67% of men and women in UAE suffer from hair loss. Are you among them?

(MENAFN- Awareness Marketing Management) 67% of men and women in UAE suffer from hair loss. Are you among them?


67% of men and women in UAE suffer from hair loss. Are you among them?
If your hair is signing off from your scalp on a daily basis, don''t worry. New generation of hair treatments are here to help

DUBAI. It''s a densely populated world, your scalp. There are approximately 1000,000 hair follicles resident on it, with a finite lifespan. And that''s the problem, their finite existence. When you see your hairbrush teeming with deceased hair strands, you are obviously saddened at the loss of these loved ones. However, you are not alone in this loss. According to a YouGov study in the UAE on hair loss, 67 per cent of men and women suffer hair loss, says Dr Fiona Cowie, Specialist in Aesthetic Medicine, Dermalese, Al Wasl. But thanks to the science of hair regrowth, all is not lost.
Over the last decade, there have been many developments in the science of hair regrowth and hair restoration, and we have come a long way from the days of using hair-regrowth products like Rogaine and Propecia, says Dr Cowie. ''There also came stem cell rejuvenation therapy (PRP) which involved separating plasma from the person''s blood, activating the hair stem cells and injecting them into the person''s scalp to stimulate resting hair follicles,'' she says.
There is also AQ stem cell therapy, which uses manufactured hair restoration stem cells instead of using blood plasma.
And now, we have entered the age of ''hair farms''. Yes, you read that right. It''s the latest development in cell therapy to generate new hair, says Dr Cowie. ''In the US, scientists are trying to create ''hair farms'' where they clone hair cells. A sample of a person''s blood or skin is used to extract hair stem cells, which are cultured to produce millions of their own hair follicles. These follicles are then implanted around the person''s dormant follicles on the scalp.''
The big advantage of this method, according to her, is that there is minimum risk of the body''s immune system rejecting the hair transplant, since it is from the same body. Human trials are to begin later this year but ''it looks promising, ''says Dr Cowie.
''New uses of stem cell technology and 3D printing, which holds hair follicles and dermal papillae in place as they differentiate into hair, have been showing promising results that could potentially make baldness obsolete,'' she says.

Let''s understand how our hair grows… and falls off
The business of hair growth is more complicated than you think. ''Human scalps have approximately 1000,000 hair follicles with limited lifespan,'' says Dr Cowie.
''To make a new hair strand, you need thousands of stem cells (dermal papillae) that live at the base of each hair follicle. As we age, these papillae disappear, and follicles become smaller and eventually dormant. Once a follicle is dormant, it can''t be restored.''
Every individual goes through a cycle of hair growth and loss throughout their lifetime. First is the hair growth phase called Anagen. Then follows the phase of transition called Catagen. Then comes Telogen, the resting phase, followed by Exogen, the falling phase. Obviously, each hair follows its own cycle. At any given time, 5-10 percent of our hairs are in the Telogen phase, which explains the post-shampoo hair fall and the hairbrush encounters with fallen hair.
So, when you see more and more hairs signing off from your scalp, it means that your anagen phase has become less effective, your telogen phase is more prolonged so when the hair sheds, it does so in larger numbers in exogen.

Is hair loss truly reversible?
''Some types of hair loss are reversible, others are not,'' says Dr Cowie. ''Telogenic effluvium (fall) is generally reversible. This is more commonly seen in women and is a temporary hair loss that usually happens after stress, shock or a traumatic event.
''Once the cause is found and addressed, hair will start to regrow, usually within 3-6 months. Alopecia is another form of hair loss than can be reversed with steroid injections and even cryotherapy. Make pattern baldness, however, can be slowed down but not completely reversed,'' says Dr Cowie.
This is where hair transplants come in. Surgical transplant solutions are used when the follicles are dormant and no longer producing hairs. But transplants are not the only solution. Medical hair loss solutions (see box), prolong follicle life and activity, says Dr Cowie.

BOX
HAIR LOSS: CAUSES AND TREATMENT
Common causes
•Genetic: A receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair on the crown in women.
•Hormonal changes and medical conditions: Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, in women. Thyroid problems in men and women. Alopecia Areata is an immune disorder which causes patchy areas of total hair loss in men and women. Ringworm and hair pulling (trichotillomania) in men and women.
•Medications and supplements: Hair loss as a side-effect in men and women.
•Radiation therapy to head, and stress: These affect men and women equally. Hairstyling can cause ''traction alopecia'' (repeated stress in one area) and perming, hot oil treatments can cause hair to fall out. This is more common in women. When stress is managed, hair loss can be reversed.
•Poor diet: Lack of vitamins A,C,D and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein and essential fatty acids might slow down hair growth or even cause hair loss.
•High sugar consumption: High sugar intake spikes blood sugar levels which can damage hair follicles and potentially speed up hair loss. You can also get an inflamed scalp, causing loss of quality and quantity of hair, or a dry flaky scalp which can damage hair follicles. Reducing sugar consumption will reverse these changes.
•Insulin: involved in hair growth as well as fat storage, heart health, and regulating blood sugar. People with insulin resistance have a greater risk of male and female pattern baldness. Restoring normal insulin levels will reverse the changes in men and women.
•Thyroid: Low thyroid levels cause thinning scalps. Hormonal balancing will reverse these hair loss problems.
(Dr Fiona Cowie)

TREATMENTS
•Hair loss control pills, vitamin mixes and formulations: If the hair follicles are dormant, nothing will help. If hair loss is due to other issues, supplements of vitamins, biotin, iron and zinc can help. Cell rejuvenation therapy - PRP and AQ solutions - along with carboxytherapy and mesotherapy, can be very helpful in stimulating hair regrowth.
•Leading lines of treatments to control hair loss:
oPRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) cell rejuvenation therapy. Usually very good at helping thinning hair. Injected into scalp along with carboxytherapy.
oAQ solution of growth factors for hair: Given along with carboxytherapy. An oligoscan is done to determine which vitamins and minerals are lacking and which can be given orally or by IV infusion therapy.


MYTHS AND FACTS
•FACT: You are born with a genetically determined number of hairs on your scalp and that number cannot be dramatically altered. So, if your genes have given you a thick head of hair, consider yourself lucky.
•MYTH: Oiling the scalp regularly improves hair growth. ''Oiling the scalp can actually damage fragile hair follicles, so it doesn''t really help,'' says Dr Cowie.
•MYTH: Water in the UAE leads to hair loss. ''The hard water in the UAE can''t stop hair growing but it can cause fragile hairs to snap off easily, so it is recommended to attach a water filter to your shower,'' says Dr Cowie.
•FACT: You can eat your way to healthy hair. These are some foods that can control hair loss:
Spinach: Source of iron, vitamin A and C and protein.
Carrots and sweet potatoes: Rich in Vitamin A
Eggs and dairy products: Proteins, rich in Vitamin B13, iron, zinc and omega 6
Oats, Walnuts, Lentils.

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