Hair Loss and Hair Transplant Links

Hair Loss Organizations & Websites

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is a non-profit organization and leading authority on hair loss and replacement.

The American Hair Loss Association is a national, non-profit membership organization dedicated to educating the public, healthcare professionals, main stream media and legislators about hair loss.

The American Hair Loss Council is the only not-for-profit trade association serving the hair restoration industry. Our members consist of highly trained hair replacement specialists and technicians, certified trichologists, extensionists, wig fitters, and hair transplant surgeons.

A non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of hair research. Includes links lists for dermatology clinics and articles about hair and hair loss. 

The International Alliance  of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) is a patient’s advocate, profiling ethical physicians members and the state-of-the-art in hair restoration.

The Bald Truth. Hair loss consumer resource including recommended hair loss products, discussion forums, chat, and much more hair loss information.

Hair Loss Learning Center is a multimedia rich site that enables visitors to share information and photos, view animations and videos and learn about the elite members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

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Bernstein Medical’s Hair Restoration Answers section is devoted to answering patient questions about surgical hair restoration and the medical treatment of hair loss. It covers a wide variety of subjects including new hair transplant techniques, hair transplant repair, medical therapies, hair cloning, and diagnostic challenges.

Hair Transplant and Surgical Hair Restoration Sites:

USA

BaumanMedical.com - The website of the famous Dr. Alan J. Bauman

HassonAndWong.com - The website of Drs. Hasson and Wong, running one of the best hair transplant clinics in the world. Contains some amazing hair transplant pictures.

ForHair.com - The website of the prominent hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Cole.

Alvi-Armani-Hair-Transplants.com - Website for Alvi Armani hair transplant clinics.

www.HairTransplant.md

www.AtlantisHairTransplant.com

UK

www.hshairclinic.co.uk  - Harley Street Hair Clinic

www.crownclinic.co.uk  - Crown Clinic

www.ukhairtransplantclinics.co.uk - UK Hair Transplant Clinics

www.hrbr.co.uk - HRBR

Australia

www.MediHairtransplant.com.au - Dr M. Alam

www.AIHR.com.au - Dr Andrew Kim 

www.SydneyHairtransplant.com.au - Dr J Daood

Singapore 

www.AestheticsandHairClinic.com - Dr Tyng Tan

Want to see your site featured in our links directory?

Do you have a website or online service that might be helpful for our customers and website visitors? Please tell us about your website and why you believe it would benefit the users on our site. If we agree, we'll add it to this directory right away!

[Guest Post] Qualification of Best Hair Transplant Surgeon in Singapore

Hair transplant surgery requires a very meticulous process that can only be pulled off by a highly specialised and certified hair surgeon.  That is why should you plan to have this rather expensive procedure, you have to take the time to choose the surgeon who will do the job.

Singapore also hosts good hair transplant results, however this can only be made possible when you entrust your head to the right person. Here are some key factors that you ought to consider when looking for your hair surgeon in the country. 

Educational background

When scouting for a qualified surgeon, it is important to note where they received their education and training. It should be a reputable institution that provides extensive theoretical and practical experience particularly in hair transplant surgery. 

Don’t be shy to ask about this information during a consultation, because this is to ensure that you don’t receive your hair transplant from someone who may be a surgeon but is not specialized to perform surgical hair restoration procedures. This may sound unethical but there are actually people who introduce themselves to be as such.

Certification

Education won’t mean much if a hair surgeon has not passed licensing or certifying exams. This means that he is not qualified to practice because he is unable to meet rigorous industry standards. The surgeon should not only be qualified to practice surgery but hair transplant in particular. It takes specialization to be called a duly certified hair transplant surgeon.

Number of Patients

The number of patients that a surgeon caters in a day speaks volumes about his type of work. Hair transplant is a procedure that takes time, so if a surgeon tells you that he can finish 5-10 patients in day this is immediately a red flag. A good surgeon would know that excellent work would depend on the quality of the outcome not the quantity of patients he can have in a day. 

Reoperation Rate

Of course, a surgeon’s practice is not always 100% perfect because there is always instances where something goes off track. But a very high reoperation rate is not excusable, but rather a cause for concern. So ask about how many corrective procedures has he done with past patients. 

This is also a good opportunity for you to ask on his reoperation procedures, and how much of these has finally resulted in success. 

A Keen Eye for Aesthetics

A good hair transplant surgeon should not only know how to execute the procedure well, but to make the end result fit the patient. This means that he is sensitive to the specific need of the patient and not simply filling out barren heads with hair grafts. 

For you to find out whether he is able to deliver the results that you are looking for or not, ask the surgeon for before and after photos of previous patients. 

Right Price

A good hair transplant surgeon in Singapore would always come with a price. Expect that it is not cheap, but it should be within reasonable range. In line with this, you should also be careful with those who give you a much cheaper price than the usual quotes, because most of the time these can simply be just too good to be true.

Take these reminders to heart when you are looking to find the best hair transplant surgeon in Singapore. There are many that provide their service, but make sure that you invest on one who has the expertise to give you your money’s worth with successful results. 

