General Hair Loss

There seems to be a number of common misconceptions related to hair loss products, one of the most popular being the idea that the HairMax LaserComb has only been cleared by the FDA for safety, not effectiveness.

If you read the FDA clearance letter sent to HairMax (the manufacturers of the LaserComb) you will see that it clearly states ‘The LaserComb is indicated to promote hair growth in males with androgenetic alopecia who have Norwood Hamilton classification of IIa to V and Fitzpatrick skin types of I to IV.’ Here’s the FDA clearance letter.

HairMax carried out a placebo-controlled clinical study at a number of sites in the US in order to prove the effectiveness of their device. Hopefully this information will clear this matter up. Here’s some more information – LaserComb FDA Clearance.

We’ve covered it up, shaved it off and even lathered it with chicken dung (well, at least men in the 17th century did!) – but the latest efforts of a university lecturer could pave the way for the development of treatments that would make hair loss, in years to come, seem a ludicrous thing of the past.

Mariko Yamaki, from the Matsumoto Dental University, was able to regenerate hair on mice with a combination of skin cells and mesenchymal stem cells (ones that develop into various organs of the body).

Yamaki said it would be difficult to regenerate hair using only embryonic stem cells, however, hair growth was observed on all 12 mice that had the mixed clumps implanted on their back muscles.

About 40% of the 48 clumps had one or two hairs growing from them and when protein was added, the hair growth rate increased to about 60%.

“If embryonic stem cells are combined with mesenchymal stem cells, which perform a number of other functions, a different organ can probably be created,” Mr. Yamaki said.

“The first thing I want to try to do is regenerate hair using human embryonic stem cells.”

Here’s hoping – details of his discovery will be published in the May edition of The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine magazine.

In the meantime, find out about the most effective medical hair loss treatments for men and women and see the hundreds of hair loss success stories where people are already turning hair loss into hair growth.

More Information:
Male Hair Loss – Conditions and Treatment Options
Female Hair Loss – Conditions and Treatment Options
Hair Follicle Regeneration - The Stem Cell Research Story
Hair Follicle – The Key to Organ Regeneration

Considering how many people experience hair loss and how frustrating and damaging it can be to a person’s self-esteem, there are a lot of companies that, perhaps one could say, falsely advertise the merits of their product and, particularly with the powers of the internet, some that blatantly lie about a treatment or medication and abuse people’s trust. The real truth is that there is no magic pill, lotion or act that can cure baldness, but there are ways to stablise and manage hair loss. The key is to seek professional medical advice and determine the cause of hair loss before embarking on a course of treatment.

There are several safe, affordable, accessible, effective and genuine hair loss treatments currently available. The primary ones are MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved for that specific purpose, and the others can help to promote a healthy scalp for healthy hair growth. Which treatment, or combination of these hair loss treatments, is suitable for a given individual depends on a number of important factors.

Hair loss is not as straight-forward as you might think. Anyone suffering from hair loss should seek professional medical advice to determine the exact cause or causes of their hair loss. This may seem obvious but many people chose a hair loss product from the shelf on the basis of self-diagnosis and the product’s marketing. This is not a sensible option since thinning hair and hair loss can sometimes be the result of an underlying medical condition. But even when all the evidence points to the onset of hereditary male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss it is important to seek advice, if only to rule out other factors.

Once the cause of hair loss has been properly diagnosed you will be in a position to choose a suitable form of treatment. Hair loss may be caused by many factors including changing hormone levels, illness, stress, excessive pulling, side effects of medical treatment, poor nutrition, weak immune system and the effects of aging. The good news is, all of these can be tackled with reasonable hope of success but only if you choose the right treatment. There are hundreds of hair loss treatments and products currently available but experimentation with products that are not clinically proven or supported by medical bodies may not only be a waste of time and money, but potentially unsafe.

The Belgravia Centre’s hair loss experts give free consultations to individuals who are concerned about thinning hair or hair loss sufferers and they also provide an online diagnostic service. This means anyone can receive an individual diagnosis to determine the cause of the hair loss condition and empower them to make an informed decision about their hair loss treatment course.

