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Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Loss

At Leonard Hair Transplant Associates, our goal is to provide the best possible hair loss treatments based on your needs and goals. To achieve this objective, we will need to determine the type of hair loss, medically known as alopecia, that you’re experiencing. During your initial consultation, Dr. Matthew Lopresti and Dr. Mary Lopresti, our experienced hair loss doctors, will evaluate your areas of concern and review your hair loss story to determine the ideal approach for you. We offer an extensive selection of hair restoration options, including hair transplant surgery and non-surgical hair loss treatment choices. Together we will develop a customized treatment plan to help preserve and restore your natural hair.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Many factors can contribute to hair loss, and a patient may be experiencing one or more of these issues. Some of the most common causes of hair loss include:

Genetics 

Whether you are a man or a woman, by far the most common reason for your hair loss is genetics — that’s right, genetics. Thanks to Mom and Dad, you might be sporting the same thinning patterns they did. It’s all in the family! So, if you’ve noticed your hairline receding or your hair thinning out in a way that mirrors one of your parents, you can thank those hereditary genes. There are other potential causes for this situation such as illness, stress, severely poor diet, and medications, but these fall far behind heredity. The medical term for this condition that affects greater than 50 percent of men and one in twenty women is androgenetic alopecia, or male or female pattern baldness, a condition that leads many to our facilities in the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire areas to seek hair loss treatment.

Other Causes 

While less common, other possible culprits of hair loss may include: 

Many of these concerns cause only temporary hair loss, such as stress, illness, childbirth, some types of injuries, medications, and diet. After the event passes, many patients see hair regrowth and a return to their previous hair fullness. Other factors, including scar tissue and genetics, will lead to long-term hair loss.

What Are Common Myths About Hair Loss?

With all the buzz around hair restoration popping up on your favorite radio stations, TV screens, and social media feeds, it’s crucial to cut through the noise and get the real scoop on what doesn’t cause hair loss. You’ve seen the ads claiming everything from clogged pores and microscopic scalp bugs to hat-wearing and the wrong shampoo are to blame. Spoiler alert: none of these are actually responsible for male and female pattern baldness. We have hair restoration patients even today who spend thousands of dollars on these “snake oil” hair regrowth products. Money-back guarantee or not, patients should not spend even one hard-earned cent on any of them as they are not an effective hair loss treatment. THEY DO NOT WORK.

These hair loss treatments are designed only to make their manufacturers tons and tons of money at your expense, the very high expense, of people reaching out for anything to help them with their hair loss. Honest, true medical studies have yet to prove these products are capable of hair restoration; do not waste your money on them!

What Are the Different Types of Hair Loss?

Understanding the type of hair loss a patient is experiencing is essential to providing optimal treatment. An individual who is experiencing temporary hair loss due to a medical condition or cosmetic procedure will require a different approach than someone who has progressive hereditary hair loss. Depending on the type of hair loss from which you’re suffering, our skilled surgeons will recommend a hair preservation and restoration program appropriate to your needs. Types of alopecia include:

Androgenic Alopecia 

Also known as male pattern baldness (or female pattern hair loss in women), androgenic alopecia is a genetic condition that causes hair thinning (follicle miniaturization) and progressive hair loss. This concern can begin as early as in the patient’s teens or 20s. Men and women experience androgenic alopecia a little differently. Men tend to see receding hair on the crown and frontal scalp. Women, on the other hand, often see general thinning across the scalp. However, any pattern can be seen in both men and women.

Alopecia Areata 

Patchy hair loss that typically occurs suddenly, alopecia areata can affect men and women of all ages, including children. Usually a temporary condition, most people will see hair return after a few years; however, some individuals may experience widespread (complete) baldness that does not improve.

Alopecia Universalis 

A condition in which all body hair, including the eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair, falls out.

Traction Alopecia 

This type of hair loss is caused by constant tension or pulling on the hair. For many African American women, this condition is more common due to the hairstyles they often choose, like tight braids, weaves, and ponytails. These styles pull on the hair roots, which can lead to inflammation and damage, eventually causing the hair to fall out. Over time, if the tension continues, it can lead to permanent hair loss.

Telogen Effluvium 

Hair goes through growth cycles. When a large number of hair follicles enter the resting phase simultaneously there may be excessive shedding and thinning soon after. It is commonly observed after childbirth, after a high fever, after undergoing general anesthesia, among other situations. This is typically a temporary condition that will improve with time.

