Find Dermatology Associates of Atlanta in the March Issue of Atlanta Parent Magazine
Did you see our feature in Atlanta Parent Magazine showcasing our newest non-invasive fat-reduction technology, CoolSculpting®? Using Cryolipolysis™ technology, CoolSculpting® freezes small pockets of stubborn fat to help your body release it naturally for a sleeker and more streamlined silhouette.
Contact our office for more details or to schedule a consultation to determine if you’re a candidate.
March Specials are Here at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta
Great specials are plentiful at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta this month. Whether you’re looking to tighten and firm loose facial skin with Ulthera®, prep for summer with laser hair removal, smooth wrinkles around the eyes with Botox® or Dysport®, or renew that spring-time glow with a chemical peel, we’ve got a deal or event just for you.
Click each image below for more details! We can’t wait to see you!
New Tracking Technology Helps Better Quantify Hair Loss
Tracking hair loss and hair regrowth is a difficult process. It’s easy to see when a patient has lost at least 50% of the hair in one area. However, quantifying hair loss before the balding stage (when patients are just noticing more hair in the shower drain) is not down to a perfect science. Using global photography, dermatologists trained in hair restoration can attempt to measure hair loss, but variables like hair length, changing hair color, and different hair styles can have an impact on results. Other forms of measurement like hair densitometry (measure of density) have limitations including the need to trim the hair to take measurements. The newest measure of hair “thickness” is the HairCheck® developed by a fellow dermatologist, Dr. Bernard Cohen.
In a recent study, hair restoration specialists in Florida tested a newer form of hair loss measurement called hair bundle cross-section trichometry. During the study, 250 patients’ hair loss was quantified using this technique that measured both hair density and the diameter of hair to calculate a figure called Hair Mass Index (HMI) for each patient. These measurements also took hair breakage into account, where other forms of hair loss tracking could not. Not only were the doctors looking to find a new way to help with hair loss diagnosis and treatment, but also to help patients better understand their individual hair loss condition and treatment processes.
Each patient’s hair loss and treatment was measured every 90 days beginning in November 2009 until September 2011. While any new method of calculation or tracking takes time and effort the researchers found that the use of this type of tracking can not only help doctors provide their patients with quick and easy-to-understand information, but they can also better detect and quantify non-visible (early) thinning in male patients. They were also able to differentiate diffuseness with pattern baldness in women. The method also helped track patients with telogen effluvium as well as monitor the effectiveness of topical and oral hair restoration medications and nutritional changes much more quickly and effectively than other tracking methods.
Researchers also noticed a difference in patient response to the measurement efforts. When patients were presented with a graphical representation along with a personal explanation of their hair loss treatment progress, they were more likely to comply with the treatment efforts (take medications regularly, complete medications through prescribed course, etc.). As Dr. Edmond Griffin can attest, patient education is one of the determining factors in a successful hair loss treatment. When patients are aware of their hair loss treatment options they are more likely to follow through with treatment requirements, and therefore, receive better hair restoration results.
Newer technology like the hand-held HairCheck® device helps dermatologists to quickly measure HMI and determine if hair loss, growth, or breakage has occurred on any area of the scalp. This means that patients can know if their medications are working properly and dermatologists can adjust treatment accordingly.
Hair loss is a case-sensitive condition. The causes vary from patient to patient. However, newer technologies and methods in hair loss diagnosis and treatment planning can help hair restoration specialists better accommodate each patient with a tailored treatment plan. Studies like this are important in hair loss research to help both doctors and patients reap the benefits of proper treatment and patient compliance.
For more information on hair loss diagnosis and treatments, visit our website. You can also keep up with the latest hair news by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Parents Urge Doll Makers for Bald Barbie to Represent Hair Loss Sufferers
Parents are urging doll maker Mattel to take on the challenge of creating a bald Barbie to help the self-image and overall acceptance for girls who suffer from hair loss. Children’s hair loss is often difficult for both children and parents, as children may not understand why they’re different from their peers while parents may have a hard time explaining and even understanding the causes of hair loss.
The push for a “Beautiful and Bald Barbie” began as a Facebook campaign to help children who may be undergoing cancer treatments, suffer from alopecia areata, or have the condition trichotillomania. Proponents of the doll also believe that its creation will help children in dealing with the female family members’ hair loss such as mothers undergoing chemotherapy.
While hair loss is not too common in children, there are common misconceptions regarding the causes of hair loss including the notion that children’s hair loss is caused by headbands or hats, poor scalp circulation, or even cold weather. More likely, hair loss in children is caused by trauma from an accident, symptoms of a birth defect, scarring from surgeries or accidents, and/or alopecia areata.
Similar to the reality of hair loss and baldness, supporters of a bald Barbie suggest the doll manufacturer include accessories like head scarves and hats and donate a portion of the proceeds to childhood cancer research. There’s no word yet on whether Mattel has answered the group’s request.
