Hair loss can be very disconcerting to men and women alike. While it is known that most hair loss is genetic, there are stressors that can make it worse: 1. Poor diet: not eating enough green leafy veggies, Omega 3 rich foods 2. Stress 3. Poor Sleep 4. General medical illnesses, like diabetes, may make it worse.
The general ways to treat Hair loss include:
1. Nutrition: improve your nutrition: Increase Vitamin B complex rich foods, green leafy veggies, Omega 3 rich foods; more information below 2. Shampoo: use gentle shampoo or ones below 3. Laser Light Therapy 4. Hair Replacement Surgery 5. Propecia 6. Minoxidil 7. Bimatoprost (or Latisse): we have used Bimatoprost for years to treat high eye pressure and glaucoma (a potentially blinding disease). When MDs noticed the side effect of increased eyelash growth, a new use boomed. Now below you can see more and more studies showing the benefit of Bimatoprost (or any prostaglandin analog) to make hair grow on the head. The biggest side effect is the cost: it can cost about $150-200 per month for this drug.
Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a medicinal plant with diverse activities including enhancement microcapillary perfusion. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of rosemary oil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and compare its effects with minoxidil 2%. Patients with AGA were randomly assigned to rosemary oil (n = 50) or minoxidil 2% (n = 50) for a period of 6 months. After a baseline visit, patients returned to the clinic for efficacy and safety evaluations every 3 months. A standardized professional microphotographic assessment of each volunteer was taken at the initial interview and after 3 and 6 months of the trial. No significant change was observed in the mean hair count at the 3-month endpoint, neither in the rosemary nor in the minoxidil group (P > .05). In contrast, both groups experienced a significant increase in hair count at the 6-month endpoint compared with the baseline and 3-month endpoint (P < .05). No significant difference was found between the study groups regarding hair count either at month 3 or month 6 (> .05). The frequencies of dry hair, greasy hair, and dandruff were not found to be significantly different from baseline at either month 3 or month 6 trial in the groups (P > .05). The frequency of scalp itching at the 3- and 6-month trial points was significantly higher compared with baseline in both groups (P < .05). Scalp itching, however, was more frequent in the minoxidil group at both assessed endpoints (P < .05). The findings of the present trial provided evidence with respect to the efficacy of rosemary oil in the treatment of AGA.
Dermatol Ther. 2016 Sep;29(5):330-333. doi: 10.1111/dth.12369. Epub 2016 Jun 30.
Minoxidil topical treatment may be more efficient if applied on damp scalp in comparison with dry scalp.
There is yet no consensus among prescribers whether minoxidil (MXD) formulations should be applied on wet/damp or dry scalp and no clear FDA guidelines on the matter. We hypothesized that the use of MXD on damp scalp may lead to higher drug penetration. First, because the drug diffusion and consequent deposition into the hair follicle may be favored when follicle cast is humid. Second, because humidity may also prevent drug crystallization and, therefore, maintain a higher thermodynamic activity for longer periods, which leads to increased penetration. Following in vitro experiments on rat and porcine skin we confirmed the hypothesis, which could markedly improve treatment effectiveness.
Alopecia areata (AA) is a genetic and immune-mediated disease that targets anagen hair follicles. Despite limited evidence supporting the efficacy of corticosteroid treatments, they are often prescribed as first-line therapy because of their favorable safety profile. Prostaglandin analogues are currently being studied as an alternate therapy for scalp AA in adults. Herein we present a case of steroid-resistant multifocal AA that was successfully treated with topical bimatoprost.
Dermatology. 2015;230(4):308-13. doi: 10.1159/000371416. Epub 2015 Mar 4.
Bimatoprost versus Mometasone Furoate in the Treatment of Scalp Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study.
Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune-mediated disease that targets anagen hair follicles. Despite various therapeutic options, there is no cure for AA. Prostaglandin analogues have been recognized as being capable of inducing hypertrichosis.
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the efficacy and safety of bimatoprost to those of corticosteroid in the treatment of scalp AA.
METHODS:
Thirty adult patients with patchy AA (S1) were included. Two AA patches were randomly assigned to treatment either by mometasone furoate 0.1% cream once daily (area A) or bimatoprost 0.03% solution twice daily (area B) for 3 months. Patients were assessed using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scoring system for hair re-growth.
RESULTS:
All responding AA patches showed significant reduction in their SALT score after therapy. Area B demonstrated significantly better results regarding rapidity of response in weeks, percentage of hair re-growth and side effects compared to area A.
CONCLUSION:
Bimatoprost solution represents a therapeutic option for scalp AA.
Whether you’ve just noticed a thinning hairline or you’re constantly wearing a baseball hat to hide your bald spot, there’s a good chance you’ve tried at least one product to keep your hair. And while there are myriad products designed to fight hair loss, it can sometimes be hard to tell which methods to trust and which to toss.
One hard truth: Hair loss is mostly out of your control. “Baldness comes down to your genes,” says Frederick Joyce, M.D., founder of Rejuvenate! Med Spa and a member of the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery. “If you have the baldness gene, there are some natural remedies that may make your hair stronger and healthier to slow your hair loss slightly—but they won’t prevent you from going bald. Still, maintaining hair health by eating well and using the right products—combined with medical-grade treatments—can really work all together to help you have a fuller, thicker head of hair.”
