Jumat, 12 Oktober 2012

Alopecia Areata: Questions & Answers

Learn About Alopecia Areata Before Finding Your Solution



Understand why this hair loss disease affects hair follicles and how to cope with its unpredictable hair loss symptoms.


Q. What is alopecia?

A. Alopecia is simply the correct medical term for any type of hair loss.

Q. What is alopecia areata?

A. Alopecia areata is the most common form of an autoimmune skin disease resulting in patches of hair loss on the head or scalp. Alopecia areata usually starts with a small patch of hair loss and continues with one or more small, round patches of hair loss around the head in no predictable pattern and for no other known reason or disease.

Q. Is alopecia areata a rare disease?

A. According to current statistics on the disease, alopecia areata affects approximately 2 percent of the overall population, including more than 5 million people in the United States.

Q. How do you "get" alopecia areata?

A. Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disease. A healthy human immune system contains an effective set of weapons against viruses, bacteria and parasites that can attack your body. But when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself, it is called autoimmunity and results in a disease such as alopecia areata, depending on which cells in the body are being attacked.

Q. What causes the hair loss?

A. With alopecia areata, the immune system is mistakenly attacking hair follicles and telling them to stop growing.

Q. Is alopecia areata a hair disease or a skin disease?

A. Alopecia areata is considered a skin disease because it occurs on the skin of the hair, or scalp, and is usually diagnosed by a dermatologist. Experts agree that usually bald patches are not affected by rashes, hives or itching, although exposed scalp areas do require extra care and protection from the sun.

Q. Can someone "catch" alopecia areata?

A. No. The disease is not caused by a virus or bacteria, and it cannot be spread between people.

Q. Why does the hair loss occur in random patches?

A. The telltale symptom of alopecia areata is the random patches of hair loss. The immune system is mistakenly telling only random hair follicles in random sections of the scalp to stop growing. Unaffected hair follicles will continue to grow normally as if nothing had happened.

Q. Is the hair loss condition caused by alopecia areata permanent?

A. There is no rhyme or reason to this type of autoimmunity that researchers have been able to discover so far, aside from a slight genetic component. The condition can reverse itself as unexpectedly as it started, and hair follicles will grow again as if nothing had ever happened. Sometimes the disease can progress and include more bald patches, or sometimes-new patches of hair loss may form while others grow in.

Q. What are some solutions to the patchy hair loss?

A. There is no way to halt the disease progression in any way or to treat the bald patches. Many doctors prescribe different treatments and medications based on an individual situation, and while some may work, others may not. Doctors agree that many times stress is a precipitating factor in the onset of the hair loss, so stress-reduction techniques are usually indicated, as well.

There are many studies being done on treatment solutions, but currently, non-surgical hair replacement and hair extensions are the best ways to cover the patches in order to improve the appearance of hair and feel better about your situation. Enlist the help of a qualified, experienced non-surgical hair replacement specialist to help determine the appropriate solutions to individual hair loss patches. Visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (www.naaf.org) for referrals to physicians experienced in treating alopecia areata, to find out about current research and treatments and to join support and advocacy groups.

Kamis, 11 Oktober 2012

Medications Can Prevent or Stop Hair Loss

But it is important to do your homework before trying any hair loss medication!



Hair loss medications can work. After approximately 15 years of widespread use for each, Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) have proven to be somewhat effective at halting and sometimes reversing hair loss. Medications are not for everyone, but for the hundreds of thousands of users of both medications, hair loss was defied -- it was not a fate that had to be accepted.

Propecia in particular, taken orally, is effective for 86 percent of users. About half actually regrow some lost hair, while for the other half the loss is simply stopped from advancing. Rogaine, which is applied topically to the scalp, is effective for only about 50 percent of those who use it. Both medications are more effective when used by individuals under age 40. The earlier in their hair loss experience that either medication is used, the more effective the results.

As with almost all forms of medication, finasteride and minoxidil come with side effects. Some are minor (skin irritation and itchiness, occasional growth of hair in unwanted places), others more significant (male fetuses can suffer significant adverse damage if the mother is exposed to Propecia). The individual user and family members present in the household need to be informed when choosing to use hair loss medications such as Propecia.

With both medications, hair loss resumes with discontinued use. The positive effects of Rogaine, hair counts and thickness, diminish after about five years of use.

And a note to women: Propecia is prescribed to men only, owing to the potential for birth defects (it also does not work in postmenopausal women), but Rogaine can be more effective for you than for men. Rogaine is now available over the counter -- no prescription required.

All of which shows it is essential to do your homework before trying hair loss medications.

Are Alternative Hair Loss Treatments for You?

There is no good reason not to consider alternative hair loss therapies or homeopathic treatments.



You might be the kind of person who looks for natural alternatives to pharmaceutical products. Perhaps you are skeptical about medicines that could cause more harm than good. So it may make sense for you to consider alternative hair loss treatments in your approach to preventing and treating hair loss.

Indeed, homeopathic medicines have been used for more than 200 years in Western culture to address health problems. Traditional approaches to medicine and health in Chinese, Indian and many other cultures go back even further. And a large number of them directly address the loss of hair.

In modern approaches to hair loss treatment and prevention, herbal and natural remedies (think saw palmetto and antioxidants) have some clinical research that backs the claims of their proponents. In an exciting development, stem cell therapy is being researched and may one day provide a very effective approach to hair loss prevention. Each offers alternative therapies to the three hair loss treatments that are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Propecia (finasteride), Rogaine (minoxidil) and laser hair therapy.

There is no reason not to consider alternative hair loss therapies or homeopathic treatments. Our bodies and our hair are able to respond to different stimuli, different interventions and different preventive measures. We see this in weight loss, addiction treatment, mental health challenges and general health. But what works for one may not work for the other -- and vice versa.

Of course, the informed consumer knows that alternative therapies can also have a downside, so better to be educated on how things work and how to find qualified practitioners who can safely and effectively deliver treatments. This section offers several articles to help you find the alternative therapies that may halt or reverse hair loss.

Rabu, 10 Oktober 2012

Hair Extensions for Fashion and as a Hair Loss Treatment

Hair extensions are about reducing the stigma of missing hair.



Hair loss happens in many ways. Typically associated with male or female pattern baldness (a general thinning of hair in both sexes that is also known as androgenetic alopecia or androgenic alopecia), hair loss can happen in irregular patterns as well. Alopecia areata, characterized by hair loss patches, is one such condition. Other patchy hair loss conditions result from medications, including chemotherapy, and scalp trauma.

There is no fully effective treatment for hair loss patches, although some success may come through topical corticosteroids, steroid injections and ultraviolet light therapy. About 20 percent of those who suffer from alopecia areata have family members with the same condition.

An increasingly popular hair loss solution is the use of hair extensions. Because these use noninvasive methods, many women and men who use hair extensions feel more comfortable with this approach. ("Extension" is sometimes an inaccurate term, since they can be used with shorter hairstyles as well, simply to fill in the bald spot.) Salon specialists have become adept at this form of hair replacement, which attaches to existing hair, not to the scalp. Newer technologies also provide options for their application -- a "cool" approach allows use by trauma and chemotherapy patients, while a time-proven "hot" method offers a broader range of styling options.

Which is exactly the point. Hair extensions are about reducing the stigma of missing hair. But they also allow the individual to explore new fashions, styles that can make for a whole new you. In this instance a hair loss patch can in fact open up an opportunity.

If you think hair extensions are for you, read on. A good hair extension applied by a savvy, professional stylist works best when the client knows how to skillfully address a hair loss patch.

Scalp Massage: Rubbed Right


Learn the Benefits of Scalp Massage to Treat Hair Loss



Many hair loss patients have had success using this practice, although evidence is anecdotal. But a daily scalp massage feels great and is all-natural.


While much of the evidence involving hair loss, hair regrowth and effects from scalp massage is anecdotal, one study published in the Archives of Dermatology ("Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy: Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata") in November 1998 found that 44 percent of alopecia areata patients who performed a two-minute daily scalp massage with a mixture of essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood, in a base of jojoba and grape seed oils, noticed thicker hair and new hair growth, including one man who completely regrew hair from an almost completely bald scalp.

Most hairstylists, hair replacement specialists and hair loss sufferers alike agree that scalp massage, done gently, is part of an overall care plan depending on the actual diagnosis of your hair loss condition. "We've used a vibrating scalp massage brush, and you can actually see the blood rush to the scalp, to stimulate blood flow to the follicles," says Diahna Husbands, hair replacement specialist and owner of Diahna Lynn Hair Studios in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Is scalp massage and aromatherapy the right hair loss treatment for me?
  • I want to try nonsurgical, nonpharmaceutical, natural remedies.
  • I believe in the benefits of massage and aromatherapy.
  • I believe in a whole-body approach to my health.
  • I am familiar with essential oils.
  • I rely on alternative therapies for my health issues.
  • I can commit to a daily regimen for several months.

How do scalp massage and aromatherapy work against hair loss?