The most effective treatment for male hair loss usually involves a combination of Propecia and minoxidil. The additive effect can be attributed to the different mechanisms of action of each treatment but Propecia has not been approved for the treatment of female hair loss. The most effective option available for women then is minoxidil with added anti-androgens which can substitute the effects of Propecia. Propecia and anti-androgens work to prevent the formation of dihydrotestosterone (the main cause of hair loss) whilst minoxidil generates new hair growth. The Belgravia Centre’s trichologists have found that the degree of success will often depend on the strength of minoxidil used and the complementing treatments that accompany the medication.

For more information on the most effective combination of treatments for hair loss or to arrange a free consultation, contact the Belgravia Centre on 020 7730 6666, or messagethe centre.

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Hair loss is no longer a problem that people should have to deal with. There are plenty of hair loss solutions out there but the problem is that people stricken with the agony of hair loss are desperate to find a quick fix solution and will jump from one treatment to another in the hope they’ll stumble across a hair loss product that will give them the results they hope for. The thing about hair loss is that in most cases it is a gradual progression. You don’t just wake up bald one morning so, likewise, you can’t expect the treatment to work overnight. Hair loss treatments need some time to show results so you must be patient. If you stick to it, in time you’ll see the desired results. The key to getting the results you want and fast is to start with the best – the clinically and scientifically proven treatments for hair loss.

Only a few products have actually been approved as a bona fide hair loss treatment. To be more precise, there are only two medications that have the approval of the FDA – minoxidil and Propecia. Like all medications minoxidil and Propecia can have side effects but rest assured they are minimal, rare and wear off with continued use, and no long-term side effects have been reported. The Hair Max Laser Comb is the only other device for hair loss that has been FDA-cleared and no adverse reactions have been acknowledged with this product. Used in conjunction with the other proven hair loss treatments they can generate new hair growth. The combined effect is a block in the progression and successful treatment of hair loss.

Due to the very nature of hair loss, these hair loss treatments can take time. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a bi-product our bodies produce that in some people causes hair loss. The anti-androgens in the FDA-approved medications work to inhibit the formation of DHT, targeting the root cause of hair loss. Everyone’s reactions to the treatments vary but six months of treatment is recommended so results have an opportunity to present.

Before undertaking any course of treatment for hair loss you should consult a medical professional. A trichologist is trained in hair and scalp care and will be able to diagnose the condition and inform you of the best course of action. In some cases treatment may not even be necessary – telogen effluvium for instance is a condition brought on by one-off stresses or events, such as childbirth. The main symptoms of the condition are excess shedding and thinning hair but it will, in most cases and in time, correct itself. If not, hair loss treatments will help the regrowth of hair.

Hair loss can be devastating but it can also be treated. Instead of panicking over hair fall and accumulating all hair loss products known to man, you should consult a specialist for expert advice and get the right treatment from the outset. That way you’ll save yourself a lot of time, money and grief, and be miles closer in restoring your hair, provided you are determined to do so.

(Images courtesy of craigallyn and Philipp Hilpert – Philography, both at flickr)

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The odds have always been staked against Prince William – the genetic history of hair loss in the Windsor family is as solid as their love for polo and the army. But the 26-year-old heir’s position as one of Europe’s crown heads is creeping up in more ways than one.

The anxiety male pattern baldness causes is bad enough for the average man but when you’re in your 20s and next in line for the throne, each time you lose a bit more you can expect more gossip to be circulating in the papers.

Male pattern baldness is a genetic condition that can be inherited from either side of the family. It can also skip generations but studies show that men with a history of the condition on both sides of the family are more likely to inherit it themselves. Earl Spencer, the father of William’s mother Princess Diana, was always thin on top and William’s father Prince Charles was reportedly very upset when the press picked up on his bald spot in 1977.

The gradually thinning hair of Prince William has allegedly caused him a lot of anxiety but it doesn’t seem to be improving despite his supposed marked efforts. Male pattern baldness is a harmless condition in the sense that it has no other physical effect on the body, but the fact it causes such distress and anxiety to many men means that it can need treatment.

In 2003 there was speculation the Prince visited a homeopath in a bid to stop his hair receding and was considering other alternative therapies such as acupuncture. It is safe to say that these hair loss remedies provided little relief but it has been claimed that the Prince has more recently enquired about proven hair loss treatment medication.

In 2008, William was allegedly looking into Propecia to treat his deteriorating condition. He’d be the perfect candidate for the treatment which is the most successful treatment for male pattern hair loss. The one-a-day tablet inhibits the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is the cause of male pattern baldness.

