Good News For Hair Loss

Hair loss is a big problem not just for men, but also for many women and is closely linked to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. Some DHT is helpful for generating muscle and bone, and it is also important for libido. Excessive DHT however can cause enlargement of the prostate gland in men and causes hair follicles to reduce their production of hair and eventually die.

Genetic factors make certain hair follicles, usually those located on the front and the crown of the head, especially sensitive to the negative effects of high levels of the DHT hormone.  These are the traditional areas referred to as “male-pattern baldness”.  Hair in these locations impacted by DHT grows more slowly as time goes on, and eventually stops growing altogether. For women, hair loss is generally more global thinning as all the follicles seem to be equally sensitive to DHT.

In addition, stress and poor nutrition can also diminish the body’s ability to grow hair and hinder the regeneration of hair follicles.

It turns out that once hair follicles are “dormant”, it takes about three to five years before their capacity to grow hair is permanently lost, giving a window of opportunity for regenerative therapies to attempt to coax these follicles back into production.

If hormone levels are found to be out of balance, or nutritional issues are identified, bio- identical hormone replacement therapy coupled with fitness, proper diet and specific nutritional supplements can restore balance and be an effective treatment for hair loss. Because DHT is made from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, men and women can lower their DHT levels with specific nutritional supplements which down-play this enzyme.

Working closely with compounding pharmacists, I have developed 2 formulas for a topical scalp solution. One for men and one for women, which can be applied daily to the scalp to awaken dormant follicles to start growing hair again, as well as prevent further loss.  In addition, we offer PRP therapy to the scalp as a way to stimulate follicles.

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is an extract of your blood which is specially prepared in a centrifuge. PRP contains powerful growth factors which have been shown to have the ability to reawaken hair follicles to stimulate significant new growth with as little as two to three treatments. No local anesthetic cream is required as the injection technique is virtually painless. When my scalp was treated with PRP, it felt like an invigorating massage, and I had a very noticeable increase in hair density within 3 – 4 months. The PRP is injected into the skin in the regions of dormant follicles. This treatment is repeated in 2-4 week intervals. New hair growth can be apparent in as little as 3-4 months. This treatment works equally well for women experiencing hair loss!

For more information, or to book an appointment to discuss hair loss, please contact my office.

Your partner in Living Longer Better,
Dr. Grant Pagdin, MD