~ Kaeylim Lim

Dos and Don’ts After a Hair Transplant Surgery

American actress and icon, Mae West, was once quoted as saying that a man can be short and getting bald, but if he has fire then women will like him. While this rings true, and the real measure of genuine interest should always be one’s personality over external features, in today’s world, baldness is at times a hindrances to a man’s success.

Most people believe bald men are confident, but while that is also true, there are also bald men who do not prefer to be bald and would rather have a full head of hair. Unfortunately, hair loss comes with age and is therefore an inevitable possibility for a majority of men once they reach a certain age. The good news is there are now many ways to address a receding hairline and accelerated baldness, one of which is the hair transplant surgery.

Hair transplant or surgical hair restoration is a procedure in which hair follicles from a part of the body, referred to as the ‘donor site’, is transferred to a bald or balding part of the body called the 'recipient site'. The procedure has become popular for a lot of men, with 71% of all those who underwent the procedure in 2013 being male.

Given this rise, it is essential that those interested in getting a hair transplant know what to do after the procedure, especially since compliance with instructions are critical to a successful hair transplant and faster return to daily routines. Here are a few important tips to follow from the moment the operation is done until a couple of weeks later in your quest to redeem your crowning glory.

DOs

DO have someone drive you home after the procedure. The anesthetic sedative administered to relieve pain and help you relax during the procedure takes time to wear off, and it probably has not worn off yet by the time the surgery is done. So driving yourself home while the sedative is still kicking is not advisable at it might pose a danger to both you and to others.

DO remember all the instructions given by your surgeon for postoperative hair transplant care. While there are general guides for most hair transplants, it is best to adhere to the instructions given by the person who administered your hair transplant, as that person knows what post-surgery care is best for your case.

DO have the clinic’s contact number saved in your phone and taped to your fridge so that you or a family member may reach your surgeon in case of adverse side effects or emergencies.

DO keep your scalp dry especially on the first day to allow for the skin to heal.

DO keep the area around your scalp clean throughout recovery. While there may be soreness and numbness in the grafted area, refrain from putting anything on your scalp, which has not been approved by your surgeon as it may only bring negative side effects.

DO take care of your scar. As with any surgery, there will be a certain amount of scarring and itchiness when you get a hair transplant. You can apply the antibiotic topical cream your surgeon have given you to prevent infection and reduce scalp irritation and swelling. Otherwise, call the surgeon for any medication you can use.

DO take painkillers if you experience pain and discomfort 3 to 4 hours post-surgery. This is roughly the time it takes for the anesthesia to wear off and you may experience minor soreness or swelling.

DO sleep in a semi-upright position and use two or more pillows to elevate your head on the first night home after the procedure. Do the same for next two nights post-surgery. This position is important to avoid any excess swelling on your scalp. Try sleeping on a reclining chair if you can to keep your head elevated. If the grafts were implanted in the lower crown, or if there is a strip scar, you should sleep on the side on the first two nights so as not to disrupt hair growth or cause the grafts to fall off when it gets rubbed against the pillow.

DO try to take time off work to rest adequately and allow the bruising around the hairline to subside.

DO return to your surgeon’s clinic two days after the procedure to have the clinic remove any bandages and for them to wash your hair.

DO wash and shampoo your hair a day after the initial wash at the clinic to remove any more dead skin and to clean the scabs around the grafted hairs. Cleaning the scabs will prevent them from damaging the hair follicles and thwarting hair growth.

DO ask your surgeon for advice on the shampoo that is best for you. Apply this on the donor hair, as well as on the grafted parts of the scalp on the next day.

DO hand wash your hair during the first couple of days after surgery instead of putting your head directly below the showerhead. You can take a low-pressure shower around 4 days after the procedure. This will help the scabs to peel off, accelerate the healing process and lessen any signs of the operation.

DO use an ice pack to reduce any bleeding or swelling on the first week. However, refrain from placing the ice pack directly onto the grafted area. Place it only on your forehead or on the back part of the head.

DON’Ts

DON’T expose yourself to direct sunlight immediately after and even a few days after the procedure, especially if the scalp is still swollen. If going outdoors in daytime is unavoidable, wear a hat.

DON’T touch or fidget with the newly-grafted scalp. A little itching and some soreness are normal side effects, so picking at or rubbing the sore scalp might result to the new grafts falling out before they can have a chance to grow.

DON’T drink alcohol for the first five days after the procedure as it interferes with the blood supply to the head.

DON’T smoke for an entire month after the surgery as doing so can interrupt blood flow to your hair follicles. Blood flow is crucial for the growth of new hair, as such, refraining from, or even better, completely giving up smoking can hasten the growth of your hair. To prevent yourself from going cold turkey, start reducing your cigarette daily count a few months before your scheduled hair transplant.

DON’T play sports or perform exercise until a week after the surgery. Exercises with minimal exertion may be resumed around 10 days after the procedure. Sports with body contact, such as basketball or soccer, is prohibited until about a month.

