Hair loss is a common and distressing problem affecting men and women of all ages.
Causes
The causes of hair loss include:
- Androgenetic alopecia.
- Nutritional deficiency e.g protein, zinc, biotin etc.
- Infections e.g tenia capitis, folliculitis.
- Drugs e.g anti-coagulants, anti-depressants, contraceptive pills etc.
- Pregnancy
- Trauma
- Pollution
- Psychological stress.
- Auto immune diseases like alopecia areata.
- Telogen effluvium
- Modern day hair styling products.
At Hair Life, we provide solutions for hair loss due to any condition or disease.
Androgenetic Alopecia
It is the most common type of hair loss in each sex. It involves:-
- Male pattern baldness
- Female pattern baldness
It is characterized by the gradual conversion of hair from terminal to vellus state, apparently caused by progressive shortening of the anagen phase of the hair cycle. It is also called androchronogenetic alopecia since the process is time dependent.
AGA is controlled by a single, dominant, autosomal gene. The expression of this gene is dependent on the level of circulating free androgens. MPHL is an inherited condition passed through specific genes from one or both parents. The hair follicles most typically subjected to AGA are in the frontal and crown regions of the scalp.
In women, AGA tends to be less severe, later in onset, slower to develop and more diffuse, although no less patterned. It is probably due to lower levels of androgens in women.
The mechanism of hair loss in MPHL has been well characterized. It is now known that DHT is the main culprit in this disorder. Testosterone is converted to DHT by 5 alpha reductase enzyme. DHT is then bound by receptors found on the cell membranes of hair follicles. In genetically susceptible individuals DHT binds with the receptors, enters the cell, interacting with its nucleus, altering protein production and eventually causing the affected hair follicles to miniaturize thereby altering growth cycle timing. Over time these follicles grow shorter, thinner, less pigmented hair and may eventually cease hair fiber production completely. These hair also spend more time in telogen phase then do the unaffected follicles.
Females experience a somewhat different hair loss process than their male counterparts. Recent evidence has shown FPHL to be a different inherited disease from MPHL. Women may have ovarian or adrenal hyperandrogenism causing AGA. In most cases women‘s hair loss does not result in baldness.
Evaluation of hair loss:
The actual evaluation of MPHL is done by use of grading scale developed by Hamilton and modified by Norwood.
Norwood Scale
GRADE 1 Normal head of hair with no visible hair loss.
GRADE 2 The hair is receding in wedge shaped pattern.
GRADE 3 Same receding pattern as norwood 2, except the hairline has receded deeper into the frontal area and the temporal area.
GRADE 4 Hairline has receded more dramatically in the frontal region and temporal area than norwood 3 and there is the beginning of a bald spot at the back of the head.
GRADE 5 Same pattern as norwood 4 but much reduced hair density.
GRADE 6 The strip of hair connecting the two sides of the head that existed in norwood 4 and 5 no longer exists in norwood 6.
GRADE 7 Norwood shows hair receding all the way back to the base of the head and the sides just above the ears.
Grade 1 and 2 represent normal pre and post pubertal individuals whereas grade 3 to 7 represent degrees of male pattern baldness.
The Ludwig Scale
The Ludwig scale uses 3 different types to diagnose the severity of female pattern hair loss. These types are:
Type I
In this stage, the hair loss is mild and may occur on the top and front of the scalp and it is noticeable on parting down the center of the scalp as more scalp becomes visible over time.
Type II
In this stage, the hair loss is considered to be moderate. There is thinning, shedding and general decrease in volume and the central part widens with time.
Type III
In this type, the hair loss is extreme and hair is so thin and scalp is so much visible that naked eye can see it. There is hair miniaturization, progressive thinning and extensive loss.
Treatment
It involves
- Medical treatment
- PRP
- Surgical treatment
We also provide medical treatment for hair loss which includes:
1. Finesteride
For men the standard of care today is the use of finesteride 1 mg. It works by blocking 5 alpha-reductase that results in decreased DHT production in the male. Hair loss stops in 3 to 6 months and regrowth usually occurs in the following 6 to 18 months.
2. Minoxidil
Like finasteride, topical minoxidil must be used consistently to sustain results. When discontinued, hair counts return to baseline within several months.
These two drugs are the only FDA approved drugs for treatment of hair loss.
- PRP Treatment
PRP stands for platelet rich plasma.It is a blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets.
At Hair life, we have been performing PRP therapy as a therapeutic option for male and female patients experiencing hair loss. PRP is an exciting non-surgical therapeutic option for patients who require stimulation of hair growth for hair loss conditions. PRP is a medical procedure for scalp, skin and hair stimulation. PRP contains special cells called platelets that can cause growth of hair follicles by activation of certain growth factors and by stimulating the stem cells and other cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle. The primary purpose of using PRP in hair restoration is to stimulate inactive or newly implanted hair follicles into an active growth phase.
The growth factors present in platelet rich plasma include:
- platelet-derived growth factor
- transforming growth factor beta
- fibroblast growth factor
- insulin-like growth factor 1
- insulin-like growth factor 2
- vascular endothelial growth factor
- epidermal growth factor
- Interleukin 8
- keratinocyte growth factor
- connective tissue growth factor
Procedure
In this procedure about 40 ml blood of the patient is taken. It is then centrifuged to seperate blood cells and the plasma. The plasma contains platelets which are broken down by adding calcium gluconate. This causes the release of growth factors from the platelets. This enriched plasma is then injected into the scalp. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia. So it is a painless, extremely safe and comfortable procedure with no side effects.
Results
Results can be seen within 1 to 2 months. Patient can have as many sessions as he want at monthly intervals.