What Causes Hair Loss and How Can It Be Prevented?
Transplantation of hair ,Hair loss can be a debilitating condition. Understanding the hair growth cycle will help you better understand hair loss and your alternatives for hair restoration and slowing down the pace of hair loss.
While the loss of scalp hairs might be heartbreaking, scalp hairs make up a small percentage of total hairs (5 million) on the body (100,000-150,000). Anagen, catagen, and telogen are the three stages of hair growth. Active growth occurs throughout anagen. This phase can last up to three years and contains 90% of all hairs. Over the course of 2-3 weeks, the hair separates from the dermal root, leading to telogen, the hair's resting phase. The hair shaft falls off during telogen. This phase lasts 3-4 months and contains 10% of the total number of hairs. When the rate of hair loss outpaces the rate of growth, thinning develops.
The conversion of testosterone to a molecule called dihydrotestosterone causes male pattern baldness (DHT). DHT is the hormone that causes thick, healthy hair to become thin and fine baby hair (called vellus hairs). The fine and thin hairs that predominate in balding areas are these fine and thin hairs. The rate at which thick healthy hair transforms into vellus hair is determined by heredity.
The cause of hair loss in women can be more complicated. Female hair loss is caused by iron deficiency, pregnancy, hormonal imbalances and shifts, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune disorders. In order to diagnose these underlying issues in women, a blood panel should be performed. Treatment should be arranged with your primary care physician if a problem is discovered. Hair restoration and hair transplantation are becoming increasingly popular among women today. Restoring scalp density and filling in thinning frontotemporal regions are the most generally done treatments. To address high foreheads, scalp hairline advancement is also a typical surgery.
Treatment Alternatives
Minoxidil
Minoxidil was first used as an oral blood pressure drug in the 1970s, and it was discovered to cause hypertrichosis as a side effect (hair growth). These early findings led to the creation of a topical minoxidil formulation for the treatment of hair loss. There are several hypotheses about how Minoxidil works. Minoxidil has been proven to enhance blood flow to the treated areas, as well as the proportion of hair follicles in the anagen phase and overall follicle size. According to studies, a topical application of 5% is useful in promoting hair growth. There are two forms available: foam and liquid; the foam formulation does not contain propylene glycol and may be more tolerable (less irritating to the scalp).
Laser
Hair loss can be treated with low-level laser light therapy, which has been approved by the FDA. Although the mechanism is unknown, clinical investigations have shown that low-level laser light given to the scalp stimulates hair growth, reverses hair shrinkage (vellus hairs), and improves overall scalp density. There are numerous laser options to choose from. To learn more about this therapy option, make an appointment.
Transplantation of hair
Hair transplantation is a popular procedure for restoring a youthful and natural hairline. Individual follicular units are taken from parts of the scalp that are resistant to DHT activity during hair transplantation. Hairs that normally grow in 1 to 4 hairy groupings are referred to as follicular units. In the temporal and occipital regions, even people with advanced balding will preserve a band of resistant hairs. When transplanted, these hairs are resistant to miniaturisation and retain this property. These hairs are used as transplant donor hairs. To obtain the desired result, one or more sessions may be required. Depending on the degree of hair loss and the quantity of grafts required, one to two treatments are usually sufficient.
Transplantation of Follicular Units
Follicular unit transplant, often known as FUT, is a great way to get high-quality hair grafts for transplant. A strip of hair from the occipital scalp is extracted in FUT. After that, the hair is skillfully shaved into separate pieces before being transplanted into specifically selected recipient sites. Extraction of Follicular Units
Follicular unit extraction, often known as FUE, is gaining popularity. Individual follicular units are removed from the scalp using a mechanised punch in this method. Because individual hairs can easily be transected or damaged during harvesting, and overall graft survival is poorer, this procedure necessitates experience. Individually harvested follicular units are subsequently implanted into recipient areas that have been properly developed.
Propecia is a drug that is used to treat hair (Finasteride)
Finasteride is a 5 mg/day medicine often used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (Proscar). It is also sold as Propecia/finasteride, which is a highly effective medicine for hair loss at a lesser dose of 1 mg/day. Inhibition of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase is the mechanism of action. This enzyme transforms testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the active chemical that interacts to androgen receptors in hair follicles and causes patterned baldness. After one year, a randomised controlled trial of 1553 males given placebo or finasteride found that individuals on finasteride had considerably higher hair counts in the balding vertex than those on placebo.
PRP
Hair loss is treated using PRP, which is a medical procedure. Your blood is extracted and processed to separate platelet rich plasma, which is then injected into the scalp during PRP treatment. PRP has been shown in multiple trials to be beneficial in encouraging hair regrowth. The abundance of growth factors and signalling molecules is thought to stimulate active hair growth.
Hair transplantation is a treatment that is both technical and aesthetic. A successful transplant requires excellent technical skill, but the artistry involved in a successful transplant is often underestimated. When selecting a transplant surgeon, you are also selecting an artist. To achieve a natural look, the hairline must be carefully designed. Each follicular unit acts as a single paintbrush stroke. To achieve the greatest result, balance and insight into future hair loss must be skillfully integrated. Make an appointment for a consultation right now!