DON’T engage in activities that would cause excessive sweating. Perspiration increases the risk of getting an infection to a great extent. It would also be wise to reschedule that steam bath or sauna appointment until the next month or so for the same reason.

DON’T regularly bend over, lean forward or blow your nose violently on the first week.
At the end of the day, each surgeon has his own set of postoperative instructions and it is best to strictly follow that of your surgeon.

Moreover, optimum patient recovery time depends ultimately upon you, so take all the time you need to fully heal. Remember also that new hair takes about 3 to 4 months to grow, though in some cases, it might take up to 6 months. So rather than anxiously waiting for that first strand of hair, keep yourself busy with work or take up a new hobby. And when your hair is ready for the big reveal, you can live your life more confidently, and more comfortably.

To learn more about the essentials about getting a hair transplant surgery in Australia, you can trust that Dr. Andrew Kim of the Australian Institute of Hair Restoration will give you in-depth information before, during and after your surgical hair restoration procedure. Call us now for a consultation or simply fill-out our inquiry form today!

Hair Loss at 20! 5 Reasons Why Men Losing Hair

Excessive hair loss that results in thinning and balding is a dilemma that men often experience in old age. But it seems that this isn't the case anymore since a lot of younger men are also losing their hair even at the prime of their 20's. One of the most popular examples would be Prince William himself; his balding head of hair is one of the inheritances from his royal line aside from the throne. 

So why are younger men losing hair so early? If you are among the unfortunate ones, here are five reasons that may be causing it.

Reasons for Hair Loss in Men under 30

Poor Nutrition

Our twenties are described by experts to be the prime of our lives, socially and physically. This is the time where parties abound and a lot of unhealthy food choices are the preferred options during mealtime. Studies even showed that people in this age group are the ones who consume the least nutritionally adequate foods and drink the most alcohol. A bad diet may not be the direct cause for balding, but when you are not getting the essential nutrients for hair health, such as proteins, vitamins and minerals, you put yourself at a high risk for experiencing excessive hair fall.

When you make it a point to eat a balanced diet, you also give your hair follicles the steady supply of nutrients it needs. This makes your hair less suscpetible to the damaging effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is the main culprit for thinning hair. Go for a diet that is rich in proteins, essential fatty acids, trace elements, vitamins and minerals. This strengthens the hair and enables it to withstand the damaging effects of DHT.

It is important to know that a diet that is high in animal fats can result in excessive amounts of testosterone released into the blood stream. But those with diets that are low in fat would also have low testosterone levels in their system. This is significant because the amount of testosterone a person has is directly related to the amount of hair loss that he is likely to suffer from. Limit your fat intake, and go for healthy sources instead.

Too Much Stress

It seems that there is a rise in quarter life crisis as studies show that people in their 20's are the highly stressed age group. According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, the occurrence of stress is high among young adults, as numbers showed it to be a couple of steps above normal. This can be blamed by the environment where psychological and behavioural factors are often overlooked when managing stress.

A high amount of stress is known to trigger problems like alopecia areata, trichotillomania and telogen effluvium. All these can lead to balding; however, the good thing about it is that you can reduce the amount of stress by adapting proper coping mechanisms. This may be a struggle especially with all the changes and hurdles that often affect twenty somethings in this day and age.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal imbalance is among the factors that can result in balding when you are in your twenties. It is true that your body goes through a certain transition into adulthood, which is easily evident through the change in the tone of voice. Hormonal changes and imbalances that are characteristics of this age can result in temporary hair loss. Treatment may not be  necessary since hormones eventually stabilize with time.

However, in cases where hormonal imbalances have become severe, you can always have this checked so that appropriate treatment can be administered.

Lifestyle factors

There are several lifestyle factors that can lead to, or aggravate, hair loss. There are studies which show a connection between smoking and premature hair loss and graying of hair. It claimed that those who smoke have a high likelihood of suffering from hair loss. Alcohol intake also skyrockets at this age, which can also lead to hair loss. It may be hard to appreciate it now, but how you live your life also has an indirect effect on the health of your hair.

Smoking and alcohol reduce the amount of oxygen found in your blood. Since your hair thrives on the oxygen-rich food, which is delivered by the blood, impared circulation that is caused by these vices will eventually make your hair unhealthy. Nicotine and carbon dioxide present in every puff can damage hair follicles.

Learn to discipline yourself today, not only for your hair, but for your overall health. Vices will only wreak silent havoc on your hair, which if left unmanaged, can lead to a full blown hair case.

Genetics

Sometimes all you need to do is to trace back your lineage and see if you have ancestors who are follicularly challenged. Experts estimated that about 95% of hair loss is due to the predetermined male pattern baldness. This means that anyone in your family, or either parents, are carriers, which is why these men end up going bald eventually.

A doctor would have to make this conclusion, and he can do it not through a biopsy using only a small tool called a densitometer. This can detect if there is any miniaturization of the hair follicles.

If you are interested in getting FUT hair transplant in Sydney and Melboourne, contact Dr. Andrew Kim at frontdesk@aihr.com.au, or 1300 733 092.

