Lise K

Diagnosis:  Alopecia Areata

Minoxidil is a medication that is licensed by the MHRA (the UK’s medical regulatory body) to treat genetic forms of hair loss (Male Pattern Hair Loss and Female Pattern Hair Loss). Following a large-scale clinical study, a 5% dose of the product was found to prevent hair loss in most cases and regrow hair for many of those people. After treating patients with minoxidil 12.5% for a number of years, many have reported increased results from the use of Belgravia’s high-strength minoxidil cream.

Minoxidil is also known to help other hair loss conditions such as Alopecia Areata, Traction Alopecia and Diffuse Thinning with great success, although unlike for genetic hair loss, there has not been an official clinical study carried out for these conditions. Our hair loss specialists have found minoxidil 12.5% cream to be especially beneficial for patchy hair loss conditions such as mild to moderate Alopecia Areata or Traction Alopecia. This is because the cream can be applied directly to the areas of hair loss without wastage or dripping, which can be a problem with a liquid minoxidil.

If you would like to enquire about the treatments on offer from The Belgravia Centre or arrange a free consultation at our London clinic, please contact us on 0800 077 6666 or message the centre if you are from the UK. For all of those outside of London or the UK, please feel free to complete our online diagnostic form for a home-use treatment programme that can be sent anywhere in the world. You can also view our hair loss success stories, which is the largest collection of its kind in the world and features ‘before and during treatment’ photos and comments written by some of our happy hair loss treatment users.

The Belgravia Centre – The UK’s Leading Hair Loss Clinic

Cass

Diagnosis:  Male Pattern Hair Loss 

Krishan

Diagnosis:  Male Pattern Hair Loss

The active ingredient found in Regaine foam is minoxidil (5%), which is the same active ingredient and dose, as Regaine’s classic Regaine 5% minoxidil liquid. The only difference between the two, which is also the selling point, is that the form of the new product is a foam or ‘mousse’ as opposed to a liquid. The TV advert features a man spraying some foam on his hand and applying it to an area of thin hair on his crown.

Our initial thoughts about the product are that it won’t in fact be as effective as a liquid minoxidil formulation. If applied correctly, a liquid can be placed directly on the scalp and optimally absorbed. Even if some of the liquid lands on the hair, the laws of gravity will ensure most will drip onto the scalp as required. With a foam, however, it will be very difficult (almost impossible, in fact) for all of the product to be applied to the scalp and we would imagine the majority would be absorbed by the hair, depending of course on the thickness of the user’s hair. If you observe the TV advert for Regaine Foam, you will notice that when the user applies the foam, none actually seems to reach his scalp, but instead gets absorbed by his hair. Absorbtion into the hair would be of no use to somebody wishing to prevent hair thinning, as it is required that the product penetrates the scalp in order to reach hair follicles.

Minoxidil 12.5% Cream – a specially enhanced formulation of minoxidil

Although Belgravia’s minoxidil 12.5% + Azelaic Acid cream takes a similar form to Regaine foam, the method of application is different. An applicator is required so that the product can reach the scalp through the hair in order to ensure as little minoxidil gets caught in the hair as possible and optimum absorbtion is achieved. Another point is that if some cream is blocked from reaching the scalp by the hair, the dose is high enough to ensure enough minoxidil is absorbed into the scalp. Because of the higher dose of minoxidil (12.5%), it makes our product a prescription medication, but users have reported significantly increased results to a 5% solution, especially for stubborn areas of hair loss such as a receding hairline or a balding crown as you can see on our receding hairline page.

At Belgravia each person is treated on an individual basis and depending on the pattern of a person’s hair loss, some people will be better suited to liquid minoxidil. This is because those with relatively thick hair may not suit a cream or foam.

Only time will tell exactly how effective Regaine foam is. Results from any hair loss treatment take at least 3 months to begin to take effect and as we receive reports by users, we will keep our blog updated.

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Question: Do you offer Alpecin shampoo in your treatment regimes? If not, why?

Answer: Alpecin is a shampoo, which would be heavily diluted with water when applied to the scalp (in the shower or bath). It is unlikely that any of the product would be absorbed into the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles.

Aside from this fact, there is currently no significant evidence that caffeine has prevention properties for hair loss in humans. In previous lab tests, caffiene was seen to block DHT (the hormone that causes genetic hair loss) when applied directly to individual hair follicles, but these conditions are very different to those when washing your hair with a shampoo.

