Hair Loss Awareness Month: Why You Are Losing Hair

Ninety percent of those who are experiencing hair loss rates that are higher than average are suffering from genetic pattern baldness.  Aberrations in the DNA code result in the formation of weak protein receptors on the hair follicles.

There is a chemical in the bloodstream called dehydrotestosterone (DHT). This is created when testestosterone breaks down.

The androgen receptors involved in pattern baldness will not be able to provide strong defense against DHT.  This causes the hair follicles to shrink due to being deprived from proper nutrition.

Environmental factors can exacerbate the effects of genes. These include:

• diet
• medications
• sun damage
• stress

Which Products To Consider For Treatment

Things to know during this hair loss awareness month includes a basic idea of how pattern baldness works is important for making effective treatment decisions.  For example,  if you know that DHT travels in the bloodstream and affects the base of the follicles, you will realize that the idea of a DHT shampoo will probably not accomplish very much.

Many products claim to revitalize the hair follicles.  But it is important to ask which ones are backed by data from clinical trials.

Although genetics is the most common culprit of hair loss, each case will be unique. Pre existing health conditions and environmental determinants can also play a role.  Therefore, working with a doctor is highly advised. Rogaine or Propecia (for early stage hair loss) may be recommended.

When to Consider a Hair Transplant

Again, every hair loss situation is unique. But hair restoration surgery may be something to consider if medications do not work.  The balding process must reach a point of stability before a transplant can be considered. Otherwise, patches of missing hair may develop.

What To Do About Severe Hair Loss

Advanced baldness used to be considered as being too late to fix.  Conventional hair restoration takes grafts from the head.  The severely bald don’t have enough donor follicles in this region.

However, through specialized UGraft hair transplant procedures, grafts can be attained through harvesting processes applied on body regions like the beard regions on the sides of the face. Other areas include: the chest, abdomen, back, legs and arms.

To learn more about general hair loss questions, here is a video where Dr. U is interviewed by the American Health Journal to answer common questions.

Dr U discusses hair loss in general in this Tom Joyner appearance