Scalp massaging with or without the use of natural botanicals is a practice that has been used throughout history by many ancient and modern cultures. In fact, the Indian head massage comes from India, where it is carried out regularly on all family members to keep scalp and hair in good condition, relieve tension and promote health. As Husbands said, the most obvious benefit of scalp massaging is the instantaneous increase in blood flow and circulation in the region, which nourishes hair follicles. Stress and tension, which can restrict blood flow to the follicles, and sebum plugs and excess dead skin, which can block hairs from exiting the follicles, can all be improved by massaging the scalp on a daily basis. Melanie Vonzabuesnig, a certified aromatherapist specializing in formulas for scalp and hair conditions and the author of Hair Loss in Women ... Getting to the Root of the Problem, reports that the benefits of scalp massage are greatly increased by adding essential oils to the regimen because of their ease of absorption; antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties; and well-known energizing, invigorating effects on both the skin and the underlying cellular regeneration process. Some say essential oils can actually penetrate the cuticle and renew hair from within.

Many hairstylists also have been adding scalp massage to their shampoo regimens for clients, whether or not they are experiencing hair loss. In fact, as New York City hairstylist Xac Cruz explains, "Adding massage techniques to a shampoo session or, as I like to call it, a 'Hair Bath' is not only an amazing, relaxing and unexpected treat, but also it improves blood circulation, which delivers nutrients to the hair and scalp. I use acupressure points, called tsubo in Japan." Tsubo points are weak spots along an energy path and typically occur near joints, in the depressed junctures where muscles meet. Two points are easily found at the natural hollow between the ear and the middle line of the neck at the base of the skull. You can apply gentle pressure to tsubo points and in just a few seconds help relieve tension and open up pathways. Edmondo Blando, owner of Salon Vanity in Philadelphia, has taken it a step further and created soothing rinsing techniques, such as his "hair waterfall," and he incorporates his all-time favorite Moroccanoil into his clients' scalp massage treatments.

What can I expect from scalp massage and aromatherapy?

You can order scalp massage oils, even the one from the study above, from essential oil companies and massage them in for use overnight, or you can slip in some shiatsu and other scalp massage techniques while you shampoo in the shower. A smart way to get great technique tips is from a certified massage therapist (if you know one), or watch and learn from one, such as the one featured on this great free Videojug video (www.videojug.com/film/how-to-do-an-indian-head-massage), which uses a nationally certified massage therapist to demonstrate the steps in an Indian head massage. This way you can adopt the techniques that feel best to you. And remember -- be gentle -- because the last thing you want to do is create stress on weak hair by rubbing too harshly and pulling hairs out.
  • Once hair is wet or oiled, use your fingertips to perform circles at either side of the base of the neck. This is a good place to hold gentle pressure at the base of the hairline/skull for a few seconds.
  • Fan fingers upward and stroke up into the hair roots. At neckline glide hand up into the hairline. Repeat glide. (If shampooing, however, stylists agree that you should keep the shampoo at the scalp only; do not pile hair up on top of the head or rub throughout hair shaft, because this only distresses the hair cuticle, dries it out and roughs it up.)
  • Bring hands to the side of your hairline in a fan with fingers pointing up. With heel of hands in contact with the scalp use a circular-fingertip motion to massage around hairline. Repeat this motion toward the crown, massaging shampoo/oil gently all around other areas of the scalp.
  • You can also rub vigorously back and forth, using small motions all over for a more intense feeling, if you like it. Keep fingertips in contact with the scalp at all times to minimize roughing of the hair.
  • Slowly reduce rubbing to stroking fingers through the hair and move to the top of the forehead and use the fingertip circles again to move down the hairline, ending with gentle circles at the temples.
  • End the massage by stroking fingers downward over scalp, slower and slower. If shampooing, rinse using a "water-fall" motion.

If you have shampooed, apply conditioner to the ends first, then the midshaft. Use a sweeping motion to distribute conditioner throughout hair, but not so much the scalp, where conditioner does nothing, advises Nicholas Penna, owner of Salon Capri, who has been styling hair in the Boston area for over 40 years.

Complications of scalp massage

Do not use any botanicals that you know you are allergic to and always perform an overnight patch test behind your hair to be sure -- you don't want to exacerbate your condition with any type of allergic reaction. If you are working with a practitioner be sure to tell the individual about any allergies or sensitivities and disclose your full hair loss diagnosis.

The bottom line on scalp massage and aromatherapy as a hair loss treatment

This type of treatment works best for those who have the time and patience to follow the practitioner's plan exactly and to take a whole-body approach to their hair loss.

Also, results may or may not be noticeable in six to eight months, depending on your hair loss diagnosis, so keep doing it as long as it feels good.

Selasa, 09 Oktober 2012

Hair Regrowth Therapy for Women

Hair Regrowth Therapy Can Reverse Women's Hair Loss



Cultural standards of beauty being what they are, hair loss in women is particularly difficult. But there are several ways in which women can stop losing hair and sometimes gain some back.


It is a sobering fact that approximately 40 percent of women experience some type of hair loss in their lifetimes. Some of it is just a phase and reversible -- for example, after giving birth, after surgery, during chemotherapy treatments or when physically shocked by undernourishment, as happens with severe anorexia or crash dieting. But women's equivalent to male pattern baldness -- technically known as androgenic (or androgenetic) alopecia -- can be just as irreversible as with men. Some hair loss that is reversible in most women ends up as a permanent loss in others.

There are, however, answers in certain therapies that can slow, stop and sometimes reverse hair loss. The educated woman has many tools at her disposal; the key point is to use the right methods and to use them as soon as possible. One promising method is hair regrowth therapy.

Hair regrowth therapy: Topical treatments can stop female hair loss

While largely marketed as a way for men to reduce hair loss, Rogaine (generic name minoxidil) for women is in fact found to be effective. A 2 percent solution is recommended for women, but physicians are able to prescribe a 5 percent solution to them even though product indicators state it is for men (testing on women is limited because of the risks in testing anything on premenopausal women, and the 5 percent Rogaine solution is often too harsh for sensitive skin). Nineteen percent of women using the 2 percent solution experience a moderate regrowth of hair, while 40 percent of women exhibit minimal regrowth.

Systemic (internal, taken orally) solutions such as finasteride (Propecia) are resolutely not recommended, despite a high rate of success in men. This is due to the fact that the product can cause serious birth defects when ingested by women who are pregnant (merely touching a broken tablet can have the same effect). Also, tests on postmenopausal women found that it was largely ineffective anyway.

Hair regrowth therapy: Laser hair therapy can stimulate female hair follicle vitality

In almost every midsize to major city in the United States (and much of the developed world as well), there exists at least one hair regrowth facility that employs laser hair therapy as a core treatment method. Laser hair therapy uses photobiostimulation, which increases blood flow to the scalp, bringing nutrients that improve the overall health of the hair follicle. With this, existing hair is less likely to decline. In some cases, existing follicles that were in dormancy are brought back to normal growth.

One such hair regrowth facility that employs laser stimulation is Transitions of Indiana, an Indianapolis-based center where the majority of clients are women. "Most are between the ages of 40 and 70 years old," explains Melissa Green, a hair loss consultant who works daily in laser therapy. "Most women and men suffer from androgenetic alopecia. We do treat men and women with different types of alopecia such as alopecia areata [baldness in patches]. Laser hair therapy is also a very effective and safe treatment protocol for individuals who have been through chemotherapy or radiation."

How well does it work? "The expectations of the clients are to slow down the rate of their hair loss and to partially restore their hair," says Green. "Typically, laser hair therapy is most effective when done in a series of treatments. For that alone, we don't recommend a client to just have a couple of treatments, because it would not produce any results." Costs for their program are in the ballpark of $2,000; however, costs vary by market and according to ancillary services, such as scalp massages and cleansing, which can double and triple what customers pay.

Hair regrowth therapy: Combination hair loss prevention therapies for women are effective

Another clinic, Hans Wiemann Hair Replacement, located near St. Louis, Missouri, offers a program that includes twice-a-week appointments of 20 minutes each, plus a once-every-two-weeks scalp cleansing and therapeutic massage. Both the Missouri and Indiana facilities apply or sell shampoos and scalp treatments containing nutrients and vitamins that promote circulation of blood to the scalp and hair follicles. "We offer a full range of scalp treatments to act in the global wellness approach to the overall health of the internal hair follicle," says Green.

Green says their program will yield results in 60 to 90 days but greater results can be achieved after that. "The longer a person does laser, the more stimulation is occurring and the higher the success rate." She says the overall success rate is 85 percent but that "laser isn't designed to regrow hair if the follicle is no longer producing hair. If that were the case, there would never be a need for other modalities such as hair transplantation or non-surgical grafting."

Early-Stage Laser Hair Therapy Can Be Effective

For thinning hair, laser hair therapy could be the perfect hair loss treatment.



Laser hair therapy works -- specialists who administer it explain that it can improve hair count by 10 percent. While often confused with the removal of unwanted hair, hair loss laser therapy has found its adherents for several reasons. One is that it does not require taking hair loss medications, such as Rogaine or Propecia (however, some patients claim a synergistic effect from combining either with hair loss laser therapy). For people who are showing signs of becoming bald but are not ready to consider a hair replacement system, laser hair therapy is an option worth exploring.