There are some solutions that address the problem (using adult stem cells to regrow hair is promising) but many are still years away from becoming available as a hair loss treatment. So here’s the lowdown on which baldness solutions available now are truly effective—and which hair-loss fighters are merely snake oil.
While diet alone won’t save your hair, there may be some truth to the old adage that you are what you eat. “You’re not going to have the healthiest hair if you’re living off doughnuts, because being nutrient-deficient weakens strands and makes them more prone to breakage,” says Denise Kernan, owner of DK Hair Techs, Inc., a member of the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery, and a hair transplant technician who has worked on everyone from senators to sports stars to actors to mafia guys (she won’t name names to protect the privacy of her clients).
“While nutritious eating isn’t going to bring your hair back by any means, eating plenty of protein-rich foods and healthy fats can make the hair that you still have look thicker and shinier.” Skimping on the B vitamins in particular can interfere with the formation of hair cells and, therefore, hair growth. The best sources of Bs are protein-packed foods like chicken, fish, eggs, and pork, as well as leafy greens such as spinach. (These foods are also good for melting belly fat, so it’s a win win).
You’ve no doubt heard of Nioxin, a brand of hair care products aimed at fighting thinning hair. But can a shampoo or spray reverse baldness? “Nioxin is negligible in terms of helping with hair loss,” says Dr. Joyce. “There’s no shampoo out there that will actually stop hair loss.”
While you won’t find a miracle shampoo on the market, nioxin and some other products can help keep your scalp in tip-top shape to improve the look of any hairs you do have left on your head. In fact, feeding your hair with the proper nutrients both inside and out can make it appear healthier, so you might consider using products with natural herbs, such as rosemary and mint.
Compared to your typical shampoos, those made with these types of ingredients may help stimulate your scalp naturally to boost blood circulation and better nourish hair follicles. One to try: Bio Follicle’s Rosemary & Mint shampoo, conditioner, and scalp-stimulating spray made with organic essential oils such as peppermint and spearmint.
Bonus: The formula has no harsh chemicals, such as sulfates or parabens.
In-office laser light treatments or at-home handheld devices, such as the HairMax LaserComb, supposedly grow new hair by stimulating blood flow to the area (think: an amped-up version of a scalp-stimulating shampoo). Just don’t expect the device to make your noggin go from looking like George Costanza’s to Jerry Seinfeld’s. “These lasers won’t grow any new hair. If anything, they may just help you hang on to some of the hair that you already have a bit longer,” says Dr. Joyce.
Laser light therapy is not a baldness solution, and the HairMax takes a time commitment: You have to use the product for 15 minutes a day, three days a week and you have to keep using it indefinitely to get results. Still, laser light therapy has no major side effects, and may be best for men who have noticed some increased shedding and want to maintain more of the hair they have on their head.
The best fix by far for replacing lost hair is a transplant. Back in the day, docs used plugs that resembled cornrows (definitely not natural looking). Today, guys have more options. You can go for “the strip method” where a doctor surgically removes a strip of hair from the back of your head, dissects every hair graft under a microscope, and then plants the individual grafts onto hair-thin areas of your scalp with tiny incisions.
“If you don’t want a scar because you like to wear your hair short, you might opt for a “scarless” hair transplant,” says Dr. Joyce. Also known as follicular unit extraction (FUE), grafts are harvested one at a time with tiny punches that heal virtually undetected so you can still buzz your head. “If you’ve gone so bald that you don’t have a lot of donor hair on your head, we can do FUE extractions with body hair such as on your chest, stomach, back, and sometimes even the pubic area,” says Dr. Joyce.
Regrowth rates with FUE is almost as high as with the strip method, and there is less downtime—three to five days to heal compared to 10 days for the strip method. It’s a good idea to make sure your doc is a member of the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery.
Also known as Finasteride, it’s the only other FDA-approved medicine to treat hair loss. The drug was originally created to help prevent prostate cancer, and works by blocking production of a male hormone in the scalp known as androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that shuts down follicles to cause male pattern baldness.
“Propecia acts as a sort of fertilizer for the monixidal, helping it to regrow hair more effectively,” says Kernan. “You have to know it’s a lifetime commitment. Once you stop using Propecia, any hair loss that you would have had if you weren’t taking the medication will happen within three to eight months.”
You might want to note that some guys experience sexual side effects, like impotency or lack of desire.
The brand name of this topical treatment for sprouting new hair is Rogaine, and it’s only one of two FDA-approved drugs for the condition.
“Minoxidil will help slow the hair loss process and is the best solution for now to help you hang on to your hair,” says Kernan. “It may even help you grow a little bit of peach fuzz, and the biggest area you’ll see regrowth is on the crown rather than the front of your hairline.” However, you’ll pretty much lose that hair you were trying to save if you ever stop using the med. Though uncommon, some side effects may include itchiness and chest pain (minoxidil also comes in a pill to treat high blood pressure).