Propecia has been associated with a lowered libido and erectile problems in less than 2% of users but it is unlikely that this has put the Prince off using the best treatment in hair loss when the benefits far outweigh the slight possibility of side effects that resolve once use of the medication stops.

He was recently seen sporting more hair than usual but in the wrong place – perhaps William’s beard was an attempt to detract from the loss of hair on his head. Although, is it just me or are Wills’ locks looking a bit more luscious than usual? Perhaps he is taking Propecia, or perhaps one of the other proven treatments, or maybe even a combination such as those offered by The Belgravia Centre.

Senior trichologist Leonora Doclis isn’t so sure.

“The angle of the photo of him getting out of the car is not flattering,” she said. “But his hair is deffinately worse than it was even a few years ago when he was at university.”

Propecia has high success rates especially when combined with other proven hair loss treatments so it’s hard to say for sure if Wills is using the treatment or not.

Specially prescribed combinations of the proven hair loss treatments will ensure hair loss stabilisation and hair regrowth in the great majority of cases. If you would like to enquire about these treatments you can contact the Belgravia Centre for information or a free hair loss consultation, or complete an online diagnostic form for Belgravia’s world-wide mail-order hair loss service.

Further information:

Male Hair Loss
Hair Loss Treatment Results
Effective Treatments for Male Hair Loss
Baldness is Not Inevitable

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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned people to be vigilant when buying medicines online after more than £250,000 of counterfeit, unlicensed and withdrawn medicines were seized during raids in Stoke-on-Trent.

The MHRA said the drugs were the “tip of the iceberg” of an expected multi-million-pound illegal online medicine business.

“This online pharmacy has been supplying a massive range of medicines from weight and hair loss tablets, to anti-depressants, powerful painkillers and even anabolic steroids,” Head of Operations Danny Lee-Frost said.

The raids, carried out with help of Staffordshire Police, resulted from an MHRA investigation into the website Pharma2u.com which sells popular prescription drugs.

“The dangers of purchasing medicines online are that you just don’t know what you are taking,” Mr Lee-Frost said.
He warned buyers to be cautious and said medicines should only be purchased from registered websites following a medical consultation.

The Belgravia Centre is a professional, medically recognised hair loss clinic with the UK’s only registered in-house pharmacy purely dedicated to hair loss treatments. The Belgravia Centre’s pharmacy is registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and is licensed to sell all the medically proven hair loss treatments as well as formulate its own prescription forms of extra-strength minoxidil with added anti-androgens.

The Belgravia Centre ensures all clients receive the best expert advice. All Belgravia Centre trichologists have medical backgrounds and are either certified trichologists or doctors or nurses with trichological training.

Their expert care and advice is available to anybody around the UK and the rest of the world without the need to visit the London clinic. Belgravia’s online diagnostic form provides the Belgravia Centre’s trichologists with all the information required to diagnose a hair loss condition and make suitable recommendations based on your particular condition and stage of hair loss. Or you could just arrange a free hair loss consultation. Individual hair loss treatment programs are based around clinically and scientifically proven, FDA-approved treatments for hair loss.

(Image courtesy of neur0nz at flick)

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The Belgravia Centre’s Policy of Trading

Hair Loss Clinic Warnings

A Warning About Hair Loss Products

Poisonous Chemicals Found in Fake Online Medications

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Counterfeit Drugs More Deadly Than Terrorism

Which Hair Loss Products Work?

Herbal Supplements or Proven Hair Loss Treatments?

Results of a five-month clinical trial of a new hair loss product released by a small biotechnology firm appear promising but researchers say it’s early stages and the trial is currently still in progress, which means another effective hair loss treatment may be years away, if at all.

The current hair loss treatments  that prove successful are so because they’ve been through years of controlled, clinical trials to demonstrate how they work and their results. They are then subject to approval by the FDA and licensing by the MHRA - the regulatory bodies in the US and UK, respectively, that are responsible for granting licenses to new drugs so they can be sold publicly – before they are deemed not only effective, but also safe to use. There are currently two hair loss treatments that have  have demonstrated continuously good results.

Histogen, an 18-person company which opened in 2007, is excited about the initial results from their independent study which involved 25 men aged 18 to 45 with varying stages of male pattern baldness.

“These results appear to be phenomenal, although this trial is still in the very early stages,” Dr Craig Ziering, the principal investigator of the study said.

