What are the best options for hair restoration? I know a lot of people, mostly men, who are losing or have lost their hair. It can be a bit depressing because it is sometimes associated with the aging process. We live in a society built on trying to fight off the aging process. There are certainly drugs, wigs, and holistic hair restoration, but the best solution is possibly medical hair restoration.
Medical hair restoration, or what is sometimes called hair transplants will work for both men and women in many cases. It usually can produce a very natural and real head of hair. Many say that medical hair restoration is actually the best method for getting your pre hair loss look back.
There are certainly other medical hair treatments such as Propecia and Rogaine, but medical hair restoration actually has the best and most proven results of all. The key is that the procedure does not actually alter hair growth at all. In fact, the treatment is completely undetectable once it is completed and the transplant area has healed up. The process of medical hair restoration begins with a consultation with a surgeon. He or she will look at the healthy hair on the sides and back of your head to make sure you have enough to actually make the treatment successful. This part of the procedure is why it is most effective for those losing their hair, not those who have already lost most of it.
Once the surgeon has decided that medical hair restoration will work for you, the procedure is pretty simple in idea. The surgeon will take tissue-containing hair follicles from the healthy hair on your head. Those will then be grafted on the bald section of your scalp. The surgeon will place the grafts at various angles to create a very natural looking hair line for you.
Though medical hair restoration is often associated with people who are completely bald or close to it. However, if you want to avoid getting to that point, you may want to think about medical hair restoration as soon as hair loss starts to show itself to you. As long as the loss is not caused by chemotherapy or other non-natural causes, medical hair restoration can really help curb the effects. So medical hair restoration is not just about restoration but also about stopping it from getting too far. Also, you will likely be prescribed hair loss treatment drugs after the procedure to hopefully prevent you from having to have the treatment again down the road.
Hair restoration is big business. The reason is that we live in a society that puts a lot of emphasis on curbing the aging process. To many of us, hair loss is a big sign of aging and something we want to reverse or even stop. The idea is to keep in mind hair restoration can be a great answer, but that you must take the time to research your option. Medical hair restoration is one of those options that is very effective, so it may just be in your best interest to look into it.
If you would like the latest information on medical options, or find more of my personal articles like the one you just read, visit my health site!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Medical Hair Restoration (by Ben Stewart)
Medical hair restoration in the literal sense includes the hair loss treatment which depends upon the use of medicines.
Unusual hair loss both in men and women is caused by the alterations in the androgen metabolism. Androgen is a male hormone which has a major role to play in regulation of hair growth or hair loss. The dermal papilla is the most important structure in a hair follicle which is responsible for hair-growth. It is the dermal papilla, the cell of which divides and differentiates to give rise to a new hair follicle. The dermal papilla is in direct contact with blood capillaries in the skin to derive the nutrients for the growing hair follicle. Research has shown that dermal papilla got many receptors for androgens and there are studies which have confirmed that males have more androgenic receptors in dermal papilla of their follicles as compared to females.
The metabolism of androgen involves an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase which combines with the hormone androgen(testosterone) to form the DHT (Dihydro-testosterone). DHT is a natural metabolite of our body which is the root cause of hair loss.
Proper nutrition is critical for the maintenance of the hair. When DHT gets into the hair follicles and roots (dermal papilla), it prevents necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing nourishment needed to sustain life in the hairs of those follicles. Consequently, hair follicles are reproduced at a much slower rate. This shortens their growing stage (anagen phase) and or lengthens their resting stage (telogen phase) of the follicle. DHT also causes hair follicle to shrink and get progressively smaller and finer. This process is known as miniaturization and causes the hair to ultimately fall. DHT is responsible for 95% of hair loss.
Some individuals both men and women are genetically pre-disposed to produce more DHT than the normal individuals. DHT also creates a wax-like substance around the hair roots. It is this accumulation of DHT inside the hair follicles and roots which is one of the primary causes of male and female pattern hair loss.