FUT Hair Transplant for a Receding Hairline

When you start losing your hair, one of the first signs is often a receding hairline. It's like the sea on its way to low tide, gradually backing further away from the shoreline.

To others, this may seem unnoticeable at first. But to those affected by it, the initial signs of shedding can be very alarming. This becomes worse when people eventually notice it. Take the great Lebron James for instance, who have become the subject of unforgiving Internet memes for his receding hairline, which he attempts to conceal with a head band. This is why surgical hair restoration to correct a hairline is becoming a popular option today.

Before we go on further about regaining a dwindling hairline, let's understand first the characteristic of hair loss.

When a person loses hair in excessive amounts and taking on a certain pattern as it sheds, this is referred to as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. Another term for this is androgenetic alopecia. It is a hormonal reaction that only occurs in those who are predisposed to it. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase turns testosterone, which is actually present in males and females to varying degrees, into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When there are increased levels of DHT in the blood, it affects certain body parts, and one of the most obvious is the effects it has on the hair. It causes the hair to thin out, shrink and eventually die out or shed.

This change is more pronounced in males, whereas, females tend to experience hair loss in a more diffused pattern and is sometimes caused by severe traction from very tight hairstyles.

A receding hairline eventually grows larger and distorts the proportions of the face. The Norwood Scale for hair loss even described the first sign of baldness as hairline loss 

Weak androgen receptors inherited from either parents cause the scalp hair to be sensitive to DHT, which usually results in the recession of the hairline or thinning of the crown area.

Sometimes, a very clever comb over can temporarily conceals the problem. Others may not succeed with that approach so they go to other convenient options, which are toupees. But for those who want to put their money on a treatment that will give radical results, they go the extra mile for a hair transplant.

Hair Transplant

Hair transplant is a procedure where donor hairs, which are often the patient's own, are extracted carefully from a donor site, then transferred to the balding areas to restore density. This is done by a trained and certified hair transplant surgeon. These practitioners are not only skilled to perform the procedure, but a good one should also have the aesthetic eye to ensure that a patient gets the results that would suit his profile.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

This is a type of hair transplant approach, which is also referred to as the “strip method”, because the surgeon removes a piece of the scalp that contains donor grafts.This is taken at the back of the head since this area is usually spared from the damaging effects of DHT. When transferred to the recipient area, the hairs removed their will become more permanent.

FUT is considered as the traditional approach in surgical hair restoration. However, as much as it was able to create successful results, many find the scarring a big problem. But, FUT is able to provide better yield because it protects the hair grafts from transection or damage.

FUT for Receding Hairline

In hair transplant, creating a natural-looking hairline is very critical. It is an essential factor for a visually pleasing balance for the patient's facial features. FUT for hairline recession can guarantee better number of grafts implanted at a much faster span of time.

FUE or follicular unit extraction is another method for correcting a receded hairline, but it does take more time to complete and it has a higher transection rate even though it spares you from the scarring. Since a typical hairline restoration already requires thousands of hair, the maximizing capacity of an FUT procedure can be a more pragmatic option.

A hairline seems to be a small area to be corrected, but these can take up to 20,000 single follicular units or even more. The donor grafts at the back of the head can do more than enough to cover up the recession.  And what makes FUT more promising is that you can lessen the chances of getting that ugly scarring hidden better at the back of the head with a trichophytic closure.

Source: Dr Andrew Kim FUT Hair Transplant Procedure

In terms of price, FUT is cheaper than FUE because it takes less time to finish and involves lesser risks during the process. Surgeons charge by the graft and usually these can be around $6-$12 a piece. This varies for each doctor and region where you have your procedure done.

If the immediate price intimidates you, there are patient financing options that a lot of clinics offer today. Not to say that other methods are poor choices for hairline restoration, but choosing FUT allows you to maximize your limited resources – your hair – for the price you are paying.

Dr Andrew Kim of Australian Institute of Hair Restoration offers you a personal consultation free of charge where you will receive information on your options.

You are welcome to book a free consultation. Just call us on 1300 733 092 or e-mail frontdesk@aihr.com.au

30 Best Ways to Treat Male and Female Hair Loss

Hair loss is a problem that plagued a lot of men and women for centuries. This problem is not just a physical concern but more than that it puts a dent on the confidence and self-esteem of those affected by it. It is for this reason that several measures are being discovered to help beat excessive hair loss. From affordable solutions to those that would require more from your budget, here are 30 tips that can help treat hair loss you can choose from. 

15 Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Natural hair loss remedies are the most preferable solution for many because, aside from being the safest, these are also inexpensive. These usually take time, but they have been tried and tested by many and have proven to give some improvement. 

1. Onion juice

Don't let the name fool you, since the smell precedes its reputation. But onion juice is actually proven by studies to be an effective hair loss treatment. It provides nourishment and promotes better circulation to the hair follicles. Onions also have a high sulfur content, which is very important component because it helps regenerate the hair follicles and also decreases inflammatory processes. 