How does laser hair therapy work? Hair loss laser therapists explain that it widens faltering hair follicles, stimulating them to repair and regain the ability to grow hair shafts that may have been getting smaller in the hair loss process. The person who seeks hair loss laser treatments while still in the early phases of thinning hair will experience the best results. The significantly bald person will not be able to stimulate growth in hair follicles that are largely defunct.

Notably, the FDA has cleared therapeutic baldness laser therapy for being safe. The agency does not vouch for effectiveness.

You can administer laser therapy yourself or have it professionally done. The methods involve different levels of diode exposure, with varying levels of results as well. In a laser hair therapy studio, a trained professional will guide and monitor the treatment, which typically involves three appointments per week. The at-home approach involves the use of hand-held laser combs and laser brushes and takes just as much time. Treatment at regular intervals is considered essential to success in stimulating hair growth.

Whether you try it at home, go to a salon or consider alternative hair loss remedies, you need to study your options.

Senin, 08 Oktober 2012

Best Hair Extensions of 2011: UltraTress

UltraTress: The Very Best and Safest Hair Extensions for You



With UltraTress hair extensions, you can get a gorgeous, natural-looking head of hair in less than two hours.

The best salons and stylists around the world choose UltraTress hair extensions for their clients. These top-quality extensions are created from hand-selected 100 percent human Remi hair. They are easy to apply and offer customers the flexibility and beauty that they desire. UltraTress is our choice for best hair extensions of 2011.

Hair Extensions: The UltraTress difference
 
Like other hair extensions, UltraTress can lengthen your hair; however, UltraTress hair extensions can also be used to add volume to thinning hair, as well as color, highlights or lowlights. Whatever look you are trying to achieve, you can do it with UltraTress.

A full head of UltraTress hair extensions can be applied in as little as two hours, while other hair extensions can take eight hours or more. In addition, the application techniques used with UltraTress extensions are much less traumatic to your existing hair.

"UltraTress offers three different types of extensions attached by unique methods," says Doug Spike, business development consultant at On Rite. "Regardless of your needs or budget, they have the right hair extensions for you."

Types of UltraTress hair extensions
 
"UltraLinks extensions are perfect for adding small quantities of hair," says Spike. With these links of 100 percent Remi human hair, you can add length, volume, color or texture without glue and heat. UltraLinks are also easy to remove and can be reused.

For length and styling flexibility, you can't go wrong with UltraStrands extensions. These hair extensions provide a very natural appearance. "They are applied in small quantities using a heat-activated adhesive," explains Spike.

For a full-head of extensions in about two hours, UltraTress II is the answer.

"The advantage of UltraTress II is that you can cover a wide area without much time in the chair," says Spike. With UltraTress II, the hair is placed higher on the scalp and temples, allowing you to add length and volume in all directions using its unique technologically advanced method of application.

UltraTress hair extensions for thinning hair
 
For those experiencing thinning hair and hair loss, UltraTress extensions are the perfect solution. They can be applied to areas of the head (such as high up on the temples and up to the anterior midscalp) where traditional extensions can't. Because of this, amazing results and fullness can be achieved. Plus, the application techniques are much more gentle and less damaging to existing hair.

With some hair extensions, you can sit at the salon all day long, and when you come out, you still aren't satisfied with the results. In fact, many have given up on the idea of extensions altogether because of the needed time commitment and the ultimately underwhelming results. No one wants to waste time and money, but unfortunately that has become all too common. UltraTress, however -- unlike many other hair extension solutions -- reliably produces the desired results.

With UltraTress, you can get full, long, natural-looking hair in a fraction of the time it takes to apply typical hair extensions. Whether you are looking for longer hair for a special occasion, want to try out a new glamorous look, or need to add volume to your thinning hair, UltraTress offers a variety of options to suit your needs.

Hair Loss Treatment -- Laser Hair Therapy

As a hair loss treatment, low-level Laser Hair Therapy has been proven to be effective in treating thinning hair and hair loss in its early stages in both men and women.



The key to avoiding hair loss is not to ignore it, says Shelly Beatty, owner and hair loss consultant of StyleMakers Salon in Fort Worth, TX, who says there is much that can be done if hair follicles are still alive. "Once follicles are dead there is nothing you can do to bring them back to life, so if you notice changes in hair growth, thinning or fall-out, don't wait to see a doctor and a hair loss specialist!" Using low-level laser hair therapy can give lagging hair follicles a boost and it can work in conjunction with other treatments like DHT blockers such as Propecia and topical shampoos as well as topical minoxidil you may be considering or already using, for even more positive results. Typically you'll want to check with your primary care physician and a dermatologist to determine why you're losing your hair first, because this therapy works only for certain hair loss conditions.

Is laser hair therapy for me?
  • Have you just recently noticed hair fall-out or changes in hair health?
  • Are you experiencing age-related hair loss due to excess DHT?
  • Are you using hair care products to remove DHT?
  • Are you currently taking Propecia (finasteride) or using Rogaine (minoxidil)?
  • Are you on any medications that could be causing temporary hair loss?
  • Can you afford the time and money for weekly treatments?

How does laser hair therapy work?
 
If you answered YES to any of the above questions, low-level laser hair therapy is a viable way to target hair loss early. It can be administered through a hand-held unit or a full headed laser you might find at a hair loss clinic or studio. This hair loss treatment has been approved by the FDA to promote hair growth in males only with male pattern baldness who have Norwood Hamilton Classifications of I to V. The unit features diodes and LED lights that distribute low-level laser light to the scalp.

Because hair is meant to fall out and re-grow from the roots, when follicles begin to shrink and degenerate, the hair does not grow back and subsequently, hair loss occurs. Studies showed that the laser light therapy, when used on a regular basis can strengthen and regenerate shrinking follicles to grow again. The laser light increases blood flow to the scalp and jump-starts hair follicles. This slows down hair loss and in many cases is said to reverse the degenerative cycle and stimulate a live follicle to produce more, thicker, stronger, healthier hair.

What can I expect from laser hair therapy?
 
Experts agree it is key to find a hair loss professional to advise you in this treatment and/or administer it in the salon. Depending upon your reasons and amount of hair loss, you will most likely visit your salon 1-3 times a week for a treatment. But it does not work instantaneously, cautions Beatty. "Don't expect a full head of hair in 8 weeks -- the follicle needs time to produce new hair, exit the scalp, and grow to a measurable length before you will notice results. Usually you can see results in about three months with significant results in about 6 months," explains Beatty. "That's why we take close-up photographs of the hair loss area before the treatment and again every three months so you can see the improvement."

If your hair loss is severe experts agree that using low-level laser hair therapy will work best in conjunction with other treatments, like Propecia for men. Suggests Beatty, "if your hair loss is age-related and you are producing DHT that is attacking follicles, I recommend using hair care products that remove and inhibit DHT from affecting follicles, so they can better benefit from the laser treatments."

Complications of laser hair therapy
 
If your hair loss was temporary, a medical side effect or some other hormonal reason that was resolved, low-level laser hair therapy will re-grow hair faster and healthier. But, cautions Beatty, if your hair loss is progressive and you discontinue laser therapy your hair loss will revert to what it would have been if you had not done any treatments at all.

Also, when utilizing laser therapy devices, "More is NOT better!" cautions Beatty. Also low-level laser hair therapy will NOT work if you are losing hair due to chemotherapy or experiencing alopecia areata or have had extensive hair loss for more than five years.

The bottom line on laser hair therapy
 
The best results are obtained when you work with a hair loss specialist to devise a plan specific to your type of loss that includes evaluating results so expectations are realistic.

"For the best results, look for a program that offers in-salon sessions with a powerful "standing" laser machine -- partnered with a high quality hand-held laser with adequate strength for at home use", says Beatty. "We carry a handheld laser that has 9 diodes and cost approximately $500 to $600. "The standing one I use in my salon is much more powerful with 92 diodes."

Minggu, 07 Oktober 2012

The Science of Male Pattern Baldness

Learn Specific Causes and Factors of Male Pattern Baldness



The predictable pattern of men's hair loss depends on your genetic predisposition to a pattern of events that can affect your hair follicles as you age.


The most common cause of hair loss in men is clinically called androgenetic (also androgenic) alopecia, which is also referred to as male pattern baldness. In their recent paper "Update on Pathogenesis, Genetics and Medical Treatments of Patterned Hair Loss," published in the November 2010 issue of Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, coauthors Dr. Eric Schweiger and Dr. Robert Bernstein reviewed the major advances in the genetics of men's hair loss over the past decade, as well as our understanding of how it is caused.

In Caucasians, 30 percent of males over the age of 30 and 50 percent of males over the age of 50 are affected by male pattern hair loss. Simply stated, hair loss in men increases with age and occurs when more hairs fall out than are replaced by regrowth, depending on genetically preprogrammed hair follicles.

