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Is There A Hair Loss Virus?

hair loss virus

A recent paper published in the Journal for Cosmetic Dermatology suggested that sleeping viruses in your body can trigger hair loss. So is there a hair loss virus? In this blog we summarise the paper’s findings and explain what it could mean to male and female hair loss sufferers worldwide.

Hair Loss

Hair loss, in most people, is driven by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acting at the hair root to make it thin and fall out. This process only occurs at the top and crown of the scalp. Hairs on the side and the back are not affected.

DHT is produced in the skin by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, and if you have an increased activity of this enzyme, you have more DHT and therefore more hair loss. Like any other enzyme, your body regulates how much of it is produced and you can have high or low levels of the enzyme.

Is there a link between a virus and hair loss?

Research by Polansky and Kestenbaum found that common sleeping viruses can activate signals in your skin to increase the amount of 5-alpha reductase. This means there is increased enzymes producing more DHT causing more hair loss.

They suggested that this could be a mechanism for hair loss in certain individuals and treatments should also look to tackle these types of viruses. For now there could be a hair loss virus and a theory has been put forward. It will be interesting to see what the researches find out in the future.

What treatments are available to me if I have hair loss?

There is no treatment for tackling these viruses that cause hair loss yet. More research needs to go into this exciting area of science. However, there are many treatments still available to you.

Finasteride stops the activity of 5-alpha reductase and therefore lessens the amount of DHT. This reduces any further hair loss and helps to thicken your hair.

Minoxidil is a solution or shampoo you can apply on your hair. It helps to increase the blood supply to your hair root, thereby providing more nutrients for hair growth. It works to thicken existing hair and prevent any further hair loss.

PRP injections are a new way of thickening hairs too. PRP uses your own blood, taking the main growth cells and nutrients from it and injecting them back into your scalp. An initial round of 3 treatments should help to thicken you hair.

If you have developed completely bald areas in your scalp then your only option to regrow hair there is to have a hair transplant. A hair transplant involves taking hairs from the back and sides of your scalp and implanting them into areas where you have no hair. These hair roots that are implanted will grow over the course of 12-18 months- creating hair in areas where you had none previously.

Don’t delay- contact us today

At The Treatment Rooms London, our hair loss specialists and surgeons are happy to hold a consultation to explore you hair loss and advise you on the treatments best suited to you. If you are worried about your hair loss please contact us today. Delaying treatment may mean it becomes even more difficult to regain your hair to a style and density you like. Feel free to enquire now and book your free consultation by clicking (here).

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=30019525
  2. http://cbcd.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Book-by-Hanan-Polansky-Purple-Book.pdf
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4803748/

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Female Pattern Hair Loss- What You Need To Know

female hair

Female hair loss can be caused by different factors. Female pattern hair loss is the most common cause with over 50% of females suffering from hair loss by the time they reach 50 years old. In this blog we explain this common condition and what can be done to treat it. 

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Similar to male pattern hair loss, females can suffer hair loss as a result of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However the pattern of hair loss in females differs from males. Unlike males, females suffer generalised thinning of their hair at the top of the head or crown. This is best summarised in the Ludwig scale of female patterned hair loss (picture below). 

Ludwig Patterns of Female Hair Loss

What causes female pattern hair loss?

Both males and females seem to be affected by dihydrotestosterone when it comes to hair loss. However, the way in which hair loss happens is different. In females you will find your hairs become progressively thinner over time with not much hair actually falling out. This mainly affects the top of the head as you can see from the picture above. As the hair thins out you can start to see more of the scalp giving the appearance of baldness.

Dihydrotestosterone works by acting at the hair follicles, making the hairs weaker and causing the follicles to shrink. In some cases, the lifecycle of these hair follicles can also change and the follicles die earlier causing baldness. 

In most cases hair thinning (female pattern baldness) is a natural ageing process, however in some women thinning may start in their 20s with thinning becoming noticeable in their 40s. Some female hair loss sufferers may also have hair recession at the front of their head too. 