Whilst there are no published results and the trial is still on-going, Histogen has reported that they are planning to meet with the FDA.

The formula, called ReGenica, was developed using man-man fibroblasts and early stem-cells, grown in an environment that mimics embryonic conditions. The fibroblasts are thought to cause certain proteins, named WNT proteins, to be produced. In mice, WNT has been shown to be responsible for initiating the formation of new hair follicles and improving function in existing follicles.

Histogen had previously conducted independent research that suggested ReGenica stimulated hair growth in animals. The current trial is to test the products safety in humans.

“Histogen’s clinical trial was designed to assess the safety of its product over a five month period,” Dr. Ziering said. “In addition to seeing no adverse reactions, we were delighted to see more hair, thicker hair shafts, and what appears to be the growth of completely new hair follicles in the areas that received the ReGenica treatment.”

The trial is ongoing but Histogen expects to release full results from this first clinical study in the first half of 2009.

There are hundreds of hair loss treatments and products currently available to the public but there remain only three which have the FDA’s tick of approval. Experimentation with products that are not clinically proven or supported by medical bodies may not only be a waste of time and money, but potentially unsafe. We will await further information regarding Histogen.

More Information:
Hair Loss Product Reviews
Male Pattern Baldness
Hair Loss in Women

Interesting Articles:
The Key to Healthy Hair – the Big Fat Truth
Hair Follicle Regeneration
Procerin Clinical Trial – Do the Results Hold Any Value?

Name: Dan Ebans

Question: Is there a certain age when its not worth undertaking any treatment for male pattern baldness?

Answer: Success of treatment for hair loss does not depend on the age of the sufferer, but the extent of their hair loss.  Complete baldness can not be reversed but thinning hair can. It is always worth visiting for a hair loss examination in order to receive a prognosis from one of Belgravia’s trichologists.

Christina is Belgravia’s Superintendent Pharmacist and a member of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society. She is responsible for Belgravia’s trichological pharmacy, which is the only pharmacy of its kind in Britain. You will usually find Christina at the pharmacy desk which is located in the clinic reception.

Christina is also one of the Belgravia blog’s expert writers. She usually responds to questions sent in to hairlossANSWERS regarding hair loss products and also writes articles for the blog.

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Hair is almost like a social status and over the years has proven to be a powerful statement of self expression. It is undoubtedly our greatest natural accessory but what would you do if you started to experience thinning hair or perhaps dramatic hair loss? There are a range of effective treatments for hair loss but the most mysterious remains the one that has been around longer than most, that is, hair transplant surgery. It’s come a long way since its cultivation by Japanese dermatologist Dr. Okuda in 1939 and whilst there are still some types of surgery to be wary about, generally you can forget about shiny metal contraptions and old-fashioned doll’s hair look-alikes – after years of development, this procedure has thankfully become a much safer hair loss treatment option.

What is hair transplant surgery?

Hair transplant surgery is a one day procedure that is done under local anesthesia. Hair transplantation involves surgically moving skin containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding from one part of the body (the donor site) to bald or balding parts (the recipient site). It is mainly used to treat male pattern baldness but is also used to restore eye lashes, eye brows, beard hair, and to fill in scars.

Effective non-surgical treatments are available to treat various forms of hair loss. The broad condition affects up to 80 percent of men and roughly 40 percent of women and most will find these options much more appealing than surgery and in many cases, the results can be just as good and the costs can be considerably less.

How does surgical hair restoration work? 

Hair naturally grows in follicles that contain groupings of 1 to 4 hairs. Gone are the dark ages of hair restoration when the old “punch graft” technique left you looking like a newly groomed doll. Today’s advanced transplant techniques transplant the “follicular units” in their natural groupings to achieve a natural appearance by mimicking the way that hair grows naturally so that not even a hair stylist is able to tell the difference. This recent hair transplant procedure is called “Follicular Unit Transplantation.”

The transplanted units generally come from the sides and back of the scalp which largely remain unaffected by male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss is generally confined to the majority of the crown where the hair follicles are genetically predisposed to hair loss and more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (or DHT) – the hormone that causes hairloss.