Male pattern baldness is caused by three factors: genes, hormones & age

Common baldness cannot occur without the presence of specific inherited genes (androgen receptors) that cause hair follicles to be more susceptible to specific hormonal changes as men age. Testosterone, the same male hormone (androgen) that causes acne and beard growth at puberty, can also signal the beginning of baldness. As a man ages, a commonly occurring enzyme called type II 5-alpha- reductase increases, and it converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) when testosterone enters a hair follicle. DHT attaches to androgen receptors in the hair follicles and causes male hair loss by shrinking the hair follicles and shortening the growth phase (anagen) of the hair growth cycle, producing progressively shorter, finer hairs (vellus hairs). This sensitivity to DHT depends on one's genetics and is present mainly in hair follicles on the front, top and crown of the scalp (not the back and sides), causing the predictable pattern of male progressive hair loss described by the Norwood-Hamilton Classification. Eventually these vellus hairs disappear and never grow back again, resulting in baldness.

The review found that men who are genetically deficient in type II 5-alpha-reductase do not experience male pattern hair loss. In addition, treatment with the prescription medication finasteride (brand name Propecia), a selective inhibitor of type II 5-alpha-reductase, slows the progression of male pattern hair loss and produces regrowth of hair in up to 66 percent of men. In men who are experiencing male pattern hair loss, there is an increased amount of type II 5-alpha-reductase, so there is an increase in the formation of DHT.

New studies have been looking into what other genetic factors may be at play and have found that differences in particular sections of the X chromosome also were associated with androgenetic alopecia in men.

The diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness

The diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia in men is made by observing a "patterned" distribution of hair loss using the Norwood-Hamilton Classification and confirmed by observing the presence of miniaturized hairs in the areas of thinning. This miniaturization, which is described as the progressive decrease of the hair shaft's diameter and length, can be observed using a densitometer, a handheld instrument that magnifies a small area of the scalp where the hair has been clipped to about 1 millimeter in length.

When the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia is still uncertain, further diagnostic information can be obtained from a hair-pull test, a scraping and culture for fungus, a microscopic examination of the hair bulb and shaft, and a scalp biopsy. A dermatologic consultation is warranted whenever the cause of hair loss is unclear.

Genetic testing may predict male pattern baldness

The HairDX genetic screening test is used to predict, prior to the onset of symptoms, whether a man will experience pattern hair loss. The test is sold to doctors in a kit and administered by a simple cheek swab. It detects the presence of eight specific variants in the androgen receptor (AR) gene that are found on the X chromosome. Dr. Schweiger points out that no specific "baldness gene" has been identified with certainty. "I think the test has probably identified a predictor of hair loss, but not the only predictor. There is science behind the test and some published research studies; however, the longitudinal, larger studies have not been done, because this testing procedure is just too new."

Any genetic testing should be performed under a doctor's supervision so that it can be put in the context of a careful history, a physical examination and a densitometry hair evaluation.

"Right now, we predict future hair loss based on follicle miniaturization, using advanced microscopic equipment," says Dr. Schweiger, "and I advise a man to do this at around age 25. If someone presents with more than 25 percent miniaturization, then it's time to start a hair loss prevention regimen."

The Definitive Hair Loss Treatment

Protect Yourself From Consumer Fraud In the Hair Loss Treatment Industry



That title got you, didn't it? If you wish you could just wave a magic wand and get your hair back, read on to protect yourself from consumer fraud in the hair loss treatment industry.

When your hair loss becomes apparent to you, it can suddenly become the focus of your life. You can feel desperate for any kind of cure or promise that will grow your hair back. But that's not a realistic expectation, is it? When Roy Baxter, a 37-year-old businessman, began to notice the bald spot on the back of his head, it was almost too late. His scalp was showing through, and his hair had apparently been thinning for several years before he was aware of it. After going to the doctor, he learned that his male pattern baldness was permanent and progressive and that once the follicles were dead, they couldn't be brought back to life. And that's the truth Roy had to face.

While browsing around online, Roy found lots of "cures" and solutions to his hair loss, but he didn't know which ones were proven treatments and which ones were not. So, how do you tell the difference? And how does the "un-approved" hair loss treatment industry make its billions of dollars each year? Well, millions of Americans experiencing hair loss are absolutely desperate for a cure, despite the facts. And many hair-loss-"cure" Web sites and products seem plausible � so, like Roy, you might be tempted to click the order button. But there are many ways to tell the real products from the fakes if you know where to look.
  • Get the facts: The Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises that education is power against fraud and can help you make well-informed decisions before you make a purchase. Get a medical diagnosis from a doctor for your hair loss; then read up on how your specific type of hair loss can be treated. Visit a hair loss treatment professional and talk to others who have your type of hair loss to see what works. Remember the old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

  • The truth about before-and-after photos on hair loss Web sites: It's extremely difficult just by looking at a picture to know the circumstances of any particular client's case or whether you would experience the same results, explains Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, M.D., F.A.A.D., clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University and hair transplant surgeon and director of Bernstein Medical Hair Restoration in New York City. A better way to gauge results of a specific hair loss treatment studio or doctor who has before-and-after pictures on a Web site is to go in person for a consultation and ask for the phone numbers of current or past patients in order to speak with them. Many companies that use identical products or procedures may use that supplier's before-and-after photos, and that's why they are the same on different Web sites. Ask where the photos come from and who did the work.

  • FDA approval: Approval by the Food and Drug Administration is a helpful benchmark because clinical studies that prove results must be completed before a company may make a treatment claim. Confusion arises because with the FDA approval of the generic drugs Minoxidil and Finasteride as being effective in halting the hair loss process, some companies will claim that any inclusion of these ingredients � in any form or amount � enables them to make the same effectiveness claims. Any other products (aside from the brand names Rogaine and Propecia) that do not have this exact FDA approval may not work and have not been tested or proven to produce the hair-restoration results they are claiming.

  • Promises, statements and claims: The FTC advises that you steer clear of any products making all-encompassing "cure" claims, especially if they are not FDA-approved. Ultra scientific jargon or terminology is specifically designed to make you think the product will "cure" your hair loss. Ditto for testimonials and undocumented case histories. Watch out for these marketing tactics.

  • Shady payment requirements: "Limited-time offer," "Hurry," Advance payment required" and "No-risk, money-back guarantee" are all attempts to make you quickly click the payment button, cautions the FTC. Resist the pressure to purchase on the spot and take your time to consult a trusted medical professional or pharmacist.

    As Roy learned, most procedures and products work best when they prevent hair loss, when you still have your hair. There is no magic cure. You have to be realistic in your expectations and cognizant of the fact that once hair follicles are dead, hair loss is permanent. By trying any unproven treatments, you are simply delaying appropriate treatment that could be saving hair follicles, at the stage at which many of the current proven treatments can improve hair counts. Once hair loss is permanent, non-surgical hair replacement and surgical hair transplant are your only options for replacing hair that was lost.

    Sabtu, 06 Oktober 2012

    Hair Loss in the Gay Community

    We're Here. We're Bald. Get Used to It!



    As is the case in many communities, the hair loss community is made up of many subcommunities. A "subcommunity" could be defined by just about any parameter, such as those who live in the Midwest or those who are vegetarians. So if one were to look into the experiences of hair loss community members who are gay, would one find any differences in their experiences compared with those of the larger community?

    "Absolutely," says Nick, a 40-something man who has been bald for a decade or so. "There's a much bigger emphasis on appearance than in the straight community, and for many gay men, hair loss is to be avoided at all costs."

    "Not at all," says Quinn, 38, who started losing his hair when he was 29 and has since resisted the temptation to spend a chunk of change on expensive hair loss treatments. "Sure, some individuals have a hang-up about it, but so do a lot of women when they're picking and choosing from straight guys."

    A posting on a queer forum turned up a similar difference of opinion from respondents.

    "Makes no difference to me, really," said one post. "I've seen sexy and not sexy men with and without hair and all stages in between."

    "I comb mine over so no one can tell," said another.

    There is more to people than their hair loss.

    In general, however, the posts seem to reflect the feeling that hair loss is not as important as general appearance, that is, how the lack of hair fits in with the total overall look. Of even greater importance, however, is the comfort that the person with hair loss feels in "his own skin."

    "Sometimes I really hate it, and sometimes I am totally OK with it," says Roman Sommers, who is 48 and started losing his hair in his 30s. "It used to bother me a lot more. All men are vain, gay men even more so. I would obsess about it, even have dreams about it. Finally, I told myself, 'OK, this is a test of how shallow I can be about my own looks.' When I thought about it that way, it became much easier to just let it go and be done with the issue."

    "I still get serious attention from some guys," he continues, "so it's obviously not a deal breaker for everyone. I think any bald guy looks much better when he does not care about it and just keeps a close, clean cut, rather than trying to compensate with some expensive hair loss treatment or a comb-over or a ponytail or hair replacement or something. Attitude is important."

    However, Roman does mention that "many gay guys are seriously into judging each other's looks. When you're bald, you just know that you've been dealt a weak hand in that regard. You can either let that get under the skin or disregard it as irrelevant. I shoot for the latter. I'm not always successful, but it tends to work."

    Summing up, Roman says, "I think I may have gotten more than my fair share of good things in my life. Whining about my lack of hair seems like tempting fate. It's a clich� to say it about my hair loss, but 'it is what it is.'"