Blocking the synthesis of DHT at molecular level forms the basis for the treatment of MPHL ( male pattern hair loss) and FPHL female pattern hair loss). There are many natural DHT blockers and a number of drugs which are used for medical hair restoration.
Let us see the main drugs which are available for medical hair restoration in men and women.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil has the distinction of the first drug being used for promoting the hair restoration. This medical hair restoration treatment drug was used earlier as an oral antihypertensive drug, but after its hypertrichosis (excessive body hair) effects were noticed, a topical solution of the drug was tested for its hair growing potential. Minoxidil was then approved as medical hair restoration treatment drug for men by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1988 as a 2% solution, followed by 5% solution in 1997. For women, the 2% solution was approved in 1991. Though 5% solution is not approved for women, it is used as a medical hair restoration treatment by many dermatologists worldwide. Both solutions are available without a prescription in the US.
Mechanism of action
Minoxidil is thought to have a direct mitogenic effect on epidermal cells, as has been observed both in vitro in vivo. Though the mechanism of its action for causing cell proliferation is not very clear, minoxidil is thought to prevent intracellular calcium entry. Calcium normally enhances epidermal growth factors to inhibit hair growth, and Minoxidil by getting converted to minoxidil sulfate acts as a potassium channel agonist and enhances potassium ion permeability to prevent calcium ions from entering into cells.
Thought the exact action of minoxidil preventing the formation of DHT has not been shown but the drug has been shown to have a stabilizing effect on the hair loss. The result of the drug takes about few months time to be evident since it is the time which is necessary for restoring the normal growth cycle of hair fibers.
Use of Minoxidil has approved by FDA for men (Norwood II-V) and women (Ludwig I-II ) older than 18 years. It is used as a medical hair restoration treatment either for frontal or vertex scalp thinning. It brings about an increase in density which is mostly caused by conversion of miniaturized hairs into terminal hairs rather than a stimulated de novo re-growth. The hair loss becomes stabilized after continued use of drug, which takes about a year’s time for the medical hair restoration treatment to show its complete results.
Hair loss restoration treatment with 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate and 5% topical minoxidil are found to be superior to minoxidil alone.
Topical minoxidil is very well tolerated and adverse effects are mainly dermatologic. The most frequent adverse effect is an irritant contact dermatitis.
Though minnoxidil does not have any effect on blood pressure, it should be used with caution in patient with cardiovascular diseases. It is also contraindicated in pregnant and nursing mothers.
Finasteride
The drug finasteride was earlier used as treatment for prostate enlargement, under the medical name Proscar. But in 1998, it was approved by FDA for the Medical hair loss restoration in MPHL.
Mechanism of Action
Medical hair restoration treatments with Finasteride depends upon its specific action as an inhibitor of type II 5α-reductase, the intracellular enzyme that converts male hormone androgen into DHT (Dihydro Testosterone). Its action results in significant decrease in serum and tissue DHT levels in even in concentration as low as 0.2mg. Finnasteride is able to stabilize hair loss in 80% of patient with Vertex hair loss and in 70% of patients with frontal hair loss. Most of these patients are able to grow more hair or retain the ones they have. The peculiar thing about Propecia is that its effect is more pronounced in crown area than in the front. The hair that grow after the medical hair restoration treatments are better in texture and are thicker, more like the terminal hair.
The best thing about medical hair restoration treatment with the finnasteride is that it is well tolerated and has minimal side effects. Sexual dysfunction (decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and decreased semen volume) are observed in about 3.8% of cases. But these side-effects subside within few months of Medical hair restoration treatments or disappear within a week’s time as soon as the treatment is stopped.
It generally requires about 6 to 12 months for the m edical hair restoration treatment to be apparent but the side effects appear earlier. So even after the medicine is stopped, there is no possibility of loosing the hair that has been gained, but the side effects are sure to disappear.
Many hair restoration surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the surgical hair restoration. There are several benefits of this kind of combination therapy. As the Medical hair restoration with Propecia brings about a hair re-growth in the crown area, it has a complementary action; it allows the surgeon to have more donor hair to be available for frontal hair transplant and design the hairline at his own will. Since finasteride has no effect in the frontal area of the scalp, it does not have any interference with the surgical hair restoration.
