Hair loss can be worrisome. You might wake up to find more hair left on your pillow, or even at your shower drain. Since a normal human sheds between 50-100 hair a day, how do I know if I am losing too much hair, a.k.a. balding?
In essence, "balding" happens when hair loss is no longer compensated by hair production. "Alopecia" is the medical term for balding.
There are 3 main early signs of alopecia:-
1) Receding hairline
A healthy and normal hairline is straight or flat. However, if you start losing hair around both your left and right 'temples', as well as 'crown' area of your head, these are early signs of balding.
This eventually leads to a characteristic 'M' shaped appearance around the hairline, which severity is measured using the 'Norwood scale'.
2. Widening of hairline
A widening of hairline happens when the distance between each hair has been increased. This is typically more noticable for women because of the middle partitioning in their hair.
For males, their scalp will appear more noticable than before, and that they would be able to observe more scalp than hair compared to before.
3) Hair thinning at the crown area
What can I do about it?
At our clinic, we provide a large variety of treatment options to tailor your needs.
From hair supplements, to hair restoration procedures, and even hair transplant services - we have it all.
Hair Loss Supplements
A factory cannot produce it's products without the required materials. Similarly, our hair follicles are unable to produce a good amount or quality of hair without the required minerals or vitamin.
Your daily diet may or may not contain sufficient amount of minerals/vitamin for your hair production.
For example, Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid are important for hair production, which are often reduced in vegetarian diet. Vitamin B6 can be found in fruits such as bananas, and vegetables such as spinach. Vitamin B12 are found mostly in meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Folic acid, on the other hand, are found in most fruits, vegetables and whole grain products.
Protein is also an important component for hair production. You may obtain protein from food sources such as fish, chicken, eggs, and soy products.
Other important trace materials for hair production are such as zinc, magnesium, iron, and biotin.
Hair growth foam
Our hair growth foam contains mainly both finasteride and minoxidil.
Finasteride prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT, the main culprit of male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil, on the other hand, acts on the hair follicles, improves blood circulation around hair follicles, increases the size of hair follicles, as well as stimulating the growth phase in the hair follicles.
Low level laser/light therapy (LLLT)
LLLT involves using light/laser at the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Multiple current studies have already proven the use of LLLT statistically significant hair regrowth by terminal hair count in both males and females.
Doctors believe that LLLT improves hair count by increasing blood flow to the scalp and protein synthesis in the follicles, resulting in a higher hair count, as well as thicker hair.
Hair microneedling and mesoserum
Microneedling is a known treatment in the past for scar and skin anti-aging purposes. It involves using a roller/device with small needles that causes minor damage to the desired area, activating the release of growth factors and even stem cells, that eventually stimulate hair growth. There have been numerous recent researches that have proven it's use for hair growth purposes and has proven to be one of the popular choices of hair restoration.
On top of that, microneedling is known to promote absorption of products, and is often used together with other products that also promote hair growth. Here at our clinic, we have chosen a special mesoserum with the following formulation to be given together with microneedling therapy:-
-
Capsaicin - improves scalp circulation and condition for hair follicle growth
-
Pyridoxine - also known as Vit B6, has a role in protein metabolism. It ensures that hair cells have access to the amino acids needed to make hair proteins.
-
Vit-B complex (dexpanthenol + biotin) - stimulates keratin production in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplant is the transplantation of healthy and genetically non-shedding follicles to areas where hair follicles have lost their function and are bald, by micro-surgical methods.
There exists many different techniques in hair transplantation. Our clinic works with a hair transplant clinic from Turkey, utilising an effective and safe technique called "Sapphire FUE" hair transplantation technique.
The advantages of using this techniques are such as:
-
Materials with a special combination made of sapphire are used instead of materials made of metal
-
There is low risk of infection as it has antibacterial properties
-
The recovery period is much shorter
-
Does not damage tissue
-
There is no scar after the operation
-
100% Result guaranteed
-
More natural look
While there exists many different treatment modalities for hair growth and restoration, it is important to take note that there are actually many causes for alopecia.
For example, "alopecia areata" happens when our hair follicles are destroyed by our own immune system, while "androgenic alopecia" happens when our hair follicles are downregulated as a result of DHT (a byproduct of testosterone hormone).
The treatment for alopecia areata would involve certain medications such as steroid, while the treatment for androgenic alopecia would involve a hormone conversion blocker medicine.
On top of that, other than oily/poor scalp condition, there are also certain medical conditions that would lead to hair loss, for example anemia, or even hypo/hyper-thyroidism.
If you are interested to learn more about your condition and the treatments suitable for your condition, book an appointment for consultation with us today!