A hair transplant procedure requires an experienced and skilled hair transplant surgeon and a very well trained and skilled team of nurses and technicians. The number of procedures required is dependent upon a number of factors. The extent of hair loss, the projected hair loss rate, the amount of donor hair you can spare will all play a part in determining the number of procedures required. Most men can achieve the results their looking for in just one or two transplant sessions but women may need more to achieve proper density.

What makes a suitable candidate?

For the right person, hair restoration surgery can significantly improve your confidence and overall self-esteem. However not everyone is the perfect candidate for the surgery.

Suitable candidates for hair restoration surgery include:

• Men who have been suffering male pattern hair loss for more than five years and are seeing the classic receding hairline
• Men who have been balding for years and whose pattern has stabilizsed and are interested in adding hair to achieve a more youthful appearance
• Those who have lost their hair due to trauma or burns or other cosmetic procedures

However, the single most important thing one must have to be considered as a suitable candidate is realistic expectations. It’s important to understand that hair loss might continue to progress and one must be aware and prepared for this. Medications to stabilise hair loss need to be considered in such cases.

As mentioned previously, hair transplants are used to treat male pattern baldness. There are a range of effective non-surgical, non-invasive hair loss treatments and surgery should always be a last resort after all attempts to stop the progression of hair loss have been trailed. Male pattern baldness is a progressive hair loss condition where the degree of loss is determined genetically and produced hormonally. It can start anywhere from puberty and take anywhere from a few to 40 years to establish the pattern and result in baldness. For this reason, careful planning is essential so that the pattern of baldness can be anticipated.

Is it suitable for women?

Hair transplantation is safe and suitable for women but in general, for a woman to be a candidate for a hair transplant, the type of hair loss needs to be scarring alopecia, traction alopecia, or extreme female hair loss conditions. Because female pattern baldness is distributed evenly over the scalp, there would be no guarantee that the hair would continue to grow in the recipient area due to the fact that this hair seems to be inherently unstable and just as susceptible to DHT. The same exception can be made for men who are experiencing diffuse hair loss.

Should I be worried?

Most people considering surgical hair restoration are not always aware of the scope and the pitfalls of this medical specialty. It’s one thing to grasp the basic science behind the procedures but the aesthetics and artistry required to perform them well is another thing entirely. Unfortunately, for economic reasons, some physicians are performing outdated and sometimes dangerous hair restoration techniques, some of which are mentioned below.

Hair Flap
This is a major surgical procedure in which a wide strip of hair-bearing scalp is moved from the side of the scalp to the front hairline. It is cut on three sides so as not to separate it from the scalp and ensure it is not severed from its blood supply. The flap of skin and hair is then twisted so the hair bearing side faces outward and covers the surgically removed balding area. There are very real dangers of infection, scarring and necrosis related to this procedure.

Linear or Line Grafts
Possibly a cosmetic surgeon’s worst nightmare, these four millimetre strips of donor hair are grafted into surgically cut “trenches” in the bald area. The strips are not divided into follicular units and as hair grows the result is a completely man made-looking line of hair.

Round or Square Grafts
These are your original, real life doll-hair manufacturers. These five millimeter pluggy looking grafts are made with a hole punch devise and due to the size, do not even remotely resemble the way hair naturally grows from the head. This version has been adapted over the years but even the mini and micro grafts don’t compare to the more natural follicular unit transplant.

Scalp Reduction
A somewhat barbaric and disfiguring procedure, Scalp Reduction cuts away the bald scalp, pulls the edges of hair-bearing scalp closer together and sews them closed. The side effects of such a procedure are extensive and include but are not limited to further hair loss, hemorrhaging, scarring and can affect future hair growth as the direction of growth is altered.

So What Can We Infer?

Hair restoration surgery is considered a safe and practical procedure for suitable candidates. However it’s important to know you’re getting the right treatment for your type of hair loss. There are a number of non-surgical treatments for hair loss that we advise before deciding on surgery. These forms of hair loss treatment may resore the hair to your desired density without the need for surgery. The latest techniques in hair transplantation are however highly effective and resemble natural hair growth but the skills required for such a procedure mean only the most skilled and highly qualified surgeons should be consulted.

By the way… did you know?
Hair can be transplanted between identical twins with the same genetic make up. However, in general hair transplanted from one persons head to another will be rejected unless anti-rejection medications are taken for life. At this stage the risk of taking theses medications far outweigh the benefits of a transplant but scientists are currently researching ways to successfully transplant hairs from one person to another.

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