Image Source

In a research from Bradford University in the UK, they pointed out that grey and thinning hair is a result of hydrogen peroxide buildup and a decrease in catalase, which is a natural antioxidant. Too much hydrogen peroxide causes oxidative stress, which then causes the hair to grey and thin out. 

So what you need is to amp up the amount of catalase, which can you can get from onion juice. Topical application can control hydrogen peroxide buildup and increase catalase to promote strong and healthy hairs.

2. Cut back on your meat intake

According to a Japanese research, they saw a link between excessive sebum production of the scalp to high levels of 5-alpha reductase. A diet that is high in animal fat intake increases sebum production, hence the excessive hair loss. 

It was after the World War II when the Japanese diet slowly became more westernized, which resulted in more Japanese men going bald. This is due to high meat-based diet that are also known to raise testosterone levels adversely affecting hair follicles. It helps to have a low fat diet to control the balding process. 

3. Iron-rich foods

Iron is also an essential mineral for hair health and growth. In fact, one of the symptoms of iron deficiency is hair loss. Just by increasing your iron intake in your diet can actually improve the hair loss your are experiencing. It is best to get your daily dose of iron from food sources instead of supplements because, if not under the proper advise of your doctor, there are certain undesirable effects that could happen due to iron overload. 

Although the latter is also an excellent way to replenish your iron stores, but you do have to take them with caution. Excellent food sources for iron include dark green and leafy vegetables, red meat, egg yolks, mollusks (e.g. scallops, clams, oysters), beans, turkey, dried fruits and iron-enriched grains and cereals.

4. Increase vitamin C

Our hair strands is also made up of collagen. But as we age, collagen also breaks down making the hair more vulnerable to breakage. If you see more hair falling off than those sticking to your head, then your hair may not be getting enough collagen among many other things. An easy way to improve this is to increase your vitamin C.

Just hit up the fruit section of your grocery store and you'll be flooded with a lot of options. Citrus fruits, like oranges, to vegetables, like green peppers, are all loaded with this vitamin. A daily salad can already give you heaps of vitamin C. Yes, you may go for supplementation. But why add the extra cost and step, when you can already get a good dose of it in a yummy salad. 

5. Get enough protein

Our hair is primarily made up of protein, which is why replenishing your stores is an excellent way of naturally strengthening the hair and restoring growth. Severe protein malnutrition can result in hair loss. But those people who have adequate access to food, has normal digestion and a normal appetite should not lose hair due to low protein intake. So granting that you do have protein in your diet, we now emphasize the importance of getting “enough” and not “a lot”. 

Some high protein diets can actually cause hair loss. This is why you just have to strike the perfect balance in getting protein into your diet. This not only helps your hair, but other major organs in your body, as well. Protein rich foods include eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, seafood, white meat, lentils and soy.

6. Zinc

Zinc deficiency is also another major cause for hair loss. This mineral plays an important role in building up protein for hair growth because it aids in the creation of DNA and in boosting tissue growth and repair. But more importantly, it also controls the problem from aggravating further because it regulates hormones, which includes testosterones. 

High levels of this male hormone is known to be the cause of excessive hair loss. Foods that are rich in zinc include spinach, lean beef, pork, chicken, nuts, seafoods and pumpkin.

7. Biotin

 
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, Vitamin H or Coenzyme R, is a water soluble compound that is also part of the B-complex vitamins. It plays an essential role in strengthening the nails and hair. In fact, one of the major signs of biotin deficiency is hair loss. 

So if your are excessively shedding hair, you might want to load up on food sources that contain this particular nutrient. Dietary sources to consider include whole grains, cauliflower, sardines, mushrooms, beans, bananas, peanuts, liver and cooked eggs. 

8. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Known mostly for its cardiac benefits, this nutrient is also essential in preventing hair loss and promoting hair regrowth. It reaches deep down into your scalp and into your cell membranes, nourishing the follicles making hair more elastic and less prone to breakage. It nourishes the skin also by keeping it moisturized. 

This includes the scalp, which also helps prevent the possibility of dandruff from occuring. You can get Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, sardines, soybeans, walnuts and flaxseeds. 

9. Coconut oil

Image Source

Coconut oil holds a multitude of health benefits and it is even touted to be the best oil in preventing hair loss. Some may not like how strong the scent is when you massage it on your scalp, but this actually leaves the hair strong, healthy and lustrous hair. It is actually quite simple. You just heat the coconut oil enough that it also doesn't burn your scalp. Then, you just massage it on your scalp in a circular motion. Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft and conditions the oil from within. 

This also improves blood circulation, giving the hair the required amount of nutrients that it needs to thrive. In addition to this, coconut oil also has antibacterial and antifungal properties keeping conditions, like dandruff and lice, off bay giving your hair the optimum environment for growth. 

10. Rosemary Essential Oil

This is also another soothing way to promote better circulation to your scalp and hair. What you do is just add a few drops of this oil into your shampoo, or you could add it in coconut oil, and then massage it on your scalp regularly. 

