One of many celebrities fuelling the latest craze in treatment of hair loss. Louis Walsh pictured here post Transplant and, right, before.

The celebrity craze for hair transplants has led to some rather strange attitudes to hair loss and its various treatments of late, particularly as many people see hair transplant surgery as the only way to correct a receding hair line. High profile surgery adherents including Wayne Rooney, Louis Walsh and Gordon Ramsay all had hair transplants.

As a result many men who notice hair loss may think of surgical solutions to their balding without properly investigating the alternatives. One man who posted on another hair loss blog is actually wanting to increase his hairloss so that he can undergo surgery sooner.

Hair Transplant Surgery – Let’s Consider the Alternatives

Before-and-after photos of Wayne Rooney certainly reveal a dramatic change in his hairline following the well-publicised transplant operation and there is little doubt that the results were initially impressive.

Rooney’s hair loss problems were much more high profile than most people’s would be so perhaps he opted for one expensive course of action without considering other, highly effective and reasonably priced options. Perhaps this applies to other celebrities experiencing hair loss too.

Retain and Regrow, Not Replace

Rather than rushing to lose hair so that a transplant can be initiated, a better course of action is to look into maintaining existing hair and wherever possible promoting various degrees of regrowth. Unfortunately many people believe that once lost, hair is gone forever, but there are medically proven treatments that make that statement untrue.

Treating Hair Loss Effectively

Our track record of success in treating hair loss has helped The Belgravia Centre attain the highly coveted distinction of being the UK’s leading hair loss clinic. We have a long list of satisfied clients from all walks of life, and many success stories.

The Belgravia Centre also offers international customers access to their expertise and treatment through a specialised mail order system. Using our online diagnostic form, men and women can obtain a confidential treatment plan, including medications, which can then be mailed anywhere in the world.

So there’s no need to pull your hair out if you notice hair loss. Contact us to find out more about restoring your locks, without resorting to surgery, or spending large sums of money. Your first appointment comes free with no obligation.

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Lise K

Diagnosis:  Alopecia Areata

“In general.. both people I saw were extremely informative and laid everything out on the table for me to make a decision.  I didn’t feel pressured or obliged to confirm or reject any treatment.  The advice genuinely seemed to be given for my own benefit and not for the sole intention of making a sale.  Experience and previous cases were used by both individuals to better help me come to a decision.  My overall impression is very good.”

“Belinda was really friendly and very polite and cleared my doubts about hair loss.  Cherie Riding, my Treatment Advisor was good too   Reception staff were very friendly and helpful and I would just like to say thank you for the consultation it was really helpful.”

“Belinda the Hair Loss Specialist was excellent, very professional which made me feel more comfortable.  Cherie Riding the Treatment Advisor was very good, also helped me feel at ease.  Your receptionists were also very good.”

“Well, I have to say, if I said I wasn’t pleased with your services, I would be the biggest liar on the planet – right from the reception to the last person I saw gave me more confidence.  Even to locate you was so easy which is very nice. Right now I am looking forward to seeing my hair grow and I do believe with your good work I will be smiling again. Thanks for your services.  Keep up the good work…Cheers.”

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

Famed for her no-compromise approach to cooking, Nigella Lawson is as famous for her curves and long, glossy hair as she is for the dishes she creates. However passersby will have been surprised to note clear signs of thinning at the back of her head, around the crown.

Is the Hair Loss Caused by Her Diet Plan?

Hair loss specialists have long known that certain diets can lead to thinning hair if not monitored carefully. Hair health is entirely dependent on a constant supply of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Should the supply of nutrients be disrupted or stopped, a person’s hair will immediately lose its body and shine, becoming brittle and prone to breakage. If the hair follicles which pass minerals to the hair are deprived for long enough, the attached hair can eventually fall out altogether.

So called ‘fad’ diets are often blamed by hair loss experts for causing hair loss in men and women because they can fail to maintain intake of the nutrients essential for healthy hair. Any diet which reduces a person’s levels of vitamins A, B or C, folic acid or iron all have the potential to cause hair loss.

Nigella Lawson is particularly famous for creating dishes which emphasise rich flavours, regardless of the calorie and fat content. It is therefore entirely possible that the change in her diet has led to a corresponding shift in her vitamin and mineral intake. Nigella’s transformation has been relatively speedy, suggesting that she is on some form of extreme diet coupled with a physically grueling exercise regime. It is no stretch of the imagination to think that there is a correlation between her weight and apparent hair loss.

Could it be Stress-Related Hair Loss?

Stress is also known to be a common cause of hair loss in men and women, which often manifests in a condition known as Telogen Effluvium. Taking up to three months for the associated hair loss to begin, Telogen Effluvium can be caused by all manner of stressful situations which cause a hormonal imbalance.

Telogen Effluvium causes a person’s hair follicles to enter a ‘resting’ phase prematurely so that the attached hair stops growing. Once hair follicle enters telogen, the hair falls out. People experiencing Telogen Effluvium are often shocked by the unexpected hair loss which begins around three months after the stressful event which triggers the condition.