    Nick, who was quoted above as stating that there is a big difference in the way the gay community views a man with hair loss, says, "The gay community is very complex, of course, but I really do think that in general there's much more importance placed on physical appearance. It's a stereotype, and it's certainly not true throughout the community, but there's also a reason why so many gay men are hung up on going to the gym every day and on spending a great deal of time and money on wardrobe selection."

    "And it's not solely related to wanting to appear desirable," he adds, "although that, of course, is a large component. I personally think that there is greater tendency all around to judge people in the community, so many gay men spend a lot of time worrying about how their individual looks are going to be received and interpreted by others, apart from whether they're going to be thought of as sexy."

    Quinn, also quoted above, has another take on the matter. "Everyone talks about gay men being obsessed with their looks," he says. "Well, I've seen plenty of my straight friends getting ready for a date, and some of them pour it on as much as I do � worse, even. They're just as worried about how their hair (or lack of it) looks and about if you can see their little double chins and if their pants make their butts look big."

    "Look," he says, "people are people � period. We all have our hang-ups; we all have issues. Yes, yes, yes, some gay men heap scorn on a guy just because he's lost hair. Some others think it's sexy. It's no different than women that dismiss a guy for the same reason."

    "What's important," Quinn concludes, "and I'm only going to say this once, is accepting yourself. I don't have hair. I wish I did, but I'm not going to let that stop me from looking good. I've found what works for me, and I'm happy with who I am now. I'm bald. I'm gay. I'm a little overweight. I'm me. Get used to it."

    Jumat, 05 Oktober 2012

    Daily Care for Wig Wear


    Treat Your Wig as an Investment in Looking and Feeling Great

     

     

    If you've spent all that money on a beautiful wig, don't skimp on the special care and products you need to help it look its best.

     

    Once you've gotten over the hurdle of deciding on wearing a wig and choosing the perfect wig just for you, you'll want to get the most wear out of it, right? Well, you'll need to thoroughly learn how to care for exactly your type of wig to help it look beautiful for as long as possible. Terri Johnston, owner and hair replacement specialist of The Inspiration Salon in Rockford, Ill., and Dave Barker, owner of International Hair Restoration Systems in Jacksonville, Fla., have joined forces to put together the definitive wig care instruction list.

    Since only the person from whom you bought the wig can tell you exactly how to care for it (and he or she should give you precise written care instructions, plus show you how during a visit), obtaining that information is the first step in proper wig care, explains Barker. Johnston adds, "But if you're wearing a bonded human hair wig, it's just like your own hair -- you wash it in the shower and style as usual, and nowadays the cap membrane is so thin that if it itches, you can scratch it!" But they both agree on something important: If you've spent all that money on a beautiful wig, don't skimp on the special products you need to help it look its best

    What do I need to know about my wig?
    • What type of hair and cap my wig is made from
    • The schedule for cleaning
    • Special products I may need
    • Special care dos and don'ts
    Caring for your wig -- easy as 1-2-3:
    1. Schedule: You'll wash your wig, depending on what it is made from and your daily lifestyle, on average one to two times per week. If you are very active, work out, partake in sports or live in a hot, humid climate, you may want to wash it more often. If you're wearing a bonded human hair wig (permanently attached to your head using adhesive), then you may wash your hair as you shower -- and the water and soap go right through to your scalp and rinse out easily.

    2. Washing instructions: 
      1. Start by gently combing your wig with a wide-tooth comb, starting from the ends and working your way toward the scalp or cap to detangle as you go before you wash.
      2. Always use cool water on synthetic wigs, but if yours is made of human hair, you may use warm water.
      3. Fill a bathtub, sink or bucket with enough water to submerge your wig.
      4. Dunk the wig through the clear water and swish in one direction gently, then the other.
      5. Dissolve the recommended amount and type of special wig care shampoo into the water (it distributes throughout the wig more evenly this way) and swish your wig through it the same way as before. As much as possible, try to keep all the hair going in one direction at a time to avoiding tangling.
      6. To rinse, hold the wig under the faucet so the water flows down the direction of the hair. Or, dunk it in another bucket of clear water for rinsing.
      7. Fill up the sink, tub or bucket again and dissolve conditioner throughout and repeat the swishing and rinsing steps until the water runs clear.
      8. Lay your wig on a towel and gently roll it up inside to dry. Don't rub -- it will tangle your wig's hair!
      9. Again, gently detangle your wet wig with a wide-tooth comb, starting from the ends and working your way toward the scalp or cap to detangle as you go.
      10. Put your wig, if synthetic, on a head stand to dry. If your wig is made of human hair, gently blow-dry it or style it as desired, using only styling products recommended by hair loss specialists.

      1. Night care: If your wig is removable, we recommend removing it every night and placing it on a head stand. A synthetic wig needs to be removed at night so it will retain its shape and style as well as the integrity of the hair. Friction from the pillow at night will fuzz the ends. For a human hair wig, however, especially if it's bonded to your head, it's not necessary to do anything different at all.
      The bottom line on wig care
       
      Basically, the biggest care issue involves being gentle. You'll want to avoid tangling your wig hair as much as possible -- that's how you'll get the best, most beautiful wear out of your wig.

      Parenting a Child with Trichotillomania

      Trichotillomania is a hair pulling disorder that requires a lot of love, patience and understanding from the parents and family.

       

      It's a concerned parents' worst nightmare -- anything in the world they can't protect their kids from. As a dad, I can tell you the thoughts start from the moment the red plus sign appears on the early pregnancy test, and I imagine it will never really go away. Wanting the best for your child is a given, so we deal with the heartache that professional sports may not be in his future or becoming the next Justin Bieber won't be happening anytime soon. But what happens when your child develops a condition you never heard of before, one that, when you do hear about it, makes you think someone is pulling one over on you?

      Trichotillomania, commonly referred to as "trich," is considered a neurological disorder that causes young boys and girls to pull out their hair anywhere and everywhere on their body. Although in many cases the hair will grow back, repeatedly pulling on hair in the same area will eventually damage the follicles, and then one is left with random and often unsightly bald patches. As a parent, watching this, knowing your child is suffering mentally and emotionally, and then seeing the physical manifestation of bald patches will easily take its toll. There are some things that you'll want to do and do very quickly if you are a parent in this situation.

      I'm going to start from the premise that your child knows she is participating in a behavior that needs to be addressed for her health and safety. The concept of health covers the physical, mental, emotional and, depending on one's orientation and beliefs, spiritual.

      Parents must educate themselves about Trichotillomania
       
      First things first -- do your own research. There is enough information out there that you can search on Google or any other browser and you'll be pretty much up to speed on the subject in short order. Look for answers, traditional approaches and alternative ones too! Chat rooms and parent support groups are great sources for information.

      Then seek out one or more of the following:

      1. A knowledgeable doctor in your area who has treated teens with trich and has a successful track record in doing so. Don't be afraid to call and interview the doctor first or to speak to an office manager or a physician's assistant to get a sense of the doctor's approach and perhaps even demeanor.

      2. A known Therapist who treats teens for this disorder and a subsequent age-appropriate support group. Moving into acceptance and out of judgment usually comes when kids see they're not alone. Early support can be the difference between nipping it in the bud and a lifetime of challenges and upset.

      3. An alternative medicine or holistic doctor whose approach might be a combination of supplements and herbs surrounded by an exercise regimen to keep your child's metabolism working for him rather than against him. Additionally, I often suggest to clients that yoga is a great way to quiet the mind, and if kids are open to developing that discipline, it will do wonders for them as well.

      If it's age appropriate, include your child in the choice and direction of treatment, knowing you may still need to pull the parent card and make the ultimate decision.

      Facing Trichotillomania in the family
       
      Now that you have a team in place, get your own family team together. The age of your child will determine how actively she will participate in the healing process, since this condition can be discovered in children as young as a year old. Regardless, make sure that everyone is on the same page. Divided parents and/or other siblings are not going to help your child deal most effectively.

      As a parent, take a moment, sometimes longer, and be clear within yourself that although this, well, sucks, there is nothing you did wrong to cause this situation. The "shoulda-coulda/if only I" game is not one where you or your child will win. If you need to move past this, then please get the support you need from a Therapist, a Coach, other parents experiencing the same challenges or a parent support group. The biggest challenge for a child, especially on the emotional and mental levels, is sensing doubt, uncertainty and judgment coming directly or indirectly from his parents. That doesn't mean you're not entitled to your feelings and what comes forward for you emotionally. Just be willing to process that on your own, and in moments when you're having doubt, share with your child -- age-appropriate information, of course -- that you're having your own moment and that it's not about her.

      Upping the level of communication is going to be important, since leaving kids to their own devices about what they "know" is going on for their parents is more often than not inaccurate.

      Which really leads me to my last point and most important one: Be a good listener. Many kids withhold from their parents for fear of being judged or put down. Set aside a time when open sharing is welcomed and encouraged. Model it by sharing what you might normally keep inside yourself. Communication is a key component, so making sure that you as parents are there to listen -- without judgment, without trying to fix, just open ears and an open heart -- will make a huge difference in the healing everyone is desiring.

