Unfortunately making sure you get your 5-a-day will not stop DHT from affecting the hair follicles. This leads to Androgenic Alopecia, more commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss. It affects upto 80% of men and 40% of women. Men often start to see the early signs of a receding hairline and thinning around the crown while still in their 20s or 30s (and sometimes in the teens). The hair loss will follow a distinct pattern as shown on the Norwood Scale. Women on the other hand will tend to experience a thinning throughout the top of the head or crown. Some women also see a male pattern to the hair loss and may go bald.

Lifestyle factors, such as stress, can act as a trigger for genetic hair loss however once DHT starts to attack the hair follicles, the condition requires treatment to stabilise the shedding and restore hair growth. There are only two products that have shown significant evidence in large scale clinical trials. Minoxidil (for men and women) and Propecia (for men only) have been licensed by the MHRA and approved by the FDA, the medical regulatory bodies in the UK and USA respectively.

The Belgravia Centre is a leading hair loss clinic in London which offers specialist treatment to clients worldwide. The centre has an in-house pharmacy which produces Minoxidil in three, high-quality formulations: Minoxidil 4% and 5% solutions with added Medroxyprogesterone (MPG) and Minoxidil 12.5% cream with added Azelaic Acid (AA). MPG and AA are hair growth booster ingredients which may help to counter the effects of DHT, thereby increasing the efficacy of the Minoxidil to increase hair growth. When MPG and AA are added to these strengths of Minoxidil, the treatment becomes prescriptive. This ensures clients are guaranteed they are receiving the treatment best suited to their condition and that treatment progress will be monitored by a team of experts.

For men, there is the added option of using the Propecia tablet to compliment one of these Minoxidil treatments. This usually brings about a higher level of regrowth.

To see the results of these treatments in men and women suffering from all types of hair loss, take a look at the collection of hair loss success stories.

If you would like to find out whether a Belgravia treatment course can assist you, make it your New Year’s resolution to contact the centre and have a consultation with a specialist. Appointments are available 7 days a week, take 30 - 45 minutes and are free-of-charge. To book, call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. For a home-use treatment course via mail order, simply submit the online diagnostic form.

More Information
Hair Loss in Men
Hair Loss in Women
Hair Loss Products Reviewed

Interesting Articles
Why Men Worry About Baldness But Do Nothing
Women’s Lifestyles Lead to Hair Loss at a Younger Age
The Difference Between Male & Female Pattern Hair Loss

1. Hair Loss More Common in Young Men Than Ever
A survey undertaken by the Belgravia Centre found that hair loss is becoming increasingly common in younger men. Statistics revealed an exponential rise in the number of men aged 21 - 30 who were seeking advice and treatment. Patient numbers thereafter gradually decline with age.

Hair Loss More Common in Young Men Than Ever

2. Michael Jackson
Perhaps the biggest event of the year was the untimely death of global superstar Michael Jackson. Following his death, there were stories that surfaced, speculating whether or not the king of pop ever recovered from the burns he suffered during a Pepsi commercial shoot. Judging by the number of comments sent in to the blog, Michael will be loved by his fans for years to come.

Was Michael Jackson Bald and Wearing a Wig?
Michael Jackson’s Hair Loss - What Happened to his Bald Spot?

3. Stem Cell Treatment
With unfailing determination, science has continued to research for a sure-fire cure for baldness and hair loss. There were some significant discoveries that were made, which one day may solve the genetic problem that men and women have faced since the beginning of time.

Stem Cell Hair Loss Treatment in the Making
Gene Linked to Early Hair Loss in Men and Women

4. Andre Agassi
The most famous barnet in sport turned out to be a hairpiece. The tennis legend that is Andre Agassi published his autobiography and revealed a number of interesting facts. Perhaps the one that has received the most public attention was the fact that he was suffering from hair loss in his early twenties and his long mane was infact part-hairpiece.

Andre Agassi Wore Wig to Hide Baldness
Andre Agassi Talks About Hair Loss on TV

5. Botox
Although the fake cosmetic surgery look is beginning to wane, botox is still a popular way of eliminating wrinkles and has even been reported to prevent hair loss. But can baldness really be beaten in your lunch hour with a few injections of this toxin?

Botox Claimed to Prevent Baldness

6. Prince William
There have been a number of reports over this year and last concerned with Prince William’s receding hairline and thinning hair. There was speculation that the Royal looked into hair loss treatments, but it would appear those rumours were false.

