Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums:

After years of wearing my hair in tight braids, I noticed hair loss in my hairline and temple regions. I saw my physician, and he diagnosed the hair loss as traction alopecia. I’m wondering: what is traction alopecia, and can it be repaired with hair transplant surgery?

Traction alopecia is hair loss that is caused by excessive “pulling” of hair follicles over a long period of time. The constant pulling and traction on the hair follicles causes progressive damage and eventually leads to noticeable hair loss in regions where the pressure was most apparent (i.e. the hairline and temporal regions). Normally, traction alopecia is most apparent in individuals who wear their hair in very tight braids for a number of years, or those who wear hair pulled tightly in head wraps for cultural or religious purposes. For example, traction alopecia is very common in African American females who wear hair tightly braided for years, and Punjabi males who wear turban headwraps.

Medically, traction alopecia is classified as a “focal” (located in one region of the scalp, but not patterned like “androgenic alopecia” or “genetic patterned baldness”) “non scarring” (meaning the hair loss is not occurring because of repeated inflammation and destruction of hair follicles) type of alopecia, and is treatable with hair transplant surgery.

I am a 23 year old female who has been suffering from chronic Telogen Effluvium for 18 months. I have had all blood and thyroid tests that all came back normal. I believe the initial trigger was weight loss and being underweight for a few months, but I have been in a healthy weight range for over 12 months now and the hair fall has not stopped. My dermatologist recommended I use Rogaine for several months; however I have read that in most cases after stopping Rogaine all the hair it helps grow will fall out again. I am afraid to start using it at all if it will only give me a temporary hair loss solution. Can you advise what I should do?

Unlike you, most men and women using Rogaine (minoxidil) to treat hair loss are suffering from androgenic alopecia (genetic balding). Because there is no hair loss cure, treatments like minoxidil must be used indefinitely in order to maintain hair growth. However, hair follicles in the zones of permanent growth at the rear and sides of the head will not become dependent on minoxidil. Thus, should these patients eventually discontinue the drug; they will not end up balder for having used it. Instead, their thinning hair will resume and will eventually take on the same pattern they would have had if they’d never used the drug at all.

This comment, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey:

I have been a hair loss sufferer for the last ten years. As a woman, having a balding area is not the most flattering way to wake up in the morning. Like most people going in for a surgical procedure, you want to do all your research you can so you are informed and do it right the first time. After reading your hair restoration forum and others, I have come to believe that the value which you propose to provide is a lot less than what the average person getting a hair transplant is expecting to get. Your web site seems to be filled with shills from all your member doctors.  When you repeat the same things over and over, naive people will tend to believe it.

I did a few consults with some “hair only” doctors and was not impressed. One of my friends said that her plastic surgeon also did hair transplants. I went to the plastic surgeon’s office and did not get the “hard sell” that I got with the hair docs. However, I was concerned because he did not specialize in only doing hair transplants.

Rogaine (minoxidil) is a proven, preventive hair loss treatment. Unlike some other therapies – like Propecia (finasteride) – Rogaine is an approved treatment for both male and female hair loss sufferers. Although the product is safe and effective for both men and women, the makers of Rogaine still offer two separate, sex-based solutions: Rogaine (available in foam and liquid forms) and Rogaine for Women.

Minoxidil is the key ingredient in both solutions.  So what is the difference between regular Rogaine and Women’s Rogaine?  While men’s Rogaine is available in both a 2% minoxidil and 5% minoxidil concentration, Rogaine for Women is only available as a 2% minoxidil solution.

Minoxidil is most commonly associated with three major side effects: low blood pressure (hypotension), “light headedness,” and allergic skin reactions. Because these side effects are allegedly more common in women, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved the less concentrated, 2% solution for women.

Thus, the only difference between regular Rogaine and Rogaine for women is the concentration of minoxidil.  Regular Rogaine is available in both 2% and 5% solutions, while Rogaine for Women is strictly a 2% minoxidil solution. According to the FDA, this is because the 2% minoxidil product decreases the potential for side-effects in the more susceptible female patient.

Some female patients do however, enjoy the additional benefits of 5% Rogaine without experiencing side effects.  Female hair loss patients are strongly advised to consult a dermatologist to determine its cause before using any hair loss treatments.

This question, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey:

I recently got my Vitamin D level checked and I am deficient even though I take the recommended daily allowance in supplements. This is a growing problem; especially for people who don’t get much sun, the best source of vitamin D. Apparently, one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is thinning hair. It alters growing phases. Hoping mine improves now I am increasing the supplements.

I asked my GP to test it but he declined, saying it wasn’t necessary. Some GPs will test Vitamin D, but many will not. I found a service on the net which is a Birmingham, UK NHS hospital that offers a service for 25 pounds ($40 US). They send a kit which includes a skin pricker and I had to place four drops of blood on the collection paper and then post it back to them. Very good service. The result is back within 5 days and easy to read result.

