male pattern baldness
Backstreet Boy Member Receives Hair Transplant
You are probably familiar with the popular boy-band from the nineties, the Backstreet Boys. Although they have not been in the news for the past few years, band member A.J. McLean recently made headline news with his hair transplant surgery results. McLean debuted his new hair on Instagram, a popular social photo sharing site. Despite only being 35 years old, he is a great example of how hair loss can occur at any age and the earlier you begin prevention programs to treat your hair loss, the better the results you can expect. Luckily, the results achieved by McLean are not unique and everyone with balding both male and female should be pleased with their results. You do not have to be a star to qualify for a procedure nor have sold a gold record, regular folks have transplants every day of the month.
A.J. McLean posted pre-surgery photos that depict male-pattern baldness and post-procedure photos. Dr. Griffin has been specializing in hair restoration techniques for over 30 years and frequently sees patients looking for both non-surgical and surgical hair loss options. Like with A.J.’s results, hair restoration technology and techniques have evolved since the earlier years of hair transplant surgery, providing patients with more subtle, natural looking results. Dr. Griffin uses the most advanced hair restoration technology available including NeoGraft for assistance with follicular unit extraction. The strip technique is still favored but with many new modifications and additions including PRP and ECM. During an in-person consultation, Dr. Griffin will examine your hair and discuss your options to determine which technique will provide optimal results.
If you are interested in learning more about the non-surgical hair restoration options including red light therapy or hair transplant surgery, please call our office at 404-256-4369 to schedule an appointment. Also, connect with the Griffin Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest hair loss news and information.
Crazy Hair Loss Myths Debunked
Premature hair loss can severely impact self-confidence. Nearly two out of every three men will begin balding by the time they’re 60 and women are also affected as they grow older. As men and women’s hair begins to fall out they frequently search for advice and tips to stop, or at least slow, this process with hair loss prevention treatments. There are many myths out there about hair loss prevention. Especially with the endless information available online, it can be difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction about hair loss. Here is some of the more popular hair loss myths.
Wearing hats causes hair loss. No, wearing hats does NOT cause hair loss. For this to be true, the hat would have to so tight that it cuts off circulation to the follicles.
Hair loss genes come from your mother’s side of the family. Inheritance has now been tied to a particular gene which could have been passed from either the mother or father. Heredity is the cause of hair loss in most patients, male or female.
Using blow dryers leads to hair loss. Overusing a blow dryer can cause heat damage and produce brittle hair which leads to breakage but does NOT cause permanent hair loss. In general most hair products today do not cause permanent loss either.
Cleaning your scalp of sebum (the semi-fluid secretion from glands attached to the follicle) with astringents will unclog follicles and allow hair to grow. Hair is not trapped and doesn’t need to be released. The oil may have traces of male hormones which some doctors claim may increase shedding. Most doctors agree that regular shampooing is good for the scalp and hair. Even if hair loss is occurring, do not stop shampooing on a regular basis.
When suffering from hair loss, a person may try countless “miracle cures” that do not work. Hair loss is a complicated condition with multiple causes. Determining the cause of your hair loss is important in devising an effective treatment plan. With proper diagnosis, The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research can discuss with you the medical and surgical options available to achieve your desired results. Contact our office for more information or to schedule your consultation. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google + for the latest hair loss and restoration information and news.
Fact or Fiction? Setting the Record Straight on the Biggest Male Hair Loss Misconceptions
Many patients believe that thinning hair is a part of life that cannot be treated. “It’s just something I’ll have to live with,” is a common refrain among men who begin to notice signs of hair loss. The biggest myth surrounding hair loss is that nothing can be done. However, this is not the case. Drs. Edmond Griffin and Ashley Curtis explain the truth behind this and some of the other big hair loss and hair restoration myths in this blog.
MYTH: Frequent use of hats or helmets cause or speed up hair loss.
TRUTH: This notion is merely folklore. Wearing a hat or helmet will not speed up or cause hair loss.
MYTH: Male pattern baldness is inherited from the maternal grandfather.
TRUTH: This is both true and false. Just like with any genetic trait, pattern baldness can be inherited from both the mother’s and the father’s side of the family. Though there are tests to determine the presence of the balding gene, these tests don’t confirm which side of the family gave you the gene or even whether the gene will be expressed in the future. Just because you have the gene doesn’t mean you’ll lose hair more than normal, though it does greatly increase your chances.
