It is normal for us to lose roughly 100 hairs from our heads every day.
The average scalp contains about 100 000 hairs. Each individual hair survives for an average of four and a half years during which time it grows about one centimetre a month.
Usually in its fifth year, the hair falls out and is replaced within six months by a new one. Since each follicle typically regenerates every two to six years, baldness is a slow but continual physiological process that results in patches of baldness on the scalp connecting with other patches to form a new hairline.
Hair loss usually develops gradually causing patchiness or diffusion over the scalp, eventually leading to baldness. Genetic hair loss refers to the body’s failure to produce new hairs. Of course a number of disease processes, pregnancy and stress can speed up hair loss. Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. Inherited or “pattern baldness” affects many more men than women. About five percent of men begin to lose their hair by the time they are 30 years old and about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.
Temporary hair loss is very common and can be caused by your body reacting to:
r Hormonal changes, such as those that take place when a woman is pregnant.
r A short-term illness, such as a severe infection or an operation.
r A long-term illness, such as cancer, liver disease, Thyroid diseases.
r Changes in your diet, such as crash dieting.
r Some medications, such as anticoagulants (medicines that reduce the ability of your blood to clot) or beta-blockers (used to treat a number of conditions,
such as high blood pressure).
r Male and female pattern baldness linked to DHT- Male-pattern and female pattern baldness is caused by oversensitive hair follicles. This is linked to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is made from the male hormone testosterone. If there is too much DHT, the follicles react to it. The hair becomes thinner and grows for a shorter length of time than normal. The balding process is gradual because different follicles are affected at different times.
r Immune system imbalances.
r Genetics – It is thought that some people may be genetically predisposed (susceptible) to Hair loss.
The typical male baldness pattern involves a receding hairline and thinning around the crown with eventual bald spots. Ultimately, you may have only a horseshoe ring
of hair around the sides. In addition to genes, male-pattern baldness seems to require the presence of the male hormone- testosterone. Some women also develop a particular pattern of hair loss due to genetics, age and male hormones that tend to increase in women after menopause. The pattern is different from that of men. Female pattern baldness involves a thinning throughout the scalp while the frontal hairline generally remains intact.
There are a few ‘over the counter’ treatments or products that are useful in assisting with this often psychologically disturbing problem.
Collagen Pro-Active, Liquid Collagen. This oral supplement has been found through clinical studies, to increase hair growth up to 45 percent and improves strength and health of the hair. Effects are, in most patients, seen from the second month of its use and increases exponentially thereafter. Collagen Pro-Active should be seen as an important adjunct to helping treat the problem of hair loss in both males and females. Collagen pro-Active can be safely used even with prescription medications, with no known side effects. It is extremely useful even if combined with in office treatments.
r Renokin lotion, shampoo and conditioner contain powerful hair growth factors that stimulate the hair follicles.
r Renokin shampoo and conditioner.
r Prevents hair loss.
r Promotes re-growth of new hair.
r Clinically proven active ingredients.
r Trans-dermal delivery system for enhanced penetration.
r No side effects.
Prescription medications can be used sometimes as a last resort – and also if an underlying medical condition has been diagnosed these must be
treated at the same time. This must be discussed with your doctor.
In-office therapies are also available, like injected mesotherapy.
This increases the circulation to the affected area by making blood vessels in the area larger and also stimulating further blood vessel growth in the treated area. Increased circulation and improved collagen synthesis stimulate the grown follicle which is responsible for increased hair growth.
The product injected contains a combination of growth factors, pep-tides, amino, and hyaluronic acids and vitamins that are micro-injected into the mesoderm layer of the skin stimulating hair growth.
Botulinum Toxin injected into the scalp every 4 months decreases the resistance to blood flow around the hair follicle which results in improved circulation to the
hair follicle.
In more severe cases, hair transplants are always an option but also sometimes used once other options have been tried and failed or given sub-optimal results.
This is only performed by certain qualified Doctors who specialise in this field. All of the above treatment modalities increase the blood flow and circulation in the
scalp. This increase in blood flow is crucial to promoting a healthy hair follicle. It brings the important nutrients into the follicle while taking away harmful waste
products such as DHT. The hair follicle now has the building blocks and energy to transform from a weakened follicle to one that is healthy and capable of producing beautiful, thick healthy hair. The enhanced environment then in turn invigorates the hair follicle which produces healthier hair, prevents further hair loss and stimulates the regrowth of hair. Information provided by Dr Julie Sinclair.
For more information or questions, contact Sinclair Aesthetics on 011 453-3450/2 or sinclairaesthetics@gmail.com