Combination Therapy
There are reports which say that use of finasteride and topical minoxidil combination therapy as a Medical hair restoration treatment is of more advantage in cases of mild to moderate MPHL. Further studies are in progress. Many hair restoration doctors have already started the use of combination therapy in order to obtain better hair growth.
Anti Androgen Therapy
For women with hyperandrogonism( with increased levels of androgen) who do not respond well to minoxidil, antiandrogen therapy is another option of Medical hair restoration. In UK the most commonly used anti-androgen for women is CPA (cyproterone acetate), which is used in combination with ethinyl-estradiol.
However, in United States, where CPA is not available, the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone is the alternative choice of hair restoration doctors.
Flutamide
Medical hair restoration with flutamide has shown improvement as hair loss restoration treatment in women with hirsutism. For hyperandrogenic premenopausal women, flutamide is a better medical hair restoration agent than both the CPA or finestride.
Hair loss restoration management is a structured process which depends upon many factors along with the medical hair restoration. For more details on the topic you can refer to section medical hair restoration or article on male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss at our site hairtransplantadvice.com.
The author is a hair restoration surgeon and runs a renowned hair restoration clinic
Unusual hair loss both in men and women is caused by the alterations in the androgen metabolism. Androgen is a male hormone which has a major role to play in regulation of hair growth or hair loss. The dermal papilla is the most important structure in a hair follicle which is responsible for hair-growth. It is the dermal papilla, the cell of which divides and differentiates to give rise to a new hair follicle. The dermal papilla is in direct contact with blood capillaries in the skin to derive the nutrients for the growing hair follicle. Research has shown that dermal papilla got many receptors for androgens and there are studies which have confirmed that males have more androgenic receptors in dermal papilla of their follicles as compared to females.
The metabolism of androgen involves an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase which combines with the hormone androgen(testosterone) to form the DHT (Dihydro-testosterone). DHT is a natural metabolite of our body which is the root cause of hair loss.
Proper nutrition is critical for the maintenance of the hair. When DHT gets into the hair follicles and roots (dermal papilla), it prevents necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing nourishment needed to sustain life in the hairs of those follicles. Consequently, hair follicles are reproduced at a much slower rate. This shortens their growing stage (anagen phase) and or lengthens their resting stage (telogen phase) of the follicle. DHT also causes hair follicle to shrink and get progressively smaller and finer. This process is known as miniaturization and causes the hair to ultimately fall. DHT is responsible for 95% of hair loss.
Some individuals both men and women are genetically pre-disposed to produce more DHT than the normal individuals. DHT also creates a wax-like substance around the hair roots. It is this accumulation of DHT inside the hair follicles and roots which is one of the primary causes of male and female pattern hair loss.
Blocking the synthesis of DHT at molecular level forms the basis for the treatment of MPHL ( male pattern hair loss) and FPHL female pattern hair loss). There are many natural DHT blockers and a number of drugs which are used for medical hair restoration.
Let us see the main drugs which are available for medical hair restoration in men and women.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil has the distinction of the first drug being used for promoting the hair restoration. This medical hair restoration treatment drug was used earlier as an oral antihypertensive drug, but after its hypertrichosis (excessive body hair) effects were noticed, a topical solution of the drug was tested for its hair growing potential. Minoxidil was then approved as medical hair restoration treatment drug for men by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1988 as a 2% solution, followed by 5% solution in 1997. For women, the 2% solution was approved in 1991. Though 5% solution is not approved for women, it is used as a medical hair restoration treatment by many dermatologists worldwide. Both solutions are available without a prescription in the US.
Mechanism of action
Minoxidil is thought to have a direct mitogenic effect on epidermal cells, as has been observed both in vitro in vivo. Though the mechanism of its action for causing cell proliferation is not very clear, minoxidil is thought to prevent intracellular calcium entry. Calcium normally enhances epidermal growth factors to inhibit hair growth, and Minoxidil by getting converted to minoxidil sulfate acts as a potassium channel agonist and enhances potassium ion permeability to prevent calcium ions from entering into cells.