Scarring Alopecias 

Injuries and skin conditions that cause scarring can lead to permanent hair loss in the affected areas. The most common causes are skin conditions, which actually destroy hair follicles. There has been an unknown reason for a significant increase in these conditions in the general population over the last several years. Additionally, cosmetic treatments that use heat can cause scarring if the temperature is too high and results in a burn.

Is Hair Loss Inherited from Your Mother or Father?

The tendency of male and female pattern baldness can be inherited genetically from EITHER or BOTH sides of your family. Yes, it turns out you can blame your parents for more than just your taste in music or your knack for awkward dance moves. Our genes play a major role in determining not just how our hair grows but also how it might thin out over time. The genetic culprit in androgenetic alopecia is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The DHT affects the follicles on the top of your head but not along the back and sides in the vast majority of people. These genetically sensitive follicles begin the process of miniaturization whereby these hairs become progressively shorter and thinner as well as less pigmented, signs of male and female pattern baldness. This is why you can no longer grow your hair long in these thinning areas, leading to the need for hair loss treatment. Eventually these miniaturized hairs become microscopic and disappear from sight. 

Why Does an Individual Lose His or Her Hair?

Genetics is the most common reason for hair loss. In fact, 98 percent of patients experience hair loss due to their genetic history. Research indicates that hair loss occurs for two main reasons: dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and decreased blood flow. 

High Levels of the Hormone DHT 

Men and women both contain the hormone testosterone in their bodies. Obviously, women contain much smaller levels of this hormone. An enzyme known as Type II 5-alpha reductase is found in the hair follicles’ oil glands, converting testosterone to DHT. Understanding DHT is important for patients, especially when we discuss non-surgical hair loss treatment options such as Propecia®.

In genetically predisposed men and women, the level of DHT prevents healthy hair from surviving by shortening the growth cycle. As a result, a person’s hair follicles will shrink, becoming shorter, skinnier, and less pigmented. Over time, the continued growth of these miniaturized or shrunken hairs causes a person to become progressively bald.

Unfortunately, it’s only after individuals have lost 50 percent of their hair, that they notice their hair is thinning!

Decreased Blood Flow 

The second cause of hair loss is a result of decreased blood flow to the thinning or bald areas on the scalp. Doppler Flow studies, which use sound waves to measure the flow of blood, reveal there is less blood circulation to balding and thinning areas as compared to the rest of the scalp. Low Level Laser Light Therapy is one form of treatment that can benefit patients affected in this regard.

Does Wearing a Hat or Helmet Contribute to Hair Loss?

Believe it or not, wearing hats or helmets won’t make you lose your hair. If it did, our favorite Patriots, Bruins, and Red Sox players would all be sporting some seriously thin hairlines by now! The same goes for how often you wash, brush, or comb your hair. Your choice of shampoo and how frequently you use it also don’t play a role in hair loss.

Do Women and Men Lose Their Hair for the Same Reason?

Yes, in most cases, women and men can lose their hair for similar reasons. While genetics and hormonal changes are common culprits for both, the way they manifest can differ between genders. For example, male pattern baldness tends to follow a distinct pattern, while women might experience more diffuse thinning. But overall, many of the underlying factors are quite similar.

How Much Hair Loss Per Day Is Considered Normal?

The average number of hairs a person loses each day is approximately 100 to 150 hairs. Although this may seem like a lot of hair, if the follicles are healthy and intact, the hair regrows. In adult men and women, the typical head of hair consists of about 150,000 hair follicles.

How Is Male Pattern Baldness Treated?

Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia – as it is medically referred to – can be addressed through Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) with ACell® injection therapy, Propecia® (finasteride), low level laser therapy, and/or Rogaine (minoxidil). Also, a hair restoration procedure can present another excellent option. Each of these treatments has been medically proven as effective. 

Contact Leonard Hair Transplant Associates

One of the most eye-opening statistics regarding male and female pattern hair loss is that it is not until after 50 percent of one’s hair has fallen out that the thinning is even noticed. WOW! This is why it is very important to be examined by a hair loss doctor sooner rather than later. 

If you think you may have male or female pattern baldness, contact us at one of our Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire office locations today to schedule a free consultation.