This treatment has been used by a lot of cultures to stimulate hair regrowth. It is even backed by a research conducted in the University of Maryland Medical Center as they found a link between rosemary oil and hair regrowth. There were 84 study participants suffering from alopecia areata who were asked to apply the rosemary oil everyday for 7 months. The results showed a significant improvement in hair growth. This fragrant oil will also help relieve stress and it also has some anti-inflammatory properties. 

11. Green Tea

Whether you drink or apply it on your scalp, this soothing drink is also known to have hair loss benefits. According to experts, it is the EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) component in green tea that helps prevent hair loss effectively. This is considered to be a proven hair growth stimulant. It is also proven to hinder the production of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a molecule that is identified to cause hair loss. 

In other countries, they apply warm green tea (two bags that are brewed in one cup of water) directly on the scalp and leave it on for an hour before rinsing. It is believed that the antioxidants that the beverage contains can boost hair growth and prevent hair loss. 

12. Ginger Juice

Ginger has actually been in used for centuries for hair regrowth. Fresh ginger roots is loaded with vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, which help keep hair healthier, stronger and shinier. You grate a fresh ginger root and then squeeze out the juice, and massage it on your scalp. Leave it overnight and rinse it off in the morning. 

Natural ginger root is more preferable than ginger powder because the latter may contain some coloring agents that can make your hair blonde.  With this treatment, you improve the circulation on your scalp and also nourish it with rich fatty acids that are essential to the reduction of thinning hair and hair loss. 

13. Olive oil

It seems that olive oil not only proves to be a hero in the kitchen, but even in our follicular dilemma, as well. A surprising benefit of olive oil is that it can hamper the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone that causes hair follicle to shrink. All you need to do is to apply a small amount of it onto your scalp and massage it gently as you progress to the roots of your hair. Leave this on for half an hour while wrapped in a damp towel. Wash and condition your hair afterwards. 

This will leave your scalp and hair moisturized, even in areas that we often neglect. This leaves the hair not only soft and shiny, but also strong and healthy. 

14. Lavender Oil

A more fragrant option to preventing hair loss is a lavender oil massage, thanks to the antioxidants it posses. The oil is derived from lavender flowers and it is known to condition the hair and moisturize the scalp making it strong, healthy and free from dandruff. Lavender is also known to treat alopecia areata too, which requires a daily massage of this essential oil. 

15. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a popular Ayurvedic treatment for hair loss that dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It contains enzymes that remove dead cells that line the scalp preventing it from clogging hair follicles. Hair follicles that get clogged up won't be able to absorb nutrients to reach the roots. This is why you often see this as an ingredient in a lot of clarifying shampoos. Aloe vera also has alkalizing properties, which help maintain the pH level of the hair for a healthy environment for hair growth. 

To use aloe vera, you just extract half a cup of gel from the plant, add two teaspoons of castor oil, 2 teaspoons of fenugreek powder and 2 teaspoons of basil powder. Mix these all together to create a thick and soothing mask. 

Apply it into your scalp and hair and leave it on for about eight hours covered by a shower cap. Yes, this might be pretty daunting. But if you are serious, it can be pretty rewarding. Wash it off with a mild shampoo. Do this once a week and you will notice your hair getting better volume in a few months.

9 Non-Invasive Treatments

1. Get your thyroid checked

An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, can also be the reason for excessive hair loss. This condition can cause your hair to thin out. You can consult with your primary care physician and ask for a thyroid check to see if it could be the reason for your hair loss. An iodine-rich diet can help you in this problem. 

But in severe cases, the doctor might give you a medication to restore proper thyroid function. It also helps to avoid drinking tap water because it might contain fluorine or chlorine, both of which block iodine absorption.

2. Minoxidil

This is one of the two popular drugs used to treat hair loss, which was originally used to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, has to be applied directly on the scalp on a regular basis. It comes in different concentrations depending on the amount of hair loss a person is experiencing. 

Minoxidil can be used by men and women, unlike Propecia, which is another hair loss medication that can only be prescribed to males. Aside from controlling hair loss, this drug also promotes hair growth. 

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3. Propecia

Propecia or Finasteride, which is originally created to be the pharmacological treatment for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH), is also one of the reliable drug therapies for hair loss given at a much lower dose. It lowers the level of androgens (male hormones), the type of hormones that also affects hair loss. This drug is recognized as a successful treatment for genetic hair loss in men. It is however unfortunate that this is not effective in postmenopausal women. It is also not approved in some countries for women and children. 

Based on research and actual results experienced by those who have used this treatment, the drug slows hair loss and also helps regrow the scalp. However, the problem with this type of treatment is that it also brings along with it certain side effects. One of those that caused major concern among men are the sexual side effects. The downside of regaining hair using Propecia includes reduced sex drive, ejaculation problems and difficulty in getting an erection. 

4. Meditation

Doing meditation and clearing your mind of the any stressful matters is an inexpensive way of not only losing your mind, but your hair, as well. Meditation requires you to focus your attention into something positive. You also practice eliminating thoughts that stress up your mind, which also cause hormonal imbalance. Tipping the scales on your hormones can lead to hair loss, so this practice can really help give you a head start or even boost any treatment that you might also be getting. 

