August is the 10th Annual Hair Loss Awareness Month

FOUR INDUSTRY LEADERS DISCUSS ADVANCES IN TREATMENT, STYLE AND BUST COMMON MYTHS ABOUT HAIR LOSS

Aug 2010

Hereditary Hair Loss affects up to 40 percent of all men and 25 percent of women in the United States alone. For such a widespread condition, little is actually known or understood by consumers, according to a national survey, Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: The Myths & Truths Behind Thinning Hair and Hair Loss, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the ROGAINE® Brand.

WHAT/WHY:

August (Hair Loss Awareness Month) is the perfect time to educate your readers on treatment options and share helpful, forward-looking information from some of the world’s leading authorities in the fields of dermatology, hair transplantation and hair styling, including:

WHO:

Dr. Ken Washenik, President of the North American Hair Research Society,
Chief Medical Officer of Bosley and Executive Vice President of Aderans Research Institute(New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA)

Dr. Nicole Rogers, Hair Loss Expert and Board-Certified Dermatologist
(New Orleans, LA)

Dr. Robert Leonard, Founder and Chief Surgeon at Leonard Hair Transplant Associates and past President for the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
(Cranston, RI)

Thom Priano, Celebrity Hairstylist & Thinning Hair Expert at The GARREN New York Salon
(New York, NY)

Hair loss treatments have advanced dramatically in the past 25 years. Today’s treatments range from easy-to-use, FDA-approved topical treatments like ROGAINE® Foam (5% minoxidil) available over the counter, to prescription finasteride (sold as Propecia for men only). Also popular are low level laser light therapy and transplantation. Today’s transplants are nearly undetectable and far more natural-looking than in previous years. With new science and developments like hair cloning and genetic therapies, additional innovation is on the horizon.

Following is some great information from our experts. We would love to work with you to develop your stories, provide in-depth content and arrange interviews.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EXPERTS

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM:

“Typically we lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day, but a consistent loss of 150 or more hairs is considered significant,” says Dr. Robert Leonard. It is also important to note the difference between Hereditary Hair Loss and temporary hair loss (Telogen Effluvium), which can occur as a result of hormones, thyroid conditions and certain medications. With Telogen Effuluvium, hair will grow back on its own.

People may also mistake damaged hair (shedding split ends) for hair loss. “I ask my patients to run their fingers through their hair. If eight to ten hairs come out with the bulb attached, this may indicate excessive hair loss,” says Dr. Leonard.

At the first sign of hair loss, whether its thinning at the crown for men or a diffuse, all-over thinning on women, proper treatment will help restore what is being lost.

TOPICAL, ORAL AND NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS:

Early treatment, prevention and proper usage are key when addressing hair loss, say the experts.

Doctors say ROGAINE® (www.rogaine.com), Propecia, and low level laser therapy can all help to stabilize this progressive condition.

According to Dr. Ken Washenik, “ROGAINE® (i.e. topical minoxidil) is the first line of attack for at-home treatment of hair loss. It also fits very nicely into a combined approach of topical treatment and oral medication because it helps maintain, preserve and regrow hair. It will not interfere but will make other treatments more effective.”

According to dermatologist Dr. Nicole Rogers, many patients go online and have difficulty sorting fact from fiction – especially with such a wide array of products that purport to grow hair (see below for a list of resources).

Doctors caution that shampoos, conditioners, vitamins and serums that claim to stimulate hair regrowth are purely cosmetic products and will NOT regrow hair. ROGAINE® is the only FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss.

FINDING A SPECIALIST:

"Anyone experiencing hair loss should consult with a medical professional, preferably one with extensive experience treating conditions of the hair and scalp,” says Dr. Rogers.
 
“Locating a specialist is the best way to learn which treatment options will work best for you,” says Dr. Washenik. Consumers can find unbiased information through a variety of organizations including the North American Hair Research Society (www.nahrs.org), The American Academy of Dermatology (www.aad.org) and hair transplantation organizations like the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (www.ishrs.org).

SURGICAL TREATMENTS, CLONING AND ROBOTICS:

Surgical trends for hair loss have come a long way. Gone are the large graft transplants of the past. “Single follicle and follicular unit transplants deliver more natural-looking results for men and women alike,” says Dr. Washenik.

Dr. Leonard currently uses the NeoGraft surgical device - Automated Follucular Unit Extraction - which removes individual hair groupings from the donor area. He explains, “There is research and work on prototype devices that use robotics to perform hair transplant procedures, which will be even less invasive than the current single follicle transplant procedure."

Dr. Washenik sees the future in cellular regenerative therapy and hair cloning, which grows cells from hair follicles and effectively increases the available donor material for hair restoration. “With cell therapy, we will be able to take cells that make up the hair follicles, inject them into the bald scalp, so they can find existing, miniaturized follicles and turn back on those follicles that are not producing hair,” he explains.

HAIR LOSS & GENETICS:

Hereditary Hair Loss accounts for 95 percent of all hair loss, yet more than 60 percent of Americans incorrectly think Hereditary Hair Loss can come from only one side of the family*.

“The genetic blueprint for a receding hairline can come from anyone on either side of the family," says Dr. Leonard. For those with a family history but no signs of hair loss, he suggests genetic testing. The HairDx Genetic Test will identify the patient’s risk for hair loss or thinning so the patient can take advantage of early medical interventions and treatments prior to experiencing hair loss.

According to Dr. Rogers, "Recent advances in the field of hair loss have identified the gene responsible for a type of alopecia called hereditary hypotrichosis simplex. This condition results in the same follicular miniaturization that is seen in male and female pattern hair loss. The possibility that gene therapy may ultimately help solve and treat the reason for hereditary thinning is very exciting.”

STYLING TIPS FOR THINNING HAIR:

For the follicularly challenged, the right haircut or style can do wonders to help hair appear thicker during medical treatment.

According to Celebrity Stylist Thom Priano, “Women with thinning hair should consider heavy bangs, a zig zag part and a tousled finish. Men with straight hair should opt for a cropped, layered cut while a short-to-medium layered cuts are best for men with curly hair.”

For more great tips from Thom Priano, Here

THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF HAIR LOSS:

Think hair loss is purely physical? Think again. To find out how hair loss affects relationships, confidence, job search and more, check out Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: The Myths & Truths Behind Thinning Hair and Hair Loss.