Prince William’s Hair Loss in Focus During Charity Event
Ginger Harry vs Balding William

7. Wayne Rooney
Even Manchester United’s finest footballer, Wayne Rooney, seems to suffer from the common condition that is male pattern baldness. There were a number of rumours this year that suggested ways the striker may have contained his receding hairline that appeared to once be out of control.

Hair Loss Strikes Wayne Rooney
Did Wayne Rooney Have a Hair Transplant?

8. Sarah Palin’s Thinning Hair
Sarah Palin, the American Republican who ran for Vice President in 2008, apparently suffered from stress-related hair thinning this year. Her hairdresser, Jessica Steele, supposedly leaked the information. Hair loss in women is not uncommon, and it can be influenced by many factors, such as stress, genetics and menopause.

Sarah Palin’s Thinning Hair

9. Natural Hair Growth Institute Sued
The hair loss industry has suffered from some dubious businesses that make unfounded and exagerated claims. But this time the consumers fought back. The Natural Hair Growth Institute, which guarantees to “regrow your hair naturally” is being sued after failing to provide refunds to unhappy customers.

Natural Hair Growth Institute Sued

10. Big Brother’s Sophie Hair Extension Horror
The winner of Big Brother 2009, Sophie Reade, walked off with £71,320 and a smile on her face. But things were not always plain-sailing in the Big Brother house for the 20-year-old model. At one point her hair extensions fell out revealing bald patches and thinning hair, a problem not uncommon for women who wear them but one that can be fixed.

Big Brother’s Sophie Suffers Hair Loss

The Belgravia Centre is looking forward to covering all the latest hair loss news and stories in 2010. If you are interested in finding out more about hair loss treatments, why not contact the centre for a free consultation with one of Belgravia’s specialists. Appointments are free-of-charge and available 7 days a week. To book, just call the friendly reception team on 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. If you are unable to visit the centre, just complete the online diagnostic form for a home-use treatment course via mail order.

The 22-year-old American exchange student is in jail in Perugia, Italy, where she is serving 26 years for murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, two years ago.

Knox’s mother, Edda Mellas, said her daughter was shocked when her hair started falling out.

“She had lovely long hair,” said her mother, Edda Mellas. “Now it is all cut off.”

Intense stress often causes a large amount of adrenaline to be released into the body which then transmits a signal to the hair follicles, telling them to rest. Ten percent of hair is resting at any one time but stress can increase this amount significantly and result in an uneven hair growth pattern that leads to thinning hair or extreme hair loss. If Knox is indeed suffering hair loss, it could well be induced by stress.

Prior to her conviction, Knox’s lawyer pressed that there was not enough evidence that could attribute the case aganist her “beyond any doubt” and urged the jury to “clear this girl”.

“There are still many doubts in this trial, and there’s a young girl waiting to be judged,” defense lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova said before the verdict was given.

Throughout the 11-moth trial, Dalla Vedova portrayed Knox as a “clean-faced young girl, swept away by a tsunami”, but it appears this image did not penetrate the jury.

On December 4, 2009, Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were found guilty of murder and sexual assault and together must pay €5million to the victim’s family. In addition, Knox must pay €40,000 to a man whom she falsely accused of the killing.

Knox’s father, Curt Knox, said her family found it difficult to accept the verdict and that an appeal would ensue.

“It appears clear to us that the attacks on Amanda’s character in much of the media and by the prosecution had a significant impact on the judges and jurors and apparently overshadowed the lack of evidence in the prosecution’s case against her,” he said.

Knox’s apparent subsequent hair loss may be hard to rectify. Medical hair loss treatments will help restore the hair growth cycle to its optimum condition, but it is important when treating stress-related hair loss to resolve the issue that is causing the stress.

With Knox’s appeal likely to last longer than the original trial, it seems unlikely that her stress levels will be reduced and her hair growth will get back to normal any time soon.

For more information about hair loss, contact The Belgravia Centre, the UK’s leading hair loss clinic. Call on 020 7730 6666, send an email, or complete an online diagnostic form for access to expert advice and an individualised mail-order hair loss treatment programme.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Women
Hair Loss in Women Doubles Due to Stress
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Sex Therapy for Women’s Hair Loss Taken to Court
1 in 5 Women Malnourished and at Risk of Hair Loss
Stress to Stay Thin Leaves 1 in 3 Women With Hair Loss

The scene was not dissimilar to the ordeal that left Michael Jackson with a burnt scalp and significant hair loss, but 47-year-old Jackie was saved by a quick-thinking production team who put out the flames before any serious damage occurred.