Thought the exact action of minoxidil preventing the formation of DHT has not been shown but the drug has been shown to have a stabilizing effect on the hair loss. The result of the drug takes about few months time to be evident since it is the time which is necessary for restoring the normal growth cycle of hair fibers.
Use of Minoxidil has approved by FDA for men (Norwood II-V) and women (Ludwig I-II ) older than 18 years. It is used as a medical hair restoration treatment either for frontal or vertex scalp thinning. It brings about an increase in density which is mostly caused by conversion of miniaturized hairs into terminal hairs rather than a stimulated de novo re-growth. The hair loss becomes stabilized after continued use of drug, which takes about a year’s time for the medical hair restoration treatment to show its complete results.
Hair loss restoration treatment with 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate and 5% topical minoxidil are found to be superior to minoxidil alone.
Topical minoxidil is very well tolerated and adverse effects are mainly dermatologic. The most frequent adverse effect is an irritant contact dermatitis.
Though minnoxidil does not have any effect on blood pressure, it should be used with caution in patient with cardiovascular diseases. It is also contraindicated in pregnant and nursing mothers.
Finasteride
The drug finasteride was earlier used as treatment for prostate enlargement, under the medical name Proscar. But in 1998, it was approved by FDA for the Medical hair loss restoration in MPHL.
Mechanism of Action
Medical hair restoration treatments with Finasteride depends upon its specific action as an inhibitor of type II 5α-reductase, the intracellular enzyme that converts male hormone androgen into DHT (Dihydro Testosterone). Its action results in significant decrease in serum and tissue DHT levels in even in concentration as low as 0.2mg. Finnasteride is able to stabilize hair loss in 80% of patient with Vertex hair loss and in 70% of patients with frontal hair loss. Most of these patients are able to grow more hair or retain the ones they have. The peculiar thing about Propecia is that its effect is more pronounced in crown area than in the front. The hair that grow after the medical hair restoration treatments are better in texture and are thicker, more like the terminal hair.
The best thing about medical hair restoration treatment with the finnasteride is that it is well tolerated and has minimal side effects. Sexual dysfunction (decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and decreased semen volume) are observed in about 3.8% of cases. But these side-effects subside within few months of Medical hair restoration treatments or disappear within a week’s time as soon as the treatment is stopped.
It generally requires about 6 to 12 months for the m edical hair restoration treatment to be apparent but the side effects appear earlier. So even after the medicine is stopped, there is no possibility of loosing the hair that has been gained, but the side effects are sure to disappear.
Many hair restoration surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the surgical hair restoration. There are several benefits of this kind of combination therapy. As the Medical hair restoration with Propecia brings about a hair re-growth in the crown area, it has a complementary action; it allows the surgeon to have more donor hair to be available for frontal hair transplant and design the hairline at his own will. Since finasteride has no effect in the frontal area of the scalp, it does not have any interference with the surgical hair restoration.
Combination Therapy
There are reports which say that use of finasteride and topical minoxidil combination therapy as a Medical hair restoration treatment is of more advantage in cases of mild to moderate MPHL. Further studies are in progress. Many hair restoration doctors have already started the use of combination therapy in order to obtain better hair growth.
Anti Androgen Therapy
For women with hyperandrogonism( with increased levels of androgen) who do not respond well to minoxidil, antiandrogen therapy is another option of Medical hair restoration. In UK the most commonly used anti-androgen for women is CPA (cyproterone acetate), which is used in combination with ethinyl-estradiol.
However, in United States, where CPA is not available, the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone is the alternative choice of hair restoration doctors.
Flutamide
Medical hair restoration with flutamide has shown improvement as hair loss restoration treatment in women with hirsutism. For hyperandrogenic premenopausal women, flutamide is a better medical hair restoration agent than both the CPA or finestride.
