Hair Loss - Clinical Treatment

To better understand how clinical treatment works, you first need to understand how hair loss happens.

How does hair loss happen?

As already discussed, there are hair follicles that contain the genetic code for baldness and hair follicles that DO NOT contain the genetic code for baldness.

Both types will fall out, the difference is that hairs that are NOT genetically predisposed for the balding process, will fall out when they are thick and complete their life cycle. When this happens, these hairs are already being replaced by others with the same thickness.

Hairs, however, that ARE genetically programmed for balding will undergo a totally different hair loss process, as they do not fall out while thick, like normal hair.

The hair follicles that have the genetic code for balding have receptors in their roots that are called dehidrotestosterone, better known as DHT. This hormone causes the hair follicles to undergo a process of gradual atrophying, or miniaturization. It connects to the receptors causing the follicle to weaken and shrink, transforming into a small, very fine hair (called vellus hair), invisible to the naked eye. When this miniaturized hair falls out, it is not replaced, and the balding process sets in.

Microscopic Image of the Scalp (50x)
Note the atrophy process of the hair follicles in the same area.

Therefore, do not be concerned about the thick hair that you see fall out every day, those that clog your drain, or are left behind in your brush, because these are replaced. The hair that causes concern for hair loss you will not see fall out. Just look at the hairbrush of a woman who has lots of hair. Her hairbrush is full of hair, but she is not bald.

False Beliefs:

Frequent use of baseball caps, washing your hair frequently, stress, etc., will not make anyone bald. For a person who has genetic predisposition for hair loss, it could accelerate the process a little, resulting in hair loss a bit earlier, but the hair loss would be the same if these factors were not present.

The good news is that nowadays, we are able to delay, slow down, and even revert this process, hence putting off the evolution of hair loss, and often times improving a patient’s clinical situation, depending on the phase and degree he/she is presently at.

Clinical Therapy:

The only two medications scientifically proven to be efficient in treating hair loss: Minoxidil and Finasteride.

Minoxidil works by improving blood circulation in the scalp and consequently slowing hair loss. Used alone the results are limited, but combined with other treatments, good results may be obtained.

Finasteride is the only treatment that works on the cause of hair loss. Used either orally or topically, it can be found in generic form, or brand names (Propecia, Finalo) and works by blocking the DHT action on the receptors at the roots of the hair follicles predisposed to baldness. It works well on the top and crown regions of the scalp, and does not have the same effect on the frontal and temporal hairlines. Depending on the stage of hair loss, the region that is balding and the patient’s age, finasteride may improve the hair loss clinical circumstances since, upon reversing the process, the hairs that were in the miniaturization process will thicken. This filling out will give the impression that hair has grown back.

To learn more about Finasteride, see photos, and read FAQs about side effects by click here.

Others: Some specialists use topical treatments in the doctor’s office, like scalp mesotherapy: In this treatment, active ingredients are injected directly into the dermis (skin) of the patient and often provide good results.

Using anti-hair loss shampoo was popular in the past, but its effects are quite limited. Its use is recommended more for treating factors that may contribute to hair loss, like seborrheic dermitis (dandruff) among others. Scalp massages may also help activate and stimulate blood circulation in the scalp hence helping to retard the evolution of hair loss. Your specialist will know which type of therapy to use, depending on your type of hair loss, background, age, etc.

To conclude, it is important to remember that “THERE ARE NO MEDICATIONS OR THERAPIES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW.” What exist are treatments, medical or otherwise, that delay the process of hair loss because the hairs that are genetically coded for hair loss will fall out, no matter what, one day. These therapies are able to decelerate the hair loss process for a certain period, but will not alter the end results, only delay its evolution, and this obviously depends on the stage of hair loss for each individual.

We may use clinical therapy as complementary treatment to delay the need for hair transplant surgery, or even a second session of hair transplantation. In other words hair transplantation replaces hairs lost, while the treatment will maintain those that still exist.
In layman’s words: hair transplant surgery will turn on the faucet, while finasteride will temporarily stop the drain.

YOUR CONSULTATION AT RUSTON CLINIC

• At Ruston Clinic we perform a microscopic analysis of the scalp for every patient.
• This evaluation and mapping is explained by using a 100 inch monitor, and on return visits a 17 in monitor, in order to educate our patients and help them better understand their case.

Several photographs are taken of the regions affected by hair loss on each visit so that we may follow, in a precise manner, the degree of efficiency of treatment, as well as motivate the patient, since improvement can be seen upon each return visit.

At Ruston Clinic you have access to the most advanced technology in terms of the study of hair loss and its treatment.

Each patient is treated individually. We study all of the possible causes for hair loss and only then indicate the most appropriate treatment.