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Scalp micropigmentation or SMP (the process of tattooing the scalp to promote an appearance of naturally growing hair) is becoming an increasingly popular procedure for balding men, especially those who’d like to maintain a closely cropped head of hair with an appearance of stubble.  This intriguing procedure is frequently used to camouflage widening scars from previous hair transplant strip procedures.  However, some hair transplant surgeons have begun utilizing this procedure to aid in thickening the appearance of naturally thinning hair.  But is scalp micropigmentation for everyone?  What are the benefits, limitations and practical usage of this procedure?  Is scalp micropigmentation a viable alternative to hair transplant surgery?

In a recent thread at our Hair Loss Discussion Forums, Coalition member Dr. William Rassman presented scalp micropigmentation results he’s working to perfect at his clinic.  Several hair loss patients and hair restoration experts have shared their opinions.  During this discussion, Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Ron Shapiro shared his insights on the advantages, limitations, and practical usage of Scalp Micropigmentation.  You can view his comments below.

I have been following the improvements in Scalp Micropigmentation over the last year, and I would like to share the limited experience I have had with this technique so far:

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is a popular supplement that supposedly aids in a variety of health functions. Among these alleged health benefits, MSM is proposed to promote hair growth and increase the vitality of one’s natural hair.   In many cases, hair transplant patients with a shaved recipient area (where the new hair grafts have been placed) often use MSM for the first couple of months after surgery to accelerate the growth of their shaved natural hair.   Note that MSM does nothing to expedite the hair transplant growth/maturation process nor does it do anything to stop the progression of genetic baldness.   Yet, the use of MSM still remains popular.  Read our  MSM product review for more information.

However, many patients who use this supplement for hair loss report an unwanted side effect – acne breakouts. So, can MSM cause acne? According to wellness experts, MSM aids in optimal health by causing cells and tissues to detoxify and flush unwanted biochemical agents.  Popular consensus claims the release of these toxins causes a short period of acne, meaning that MSM can cause an initial acne breakout. These breakouts are allegedly short-lived and avoided by starting treatment with a low dose of MSM and moving gradually toward a higher concentration.

Hair loss sufferers will do anything to hide their baldness from the world. While some sport the fancy comb over look, others wear their favorite hats and head coverings.

Today, many hair loss sufferers have turned to topical concealers such as Toppik, Dermmatch, and Nanogen to mask their baldness and create the illusion of a more lustrous head of hair. But how effective are these hair loss products? Do they effectively mask complete baldness or do they work better on consumers with thinning hair? Will concealers hold up under harsh weather conditions and/or when swimming?

Members of our community were recently discussing the effectiveness of Toppik and other topical concealers on our forum. You are encouraged to join in the discussion to read what others are saying and offer your input.

Bill Seemiller
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: Hair loss, baldness, comb over, Toppik, Dermmatch, Nanogen, thinning hair, concealers, Bill Seemiller

Dozens of alleged treatments for female and male pattern baldness are manufactured and advertised every year. The question is – do any of these products actually work to stop hair loss or regrow lost hair?

Zenagen advanced hair solution is a shampoo that claims to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone), reduce hair shedding, and speed up hair growth all for approximately $17 per month. But is there any clinical evidence to suggest this shampoo is a successful solution for hair loss?

Recently, new forum member “Grany” who claims to be a physician asked the members of our community for feedback on Zenagen shampoo. You are encouraged to offer your input and/or experience with Zenagen on our hair restoration forum.

Bill Seemiller
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos  on YouTube

Technorati Tags: male pattern baldness, hair loss, Zenagen, hair solution, DHT, dihydrotestosterone, hair shedding, hair growth, Zenagen shampoo, hair restoration, Bill Seemiller

When flipping through the channels on TV late at night, I sometimes get sucked into the Scalp Med infomercials promising a new thick head of hair.   It also claims to be FDA approved.   Is this the hair loss cure we’ve all been waiting for?

Scalp Med infomercials are very popular this time of year, especially as the holidays approach.   Sold as a treatment for female and male pattern baldness, Scalp Med boasts that the “results will provide you with thicker, cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful hair”.   The Scalp Med infomercial presents dozens of rich  consumer testimonies  praising Scalp Med  and providing us wild dreams of  restoring  a full head of hair.   While one woman claims, “it was nothing short of a miracle for me”, another male consumer  boasts, “there’s nothing better out there”.   Oh really?  

Scalp Med is Just Overpriced Minoxidil

While Scalp Med is technically a viable hair loss treatment, what they don’t readily tell you is that that the only “active” ingredient in both the men’s and women’s solution is minoxidil, and significantly overpriced at that.  

Because minoxidil has been FDA approved as a treatment for male and female hair loss, Scalp Med can make the same claims Rogaine can.   The extra cash you could be saving by purchasing Rogaine (minoxidil) most likely goes toward marketing and the  ”inactive” ingredients that do nothing to stop genetic baldness or regrow hair.  

Hello.   I wanted to ask you if Finpecia, the generic version of Propecia is just as effective for hair loss as the brand name.   How can I be sure?