There are however treatments that are proven to prevent and reverse hair loss. Find out about them here.

More information can be found on an earlier Alpecin story.

The research, published in the web-based publication PloS One, revealed that the discovery was unearthed “entirely by accident.”

Researchers from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) were studying mice with gut problems that were genetically altered to overproduce the stress hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). The chemical compound astressin-B – thought to obstruct CRF – was then injected into the balding mice.

“Our findings show that a short-duration treatment with this compound causes an astounding long-term hair regrowth in chronically stressed mutant mice,” said Dr Million Mulugeta of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

“This molecule also keeps the hair colour (and) prevents the hair from turning grey,” he told the AFP news agency.

”This could open new avenues to treat hair loss in humans,” Dr Mulugeta added.

Afterwards, the researchers treated the mice with minoxidil alone. The study reported that this procedure “resulted in mild hair growth, as it does in humans. This suggests that astressin-B could also translate for use in human hair growth.”

Minoxidil – one of only two current treatments medically proven for hair loss prevention, was similarly discovered by accident. It was observed that people using minoxidil as a treatment for high blood pressure were growing unusual amounts of excess hair.

“it is difficult to tell whether this treatment would work for humans”, said Leonora Doclis of The Belgravia Centre, “but if it had a similar effect on genetic hair loss then the future could be very promising for hair loss sufferers. The current treatments are very effective but to be able to completely reverse total baldness would be revolutionary”.

The potential use of astressin-B in human hair loss cases was boosted by the research team’s assertion that no sign of toxicity appeared after extensive tests on the mice. However, human hair loss treatments with astressin-B – if they even come about– may take around five to 10 years to transpire and whether the treatment will be equally as effective for humans, whilst ensuring safety, is still unknown.

The next 10 years could prove to be revolutionary for hair loss sufferers, with the possibility of a number of new treatments on the horizon, including treatment related to stem cells and the new discovery of astressin-B. In the mean-time, there are two clinically proven treatments that are highly effective in preventing hair loss and regrowing hair for those with moderate to severe thinning hair. View before/after hair growth photos and feedback from people using specially tailored combinations of these treatments, with added hair growth boosters.

Made by hair loss company Nanogen, the product works by coating existing hairs with thousands of microscopic keratin fibres. These fibres cling to the users hair via static electricity, with the intention being that they will hide any hair loss and artificially give the hair extra volume and thickness.

The pepper pot style container of fibres is shaken above the hair to which it is to be applied, whereupon the fibres fall out onto the affected area. The manufacturers claim that the resulting effect is natural looking and designed to stay in place throughout the day, due to the electrostatic attraction that takes place between the artificial fibres and the individual’s real hair.

According to media reports, this method of concealing hairloss seems to be effective.

Hiding hair loss

But like many hair loss products, this new creation focuses on masking the symptoms of hair loss, rather than treating the cause. The product only works when there is some hair remaining that it can cling to, meaning that those suffering from full baldness will not benefit from using Nanofibres.

Furthermore, using such products to hide hair loss may work in the short term, but if the cause of the condition is left untreated then it will continue to be a problem, resulting in further bald patches and thinning hair.

Effective pharmaceutical treatments for hair loss

Thankfully there are a number of affordable and scientifically proven pharmaceutical treatments for hair loss available today.

Propecia and Minoxidil are both licensed by the UK’s MHRA and approved by America’s FDA for the treatment of genetic hair loss, and, when used as part of a treatment programme, special forms of minoxidil can also be effective in treating other hair loss conditions such as Alopecia Areata.

At the Belgravia centre we utilise these proven hair loss treatments in combination with a tailored program of trichological monitoring and an array of ‘boosters’ designed to stabilise hair loss and enhance hair growth. These are all aimed at identifying the cause of the hair loss, treating it and then preventing it from reoccurring.

To find out more about hair loss treatments at the Belgravia Centre, contact us for a no-obligation consultation or fill out our online diagnostic form. Please browse our success stories to find examples of people who’ve experienced hair re-growth as a result of a Belgravia Centre treatment programme.