      Check out the Trichotillomania Learning Center (www.trich.org) to get the support you need!

      Kamis, 04 Oktober 2012

      Hair Loss Concealers Mask Thin Hair


      For the Right Condition, a Hair Loss Concealer May "Work"



      Provided you have enough hair, hair loss concealers can be a simple and inexpensive way to achieve a natural look.


      Hair loss is always going to be a matter of degree. You might have a little thinning at the top, if you are a guy. It's the beginning of a progressive condition that could leave you with a predominantly bald head a few years down the road. Women with androgenic alopecia more commonly lose their hair in a generalized distribution, but the loss can range from minor to extensive. Alopecia areata loss is distinct and asymmetrical but with wide variation in size and location.

      So it makes sense that the solutions for achieving the look of a fuller head of hair would come in a broad variety as well. This article is about hair loss concealers, the various products designed to address thinning areas where some follicles are still present and long enough to support externally applied, pigmented fibers.

      Hair loss concealers: because you still have some hair there

      The cause of androgenic alopecia is DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which causes hair follicles to lose color and shrink in size. But during the early stages of the balding process, those follicles are thicker and longer, even if more scalp is visible.

      The purpose of hair loss concealers is to thicken those still-present fibers as well as to provide color. There are multiple products available on the market that accomplish this, with some that apply pigment to the scalp itself to enhance the illusion of thick hair.

      Do they work? Apparently for some, they do. Web sites for these products suggest that you may never notice concealer on those who wear it because their products are so convincing. But most acknowledge limitations, largely defined by the degree of thinning the individual experiences. In other words, it works best on people with early-stage hair loss, less so on people who have advanced baldness.

      It also depends on how the hair is styled, says a prominent Orlando hair stylist. "They do help only if the hair has been given an appropriate haircut," says Mike Van den Abbeel, owner of Mosaic Hair Studio in Orlando, Fla. "What I mean by 'appropriate' is short enough to help make the hair appear fuller. On long hair, the best they can do is hide the scalp on the part. Some people swear by them, while others don't see much difference."

      Hair loss concealers: different products, different applications

      There are many manufacturers of hair loss concealer products, sold online and available through salons as well. Most are made from keratin, the protein that is naturally present in human hair, others with botanicals (plant-derived) and emollients (substances that soften and smooth skin and hair). The form they take and how they are applied fall roughly into four categories:
      • Granular sprinkles: Applied with a shaker; the powdery product adheres to existing hair shafts thanks to an electrostatic charge. Use of a brush or comb evens the distribution.
      • Aerosol: Applied just like hairspray; similar to the sprinkles. Users need to be very good at the application technique, particularly if you need to use mirrors to hit your target.
      • Solid: Applied with an applicator (brushes and wipes) that coats and thickens the hair. This is a little more time consuming but can create a more convincing appearance if done correctly.
      • Expanders and lotions: Expanders add volume to hair, with at least one manufacturer claiming to increase the size of individual fibers by 50 percent. Masking lotions are topically applied, viscous liquid compounds.

      Most of these products have very specific instructions for application and, in general, should be applied to dry hair that is not styled with other products. Clumping can occur if the hair is wet or coated with something else.

      Van den Abbeel urges careful selection of products and use occasions. "Ease of use and color tones should be considered," he says. And while some products claim you can swim and perspire without adverse consequences, he advises caution concerning anything that might dislodge the concealer by friction or moisture. "These products work best when you are going out in some social setting, at work or on a date."

      Parenting the Child Suffering from Hair Loss

      When a Child Suffers from Hair Loss, Special Caring is what is Needed!



      While you can't personally re-grow the hair on your child's head (and we know you would if you could!) there's much you CAN do to ease the strain, understand and support your child and yourself.

      Nobody ever thinks about the possibility of hair loss as part of his or her child's life. But once it becomes a part of yours, whether from chemotherapy or from a hair loss disease like alopecia areata, your child is going to need your help ... and you are going to need help, too. And, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), the older the child, the more help and understanding your child will need.

      "As parents, we felt powerless. We could not grow hair on our child's head and we could not discover new drugs that would provide an effective hair loss treatment. We could, however, raise money that would fund research that hopefully one day would do both of those things," explain Wendy & Brian Ter Haar, parents of a grown child who suffered alopecia areata from a young age. The NAAF advises on ways to become an advocate for your child and other hair loss sufferers by reaching out to lawmakers and your community, educating your child's school about hair loss, and especially diseases like alopecia areata along with tips for supporting your child.

      While many organizations exist, you can create awareness and fundraise on your own for any hair loss reason, as high-schooler Tessa Romack did In January, 2009, when she organized a head-shaving event at her school.  After 70 shaves for $5 each and the sale of $2 NAAF bracelets, she raised over $2,000 for the NAAF and you can be sure that everyone at her school understood why she walked around bald!

      Become an advocate for hair loss issues

      Many hair loss charities and organizations are available to support your hair loss issues. One of the biggest is the NAAF, which raises money to support research to find a cure as well as new hair loss treatments for alopecia areata. Its additional mission is to support sufferers and raise public awareness and understanding of this unpredictable, devastating hair loss disease.  NAAF can help you get involved with fundraising, provide information for sufferers and the public and advocate for the concerns of those afflicted with alopecia areata. The NAAF also creates and distributes educational materials used by doctors, schools and other health professionals, which you can access for free.  Anyone can fundraise for the NAAF, and most other hair loss charities and associations, and two of its most popular benefits include a Tortoise & Hair 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk and the  "Links for Locks" golf tournament which have both provided great results both financially and emotionally.

      According to the NAAF, one of the best things you can do is get involved and find ways to educate others about the issues affecting your child. And the first step is to educate yourself about the hair loss issue that's important to you.

      • Reach out to business leaders, health care providers, educators, civic organizations, and religious groups who share your interest and band together to find strength in numbers.
      • Join local, state or regional coalitions focused on your topic and get on their mail or email list.
      • Write letters to the editor.  Check your local papers to see if they have covered your issue of interest. Let them know if you are organizing an event.
      • Attend public meetings, conferences, or "town hall" meetings held by legislators. Speak out during the public discussion portion of any town meeting that affects your issue.  Ask questions. Voice concerns.
      • Get involved with your legislators.  Is there an upcoming bill that affects your issue or concern? Be ready to discuss your concerns, ideas or opinions.
      • Give a donation or organize fundraisers to support your organization or its advocacy program.
      • Vote in all elections.  If any candidates represent your interests, consider joining the campaign.

      Educate your child's school about alopecia and hair loss

      If your child is suffering from a hair loss condition, no matter what the cause, it becomes important that the other people in your child's life understand what your child is going through, too. It's important that the kids and teachers understand that your child's hair loss is not contagious and that it will not in itself limit your child from doing all of the activities that other children do. "When challenges are presented, it can be discouraging when resources are not readily available. The purpose of the NAAF School Packet is to provide useful information to help both teachers and parents, as it offers ideas about lesson plans, books to read, as well as feedback and insight from other teachers and parents," says Lisa Butler, Director of Support, Public & Government Affairs for the NAAF.  The NAAF has created a free children's video that is intended for use in the home as well as the classroom. In addition most schools currently prohibit the wearing of hats within the classroom and many have adopted a school-wide "no-hat" policy. But if your child wants to wear a hat, you can apply for an exception through the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) by following the instruction sin the NAAF School Packet.

      You might also consider providing a "Crazy Cap Day" through the Children's Alopecia Project or "CAP" at your school. On a specified day, everyone who wants to wear a hat pays $1 to raise awareness and funds.

      Help your child feel better

      According to the NAAF, little ones under five years of age are generally not as affected by hair loss -- it's we adults who have to answer the questions and deal with our own feelings of pity, sorrow, guilt, or embarrassment. Once children are in Kindergarten and the primary grades of elementary school, they may be faced with curious comments or teasing which you need to be aware of. By third grade and into the teen years children become highly focused on their appearance as well as others' appearance, which reaches its height during teen years and can be very painful. Pediatric dermatologist Nancy Easterly suggests ways to help children deal with their feelings about their hair loss:
      • Tell your child that it's OK to feel bad, to cry.
      • Teach your kids that all kids (and adults, too!) have problems to cope with -- some you can see like hair loss or skin diseases and some that you cannot see like learning disabilities. These things you overcome make you a stronger, more caring adult.
      • Explain why your child is losing their hair in the simplest terms possible depending on his/her age whether it is from medication and infection or a disease like alopecia areata.
      • Find local support groups for children with hair loss issues and join up for groups and activities.
      • Consult your child about choices when problems and feelings arise and help them follow through on appropriate actions.
      • Encourage your child to take up activities they excel at and enjoy -- things that make them forget about their hair.
      • Listen to how your child is thinking and feeling about him or herself every day.

      Hair Replication: A Shortsighted Hair Loss "Solution"

      Hair Replication: A Hair Loss Solution that Isn't a Solution At All

      Hair replication, or "transdermal micropigmentation" is a hair loss treatment with benefits that are so short-term that it isn't even close to being worth the permanent side effects that follow.