“It was terrifying. We were standing in front of a huge Christmas tree that was decked out with candles. The photographers kept saying, ‘Lean back a little and put your heads closer together’,” Reporting Scotland newsreader, Jackie said.

“Suddenly, I realised that the programme producer, the cameraman and his assistant were all running towards me. I don’t usually have that effect on men, so I thought it strange.

“I then realised there were flames shooting out the back of my head in a Michael Jackson kind of way. It was like a halo at the back of my head.”

Hair loss is these days mostly a preventable and treatable dilemma, thanks to the availability of clinically proven medical hair loss treatments, but baldness caused by burns or scarring has little effective solutions. Lucky for Jackie the flames didn’t reach her scalp, as was the case with Michael Jackson, and her remaining hair could be styled to conceal the damage.

“The team patted me down and dragged me away from the candles but there was this terrible smell of burning,” Jackie said. “I was terrified to look in the mirror. I went up to the make-up department and they chopped off the singed bits - a huge handful.

“It’s quite funny in retrospect, but it could have been very serious if the flames had reached my scalp. The things I do for the Hogmanay show.”

For more information about hair loss and the available proven treatments, contact The Belgravia Centre on 020 7730 6666 or send an email. Alternatively, complete an online diagnostic form for easy access to specialist advice and an personalised mail-order hair loss treatment programme.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Women
Male Hair Loss
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Was Michael Jackson Bald and Wearing a Wig?
Woman Left Bald After Hair Dye Burns
Types and Causes of Hair Loss

Male and Female Pattern Baldness

Type: Male and female pattern baldness, otherwise known as androgenic alopecia, is a hereditary condition affecting 80% of men and roughly 4 in 10 women. It can start as early as puberty but for women it mostly occurs post-menopause. It may present differently for everyone but generally the first signs include either a receding hairline, thinning on top of the scalp, or diffuse spread thinning.

Cause: Male and female pattern baldness is caused by the effect of male hormones on the hair follicle. An enzyme called 5-alpha reductase creates dihydrotestosterone (DHT) when it comes into contact with testosterone. In those with the genetic sensitivity, DHT restricts the growth of new hair cells by attaching itself to the receptor cells of the hair follicle, causing them to shrink. With each new growth stage of the hair lifecycle, the hair comes back a little thinner and weaker, and if left untreated, the follicle could eventually become dormant and hair growth could stop completely.

Alopecia areata

Type: Alopecia areata is often a sudden development that presents itself as small round patches of baldness. It is not limited to the scalp and can cause hair loss on other parts of the body such as eyelashes, eyebrows and beards. It affects as many as 1 in 100 people at any age and is equally prevalent in both men and women. It is categorised as an autoimmune disorder.

Cause: With people who develop alopecia areata, for unknown reasons their bodies’ own immune systems attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation. What activates and promotes the onset of alopecia areata is largely unknown but there are several suggested factors that could play a part, such as long-term, chronic or sudden and extreme stress, physical trauma, infection, pregnancy and hormones, allergies and chemicals. In 7 out of 10 cases, the hair will regrow within a year without any treatment. However it is believed that the longer the period of hair loss, and without trying treatments, the less likely it is that the hair will grow back.

Telogen Effluvium

Type: Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that results in overall thinning due to an excessive amount of hairs being shed. It is a temporary condition, although it can trigger genetic patterns of hair loss. Telogen effluvium affects both men and women, but is more often seen in women due to the nature of most of the common causes.

Cause: Stress, illness, medications, rapid weight loss and childbirth can all cause certain hair follicles to prematurely enter the resting phase. Each factor represents a shock to the system and the internal imbalance results in hair shedding. Treatment is largely based on addressing the cause and if done so successfully, normal hair growth should resume within a few months. However, due to the incidence of genetic hair loss it is not unlikely that any of these factors could have triggered male or female pattern baldness.

Post-Partum Alopecia

Type: Post-partum alopecia occurs in women two to four months after giving birth and causes excessive shedding of hair and overall thinning. It is thought to be quite common but there are no reliable statistics regarding prevalence.