Children whose hair loss is the result of telogen effluvium (brought on by bodily stress, medications, or high fever), tinea capitis (a fungal infection), or traction alopecia (caused by hairstyles) may benefit from treatments like cortisone injections, UVA light in combination with a topical photosensitizing medicine, and/or Rogaine®, though these treatments must be tailored to the child and the cause of the problem.
Hair loss in children is always a tough subject. Though it’s every parent’s dream, sheltering your child completely is impossible. Peers who also may not understand hair loss can resort to teasing which often makes the child with hair loss feel worse. At The Griffin Center for Hair Restoration and Research we understand how sensitive an issue hair loss in children can be, and we work to provide the utmost in patient care and compassion.
For more information on children’s hair loss or alopecia in adults, check out our website. You can also connect with us on Facebook for the latest in hair care and hair loss news.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: Hair Loss Caused by Certain Hairstyles
An article published by Medical News Today highlighted the dangers that certain hairstyles can pose in women. Tight braids, corn rows, and weaves can bring on a condition called traction alopecia which results in permanent hair loss. This type of loss is usually seen around the frontal edges of the scalp and progresses further back with time. Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a type of scarring alopecia that is found most often in black women and may be caused by the strenuous nature of these popular hairstyles on the scalp which required heat and chemicals to get the ultra-curly hair under control.
CCCA was first called “hot comb” alopecia in the 1950s when black women would straighten their hair by coating the shaft in petroleum jelly and then detangling and straightening the hair with an iron comb heated on the stove. The hot petroleum jelly was would travel down the hair shaft to the scalp often burning and damaging the follicles and causing permanent scarring. Frequently, straightening chemicals would also be added to this mix. Some evidence suggests that the hot oil and chemicals caused hair loss that could be progressive, resulting in a permanent loss of large amounts of hair.
In a study published in the Archives of Dermatology, over 300 African-American women completed questionnaires regarding their health and hair grooming methods and underwent scalp examinations. Of the women in the study, nearly 60% showed signs of hair loss. These women were more likely to wear hairstyles like tight braids and weaves and use hot combs, petrolatum, and chemicals that put stress on the hair and follicles.
Neil Sadick, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College believes that these types of hairstyles “can lead to excessive trauma to the hair shaft of predisposed individuals [and] interfere with hair integrity and are major culprits in causing this cosmetically debilitating scarring hair loss.”
As soon as you see signs of scarring or hair thinning, it’s important to seek the help of a dermatologist who specializes in hair restoration like Drs. Edmond Griffin and Ashley Curtis. Because this type of balding is progressive, the sooner patients seek treatment, the more likely the process can be stopped before severe damage has been done. The damage caused to the hair follicle by these hairstyles means that non-surgical options like topical and oral medications like Propecia® and Rogaine® are less likely to be effective in treating CCCA.
Contact our office for more information on CCCA or other hair loss causes. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest in Atlanta hair loss and dermatology news.
Can My Husband Be Causing My Hair Loss? Connubial Androgenetic Alopecia Explained
While this question is not a common one among The Griffin Center’s patients, it is a funny joke among spouses who sometimes get frustrated with each other. Surprisingly, though, the answer was yes for one woman. In a vignette published in a recent issue of the Archives of Dermatology, researchers discussed a case study of a 52-year old, post-menopausal Hispanic woman who reported the signs and symptoms of hair loss similar to those of male patterned baldness.
The patient had been experiencing hair loss in the frontotemporal region and crown of the head related to androgenetic alopecia for one year. After undergoing testing for hypoandrogenism and other endocrine disorders, dermatologists discovered the patient had abnormally high levels of testosterone. An investigation into the woman’s personal history found that her husband was applying topical testosterone gel daily for 18 months.
Dermatologists specializing in hair loss discovered that the female patient’s seemingly male patterned baldness was caused by her contact with her husband’s testosterone treatments. Testosterone gel can be transferred through contact with skin, clothing worn over the application area, and sheets or towels that have touched the application area. When an individual is exposed to a medication used by a spouse or close relative (like a child), it is called connubial exposure.
The patient was prescribed minoxidil solution to help regrow the lost hair, while her husband was directed to apply the testosterone gel to an area of the body covered by clothing to minimize the patient’s exposure. Some women who can no longer get pregnant may consider the use of finesteride.
The authors of the vignette believe that cases of connubial androgenetic alopecia in women most likely go underreported. Along the same lines, the authors emphasize the importance of a thorough medical history of not only the patient, but of the patient’s spouse and family members as well when pursuing hair restoration treatment.