      Regardless of whether one is a man or a woman, young or not so young, losing one's hair is a devastating experience to endure. Even with the increased incidence of males opting for the shaved head over the pattern baldness look, the hair loss treatment industry is larger today than ever before, having grown into a muti-billion dollar industry.

      Whether or not this is due to increased incidence of hair loss conditions is anyone's guess. What we do know is that more desperate people are enduring hair loss treatments that burn, conceal, apply, laser, slice, cut, plug, glue and cover their heads and scalps, hoping to find a cure that doesn't yet exist.

      These same desperate individuals continue to take Propecia, though there are strong indications that doing so can cause irreversible damage to men's sex drives. And just when we thought we'd seen it all, enter a new treatment, "hair replication". This method of gaining back one's hair sounds very scientific and high tech, like "hair multiplication" which refers to hair cloning research.

      But hair replication is not scientific or high tech, but is rather a tricky, shortsighted marketing ploy that ineffectively but permanently tattoos short strands of hair to one's head in a hopeless and misguided effort to create a new hairline and hair density on a scalp that no longer has either. Important-sounding and pseudoscientific words like "micropigmentation", "transdermal" and "hybrid method" are generously sprinkled throughout these providers' web sites, promising special "pigments" (that is to say "ink") that do not fade.

      In other words, it's a tattoo, pure and simple. Anyone who has ever been "inked" knows that tattoos fade and bleed over time. "Specially formulated" tattoo ink that doesn't fade in the sun and over time doesn't exist. We've all seen how tattoos look over the years; the Marine uncle with the Semper Fi tattoo that is scarcely visible any longer with faded and bleeding ink, the once sharp, thin black lines now thick, faded, discolored and, ultimately, a blotchy, unattractive mess.

      Imagine that blotchy mess on your scalp. To be fair, there are a minute number of practitioners who can produce a decent illusion of extremely short hair as is prominently displayed on their before and after photos. But these images capture the newly applied tattoo. Every tattoo looks sharp and full of color and life when it is first applied. The photos don't capture what happens after a few hours in the sun or how the treatment it is going to look in two years or more. The hairlines are typically drawn as straight lines across the forehead and true hair loss treatment professionals know that hairlines are rarely straight lines.

      It is safe to assume that the tattoo artists who practice hair replication require their clients to sign releases limiting the practitioner's liability for a botched procedure. The problem is, over time, they will all be botched procedures. The desperate consumer will readily sign a contract, never taking the time to think about how this so-called hair loss treatment is going to stand the tests of time. By the time the client realizes his mistake, these hair replication companies will have disappeared into fabric of our culture that has never stopped tolerating snake oil salesmen who take advantage of desperate people who want only to capture a bit of their lost natural appearance and to feel whole again.

      Rabu, 03 Oktober 2012

      Become Your Own Hair Loss Expert

      Prevent Hair Loss by Becoming Your Own Hair Loss Expert


       

      According to a popular theory, humans have evolved beyond needing any hair. But when hair loss begins, it seems we can't live without it.


      Hair seems to define us, doesn't it? But it also defines us as being a mammal, scientifically speaking, and anthropologically and archaeologically, evidence suggests that we have had hair (or fur) since before we stood up on two legs. Back then, goes the theory, humans needed protection from the elements such as extreme cold and ultraviolet radiation from the sun, so fur was a form of protection for our skin. As humans evolved with less of a need for that protection, body hair declined over the centuries. Once we learned how to wear animal furs and use bark and leaves as coverings, hair lost its protective value and restricted itself to just the areas on the human body we know of today. And most of those places are the focus of multibillion-dollar-a-year industries bent on removing the hair; but on the head it is the opposite: We spend as much time and money as possible devoted to keeping our hair and showing it off.

      As such, hair bears great social significance in terms of defining a person's identity. And when something happens to our hair -- such as a hair loss disease (for example, alopecia areata) or, on the other end of the spectrum, excessive hair growth on the body or even just a temporary accident -- we suffer great trauma as a result. Your hair can also identify you as a member of a certain social group, such as hippie, punk or prep or of a geographic, ethnic or religious group. As each displays its own defining characteristics, you can almost always spot an Orthodox Jew by his earlocks and tall hat, a Muslim by her hijab, a Rastafarian by his uncut dreadlocks. And, the act of shaving the head can symbolize punishment or purity depending on the situation. In fact, hair is also an indicator of health, with thinning or missing hair often an indicator of sickness.

      Want to better understand hair loss as well as hair loss prevention? Then become a hair loss expert yourself.

      Top-ten facts to give you a deeper understanding of hair loss and how to prevent hair loss:
      1. The length of a piece of hair has three parts: the root, which lies in the follicle beneath the scalp; the bulb, which is the swelling at the base of the scalp; and the shaft, which is the strand above the scalp (that shows).
      2. A cross section of a piece of hair also has three parts, and these are concentric. From the inside out: The medulla is the inner core of the hair; the cortex surrounds it in a layer of densely packed keratin; and the cuticle is hair's outer, clear, protective layer made up of scales that overlap and lay flat, like roof shingles.
      3. The cortex of the hair is the part that is penetrated and altered when you have a chemical process performed on your hair. The cuticle is the outer layer that gets roughed up by too much brushing, rubbing, heated styling-tool exposure and harsh chemicals, most often responsible for frizzy-looking, dull hair.
      4. It's the irregular shape of the hair follicle that determines whether your hair will be curly, kinky or wavy.
      5. The sebaceous gland associated with each hair follicle is largely responsible for secreting hair's own natural protection.
      6. The reason that hair transplantation can be so successful is that each follicular unit is complete and can be removed and replaced to a new location in much the same way you transplant a garden plant with its roots attached.
      7. A person's individual hair growth cycle, which can last from two to seven years, dictates his or her ultimate hair length, if it was not cut for that long. The "anagen" phase is a period of active growth and hair follicle regeneration. The "catagen" phase is when that follicle stops growing new hair, which often results in natural, normal hair shedding. Next is the "telogen" (resting) phase, in which the follicle remains dormant for a few months until it is reawakened by a new anagen growth phase. "Exogen" is the term that describes hair shedding as old hairs become dislodged by new ones, which usually takes place at the onset of a new anagen phase.
      8. Because of these phases, it's important to realize that natural hair shedding of 100-200 hairs daily is perfectly normal and a natural part of hair growth. This is not considered to be the hair loss we dread.
      9. Different ethnic hair types exhibit varying rates of growth: The average growth rate for Caucasian hair is about one-quarter inch per month, although hair growth can occur faster in children. Afro-Caribbean hair grows approximately half as fast as the Caucasian because of its fragile structure, and it rarely grows very long, either. Asian hair grows even faster than Caucasian hair and, as a result, grows even longer because of its thicker structure.
      10. The top-six normal things that can affect your hair's growth and health are hormonal changes, daily care, medications, stress, fungal or other infections and aging.
      Now that you're an expert and have a better understanding of what's considered "normal" for hair, you'll be able to identify any hair loss or hair-thinning concerns or issues you have and learn to better prevent hair loss and keep the hair you have.

      Ethnic Considerations in Hair Transplant Surgery

      Hair Transplant Surgery: Ethnic Differences Matter


       

      Be aware that your hair transplant surgery will be affected by hair's innate tendencies due to ethnic differences 

       

      Hair transplant surgery is such a delicate surgery, with so many variations, that consideration of ethnicity can make all the difference in the success of a surgery. Aside from the many technical aspects that differ, Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, M.D., F.A.A.D., clinical professor of dermatology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and hair transplant surgeon and director of Bernstein Medical Hair Restoration, also in New York City, explains that racial differences have an effect on all phases of the procedure, including the original diagnosis, any complications, the finished design and future aesthetic considerations that may arise because of racial differences in hair follicle and growth pattern, hair density and hair diameter.

      Dr. Bernstein explains that the hair density -- the number of hairs per square inch -- differs among ethnicities. Caucasians have the highest, followed by Asians, and Africans have the lowest density. Both Africans and Caucasians have thinner hair diameters, while Asians have a coarse, thicker hair diameter, which takes up more space. The average amount of hairs contained in each follicular unit also varies, as hairs typically grow in groupings of one to four hairs per follicle. Asians have groupings of one to two hairs per follicle, while Africans have three and Caucasians have anywhere from two to four hairs per follicle. In addition, the straightness or kinkiness of the hair makes a big difference in the final results. African hair is the kinkiest and finest, while Asian is the straightest and coarsest, with Caucasian hair falling somewhere in between depending on the client. Asians look as if they have more hair because of its thickness, and the kinkiness of African hair also makes it look thick, although it is actually very fine. Below, Bernstein explains how these variations affect the stages and decisions involved in a hair transplant surgery.

      Diagnosis is an important part of hair transplant surgery strategy

      The main differences in diagnoses of hair loss disorder occur between male and female causes for hair loss. But aside from those differences, some diagnoses are a little more racially determined. For example, traction alopecia is seen mainly in African-American women who wear tightly braided hairstyles that cause hair loss between braided sections or around the hairline, which can recede. Another form of "traumatic" hair loss in predominantly black women stems from constant heated styling close to the scalp and irritating chemical processes; this is called central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA). Both of these diseases are typically reversible if the woman stops her damaging hair practices; therefore, surgery wouldn't be necessary. But if the hair loss was permanent in those areas (as determined by a scalp biopsy), she would be a very good candidate for hair transplant surgery because of the health of donor hair areas not affected by the trauma. Bernstein stresses that the diagnosis is the all-important first step in determining your surgery strategy, because it concludes whether you have enough healthy donor hair to achieve the desired result.