Cause: Normally people shed up to 100 hairs a day, but the hormonal changes that occur in a woman during pregnancy mean it’s more likely that she sheds only 50 or so. After childbirth, women’s hormone levels return to normal and this triggers the apparent hair loss. The hair that should have shed but was retained during pregnancy enters the resting stage of the hair cycle at once falls out within two to four months. Whilst this may seem quite significant, the hair growth cycle should return to normal within about 6 months. If it does not, there could be other possible causes.

Treatments for Hair Loss

The most highly regarded types of treatments for hair loss are those licensed by the MHRA. They are clinically and medically proven to help stabilise thinning and stimulate renewed hair growth in most cases of hair loss.

The Belgravia Centre has discovered that the combination of proven treatments with supportive hair growth boosters often provides the best chance of recovery for anyone experiencing hair loss. Depending on the type and severity of the hair loss, specialists will recommend a comprehensive treatment program based around these products that is specifically tailored to suit your individual case, ensuring that you become another hair loss success story.

Phoenix Alexander

Diagnosis: Male Pattern Hair Loss

Month 1                                             Month 12

Please note: We have recently changed the cameras used for photo scans which is the reason for the difference in colour.

The first sign of male hair loss likely to occur is a receding hairline, particularly at the temporal area above the eyebrows, an area commonly referred to as the “widow’s peak”. However, even though most cases of hair loss are genetic, there is no single blueprint that is indicative of male pattern baldness. Some men might experience overall thinning or the gradual appearance of a bald spot on the crown, as opposed to temporal hair loss, or even a combination of all three.

Often the younger you are when you start to lose hair is indicative of how much more hair loss is likely to come. While some men won’t begin to notice the signs until they’re in their 50s, there are many who suffer temporal hair loss in their early 20s. The Norwood Scale is often used as guideline to pinpoint the stage of hair loss a man is at. The general pattern of baldness, according to this scale, sees two areas of thinning – the temporal are and the crown – gradually enlarge and join together until the entire front, top and crown of the scalp are bald.

If you’re likely to worry about hair loss, it is essential to start treatment as early as possible to counter the effects, particularly in cases where temporal hair loss is the main concern. Not everyone will go through all seven stages of the Norwood Scale, but knowing how far along the balding process you are will help specialists formulate a treatment programme that is most likely to help regrow any lost hair and stop further hair loss from occurring.

Temporal recession is usually the most stubborn area of hair loss to rectify but it is not impossible. If the area has gone smooth – in other words, is completely bald – it is unlikely that there will be a non-surgical solution. However, there is treatment for temporal hair loss that has been shown to provide the best results.

There are a host of hair loss remedies that claim to be the leading solution, however, there are the only two products to have undergone large scale clinical trials and shown sufficient evidence to be effective in stabilising hair loss and restoring lost hair. Propecia and minoxidil are MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved for the prevention and treatment of hair loss and any effective management plan should involve at least one of these two products. Many men often experience the best results when the two proven treatments are used jointly and complimented by a range of hair growth booster products.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Men
The Significance of The MHRA and FDA
How To Prevent Male Pattern Baldness

Interesting Articles:
Evidence That Hair Loss in Young Men is Increasing
Men of a Certain Age Deal With Baldness, Says Ray Romano
When You’re Too Young To Go Bald

Pilfood Direct is a cosmetic product, according to Laboratorias Serra Pamies. It is not a medicinal product and it is not licensed by the MHRA for the treatment of hair loss, however, much of its product information may be misconstrued by some consumers.

Pilfood Direct is claimed to:

*Stop / Slow down hair loss by 90% 
*Speed up growth of new hair by 64%
*Bring strength and volume to hair by 73%

Pilfood Direct is “indicated for all those situation, in men as well as women, in which there is an excessive hair loss”. It boasts PRO-ANAGEX as its active ingredient, which manufacturers claim to be an “anti hair loss can capillary reviving molecule”. However, there are no studies or conclusive evidence to confirm that Pilfood Direct can alone stop, stabilise, or prevent hair loss in men or women.

How is it MEANT to work?

According to Pilfood manufacturers and marketers, Pil Food Direct works to:

Stop/Slow Down Hair Loss – by restoring “hormone equilibrium”. The main cause of hair loss, most of the time, is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an active bi-product of testosterone that gradually weakens and shrivels the hair follicle and hinders hair growth. Pilfood Direct claims to slow this process down and increase the number of hairs in anagen against those in telogen (see hair growth cycle).