Importantly, hair thinning does not affect the back of the head in female pattern baldness. If it does then it is likely you are suffering from acute telogen effluvium or chronic telogen effluvium (more on these topics in our next blog).

ariana grande hair loss

Sufferers of the condition Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) will also notice they may have female pattern hair loss. This is because in PCOS you get an increased amount of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in your body. This therefore contributes to a faster hair thinning process. If you are wondering whether you suffer from PCOS or not, you can check if you have the following common PCOS symptoms too: 

  • Acne
  • Facial hair
  • Irregular periods
  • Difficulty in becoming pregnant

If you are worried about PCOS then please go and see your GP who can carry out further blood tests to find out more. To find your nearest GP then click here. 

What treatments are available to me?

There are some good treatment options for female pattern baldness. One of the first-line treatments available to you is Minoxidil (Rogaine®). This medication helps to increase blood supply (nutrients and oxygen) to the hair follicles. As a result you should start to see your hair becoming thicker. 

Unlike male pattern baldness, females can’t take medications such as finasteride to prevent DHT (dihydrotestosterone) from acting at the hair follicle. This is because finasteride, in trials so far, hasn’t shown safe clinical evidence to prevent hair thinning and promote hair thickening.

Other treatment options that you can consider include Laser Therapy and PRP injections. 

If you have developed significant female pattern baldness and have completely bald patches then you will likely benefit from a hair transplant. This involves taking hair from the back of your head and placing it in areas that you have become bald. At The Treatment Rooms London we are able to provide this as an unshaven procedure meaning you have little signs that you have undergone surgery. 

If you are a female suffering from hair loss then please don’t delay. Contact us at The Treatment Rooms London and we can book you in for a free consultation. Click here to fill out an enquiry form! 

References

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Stephen Miller Sprays On His Hair- Badly…

stephen miller spray on hair

Donald Trump senior advisor, Stephen Miller, recently appeared on TV and his hair raised a few eyebrows! Overnight he had miraculously created a new hairline but it wasn’t his natural hair- he had sprayed hair on. In this blog we will explain what spray on hair is and when it should be used- so you can avoid the tell-tell signs of obviously sprayed on hair like in Stephen Miller’s case!

What happened?

Appearing on the US programme Face the Nation, male hair loss sufferer, Stephen Miller, was sporting a mature hairline, but the hairline and hair colour was clearly different from his natural hair on the back and sides. The sprayed on hair also didn’t have a natural hairline with “freckles” of spray appearing just below his frontal hairline. As you can see from the picture above, the effect was clearly “fake”. It was a good example of how NOT to spray on hair.

He is not the first and last person to use spray on hair. Many well known people are thought to have used it too such as Wayne Rooney.

What is spray on hair?

Spray on hair uses coloured keratin-like fibres that can be sprayed onto the head. This creates the effect of having hair. However it should be sprayed in areas where hair is already there as it helps to given the illusion of thick hair by fibres “clinging” onto your hair. Spraying it onto an already bald scalp will likely give you the unnatural hair line- as in Stephen Miller’s case.

Using spray on hair in areas of thinning can be effective especially if you want to give the impression of thick hair. However, recreating hair lines and long hair is near impossible and easily spotted as fake. Also, it is easily wiped and washed away so you need to be careful in windy and wet weather!

What are the other options?

Stephen Miller is likely suffering from male pattern baldness, as 50% of males over 50 years of age already do. He already has fairly advanced balding and he ought to seek a hair loss specialist, like the Doctors at The Treatment Rooms, for advice.

Assuming he has male pattern baldness, Stephen could choose to “freeze frame” his hair loss by taking Finasteride. This stops the processes that underpin male pattern baldness by halting DHT acting at the hair follicle. This could help prevent any further hair loss- meaning his hair won’t recede anymore.

He can also use Minxoidil on areas of thinning to thicken hair and slow the process of hair loss down. Alternatively, PRP injections could also help to thicken his existing hair.

If he would like to regrow hair in areas that he has become completely bald then Stephen’s best treatment option is a hair transplant. The aim of the hair transplant would be to give Stephen Miller a natural mature hairline that would fit his character.

​References

https://boingboing.net/2018/12/17/trump-aide-steven-miller-paint.html

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Planning Your Hairline Hair Transplant

new hair line for hair transplant

Receding hairline? With rumours surrounding footballers like David Beckham and David Silva having a hairline hair transplant the procedure is becoming popular (1,2).  Planning your hair transplant is a tricky process. You need to think carefully about how you will continue to bald in the future so any new hairline doesn’t look unnatural. In this blog we take you through what you need to think about when planning a hairline hair transplant. 

patient hairline before and after hair transplant surgery
Before and after 2000 graft hair transplant for the frontal hairline

Key Points

  1. Where is your hairline at the moment?
  2.  How much hair do you have that you can transplant?
  3. How old are you and will your hairline recede further?
  4. Will you be able to prevent any further hairline recession?