      The hair transplant surgery procedure

      In terms of the technical aspects of the hair transplant procedure, Bernstein explains that there are two ways to harvest the grafts. One method is to take a long, thin strip and dissect follicular units; the other process, called follicular unit extraction, involves extracting each follicular unit separately under a microscope. In Caucasians both procedures are straightforward, but in Africans there is a huge difference because the follicular units are curved under the skin, unlike in Caucasians or Asians. Harvesting the follicular units is easiest in Asians because the hair is coarse and stiff. Strip harvesting usually gets a better yield, no matter what the ethnicity; but the procedure, no matter what the race, must always be done with a skilled surgical team.

      The hair transplant surgery design

      There are many differences, both cultural and physical, that affect the final design of the hair transplant. Asians, particularly Indians, in contrast to Caucasians, like to have broad, flat hairlines because they are especially concerned about frontal hair for their wedding ceremonies and this broader hairline requires more hair. "Often we weight it more in front and less in back, which is especially important depending on the amount of healthy donor hair they have," says Bernstein. In Caucasians, on the other hand, a little hair recession at the temples is perfectly acceptable, so surgeons can transplant and cover over a little, depending, again, on the amount of healthy donor hair available on the back and sides. Africans, however, can't use the comb-over method, because their hair does not lie flat and is kinky and fine, so the design is much less forgiving. "In comparison with Asians and Caucasians, Africans are less likely to be good candidates for hair transplant surgery unless they have good donor density to cover all bald or thinning spots," explains Bernstein.

      Complications of hair transplant surgery

      There are some other racial differences that can cause complications in the final outcome of the procedure, and clients need to be aware of them, advises Bernstein. Also, a personal history of skin and scarring tendencies should always be discussed. In Africans there is a greater incidence of keloids, or raised, thickened scars. They also don't have as much scalp flexibility to excise a strip of donor hair, and they run the risk of greater scarring, when compared with Caucasians. Asians don't have the propensity for thickened scars but can have a stretch scar or a visible incision scar because their hair grows more perpendicular to the scalp, so that when it is cut short, the scalp is more visible -- it becomes transparent and does not hide the scar. Luckily, notes Bernstein, the recipient areas usually show no scarring at all, no matter what the ethnicity.

      Final aesthetics of your hair transplant procedure

      "One final style issue all hair transplant recipients need to be aware of is that to avoid visible scars, they generally will not be able to wear their new hair cut close to the scalp -- and that goes for any race," cautions Dr. Bernstein. "In addition, we try never to make a judgment on a person's future hair loss when the patient is too young -- we try to wait until he or she is at least age 30 or so to determine a pattern of balding. We want to be sure there is a very good chance of having limited future hair loss and that donor areas are stable and healthy, usually at the sides and back of the head."

      The bottom line on hair transplant surgery

      Patients need to be aware of ethnic and racial differences and be sure to choose a skilled hair transplant surgical team that has experience with exactly their type of hair. Ask questions, ask for referrals and request before-and-after photos just to be sure.

      Selasa, 02 Oktober 2012

      Hair Loss Treatment Website Investigates Hair Loss in South Asia

      HairLoss.com, the most comprehensive website providing unbiased consumer information about hair loss conditions and hair loss treatments has published an in-depth feature report investigating hair loss in South Asia. The five-part series explores hair loss conditions and their causes, as well as treatments in relation to cultural and economic conditions in that region.

      Ft. Lauderdale, FL. October 10, 2011 -- HairLoss.com, the world's most comprehensive website providing unbiased information to consumers about hair loss conditions and their treatment, has published an in-depth feature report exploring hair loss conditions in South Asia.

      According to its spokesman, the five-part feature is the latest in a series of investigative reports published by the influential website "to allow readers a deeper understanding of what it means to suffer hair loss and to be seeking treatment in one of the most economically depressed regions in the world."

      Written and researched by HairLoss.com feature writers Russ Klettke and Kori Ellis, the multi-part series focuses on the shared cultural significance of hair in a region of diverse ethnicities, languages and religions. Causes of hair loss are thoroughly explored in relation to the harsh economic conditions where 40% of the region's population lives in poverty.

      "The fact that South Asia is home to twenty percent of the world's population accounts for the high numbers of appeals sent in to our Concierge service seeking help," explains Michael Garcia, spokesman for HairLoss.com. "The numbers are so large that our curiosity forced us to investigate so that we could better understand what is happening and how we could better advise and assist."

      Explored in depth are concerns specific to the countries that comprise South Asia including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

      "In South Asia, as anywhere else, heredity, hormones, stress, diet and disease can each cause hair loss," explains lead writer Klettke. "But we're talking about a region where almost half of the population lives on less that $1.25 per day. Forget expensive hair replacement or hair transplant surgery. Millions go without quality health care, clean drinking water and hygienic food. At the same time, the growing affluence of the region is bringing a different kind of stress and less-healthy Western diets to the more affluent who are also losing their hair."

      Klettke, who with Ellis spent three months investigating this series, is HairLoss.com's principal health writer, covering topics related to nutrition, fitness and wellbeing and is an author of a popular book on men's nutrition. Ellis is an oft-published freelance feature writer and editor and contributes fashion and beauty articles to HairLoss.com.

      "Aside from our normal efforts to educate the pubic about the opportunities and limitations of hair loss treatments and to make referrals, HairLoss.com strives to produce original and interesting journalistic stories that matter," said Garcia. "This investigation is in accord with our brand's core values: It is complete and true, compassionate and informative."

      "With our growing understanding of these realities, HairLoss.com hopes to develop products and services that are tailored specifically to the needs of men and women of South Asia who are suffering from hair loss; programs that are both effective and affordable."

      View the report here: Hair Loss In South Asia
      http://www.hairloss.com/home/hair-loss-in-south-asia-introduction.html

      Kayla Martell, Miss America Finalist with Alopecia Areata, Partners with HairLoss.com

      HairLoss.com, the most comprehensive website providing unbiased consumer information about hair loss and its treatment, has partnered with Kayla Martell, Miss Delaware 2010 and a Miss America finalist in 2011. Martell, who has alopecia areata, and has inspired countless women with her achievements, poise, beauty and talent, will act as celebrity spokesperson, advisor and editorialist to help raise public awareness of hair loss issues.

      Ft. Lauderdale, FL. October 15, 2011 -- Kayla Martell, Miss Delaware 2010, who won the heart of the American public who voted her "America's Choice" in the 2011 Miss America Pageant will be lending her celebrity to HairLoss.com. HairLoss.com is the most comprehensive website in the world providing unbiased consumer information and referrals to those suffering from hair loss.

      According to its spokesman, Martell, who has had alopecia areata since she was ten, has signed on to act in the capacity of celebrity spokesperson, advisor and writer. Martell has committed to lending her voice and likeness to a series of public service videos to help raise awareness of such hair loss conditions as alopecia areata, trichotillomania and hair loss due to cancer treatment.

      "Kayla's story is inspirational," said Michael Garcia, Spokesman for HairLoss.com. "She has shown women, young and old, that with modern advancements of prosthetic hair like human hair wigs and hair replacement systems, one doesn't have to 'suffer' from hair loss. Kayla doesn't suffer from alopecia areata. It only served as an impetus for her to become the healthy, vibrant, charismatic young lady that the American public admires and respects."

      According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, an influential organization that supports research to find a cure, alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease that results in patchy loss of hair both on the scalp and anywhere on the body, affecting almost 5 million people in the United States alone. The condition can progress to total hair loss of the scalp, a condition called alopecia totalis, or total hair loss on the body, a condition called alopecia universalis. Martell is also associated with the NAAF.

      "I am proud to partner with HairLoss.com in their mission to educate the public about the facts and myths of hair loss and its treatments and to refer those who are suffering from hair loss to competent and caring treatment providers," said Martell in a statement. "Their message to feel good about yourself whether or not you do something about your hair loss is sincere and resonates deeply with my own beliefs."

      HairLoss.com issues a call of action for hair loss sufferers to empower themselves and take back their lives, offering their visitors channels dedicated not only to hair loss treatments, but also to improve health, fashion, nutrition and relationships in order to achieve a better quality of life. HairLoss.com also makes hair loss treatment referrals through their free Concierge service.

      "We couldn't be more thrilled by this pairing because Kayla Martell lives our message," says Spokesman Garcia. "We can't all be pageant winners, but we can choose to be healthy and vibrant and to use what is available to feel good about ourselves. She has shown us all that we can wear hair or not wear hair and still appreciate who we see looking back at us in the mirror. Hair loss doesn't have to hold us back."

      Adds Martell: "With our common values and shared vision of what it means to meaningfully support people who have lost their hair, this partnership is a perfect match."