Speed Up Hair Growth – by promoting the transport of essential nutrients for hair growth to the follicles. It is said the ingredients of Pilfood Direct work to stimulate cell activity in the hair follicle and promote new hair growth.

Improve Hair Strength and Volume – by repairing the capillary structure and improving the cuticle surface. Pro-Anagex is claimed to fight fragility and capillary weakness and strengthen and thicken the hair.

DOES it Work?

Manufacturers claim in vitro tests were used to assess the effect Pro-Anagex had on hair. In an artificial environment, they say an increase of new hair against loss of hair was observed. There is no indication that it has been examined and proven to have the same effect in practical human use.

The details of the clinical study relating specifically to Pro-Anagex and Pilfood Direct are unknown.* At this stage there is no way of knowing how comprehensive the study was and whether the results hold any significant value, or if they are accurate.

The trademarked Pro-Anagex soy compound formula has not been independently tested and confirmed to have any effect on stabilising hair loss. Pro-Anagex is derived from a pulse cultivated in the Mediterranean region known as lupinus albus, or white lupin. According to Pilfood manufacturers and marketers, it is an active compound rich in amino acids, vitamins and nutrients and has powerful effects on slowing down hair loss and stimulating growth. But no vitamin, mineral or amino acid has ever been proven to have such a significant effect on hair loss.

The product information about Pilfood Direct Anti-Hair Loss Treatment does concede that it should be used “as a supplement of oral treatments and/or topical anti-hair loss products”. That is, in addition to clinically proven and licensed hair loss treatments. There are no studies that firmly prove Pilfood Direct is an effective treatment for hair loss.

* Belgravia has contacted the manufacturer in regards to specifics of the study. This post may be updated once further details are acquired. 

More Information:
Male Hair Loss
Hair Loss in Women
Hair Loss Product Guide

For many years Gwyn Price has been turning his home into a winter wonderland but this will be the last time he puts the lights up at his Kempton Avenue home in Bobblestock, Hereford. Price, 52, has just got married and will moving out of the house he shares with his mother but he hopes his final display will be a big success. The display will also help raise money for the Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs for children who have suffered hair loss through cancer treatment.

“It’s a local charity who we read about in the Hereford Times and thought we’d like to help,” said Mr Price, “We’ve got a Thomas the Tank Engine, Santa’s grotto, Snow White and the dragon from Shrek. We just enjoy doing it and the people who see it enjoy the display too.” Over the years Price has raised £8,000 for cancer charity CLIC Sargent and said he would like to thank everyone who donated. Mr Price will be selling off the display after Christmas with all proceeds going to the Princesses Trust.

The Belgravia Centre will be sponsoring and supporting The Little Princess Trust and would be grateful if you could help in any way that you can to support the charity. If you are unable to get to Bobblestock to see the display and would like to make a donation, just visit the charity’s website: www.littleprincesses.org.uk

Last week The Dallas Morning News ran a story in which Ms Taylor said that her son has been learning in a separate room to the rest of his  class at Floyd Elementary School in Mesquite, Texas, after the school’s Principal told her that the boy’s hair was too long at the end of October. The school’s policy states that a boy’s hair should be above the ear lobes and above the collar. Laura Jobe, of the Mesquite School District, said, “Our dress code is designed to minimise distractions in the classroom.”

But Taylor’s parents are not happy. “He only goes two and half hours a day. He’s not a distraction. He doesn’t get teased,” said Ms Taylor who is refusing to comply with the school’s requests due to the fact that Taylor likes his hair long and his father, who has American Indian heritage, also wears his hair long.

Associate Superintendent Cathy Rideout said, “The policy says students can’t go to class out of dress code,” but added that a student will not be excluded from school for non-compliance with the dress code.

However, Ms Taylor said she was told her son will be removed from school if he shows up with long hair. The school says that Taylor will be separated from his classmates unless his hair is cut. Ms Taylor said she is appealing to district officials for assistance to resolve the issue.

The Belgravia Centre is a hair loss clinic based in central London. If you would like information on hair loss and hair loss treatments, contact Belgravia for a free consultation. To book an appointment, call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. For a home use treatment course via mail order, simply submit the online diagnostic form.