For tens of millions of men and women, thinning hair and hair loss is a major concern. Many first notice that their scalp is shining through, they find more hair on the pillow or in the drain, or notice that their hairline is receding somewhat. More than 40-50% hair loss has typically already occurred by the time it becomes apparent to the individual. But they often feel like the hair loss was sudden because they saw themselves in a photo, where the back or top of their head is more visible than when they look in the mirror, revealing the results of a progressive hair loss they didn’t realize was occurring. But there are highly effective solutions for combating hair loss available now.
Hair Growth Cycle
Each hair’s root is in a follicle where it receives nourishment from your blood supply. Hair grows in a three-stage cycle that repeats over time. Anagen is the active growing phase, Catagen is intermediary and Telogen is the resting phase. At any given time, the majority of the hairs on your head are in the active growing Anagen phase, which lasts two to seven years. Catagen typically lasts two to three weeks and Telogen, the resting phase, lasts three or four months. It is during Telogen that a new hair pushes out the old one from the follicle. The hairs you see in your comb or brush are from the Telogen phase.
An average healthy adult will have approximately 150,000 hair follicles by their late teens. The average person loses 100 Telogen hairs/day and grows 100 Anagen hairs. As we get older, the normal growth stage slows with fewer hairs in the Anagen phase and a higher percentage in Telogen, which results in thinning or baldness. Due to a variety of factors, follicles may produce thinner, less pigmented hair as we age.
Genetic Risk for Baldness
Contrary to popular belief, the baldness trait can be passed on from either parent’s side of the family. Due to advances in understanding our genetic make-up, we now know there are about 200 genes involved in the regulation of hair characteristics.
Assessing Hair Loss
There is an AI powered hair growth tracking and assessment tool called GroTrack. This cutting-edge imaging technology scientifically quantifies hair thickness and hair density, which provides an objective hair growth assessment and allows for an accurate tracking of your response to hair growth treatments. This clinical data objectively documents that these are effective solutions for combating hair loss. The painless assessment only takes about 10 minutes in the office.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Hair Restoration
In most cases, hair loss is a treatable condition that you can control. Restoring and regrowing hair can help you feel more youthful and sexy, while also contributing to your overall wellbeing and self-confidence. If you want a beautiful new head of hair consider a strategy that includes these non-surgical options:
Alma TED: Alma TED uses painless ultrasonic sound waves and air pressure to drive powerful topical hair growth treatments and serums into the skin and promote increased blood flow to the scalp rejuvenating the hair follicles during a series of simple 20 minute procedures.
Peptide therapy: Peptides are the naturally occurring chemical messengers in your body that can modify physiological processes. These peptides act in several important ways to restore hair, that include: rejuvenating the follicle and scalp, increasing the time your hair follicle remains in the active growing phase, blocking negative hormonal effects that damage the hair follicle and activating follicle stem cells.
- Thymosin beta-4 has wound healing and regenerative properties that augment other therapies that facilitates hair regrowth
- GHK-Cu strengthens existing hair by increasing blood flow around the follicle and blocks the effects of DHT on the follicle.
- Zinc Thymulin increases the time the follicle is in the anagen (Active growth) phase
- PTD-DBM reduces inhibitory effects on the WNT/beta catenin pathway; essentially taking the foot off the brake on hair growth
- Valproic acid reduces DHT suppression on the hair follicle by activating Wnt/ beta catenin pathway; essentially stepping on the gas of hair growth
Low Level Laser therapy: FDA cleared low level lasers are simple to use at home and have been proven to enhance hair thickness and quality. The most effective device is made by LaserCap, and is only available through a physician’s office. It has a satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
Nutriceutical: Nutrafol can make your hair stronger and shinier. It promotes hair growth by addressing micro-inflammation, stress and oxidative damage with clinically tested, standardized and bio-optimized phytochemical ingredients
Prescription medication: Specially compounded medications such as topical minoxidil and oral Finasteride based options primarily help prevent further hair loss, but are often plagued by unpleasant side effects and rebound hair loss once stopped. Finasteride in particular, is associated with serious adverse sexual and neuropsychiatric side effects that develop and persist in patients during and/or after discontinuing finasteride treatment for which there is no known treatment or cure (post-finasteride syndrome)
Men and Women who are concerned about thinning or hair loss should contact Dr. Ebanks at Alternity Healthcare to determine the most effective treatment regimen for their specific needs.