Hair loss restoration management is a structured process which depends upon many factors along with the medical hair restoration. For more details on the topic you can refer to section medical hair restoration or article on male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss at our site hairtransplantadvice.com.
The author is a hair restoration surgeon and runs a renowned hair restoration clinic
Medical Hair Restoration - Getting Your Hair Back Permanently (by Peter Crump)
Balding is something that happens to most men and some women. While many men adapt to the fact that they are losing their hair, others seek remedies and treatments to help prevent the hair loss and even to replacement procedures. Medical hair restoration is one method of obtaining a permanent solution to hairloss. This is suitable for both men and women and produces a very natural looking head of hair. Medical hair restoration is also called hair transplants and if this is something that you are considering, you should contact a specialist in the field.
While there are other medical treatments for thinning hair, such as using Rogaine, medical hair restoration really does have proven results. The advanced techniques used in this treatment do not alter the natural hair growth in any way. You don’t have to try to cover your head because medical hair restoration treatment is undetectable. This process of restoring hair on the scalp starts with a consultation. The surgeon has to scrutinize the healthy hair remaining on the back and the sides of your head. He/she has to make sure that you do have enough hair left to have a successful hair restoration procedure. For this reason, people who have already lost most of their hair are not good candidates for this sort of hair loss treatment.
In a consultation for medical hair restoration, when the surgeon determines that you are a good candidate, he/she will take a small sample of tissue containing hair follicles. These are dissected under a microscope and made into hair grafts. Then, the hair grafts are placed on the bald section of the scalp at various angles to create a very natural looking hairline restoration.
If you don’t want to become completely bald, you should take steps for medical treatments for thinning hair and even medical hair restoration as soon as you notice that a bald spot is developing on your scalp. This doesn’t mean that as soon as you notice that your hair is thinning you have to run out and make arrangements for medical hair restoration. Loss of hair when you are brushing and combing is natural and should not be any cause for alarm. If you are taking other medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, hairloss will also occur, but your hair will grow back when you finish the treatment. When you are not taking any medical treatments and you start you lose your pride and joy, then it’s time to start looking for ways to stop the thinning process.
Medical hair restoration can be very successful, so consult your physician about it.
For a website totally devoted to hair loss and hair replacement visit Peter's Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about Male Hair Loss as well as Hair Restoration and more, including Male Hair Loss and Hair Loss Treatments
While there are other medical treatments for thinning hair, such as using Rogaine, medical hair restoration really does have proven results. The advanced techniques used in this treatment do not alter the natural hair growth in any way. You don’t have to try to cover your head because medical hair restoration treatment is undetectable. This process of restoring hair on the scalp starts with a consultation. The surgeon has to scrutinize the healthy hair remaining on the back and the sides of your head. He/she has to make sure that you do have enough hair left to have a successful hair restoration procedure. For this reason, people who have already lost most of their hair are not good candidates for this sort of hair loss treatment.
In a consultation for medical hair restoration, when the surgeon determines that you are a good candidate, he/she will take a small sample of tissue containing hair follicles. These are dissected under a microscope and made into hair grafts. Then, the hair grafts are placed on the bald section of the scalp at various angles to create a very natural looking hairline restoration.
If you don’t want to become completely bald, you should take steps for medical treatments for thinning hair and even medical hair restoration as soon as you notice that a bald spot is developing on your scalp. This doesn’t mean that as soon as you notice that your hair is thinning you have to run out and make arrangements for medical hair restoration. Loss of hair when you are brushing and combing is natural and should not be any cause for alarm. If you are taking other medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, hairloss will also occur, but your hair will grow back when you finish the treatment. When you are not taking any medical treatments and you start you lose your pride and joy, then it’s time to start looking for ways to stop the thinning process.
Medical hair restoration can be very successful, so consult your physician about it.
For a website totally devoted to hair loss and hair replacement visit Peter's Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about Male Hair Loss as well as Hair Restoration and more, including Male Hair Loss and Hair Loss Treatments
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