Our crowning glory. This is the phrase that is often used to describe a beautiful head of hair.
Canadians spent $1.5 billion dollars on hair care in 2022 alone. Is it any wonder then that thinning hair is a significant concern for many people?
Thinning hair can occur for many reasons:
- Hormonal – pregnancy / menopause / thyroid related
- Heredity – male pattern baldness, receding hairline, thinning at crown
- Age-related – thinning related to advancing age
- Stress-induced – sudden thinning related to a stress event
- Scalp condition / dermatological issue – fibrosing alopecia, alopecia areata, ring worm
- Medications / medical treatment – radiation therapy, chemotherapy; heart/gout/BP/arthritis drugs
- Hair trauma – traction alopecia related to tight pulling on the hair, or heavy processing
Although most people are typically concerned about hair loss on the head, hair loss can happen anywhere on the body. In this article we will focus on hair loss on the head and options for treatment.
Determining what is causing hair loss can sometimes be difficult. Sometimes an individual may have patchy hair loss, or scalp issues and in these cases, it is wise to see a dermatologist for evaluation and diagnosis. Some dermatological conditions can cause scarring of the scalp which can lead to permanent hair loss which is why assessment is important.
Most causes of hair-thinning and loss, however, tend to be obvious. Heredity (especially for men) and hormonal hair loss related to pregnancy, menopause (for women), and age-related thinning are chief among them.
Whatever the reason for hair thinning/loss, the critical question is whether the hair follicles have died or whether they’re just weak, stressed and underperforming.
Where hair follicles have died such as in fully bald man, the only solution is a hair transplant where healthy follicles are surgically transferred to the area of loss.
In cases of thinning, where the follicles are alive but struggling, there is hope! The key is to provide the hair follicles with adequate physiological support, avoid physically damaging them and undertaking treatment to induce the hair follicles to grow.
Physiological support includes:
- Collagen supplementation - ideally bio actively available marine collagen liquid which is combined with Vitamin C to boost absorption
- Vitamins/minerals – biotin, Vitamin A and C, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin D and zinc
- Prevent physical damage by:
- Minimizing use of hot oil treatments, chemical straightening/perming, excessive colouring/bleaching, flatirons, and curling irons
- Keeping corn rows and dreadlocks looser
- Avoiding or minimizing weaves, extensions and tight braids, ponytails, buns
- Directly supporting hair growth can boost not only the number of follicles actively growing hair, but the quality of the hair itself. Direct support includes:
- Medication such as Minoxidil
Injectable treatment with platelet rich plasma (PRP) derived from one’s own blood plasma which contains growth factors to stimulate hair follicles to grow; one of the only treatments proven to induce hair growth and improve quality
On the horizon?
Exosome therapy – donor derived stem-cell growth factors for injection (not yet Health Canada approved;) exosomes combined wth PRP for injection for optimal results
Exosome therapy is currently Health Canada approved only for topical use. Exosomes can be applied to the skin after a skin-disrupting therapy like ablative laser or microneedling. This exciting new technology speeds healing and boosts results but injectable use is not yet approved.
PRP, minoxidil (and maybe one day injectable exosomes), all require maintenance. For injectables, typically, a series of 3 or 4 PRP initial treatments followed by single maintenance treatment every 6 to 12 months is required.
Are you wearing hats because your crowning glory isn’t what it once was? Visit an aesthetic medical clinic with expertise in hair thinning for a consultation to learn more about products and treatment options.
ArtMed offers state-of-the-art treatment options for hair loss. Visit them online to book your appointment or in-person at 381 Woolwich St in Guelph.