Opinions differ on how much vitamin D is needed to correct a deficiency. I have read that 1000IU is needed per 25lbs of body weight daily and should be taken with some dietary fat as it is fat soluble. This high dose should only be taken until the correct level is achieved. Then it should be reduced to 2000IU daily.

Recommended hair restoration physician Dr. Sanusi Umar of Redondo Beach, CA was recently featured in a segment on ABC’s Good Morning America about eyebrow hair transplantation.

Dr. Umar is not only world-renowned for performing state of the art follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant surgery, but is arguably the world’s leading expert in the field of body hair transplantation (BHT).

Body hair transplants allow for the harvesting of hair follicles from virtually anywhere on the body including the face, arms and legs for implantation into balding scalps, eyebrows, beards or other areas of hair loss.

Anyone seeking follicular unit extraction hair transplantation, repair work or body hair transplants in California and beyond are encouraged to consider Dr. Umar. To learn more about Dr. Umar and his technique, click on his recommendation profile above and view the below clip.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

Technorati Tags: hair restoration, hair transplantation, follicular unit extraction, FUE, hair transplant, body hair transplantation, BHT, balding, hair loss, hair transplants

Although most assume hair loss is primarily a male problem, it’s important to remember that alopecia affects a significant number of women as well. What’s more, the social stigma and psychological strain of female hair loss can be particularly devastating to women, which makes treating this condition an important task.

While hair loss can be stressful, embarrassing, and depressing for both male and female hair loss sufferers, Coalition hair restoration surgeon Dr. Mike Beehner understands the impact of hair loss in women and recently shared his opinion regarding the importance of treating female baldness on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums:

Dr. Beehner: 

I don’t know if the percentage of women with significant hair loss is rising, but most experts certainly agree that around 20% of women have significant hair loss to the degree that they seek professional help of some sort.

Treating female hair loss is one of the most gratifying aspects of my practice, since women are devastated by hair loss and it removes one of the main identifying characteristics of beauty we associate with the female sex.

It’s unfortunate that around 15-20 years ago someone started the “buzz” that women weren’t good candidates for modern hair restoration therapies, but this isn’t true. What’s more, we actually encourage female hair loss sufferers to increase their self-esteem and self-image by utilizing proven treatments like Rogaine (minoxidil) for Women.

Men and women with thinning hair often assume that their balding will follow one of the patterns of hair loss defined by the Norwood Scale (male pattern baldness) or the Ludwig Scale (female pattern hair loss), but this isn’t always the case.

Though androgenic alopecia is the most common form of balding, there are other forms of alopecia hair loss that do not follow a pattern. One of these is Diffuse Patterned Alopecia or DPA.

You can learn more about DPA and other alopecias by visiting the new Alopecia Hair Loss section of the Hair Loss Learning Center.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

Technorati Tags: thinning hair, hair loss, Norwood Scale, male pattern baldness, Ludwig Scale, female pattern hair loss, androgenic alopecia, balding, Diffuse Patterned Alopecia

Hair loss, in general, is a very confusing and frustrating phenomenon. What’s more, in many cases hair loss sufferers frequently do not understand the basics of hair loss or fall prey to unsubstantiated rumors and unproven theories. To help combat this problem and share helpful information about hair loss, recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Para Mohebi‘s clinic released an article about hair loss basics and seeking quality hair restoration.

According to Dr. Mohebi’s clinic:

Hair Restoration – Knowing Basic Facts Regarding Hair Loss

Losing your hair is not an exciting event in life. In fact, for most people it is very distressing. Men and women who suffer hair loss regret this change in their appearance. Many of them resort to desperate measures based on non-expert information. Here are a few facts that may help patients understand hair loss and seek efficient hair restoration. The best thing one can do is address the hair loss concern directly and get a consultation from a trusted hair restoration physician.  There are many medical and hereditary factors that may be the contributing to this change. Be prudent and see a medical doctor who specializes in men and women’s hair restoration. 

Below are some general facts:

1. Our hair is made of a protein called keratin.
2. A hair consists in a hair shaft (what we see), a root below the skin, and a follicle from which the hair roots grows.

In addition to androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) there are a number of other alopecias affecting hair growth. Recently, the Hair Loss Learning Center added a new section devoted to the causes and treatments of these various forms of alopecia. You can access this new section by clicking on the title below:

What are the Different Types of Alopecia? Causes and Treatments

The first article published in this new section is about traction alopecia. To learn about traction alopecia and what can be done to treat it, follow the link above.

Keep checking back for future installments on the following conditions:

• Alopecia Areata
• Diffuse Patterned Alopecia
• Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA)
• Cicatricial Alopecia (Scarring Alopecia)
• Alopecia Universalis and,
•  Alopecia Totalis

We also encourage you to contribute to the alopecias discussion on our hair loss discussion forum, Different Alopecia Types and Causes of Hair Loss.

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Technorati Tags: androgenic alopecia, hair loss, hair growth, traction alopecia, Alopecia Areata, Diffuse Patterned Alopecia, Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia, DUPA, Cicatricial Alopecia, Scarring Alopecia, Alopecia Universalis, Alopecia Totalis