Meditation not only promotes physical health, but emotional health as well – both are significant aspects in hair health. 

5. Express yourself

You can take your queue from Madonna's hit Human Nature, as it goes on telling you to, “Express yourself, don't repress yourself”. This can actually be very helpful in preventing hair loss. Being able to vent out feelings can help you unload any heavy emotions inside you. This is actually crucial when handling stress. 

Sometimes you just have to let it out - talk to someone, get those thoughts on paper or write a blog. This helps you to be stress free, which not only prevents certain diseases to eventually develop, but it also helps you bust hair loss at its roots! Stress alopecia, or hair loss caused by extreme stress, is just one of those acute conditions that shows you how far stressful situations can affect the body, more particularly, your hair. 

6. Guided Imagery

Guided imagery is a kind of therapy that promotes relaxation. It helps lower your blood pressure levels and reduce problems that are related to stress. In this therapeutic technique, a facilitator uses descriptive language that will serve as your guide in visualization.

This cognitive-behavioral technique uses your imagination along with breathing exercises to help relieve any tension both in your mind and body. Gradually, you will be able to release that stress, which can be the root cause of your hair loss. 

7. Steroid injections

Although not usually used to treat hair loss, steroid injections, such as cortisone, can be used particularly on alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition). It serves as a suppressive treatment so as to prevent bald patches from occuring on any area of the scalp. This can be rather uncomfortable since a steroid solution has to be injected straight into your scalp, particularly in the bare skin patches, several times. 

The injections have to be repeated once a month to create successful restoration of hair in balded areas. Aside from the pricking sensation during treatment, these injections does not prevent new patches from developing. 

8. Laser Therapy 


Low Level Laser Therapy is one of the popular non-invasive treatments for hair loss. It is a painless procedure that has been optimized over time, making it more convenient and readily available for anyone to use. It began with a machine that has to be programmed by trained doctors and aestheticians to deliver red light since the laser energy that is used to deliver laser energy is in this spectrum. 

This treatment uses a low wattage cold light laser, which means that the person under treatment won't feel any sensation. This treatment is made more available and easier to use today because from large devices where the patient would have to sit and placed with a helmet that deliver the red light therapy, it is also available as laser combs. You can now get a daily dose of treatment that you can perform yourself. 

9. Supplements

We have mentioned the several vitamins and minerals that can help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. Aside from food sources, supplements can also be a good way to achieve those therapeutic levels. 

There are several multivitamin supplements today, but you also have to choose carefully because a lot of the brands in the market today only contain fillers and harmful additives. You also have to be cautious when it comes to individual supplementation, like with iron for example. A doctor's advise is important because there are some vitamins and minerals that can be very damaging to the body if you have excessive stores of it. 

10. Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is known to be a natural treatment for BPH. It works in the same way as synthetic ingredients that are also used to treat these two conditions.  Although there is limited research on this matter, but results have proven to be promising. Based on these studies, the extract of saw palmetto is said to block 5-alpha reductase, which is the enzyme that is the main culprit in androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. 

Research showed that saw palmetto gave positive results in 6 out of 10 hair loss patients.  Men who have been taking 400 mg of standardized saw palmetto and 100 mg of beta sitosterol, an ingredient from saw palmetto, daily displayed an improvement in hair growth.

5 Surgical procedures

1. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

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Follicular Unit Transplantation or FUT is a type of hair transplant technique that is also known as the strip method. This is the first method that was used in hair transplantation and is also the most invasive, which is also why a lot of men shy at the thought of getting surgery. The procedure involves the removal of a strip of scalp that is taken from the back of the head, which contains the donor grafts. 

The hair transplant surgeon, or trained hair technicians, take this into a high powered microscope to individually remove the hair grafts and prepare it for transplantation. This is a tedious process that requires meticulous eye for detail and a very skilled hand in handling the delicate hair grafts. 

Once the surgeon sutures the donor site, he then prepares the recipient area by creating micro-incisions, which are just enough to insert the hair grafts. This type of approach takes more time to heal, but has also proven to have less damage to hair grafts. 

2. Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG)

Usually in this treatment method, clinics have their different ways of naming a certain procedure. Follicular Unit Grafting, or FUG, is similar to FUT in approach. It also uses the strip method, which is developed to help increase hair density in bald areas. 

Since this procedure allows thousands of hair grafts that can be extracted from a donor strip, this is considered to be highly efficient. However, it does leave a linear scar at the back of the head, which can be a problem among men who want to wear their hair short. 

3. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE, is a less invasive procedure that came after FUT. This came in practice as an answer to the aesthetic issues that is created particularly by the linear scar at the back of the head.  FUE uses a specfic instrument that acts like a punch to create a small circular incision around the hair graft. 

This surgical treatment takes more time and expertise, which also means that it is more expensive. But it has a better aesthetic outcome compared to FUT because scars are virtually indistinguishable.