Where is your hairline at the moment?

You may notice that you fall into the following categories: 

  1. You hairline has receded so much that you have no hairline
  2. Your hairline has receded in the temples so you have an “M” shaped hairline pattern or a “widow’s peak”
  3. Your hairline has receded to the middle of your scalp (between your crown and forehead)
  4. Your hairline has thinned but has a general outline

In most types of hairline recession, the main cause is male pattern baldness (3). This process is caused by DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which causes the hair follicles to become weak and fall out. It is called a “pattern baldness” as the same pattern of hair thinning and balding appears in most men affected. The different types of pattern depend on how severely you have been affected by hair loss. They are summarised in the Norwood Scale as you can see in the picture below. 

norwood scale for hair loss
Norwood scale of balding showing the different stages of hair loss

By looking at the Norwood Scale you will be able to classify where your hairline is at the moment. If you hairline is at Norwood 2/3 then you should be able to bring your hairline forward to restore it your preferred position. If you are at stage 4a/5/5a/6 you need to think about how much hair you can use to create a hairline that you are happy with. You might better off with a hair transplant that gives you hair you can style over areas of balding. Your plan should be to restore your hairline to a position of Norwood 2 or 3.

How much hair do you have that you can transplant?

The amount of hair you have left at the back of your head is crucial. If you have dense hair at the back then it is likely you will have enough hair to achieve a hairline you would like. For those who don’t have enough hair then carefully plan how you can achieve a hairline you want- especially if you are Norwood Scale 4a/5/5a/6. If you don’t have much hair you may decide to have a hair transplant that gives you coverage of hair. This allows you to style your hair the way you want over areas of hair recession. 

How old are you and will your hairline recede further?

If you are young (<26 years old) then you might want to wait until you’re 26 years old. This means your surgeon can assess the full pattern of your hair loss. It is important to know how you have receded so far, so your hair transplant surgeon can plan future hair loss and plan a hairline that would suit you as you age. 

Will you be able to prevent any further hairline recession?

It is likely that everyone will recede further, so you need to make sure you plan for future hair transplants or stabilise you hair loss with medications like Finasteride. Taking Finasteride is an important decision and as with all medications there are side effects. 

However, particularly if you are planning to have children, taking finasteride can be tricky. You will need to plan when to stop taking finasteride (when you are trying to conceive) and when to restart (when your partner stops breast feeding). Planning this in advance with your hair transplant surgeon is important- make sure you discuss this with them! Whether or not you are taking finasteride, planning a hair transplant around your family plans is certainly achievable.

So what hairline should I go for? 

Seeing a hair transplant surgeon is the first step to answering this question. At The Treatment Rooms London our surgeons make sure to take you through all the considerations you need to make before deciding on a hair transplant. We prefer to plan a hairline that is mature which will suit you for the rest of your life.

A lot of patients request for their hairline to be brought down to match the hairline they had when they were in their teens. It is our opinion that this is not a good idea. Not only will this require many hair grafts that thin your donor zone but also your ongoing balding process will mean a hairline that is too low will look odd. As you age, your temples will recede and a hairline that is low will look like a strip of hair separated from the hair behind it. It will look unnatural and it won’t suit you in your middle- late age. 

mature frontal hairline hair transplant
Bringing your hairline too low won’t suit you as your recede in your temples. Choose a mature hairline that will look good for the rest of your life. It also helps to save more hair in your donor area if you choose to have a second procedure down the line.

Our advice is to plan for a mature hairline. Going for a mature hairline will mean your hair grafts can be used for dense, natural results without thinning your donor zone. The hairline will also be fashionable throughout the rest of your life. Another benefit from choosing a mature hairline is that you have saved more grafts at the back of your head incase you need a second hair transplant. 