Male hair loss is best combated with a combination of two products. The first is Propecia, which is medically licensed by the MHRA in the UK, and FDA approved in the USA. This hormone is a derivative of testosterone and attaches itself to hair follicles, causing them to shrink until they can no longer support hair growth. As DHT has no main function in the human body blocking it is not harmful. Consequently, Propecia is one of the few hair loss treatments on the market which has been clinically proven to prevent hair loss and encourage substantial re-growth.

The second product is Minoxidil, the original treatment proven to reverse genetic hair loss. Like Propecia it is licensed in both the UK and USA and usually comes in either solution or cream form. The percentage of active ingredients varies from 4 or 5% to extra-strength 12.5% creams for severe cases.

In men, Minoxidil and Propecia work together to improve the quality of blood, and increase the amount of ‘hair friendly’ blood supplied to the hair follicles. This in turn increases the amount of nutrients the follicles receive. In particular, Minoxidil opens up potassium channels to the follicles. This not only promotes re-growth, but helps protect the inner and outer cells of hair, resulting in stronger individual strands.

Minoxidil can also be used to treat female hair loss; there is currently no licensed DHT inhibitor available that is suitable for women but Belgravia’s minoxidil formulations contain added hair growth boosters that are aimed at doing just that. There are also several other non-chemical hair growth boosters that can help to reduce hair loss in both men and women.

Herbal remedies can help ensure the hair receives key nutrients for re-growth. A particularly popular choice is Hair Vitalics, with active ingredients including Saw Palmetto. This naturally occurring ingredient has been popular in many forms of traditional medicine for centuries and can help to boost the effects of the medically proven treatments.

The FDA has also cleared the LaserComb as a non-chemical treatment for hair loss. This hand-held device is designed to move snugly across the scalp, delivering a low-level laser treatment which can help stimulate re-growth. The LaserComb can be included free with most treatment programmes offered by The Belgravia Centre.

Regular clinical treatment therapy can also help resolve scalp problems and hair loss issues when administered on a regular basis. These stimulate scalp activity and can involve steam, ultra-violet and infra-red therapy, alongside massage and scalp treatments.

Every individual’s experience of hair loss is different and will require a tailored treatment to achieve best results; however, with the current range of hair loss products available there’s bound to be a programme to suit you.

The treatment, popular with celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan, de-frizzes hair making it easier to straighten and minimising the need for blow drying or styling over the 12 week period that follows treatment. To achieve this ‘wash and wear’ hair, a treatment of up to 90 minutes is necessary, where hair is washed, treated with the Brazilian Blowout solution and then flat-ironed. The treatment is only available in salons.

However, following a series of complaints from users of Brazilian Blowout, with symptoms including runny nose, burning eyes, and hair loss; Health Canada launched a full investigation into the reputedly formaldehyde-free product. Following a series of laboratory tests, which appeared to show exceptionally high formaldehyde levels, they issued a full warning on 7th October.

This was quickly followed by the Oregon Health and Science University’s Centre for Research on Occupational and Environment Toxicology’s (Oregon OSHA) release the following day recommending all stylists administering the treatment wear protective clothing and ensure clients are fully informed about the risks.

The news attracted the eye of Kimberley Ryley, a hair-stylist who frequently applies Brazilian Blowout to clients’ hair, and has a history of ill-effects following each treatment. Upon hearing the news, she launched a class action lawsuit against the company which has since received emails from over 200 stylists and product users who wish to be included in the suit.

It’s quite a blow for the ‘formaldehyde-free’ product; although it is unclear whether the potentially toxic levels of formaldehyde are permanently present in the solution or created when heat is applied, through straightening or blow drying. As both of these steps are necessary to use the product, if either claim is found to be true, Brazilian Blowout could also find itself facing a lawsuit for international deceit.

Brazilian Blowout’s response so far has been vehement denial. When the news first broke, they suggested that Health Canada had perhaps mislabelled a chemical present in the solution as the hair-loss culprit formaldehyde. They have also commissioned an air monitoring study in a typical salon environment. This took place on 9th October and appeared to show safe levels of formaldehyde in the atmosphere when treatments were performed. A press statement of the results followed soon afterwards. Interestingly, the company does not deny formaldehyde is created during use, only that the levels emitted are not toxic.

This debate looks to be ongoing for a while, and will require extensive research on both sides of the case to prove or disprove the potential dangers of the treatment. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see if our favourite poker-locked stars start sporting a curlier look to avoid the threat of hair loss.