At The Griffin Center for Hair Research and Restoration, we understand that the causes of hair loss in both men and women vary based on medical history, medical conditions, and many other factors. We strive to provide all our patients with accurate hair loss diagnoses so that we can effectively treat or reverse hair loss. Treatments for hair loss can vary from non-surgical options like applying Rogaine® to hair transplantation by microscope-assisted follicular grafting.
For more information on what can cause hair loss or to schedule a hair restoration consultation, contact our office. You can also “like” us on Facebook to keep up with the latest hair loss and hair care news.
Check Out Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s February Specials
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta has a bunch of great specials in store this February! Join us February 8th for our Cosmetic Day to receive savings on facial fillers like Juvéderm® and Restylane®, Botox® or Dysport®, cosmetic laser treatments, and featured skincare products!
Our Skin Medics™ Medical Spa is offering $75 off their Illuminize Peel, and you can also save $50 on Botox® with the purchase of the discounted peel. You can also receive 20% off all Jane Iredale® cosmetics! Through the month of February we’ll also be offering patients 10% off laser hair removal, and our patients can receive one microdermabrasion session for 50% off with the purchase of two microdermabrasion treatments in Atlanta Center for Veins.
Our manufacturers are also running specials—$50 off Dysport® and up to $360 off Restylane® and Perlane® fillers. Make certain to click the flyers below for more details! You can also stay up to date on the latest news and specials by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Hair Restoration Results at the Griffin Center described as “Seamless” and “Invisible”
For individuals suffering from patterned baldness, hair restoration surgery is a big decision. We encourage patients to thoroughly research hair replacement options after the cause of hair loss has been diagnosed by a hair loss specialist like Dr. Edmond Griffin. One part of the research process is looking at and comparing hair loss surgeons’ hair transplant before and after photos and patient testimonials. Patients who have undergone the procedure you’re researching have honest, real-life perspectives on hair restoration. Check out our video patient testimonial below.
Q: How would you describe your overall experience as compared to the other hair replacement surgeries?
A: You know, I went to one of those infomercial places, and that was my only regret. I would have spent less money and one less procedure if I had just started out here. The overall experience was that really even people that I work with didn’t seem to recognize that I had had anything done. So it was sort of seamless and invisible except for myself and my wife.
Conference Introduces Robotic Hair Transplant Surgery
The Griffin Center’s team of Atlanta hair restoration professionals is devoted to providing the most effective hair restoration techniques and hair transplant technology. For that reason, Drs. Edmond Griffin and Ashley Curtis recently traveled to Denver, Colorado to learn about the ARTAS™ system for hair restoration designed by Restoration Robotics, Inc. The ARTAS™ system uses the guidance of computer-assisted imaging to improve hair transplant surgery.
During hair transplant surgery, Dr. Griffin manually takes hair grafts from donor regions. Then he and his team separate the follicular unit grafts containing one to four hairs, and Dr. Griffin places the hairs into tiny incisions in the balding regions. Although this is a timely process, he believes it is worth the hair restoration results they produce.
Dr. Griffin has heard about plenty of machines that are supposed to aid hair transplant surgeons, but until recently he had not seen a technology that really impressed him. Although Dr. Griffin and his team are still researching the ARTAS™ system, they’re impressed by the consistency of its robotic hair transplant results . Used under the direction of a physician, this technology expedites the process of manual follicular unit extraction (FUE) by identifying and even harvesting follicular units. A hair transplant surgeon later implants the follicles into the patient’s bald region(s) as they would during a traditional hair restoration procedure.
Although the Griffin Center does not yet perform ARTAS™ treatments, their research thus far shows promise for facilitating hair transplant surgery without compromising surgical results.
This development on hair restoration technology will give the patient looking into FUEs another option for hair transplantation: follicular unit extractions produced by the Neograft system (which is mechanized with suction), those performed by a doctor using mechanized instruments, and now FUEs produced through the robotic technique. Which technique produces the best, most natural-looking results depends on the accuracy of the surgeon/technician team. This will vary from office to office as the FUE method becomes more popular and adopted by more surgeons. While the current theme in hair restoration seems to be more tedious, more costly and slower, compared to the less expensive, more accurate, more consistent technique offered by the possibility of hair restoration robotics, the overall results will most likely depend on the nuances of the operator as opposed to the robot.
Keep reading our blog and stay tuned to our Facebook to learn more about this hair transplanttechnology and others at the Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research.
If you are experiencing hair loss, contact us today to schedule a consultation so we can help you determine what’s causing your hair loss and direct you in finding an appropriate hair loss treatment.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Featured in Atlanta Parent’s January Issue
Did you see Dermatology Associates of Atlanta in this month’s Atlanta Parent Magazine? Check it out to learn about all the services they offer! Make sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest in dermatology and hair restoration news.
 |
 |
 |
Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+!
Newsletter
Sign Up to Receive Occasional Special Offers and Our Monthly Newsletters
* = Required Field