For those who aren’t yet ready for a hair transplant, the existing FDA-approved hair loss drugs include minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Could there be a new drug on its way to FDA approval for the reversal of thinning hair?

What Is Botox?

Botox is a serum made of Botulinum Toxin A in a purified form. It is currently used for the treatment of headaches and to cosmetically lessen the appearance of wrinkles on the face. Once injected, it works to temporarily paralyze the muscles, which decreases the muscular contractions that cause headaches and tension-induced wrinkles.

How Would Botox Work To Treat Thinning Hair?

Decreasing muscle tension means increasing oxygenated blood flow to the injected area. And where there is oxygenated blood, researchers believe the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone is inhibited (because the ideal conversion environment for DHT is a de-oxygenated one). A recent study in Canada tested the relationship between Botox injections and an increase of hair growth/a decrease of hair loss. The study used:

• 50 patients with thinning hair, ranging from NW 2 to NW 4 baldness
• 300 units of Botox injected over a 24-week span
• A 2 cm strip of scalp as the controlled injection site (to observe new growth)
• A lint trap rolled over subjects’ pillows (to observe hair loss)

The results showed a positive link between Botox injections and increased growth/decreased loss. The overall response rate to the treatment was 75%, with growth increasing by 18% and hair loss decreasing by 39% in these individuals.

Researchers noted that the results from the Canadian study are on par with those of minoxidil and thus believe that the mechanism of Botox injections works similarly.

However, there is no conclusive proof that Botox works consistently as a hair restoration drug. Much more research and testing would need to take place for it to enter the market as an FDA-approved competitor of Rogaine or Propecia.

Although the causes are undetermined, alopecia totalis is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the white blood cells attack the hair follicles. This means that the body reacts to the hair follicles as intruders, like a sickness, and must get rid of them. Stress, another autoimmune compromiser, may exacerbate hair loss for someone suffering with alopecia totalis.

Alopecia totalis can affect people at any age, but generally targets both men and women less than 40 years of age. Children and young adults are most often victims of this traumatic hair loss. Research has found that, in Western society, approximately one in 250,000 women and one in 125,000 men will suffer with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis.

For those with alopecia areata, hair loss may correct itself within about one year. However, those suffering complete hair loss from alopecia totalis may not be so fortunate. While there have been instances of total hair restoration, the chance of hair recovery is slight in the majority of alopecia totalis cases.

There is good news, yet. There are several hair loss treatment options for alopecia totalis, universalis, and especially areata. This includes:

1.     Topical steroids (creams, lotions, etc).

2.     Injectable steroids or intra-lesional steroid injections where the doctor injects low concentrations of steroids directly into the bald patches.

3.     Oral steroids. This is often used briefly in patients with hair loss from alopecia totalis or universalis.

4.     Contact allergy inducers or irritants: akin to inducing poison IVY in the hair loss areas, chemicals are applied to the area and the changes in immunity may resolve the condition.

The white cells that attack the native hair causing alopecia totalis would also attack grafted hair; hence hair transplantation is not advised as a treatment for this condition. The Hair Peace Foundation and other hair loss organizations can be a valuable resource for more information on alopecia totalis, alopecia areata, and alopecia universalis.

Those are among the reasons a skilled surgeon is needed to perform the delicate task of eyebrow restoration, and why the SFET and the Follicular Unit Extraction is an excellent approach. The procedure involves transplanting individual strands of hair from another part of your body to your eyebrow area. The new hair will look a little different from your original eyebrows and have a different growth rate, but over time it will begin to mimic your existing eyebrow hair.

Keep in mind, because your new eyebrow hair comes from a different part of your body, it will continue to grow, so keep your scissors handy for regular trimming!

Have more questions about ways to improve your eyebrows? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

The first attempts at surgical hair restoration of hair loss was recorded in 1822 by J. Dieffenbach. During his inaugural thesis, he described animal investigations in allo and auto-transplantation of hair, skin and features.  As early as 1930, a Japanese surgeon Sasagwa reported hair follicle transplantation, then by 1939, Okuda, a Japanese dermatologist, described the correction of alopecia of the scalp, eyebrows and mustache areas using small cylindrical punches to remove the donor tissue and smaller ones for recipient hair. Japanese physicians were successfully grafting and harvesting multiple and single hairs into other areas of the body including face, scalp and pubic regions. The reports of these procedures were documented in Japanese, but due to the emergence of World War II, the historical hair movement was still not revealed to the public.

However, Norman Orentreich, a  New York dermatologist reported hair-bearing scalp autografts from the same person, successfully transplanted from  the back of the head to the balding front and top in 1959. One of the focal points of hair transplantation surgery is that donor dominance is the central functional principal. Basically, if the hair follicles are harvested from the scalp and then transplanted into the balding areas, the donor hair characteristics will be dominant.

With this procedure, the concept of ‘donor dominance’ was introduced and the research and evolution of hair restoration surgery had begun.

If you would like additional information about Dr. Umar and his procedures for hair loss, please contact the DermHair Clinic in Los Angeles. A hair restoration consultation can easily be arranged online via for free. For an in-office appointment, please call the office at (310)318-1500 to check about appointment availability. In-office schedules for the most part are a bit more limited, so any information you can provide over the phone is great.

What Are Some Treatments For Hair Restoration?

• Propecia is a common finasteride drug used to stop hair loss by fighting the male hormone, DHT.
• Hair restoration surgery, such as “strip harvesting” or follicular unit extraction.
• False hair, such as hairpieces, wigs, and toupees.

Like with most conditions, early treatment of hair loss is better and will result in more successful results. For this reason, hair restoration patients have started getting younger.

For more information on hair loss or about Dr. Umar and his hair transplant procedures, please contact the DermHair Clinic in Los Angeles. A hair restoration consultation can easily be arranged online for free.

Generally speaking, Asian people have thicker hair follicles but less hairs per centimeter of scalp. This means the hair has the illusion of greater density, but in fact there’s not as much there to work with as it seems. The lower hair density requires great care when doing the transplant, and larger donor region must be used to obtain the hairs needed for the procedure. Another important factor to be aware of is that Asian people have a higher chance of developing keloids as a response to skin injury, which is why your history of keloids should be explored as part of the evaluation process.

See photos of one patient’s success, and watch a video featuring another lovely result.

Dr. Umar – board certified and with years of hands-on experience – has restored the hairlines of every ethnic group, and understands the individual needs required. Hair restoration is for everyone, as his track record proves.

Have more questions about the role of ethnicity in hair loss? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

Ringworm is nothing to be afraid of, yet it is important to catch it early in order to avoid hair loss. Your first step should be to consult a medical professional or dermatologist if you think you might have ringworm.

Have more questions about ringworm and hair loss? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

If a medical professional does confirm you are experiencing significant hair loss, the Follicular Unit Extraction procedure may be able to help restore your hair and confidence. This minimally invasive procedure harvests individual hair follicles from donor areas on your head or body and transplants them via tiny, precise incisions to the scalp at just the right angle where they begin to take root. The best thing about this treatment is that it allows for an even distribution of grafts, giving your restored hair a more realistic and natural appearance.

Have more questions about your hair loss pattern? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.