hair loss treatments
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
Head to Toe Skin Care at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta offers multiple options for skin care and cancer prevention, hair loss, wrinkle reduction, fat reduction, skin tightening, and vein elimination. Pick up a copy of Atlanta Parent Magazine to see a full list of the services offered at DAA.
Special Savings at the Griffin Center!
Don’t miss out on the Griffin Center’s summer savings program. Starting June 1st, 2011 through August 31st, 2011 the Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research is offering a $500 credit towards a hair transplant procedure.
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
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
Study Reveals Possible Answer to Stress Related Hair Loss
When the National Institutes of Health funded a study conducted by UCLA to prevent the negative physical effects of stress on the gastrointestinal system. Instead, these researchers may have stumbled onto a potential remedy for stress and age related hair-loss: astressin-B.
Because the causes of hair loss in men and women are numerous and sometimes unpredictable, Dr. Edmond Griffin likes to educate patients on potential treatments as soon as they present themselves. Hair loss causes can include: heredity (female and male pattern baldness), age, hormonal imbalance, certain medications (anagen effluvium), and extreme stress (alopecia areata). Age and stress are typically two of the most frustrating causes because they are an inevitable part of life. The California researchers found that injecting genetically altered mice (whose bodies contained excess amounts of the stress hormone corticotrophin-emulating a human’s body under chronic stress) with the astressin-B chemical compound caused the mice to re-grow their lost hair despite their elevated levels of stress hormone.
Also exciting about the scientists’ discovery is the peptide compound’s quick, long-lasting hair transplant results. The mice received one injection per day for five days and exhibited increased hair growth for up to four months following the treatment. UCLA adjunct professor, Million Mulugeta summarized the research saying, “Our findings show that a short-duration treatment with this compound causes an astounding long-term hair re-growth in chronically stressed mutant mice.”
Even though we understand that mice do no react the same way that humans do, we find this study especially promising for human hair growth implications. In case you missed our other blog posts on hair growth technology, Dr. Griffin is also currently working on a topical, botanical treatment for women’s hair loss and injections of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) as an aging skin treatment. Be sure to follow Dr. Griffin on Facebook and Twitter for the latest hair restoration news.
Many Uses of BOTOX®: New Research Shows Using BOTOX® Can Help Re-grow Hair
Generally used to treat wrinkles, muscle relaxing BOTOX® Cosmetic has a proven variety of other medical uses. Aside from removing wrinkles around the eyes, a couple of BOTOX® injections can also correct the appearance of cross-eyes and uncontrollable blinking. Some doctors also inject BOTOX® to reduce sweating for patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). Others use it to treat patients with migraine headaches. In fact, back in 2006, dermatologist Eric Finzi studied treating depression with BOTOX®. His research showed that BOTOX® treatment helped his patients who suffered from depression come off their depression medication. However, the newest use for BOTOX®, and the one I find most interesting is using BOTOX® to stimulate hair growth.
A dermatologist from Beverly Hills, Dr. Simon Ourian, administered BOTOX® injections to help relieve his mother’s chemotherapy-related migraines, and was surprised to find her hair returned around the injection sites. Since then, more research has been conducted on the topic including a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons discussing BOTOX® use in the treatment of male pattern baldness.
The study consisted of fifty male subjects, ranging from 19 to 57 years of age, who were observed over a 60 week period. Each subject received two treatment cycles of 150 injections during the 60 week period. Researchers utilized various methods of determining hair loss rates, like measuring hair count within a fixed 2 cm area and collecting loose hairs from a pillow with a lint roller. None of the subjects experienced adverse effects. The results suggested that BOTOX® appears to reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth in some men suffering from androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness).
Aside from the study’s results, I’ve found through use with my patients that injecting BOTOX® around donor regions during hair transplant procedures helps hair re-grow around the incision scars. Not only does it help hair grow around scars, I’ve noticed BOTOX® also lessens the redness and thickness of scars. It may not effectively treat all types of hair loss, as hair loss causes are different for different people, but it will be interesting to see if more studies confirm using BOTOX® to treat male patterned baldness.
Men, women and children all experience hair loss for different reasons, but my staff at the Griffin Center and I are here to help. If you are experiencing hair loss and are looking for a hair loss prevention or treatment method, contact us to schedule an appointment today. First, I will determine what’s causing your hair loss, and then, I can devise a treatment plan specific to your condition. For more information, visit my website and keep reading my blog. Also, find me on Facebook and let me know what you’d like to read.
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