References

  1. https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/7893362/david-beckham-new-hair-victoria-brooklyn/
  2. https://deadspin.com/thank-god-david-silvas-hair-transplant-is-finally-takin-1830940593
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4812885/
  4. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hair-loss

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Itching After Having A Hair Transplant?

male itching after hair transplant

Many patients complain of itching after having a hair transplant. It is a common symptom but rest assured it does go away! There are simple things you can do at home to reduce the sensation and make yourself feel comfortable. At The Treatment Rooms we have perfected our treatments to soothe the irritating itching feeling and in this blog we will give you some key tips!

Why Is It Itchy?

Suffering from an itchy head is common and can easily be managed. After having a hair transplant you may realise the back and top of your head become very itchy. This is due to the ongoing healing process your scalp goes through in order to repair itself following hair extraction and implantation.

How Long Does it Last?

Itching following hair transplantation tends to last one week but can in rare cases last up to four weeks. Itching can be particularly worse in the four-to-five days after hair transplant where you are unable to wash the top of your head, you will notice a big improvement after you wash this area for the first time.

Treatment For Itching After Hair Transplant Surgery

Feeling itchy is incredibly uncomfortable especially at night! There are few remedies and tips which can be used at different times during your recovery following hair transplantation.

1. Do not scratch the itch!
2. Salt water spray
3. Taking an anti-histamine
4. Medicated shampoo
5. Steroid scalp solution

Do not scratch the itch!

At The Treatment Rooms London we understand how tempting it can be to itch your head after a hair transplant. It is important that you avoid this entirely. If you scratch your implanted hairs you risk introducing a skin infection or hair follicle infection (folliculitis). In the worst case you may pull out transplanted hairs entirely, this could have a bad impact on your final results. We advise you wait 14 days until you start using anything but the flats of your hands when touching your hair.

Salt water spray

For four-to-five days after your procedure you won’t be able to wash your transplanted hair. Your clinic should provide you with a salt water spray to use during this period. This not only helps nourish the hairs but also clears away debris and dry skin which may contribute to the itchiness. Spray your scalp as copiously as you want to help sooth the transplanted area. Ensure the water comes out in a spread out burst rather than a single jet as this can damage hairs.

Taking an anti-histamine

Histamines are chemicals released when the scalp goes through its repair and healing process. It is this which creates an itchy sensation. By taking an anti-histamine you reduce the histamines that are released in your scalp and therefore you feel less itchy after having a hair transplant. There are many anti-histamines you can buy over the counter at any local pharmacy.

At The Treatment Rooms London we recommend a long acting anti-histamine that is non-drowsy and an extra short-lasting anti-histamine that makes you feel sleepy at night.

One regime we recommend to our patients as The Treatment Rooms London Anti-Itch Plan is a combination of Cetirizine and Chlorphenamine (Piriton®).

Cetirizine– acts to fight the histamine for 24 hours and does not cause drowsiness

Chlorphenamine – this lasts for a shorter duration of time and makes you feel sleepy. This is the perfect medication to take at night to reduce the itchiness in your scalp and help you get to sleep easier. Be careful- we advise you not to take this medication if you are about to drive or work with machinery as you can feel sleepy and we don’t want any accidents!

Sticking to our Anti-Itch Plan will help you get through the first 7-14 days of itching. After this period you will likely not have any further scalp itching.

Medicated shampoo

A small number of people may have ongoing itching two weeks after their hair transplant. They should continue with their anti-histamine treatment above. However, for extra comfort we provide them with a Ketoconazole shampoo . This is a medicated shampoo which also helps reduce itchiness. Stronger forms of this shampoo are available by prescription only so you should speak to your surgeon if this is something you think you might need. Shampooing your head twice a week for 2-4 weeks should help nip the itching in a bud!

Steroid scalp solution

In rare cases where itching lasts longer than 3-4 weeks we may decide to use a steroid scalp solution which treats and reduces the itch almost within a day! Applying the solution for seven days helps to cure the itching and any remaining inflammation in your scalp after having a hair transplant. Again this medication is prescription only and you would need to see our Hair Loss Doctors and Surgeons in clinic to start this treatment.

Still worried about itching after hair transplantation?

Send us an email or Whatsapp us by clicking the icon to ask for our advice. Our Hair Loss Doctors and Surgeons are happy to help!

Suffering from itchy skin? Read here to find out more about what the NHS recommends for treatment.