Assuming you are buying Finpecia from a legitimate resource and it contains the same quantity of the active ingredient finasteride in Propecia, it will be just as effective in stopping hair loss.   Be careful of buying medication online.   Whereas several online pharmacies may be legit, there are horror stories of patients buying what they thought was finasteride and ended up being something entirely different.

Bill
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Finpecia, Propecia, hair loss, finasteride

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman  of La  Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

I have been doing some reading about a topical hair loss treatment called Fluridil that may help block DHT and stop hair loss.   What can you tell me about this drug?

Without going into too great a detail, topical Fluridil preparation acts topically to inhibit the effects of DHT on the hair follicle. Current studies show that, similar to finasteride, there is an increase in the total percentage of hair in the active (anagen) verses resting (catagen) stage (from 76% to 87% at nine months).  I happen to personally know the clinical investigators (Dr. M Sovak, UCSD) and the clinical research facility (UCSD). Their results are clinically significant, and their research work and ethics are highly respected in the scientific research community.

At this time however, Fluridil is not licensed for use in the US.  

The main advantages Fluridil boasts of  what is referred to as  a “hydrophobic” compound; that is, fat soluble. In addition, it is deactivated when coming in contact with water (a “hydrophilic” environment). This last fact makes so that if it is absorbed into the bloodstream from the scalp, it is deactivated as soon as it hits the blood (an aqueous or “hydrophilic” environment). Hence, since it doesn’t enter the circulation, there reportedly are none of the (normally low incidence anyway, 5%) sexual side effects.

Would Provillus hair treatment really help in baldness type of hair loss?   I have had this since I was 13 years old and I am not 24 years old.   It has been on and off ever since.   At the moment, I’m using minoxidil 2%.

Though Provillus  hair loss treatment comes in both a topical and oral solution, the only proven ingredient in this product is minoxidil  which is in the topical formula.   Some anecdotal evidence exists that saw palmetto (an “active” ingredient in their oral solution) might help block DHT, the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness.

In my opinion, if your alopecia is genetic, I would stick with Rogaine (which contains minoxidil) and consider Propecia (finasteride) for men only, which are both FDA approved to treat baldness.   Be sure to consult with a physician and learn about the benefits, limitations, and potential side effects of these medications.

But based on your description above, of “on and off”, I’m wondering if you have alopecia areata, which is characterized by rapid hair loss in a targeted area leaving you with a bald patch in certain areas of the scalp or body.   In about 50% of all cases, those suffering from this condition experience hair regrowth without any treatment.   However, some treatments have been used including a combination of  minoxidil, steroid injections, clobetasol or fluocinonide, creams, cyclosporine (a topical immunotherapy), and anthralin or topical coal tar.   Because Provillus topical treatment contains minoxidil, this could probably be used instead.   However, generic minoxidil is less expensive.

The viability of laser therapy for hair loss has been heavily debated for some time by reputable hair restoration physicians. While some physicians reject its use entirely, others use it as a daily part of their practice. Some hair transplant surgeons also feel that laser therapy can assist with postoperative healing and expedite transplanted hair growth.

Though laser hair loss treatment is often incorrectly promoted as FDA “approved” and its benefits oversold, the real question is – can low level laser therapy (LLLT) have any benefit for balding men and women trying to restore their hair? If so, how does it work and what should be expected from its use?

Recently, we interviewed several leading hair restoration physicians and asked them to share their experience with laser therapy in treating hair loss at their clinic. A special thanks to Coalition surgeons Dr. Joseph Williams, Dr. Glenn Charles, and Dr. Alan Feller who have offered their expertise, experiences, and opinions on this highly important and controversial topic.

Click here to read exclusive interviews with these leading physicians about the effectiveness of laser therapy. Also learn how laser therapy is said to work and what role the FDA clearance of the Hairmax laser comb has.

Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Technorati Tags: laser therapy, hair loss, hair restoration, hair transplant, hair growth, low level laser therapy, LLLT, balding, hair restoration, Hairmax laser comb

“Let the buyer beware” is an important catchphrase to memorize when considering many of the hair loss treatment options marketed heavily in the media. Many of these popular treatments will promise the assurance of results or your money back guaranteed! Though these radiant offers are quite striking, failure to deliver the promised results may bring your money back, but what about your hair?

Below is a summary and product review of 3 popular hair loss products on the market today. Follow the links for more detailed information about each product below.

Provillus, making promises to “re-grow beautiful healthy hair” consists of a topical treatment containing minoxidil 5% (same as Rogaine) and azelaic acid (a supposed DHT blocker but to my knowledge has not been formally tested as to its efficacy to treat baldness). Their topical solution is in fact, similar, if not exactly the same as Xandrox, also used to treat baldness. Provillus also consists of an oral solution that contains a number of “all-natural” ingredients such as saw palmetto some of which have anecdotal evidence suggesting some level of efficacy in inhibiting DHT (the hormone responsible for female and male pattern baldness). To learn whether or not this product really works, read this detailed product review.

Hairmax MD is a topical formula to be applied to the scalp twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Containing many ingredients such as Vitamin E, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and flower pollen extract, this “all-natural” hair loss remedy makes claims that it is “guaranteed to work or your money back” and promises to deliver “fuller, thicker hair“. Does this hair loss product usually deliver what it promises? Read this detailed product review to find out!