4. Robotic Hair Transplant

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Robotic hair transplantation is more known in the market to be ARTAS Robot. It is a highly advanced technology that allows robotic precision and consistency in harvesting grafts. It uses digital mapping using real-time 3D digital analysis of hair follicle characteristics, which ensures the selection of the best hair grafts to be harvested. Grafts that have better quality have protective tissue, which makes these less prone to injury. 

With its two-needle blunt dissection, this ensures less scarring while at the same time, harvesting as many grafts as possible. However, this do come at a price compared to other methods. Despite its advanced technology, this requires the skill and the good eye for aesthetic of a hair transplant surgeon to carefully arrange and implant individual grafts on the donor site. 

5. Neograft

This is a more advanced approach as it uses an automated hair transplant system. Neograft is actually a hand-held surgical device that is designed to extract follicular units from the donor site to the recipient area using an air-pressured, suction-based system. There are confusions between this machine and the robotic system. 

But experts made it clear that Neograft is only partially automated. It is not a robotic system since it does not have the same precision that a computer-driven image-guided system has. It still relies on manual control, hence it still has the tendency for human error, high transection rate and unprecise graft extraction. 

Will Cancer Drug Be The New Cure for Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a problem that has long been pored over by experts in a constant pursuit of a new and reliable cure. This is what the researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York are trying to prove. And from the look of things, the outcome is quite promising.

The drug, ruxolitinib, which was approved for bone marrow disorder and autoimmune diseases such as cancer is said to have improved hair loss in affected study participants. They are those, like many others, who are suffering from the physical and psychosocial impact of hair loss. This concern has still spurred studies due to the demand of a reliable and convenient treatment.

  

Usual hair loss treatment options

Cortisone injections and hair transplant surgery, although highly effective, may require some amount of discomfort and time to heal. Patients who have isolated patches of baldness may benefit well with cortisone injections, but they have to consider the fact that these have to be done regularly and they can  be uncomfortable. 

This treatment option can be impossible for those who experienced baldness all over their scalp. A hair transplant may be a more plausible option, although would require certain considerations first. But should a patient choose surgery, they have to understand the risks involved and the amount of healing that has to take place, on top of the cost. This is why, as much as it is a very promising hair loss treatment, a lot of hair loss victims place it as a last option.

Ruxolitinib

This particular drug is a Janus kinase inhibitor, or a JAK inhibitor. It is used to treat cancer and other inflammatory conditions. These type of drugs suppress the action of the immune system by blocking certain enzymes.

The Study

In this study, they chose patients who are suffering from moderate to sever alopecia areata. This is defined as more than 30% hair loss. Each of the patient were given 20mg of Ruxolitinib twice daily. Upon monitoring, it became evident that hair growth was fully restored within 4-5 month's time. It was also discovered that the T-cells, which was responsible for attacking the hair follicles, were no longer present in the scalps of the participants.

Breakthrough

The findings of these particular study was published only recently and it showed that Ruxolitinib was able to result in hair restoration. The researchers were able to identify the immune cells that are responsible for destroying the hair follicles in people who are afflicted with alopecia areata, a hair loss problem known to be an autoimmune condition. This is when your very own body attacks the hair follicles causing them to shed and fall off.

This type of hair loss can already cause anxiety, poor self confidence and disturbs one's body image because it leaves the head with bald patches. One study participant even shared that his condition affected his social and even romantic relationships. So if the results of this study proves to be a reliable solution to hair loss, this will surely bring relief to numerous hair loss sufferers as it is more convenient to use.

According to Dr. Raphael Clynes, who was one of the head researchers of the study, they only just started testing the drug in patients. They even claimed that if the drug continues to show a good safety profile and succesful results, it will provide a “positive impact on the lives of people with this disease.”

Dr. David Bickers of the Departmentof Dermatology at CUMC in a comment about these findings he said:

“There are few tools in the arsenal for the treatment of alopecia areata that have any demonstrated efficacy. This is a major step forward in improving the standard of care for patients suffering from this devastating disease.”

Tofacinib, also a JAK inhibitor and an approved treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Europe and the US, also made waves when studies also showed that it was able to restore a full head of hair in a human patient. These two drugs have been experimented on mice and both showed ability to restore hair in those that are affected with alopecia within 12 weeks.

Both Ruxolitinib and Tofacinib in pill form are able to block immune pathways, which is why it is able to prevent or correct autoimmune conditions. With that said, it is also true that these drugs have no connection in treating male pattern-baldness or andorgentic alopecia – the kind of hair loss that is caused by hormonal irregularities. This is the kind of balding that is most common among the elderly gentlemen, but can also affect even those who are still in their twenties.

Even with the promise of a solution, this drug remains to be considered with caution. It may have the makings of an effective hair loss drug, but this can also has negative effects to the body when taken in regular doses. Significant side effects and adverse reactions are among the important aspects that have to be looked into. 

Other experts are also weighing in that the systematic action of the drug as it is taken orally can have a toxic effect on the body, which can lead to blood and liver problems among a slew of ailments. Some even expressed that it would be a greater breakthrough if the drug can be available as a topical treatment instead.

There is also no assurance as of yet that as to whether it would work to all patients. But researchers would also admit that more testing still needs to be done.