Treating Hair Loss

About 50 million men and women in the United Status suffer from hair loss. The most common cause of hair loss is male pattern balding caused by genetic predisposition and hormonal changes.

A balanced multi-therapy treatment plan is the best approach to achieve hair restoration. A results-oriented approach combines treatments such as laser phototherapy, nutritional supplementation, oral finasteride & topical medications such as minoxidil & copper peptides, and for severe late cases, surgical hair transplantation.

Low Level Laser Therapy

There’s a new option in hair restoration that is painless and noninvasive. In fact, low level laser therapy (LLLT) is among the most exciting new options in the treatment of hair loss. Hot lasers have long been used in all types of medical specialties, including dermatology to resurface the skin by creating thermal damage & then allowing skin to heal over.

There is a paradigm shift in how lasers benefit skin and hair with LLLT. LLLT isn’t a light source that causes thermal, or heat, damage. With LLLT, there is no cutting or burning sensation. The technology doesn’t even look like traditional lasers. Instead, LLLT is delivered by a device that contains panels of lasers that shine on the scalp.

Patients who have used the therapy have said that their hair looks and feels thicker, fuller and healthier and they have noticed improved hair growth. Patients who are in the early stages of hair loss seem to respond better as with other medical treatments such as Rogaine & Propecia.

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Copper Peptides for Stimulation of Hair Growth

Copper Peptides are emerging as a viable hair treatment option. The science behind copper peptide is strong and has been researched for over 20 years.

Copper peptide complexes are known to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, resulting in improved blood flow and delivery of nutrients to the follicle, resulting in faster growing hair and thicker hair shafts. Copper peptides also inhibit action of 5 a-Reductase, the enzyme that reduces testosterone to DHT. DHT, in turn, is responsible for male-pattern balding.

Copper peptides supply tyrosinase with copper that is required to produce melanin, the pigment that gives hair its dark colour.

Copper has also been proven to enhance healing & hair growth after hair transplants.

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Minoxidil

In the late 1970s, the American drug company Upjohn produced a drug taken orally to lower severe high blood pressure called Minoxidil. As a side effect of the drug, patients reported growing hair on various parts of the body.

This drug’s exact mechanism of action is unknown. We know it prolongs hair follicles’ active growth (the Anagen phase), resulting in thicker & longer hairs. Minoxidil is helpful in slowing down the rate of hair loss in about 75% of patients; and, about 50% of patients actually experience hair re-growth. In other words, it’s not the number of hairs that increase, it’s the volume.

Rogaine Topical SolutionTM is available in 2% or 5% concentrations. It is applied to the scalp twice daily. It will take at least four months before you will notice less hair falling out; and, at least seven months to see hair re-growth. Usually, this re-growth will be fine, short (Vellus) hairs. It is very useful to combine with a formula rich in copper peptides to thicken up these fine vellus hairs. Copper peptides can also calm any irritation caused by topical minoxidil. Rogaine must be used continually, as prescribed, over the long-term in order to maintain its beneficial effects. Once stopped, you will lose all the hairs you gained.

The main side effects of Rogaine (occurring in <2% of users) are skin itching, scaling and redness.

Minoxidil can be used by both MEN and WOMEN.

Propecia

Approved by the FDA in 1997, Propecia™ (finasteride 1mg) is the first pill proven to treat genetic hair loss in the crown and mid-scalp area of men.

Male pattern balding is due to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on genetically predisposed hair follicles. DHT causes increased hair shedding, gradual miniaturization of the follicle, thinning of the hair and eventual hair loss. Propecia works by inhibiting type 2, 5-alpha-reductase (the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT). Therefore, by reducing DHT production, Propecia can prevent and eventually reverse the process of hair loss.

In clinical trials, Propecia increased hair counts during the first year, while hair mass and thickness increase for up to two years. It stops hair loss in over 80% of cases & stimulates hair regrowth in abt 66% of cases.

Propecia has few side effects and those that occur are resolved by stopping the medication. One side effect, which statistically occurs in 2% of men who take the medication, is a change in sexual desire or function. Propecia does not affect sperm function or fertility; and presents no risk to pregnant women through normal sexual relations. However, women of childbearing age should not take or touch the medication as it can adversely affect the fetus.