MYTH: Using conditioner can prevent baldness.
TRUTH: Because the hair is not a living structure, conditioners merely coat the dead hair shaft making it less prone to breakage. Conditioners have no influence on balding, though. If enough breakage occurs the hair looks thinner.
MYTH: Shampooing daily causes increased shedding.
TRUTH: In general, shampoos clean the hair and do not affect hair growth or loss. To some degree, daily shampooing has been found to show slightly less hair loss by total count than shampooing once weekly. Research shows that shampoos that contains anti-yeast medications seem to slow total monthly hair loss even more (example: Nizoral and DHS with Zinc).
MYTH: Undergoing hair transplant surgery means I no longer need to take preventative measures.
TRUTH: Transplanted hair comes from a donor area that is not affected by genetic hair loss symptoms. This means that it is not affected by the cause of pattern baldness (dihydrotestosterone) and remains in place permanently (pending other factors like chemotherapy and trauma) after transplantation. However, the hair in the balding area that was there before the transplant is still susceptible to pattern baldness. Therefore, preventative measures still need to be taken to maintain those follicles which were not transplanted and are genetically programmed to be lost at some time in the future.
Hair loss is a complicated condition. While pattern baldness is most often the cause of hair loss in men, there are many factors that could be the reason for your thinning. If you suspect your hair may be thinning, visit a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and restoration like those at The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research to determine the cause of your hair loss. With a proper diagnosis, our providers can help you find the best methods of treatment for your situation.
Contact our office for more information or to schedule your consultation. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest hair loss and restoration information and news.
Have you seen the Griffin Center featured in the December Men’s Book?
The Griffin Center for Hair Restoration and Research was recently featured in Men’s Book Atlanta magazine’s December issue to answer your frequently asked questions about men’s hair loss misconceptions and causes, as well as hair restoration surgery options. Make sure to get your copy today and check it out!
To keep up with the latest in hair loss and restoration news and updates, follow the Griffin Center on Facebook and Twitter!
The Stages of the Hair Growth Cycle Explained
Losing hair is a natural part of the hair growth cycle. We lose hair so that new hair can replace it. However, when hair does not grow back as it should, we start to notice thinning hair and a more visible scalp through the hair. In order to understand hair loss, one must understand normal hair growth and shedding cycles.
The hair growth cycle is ongoing, and on an average day, 90% of your hair is in the resting phase while the other 10% is either growing or shedding. Balding occurs when the hair sheds, and no hair re-grows to replace it. Hair is made of keratin, the same material that makes up your nails and the outer layer of your skin. Hair is really a dead structure while the follicular bulb is the growing center. Because the actual strand of hair is not alive, hot curlers, chemical processing, hard plastic combs can cause damage and lead to split ends and fracturing of the shafts.
The hair growth cycle begins with the anagen or growth phase. During this phase cells in the root of the hair divide to add to the hair shaft. Depending on your genetics, the growth phase can last anywhere from 2 to 6 years. As the anagen phase comes to an end, an unknown signal tells the hair to enter the next stage. The hair grows about a fourth of an inch each month, and though it is technically dead, a healthy hair care regimen can keep it looking beautiful while it’s in the anagen phase.
The catagen stage follows the anagen phase and is made up of a 2-3 week transitional period in which the hair is no longer growing. During this stage, a club hair is formed. A club hair occurs when the section of the hair follicle attaches to the hair shaft, cutting the follicle off from its blood supply and the cells that produce new hair. This club hair leads to the next stage of the hair growth and shedding cycle.
The final stage of the hair growth and shedding cycle is the telogen or resting phase. During this two to four month phase, the hair begins to shed at normal levels, and the anagen phase begins again producing new hair.
The average person sheds around 100 telogen-stage hairs a day between brushing the hair, showering, and other activities. High-stress and trauma like high fevers, nutritional deficiencies, pneumonia, and accidents can cause hair to shed in higher than normal amounts. Patterned baldness (androgenetic alopecia) occurs when hair production slows and beings to produce weak, shorter hairs, eventually ceasing to grow completely in some areas.
Men and women often lose hair for different reasons and should be properly diagnosed before beginning any hair restoration treatment. Depending on the cause of your hair loss, there are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options including hair restoration surgery and medications like Propecia®, Rogaine®, and Proscar®.
For more information on hair loss causes and hair restoration, contact the Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter for more hair regrowth news and updates.
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