Perhaps somewhat unexpected is the fact that dieting and stress can be closely related, with some food regimes causing dieters to become extremely stressed. Three months ago Nigella Lawson was in the middle of her weight loss efforts potentially causing a great deal of emotional stress. Her admission of being an ‘aquaholic’, whereby she needed to drink upwards of eight litres of water every day, would also have been causing significant physical stress on her metabolism.

As a result it is entirely feasible that stress may well have had some part to play in the condition of Nigella’s apparent hair loss this week.

What About Excessive Exercise?

Although exercise is essential for staying healthy, certain routines may be harmful to the hair of women genetically predisposed to hair loss through a condition known as Androgenic Alopecia. Certain exercises increase production of testosterone which is then broken down into a secondary chemical which attacks the hair follicles. The hair in these follicles then falls out, leading to bald patches, typically around the crown as demonstrated by Nigella.

Ms Lawson has spoken openly about her strenuous exercise regime in conjunction with her diet, which involves intense, 20-minute cardio workouts. It is probable that these frequent, intense workouts are raising her testosterone levels, thereby increasing the risk of hair loss through Androgenic Alopecia if she is inclined that way genetically.

What Can She Do?

Fortunately For Nigella, the photographs taken during the week suggest that her hair loss is in the early stages, apparently restricted to the crown of her head present. Better still, should the thinning hair be caused by Telogen Effluvium, the hair should regrow naturally within three to six months.

However, without a definitive diagnosis, Ms Lawson cannot be sure whether her hair loss is caused by Telogen Effluvium, or something more long-term, like female pattern hair loss. Obviously Nigella’s first course of action should be to obtain professional advice from a reputable hair loss expert who will be able to identify what is causing the hair loss, and formulate a treatment plan to help prevent further shedding.

With a proper diagnosis in place, and a personalised hair loss treatment plan underway, Nigella Lawson should find that her hair loss stabilises and eventually reverses. This will usually be achieved through a combination of medications and complementary therapies designed to stimulate and deliver nutrients to the hair follicles.

How Does it Work?

Most of the treatment plans designed to promote hair regrowth for women that are created by The Belgravia Centre involve use of the medication Minoxidil and various hair growth boosters. These products help collectively to help stimulate blood flow around the follicles, provide the required nutrients to the hair and block DHT which is the product that attacks and destroys healthy hair follicles. The Belgravia Centre offers various forms and strengths of Minoxidil which are individually prescribed to suit each patient’s pattern and stage of hair loss.

To find out how The Belgravia Centre can assist with hair loss caused by diet, exercise, stress or genetics, contact us to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our hair loss experts. If you are unable to get to our London centre we offer a worldwide home use service – all you need to do is complete our online diagnostic form.

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Nadia

Diagnosis:  Alopecia Areata and Diffuse Hair Loss

What is Alopecia Areata?

The study, overseen by professors José Antonio Gil Montoya and Antonio Cutando Soriano from the Department of Stomatology at the University of Grenada, noted that the subjects they observed experienced hair loss caused by Alopecia Areata.

The actual cause of Alopecia Areata is not yet known, but it is understood to be caused by a patient’s own immune system ‘attacking’ the hair follicles and causing them to enter a resting phase known as ‘telogen’. Hair follicles in the telogen phase shut down and all hair growth stops until the attached hair falls out. It is perfectly normal for hair follicles to enter telogen, but they do not normally tend to so in distinct patches as is the case in Alopecia Areata.

The observations of the University of Granada research team seem to confirm the relation between infection and the immune system, but for the affected people it would appear that they experience an extreme reaction. Instead of specifically targeting the infected area however, the patient’s immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the hair follicles too.

Regrowing the Hair

The good news is that for many people with Alopecia Areata, their hair tends to regrow without medical intervention over the course of several months. However, because the condition and its exact causes remain something of a mystery to doctors, they cannot provide exact timelines to people affected.

Using the information gathered by the team at the University of Granada however, one of the first actions a person affected by patchy hair loss or a receding hair line should be to visit a hair loss specialist such as The Belgravia Centre. A hair loss expert can accurately identify the type of hair loss and suggest a relevant course of treatment to the patient. The hair loss expert will also be able to advise whether another condition is at work, such as a receding hairline caused by Male Pattern Balding. In the event that a diagnosis of Alopecia Areata is given, the next step might be to visit a dentist for an oral check up.

If the dentist can find evidence of an oral infection they will be able to prescribe medication such as antibiotics to fight the infection. For the hair loss however, it might be an idea to contact the experts to enquire about treatment courses tailored specifically to your condition, pattern and stage of hair loss. Treatments such as minoxidil 12.5% cream are ideal for regrowing patches of hair loss caused by Alopecia.

Hair Regrowth for the Future

People who experience hair loss as a result of Alopecia Areata may find that it is not a one off occurrence. Around 25% of those diagnosed with the condition will experience a recurrence, making it essential that they obtain quality expert advice as soon as they can to deal with any underlying problems.

