the need for amputations. The “pixie dust” is derived from a pig’s bladder: concentrated with proteins and connective tissue. Scientists believe this mixture provides the right “matrix” or framework to stimulate regeneration. While this product is still very much in the testing phase, there are cases (like the aforementioned man’s finger) that show incredible promise.
Now, let’s discuss the part that I understand better, using pixie dust to regrow hair. There are quite a few ways to go › Continue reading
Play DAA’s Skin Games: Myth or Fact about Children’s Skin Care
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta is giving away prizes and testing your knowledge about children’s skin care. Be one of the first 5 people to submit your myth or fact answers, to marketing@dermatlanta.com, and win $50 off any cosmetic skin treatment at DAA.
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