As well as dental infections, Alopecia Areata can also be caused by hormonal shifts during pregnancy, allergies, certain chemicals and even seasonal changes. The Belgravia Centre can help identify potential causes of hair loss for their clients and advise on lifestyle choices to lower the risk of future incidences.

People experiencing hair loss caused by Alopecia Areata, or believe themselves to be at risk of developing the condition, should be assured however that of those who contract the disorder, 75% will never have the same issue again. These people will find that their hair grows back normally given enough time although they are still advised to seek professional advice.

To find out more about Alopecia Areata and how The Belgravia Centre can assist, contact us to arrange a free, no obligation appointment with one of our hair loss specialists or if you are not within easy reach of London, fill in our online diagnostic form to obtain a personalised hair loss treatment programme that can be sent to you wherever you live.

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“Daiva was extremely pleasant, helpful, professional and sympathetic to my case.  She answered all my questions and showed genuine empathy.  She even gave me a follow up phone call to make sure everything was going well and if I had any further questions.  Tasha was also kind and very helpful and went further and beyond in providing information that I needed.  Both these ladies helped make my initially nervous experience a calm and pleasant one.”

“Davia was kind and gave me good explanations about my condition.  I also received a very good service from Trinity. She was clear in her explanations, and kind.  Reception were nice, giving me a fast and good attention.” 

“I found the service very quick and easy going.  The lady who did my hair massage was amazing (Japanese lady) and our Treatment Advisor Shamima was very pleasant and helpful.”

“Trinity Gardiner, my Treatment Advisor was amazing and was the deciding factor in my choosing to go ahead with the treatment.  She answered all my questions, was patient, approachable and could hold a conversation so I didn’t feel like it was an uncomfortable Q&A session.  Receptionists were fine, friendly and polite.  Since then I have had my treatment and have found the lady who carried out the process warm, friendly and very approachable so were the ladies at reception (I was also 15 minutes late so was expecting frowning faces all around).”

“It is a year now since I first started using the Belgravia hair treatment and I am very pleased with the results. Although my hair has always been very fine, I had lots of it until the past few years when I noticed the hair on the top seemed thinner and I could see my scalp in certain light. I have kept it short for the past few years but now am able to wear it longer again which I am very pleased about and my confidence has increased dramatically. I call it my ‘wonder’ lotion and am so happy that I can actually see positive results. Having persevered with N******* tablets for 18 months and no difference whatsoever, I was a little sceptical when I first started this treatment, but would highly recommend it to anybody with thinning hair.”

Janet Harte

Diagnosis:  Female Pattern Hair Loss

Balding

Beautiful and Bald Barbie

The ‘Beautiful and Bald Barbie Facebook page’ currently has 125,000+ likes and counting, while its newly created ‘brother’ site  ‘Bald and Brave G.I. Joe’  has gained more than 5,000 likes in just 10 days.

The description on the Barbie page says: “We would like to see a Beautiful and Bald Barbie made to help young girls who suffer hair loss due to cancer treatments, Alopecia or Trichotillomania. Also, for young girls who are having trouble with their mother’s hair loss from [chemotherapy].” Their target is the toy manufacturer Mattel, which makes Barbie in all her many guises, and the page’s creators hope that if they get enough support for their idea the manufacturers will start to pay attention.

The idea of a bald Barbie is not without precedent, but is yet to see mass production. In early 2011 the company made a one-off bald version of Barbie for 4-year old Genesis Reyes from New York. In that instance the one-of-a-kind doll was made after a friend of a friend of a wife of the Mattel CEO tipped off the toy company that Genesis was sad about losing her hair due to chemotherapy cancer treatments.

Bald and Brave GI Joe

The Bald and Brave GI Joe movement meanwhile is pressuring toymaker Hasbro to make a hairless version of their iconic GI Joe action figure.

They hope that by creating a ‘cool’ boy’s toy without hair, young boys without hair will be more easily accepted at school, and find it easier to cope with their hair loss.

The Facebook group say that, “boys who suffer from hair loss due to Alopecia, Trichotillomania or chemo are often stared at and misunderstood. Most are assumed to have cancer when many have Alopecia. “

Hair loss, particularly in children, is often erroneously assumed to be caused by cancer, when in fact it is the cancer drugs and treatments which cause the hair loss. Alopecia meanwhile is a hair loss condition generated by an auto-immune disorder, and children who suffer from it are generally otherwise healthy.

They group on to say, “we would like to see a strong figure for young boys to relate to during play that has no hair, like them. With the up and coming new GI Joe movie being made it is rumoured Channing Tatum playing GI Joe will have a shaved head for the role. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the new GI Joe action figures in relation to the movie be bald with awareness information on the box and a portion of proceeds to go towards one of the three causes of hair loss in children.

Hasbro and Mattel are yet to comment on the twin campaigns, but supporters are hopeful that they can make a difference in the lives of children suffering from hair loss.

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