Hair Loss Research Archives - Miami Hair Institute

Category: Hair Loss Research

December 27, 2021

COVID-19 May Cause Hair Loss, But COVID Vaccines Do Not

As we frustratingly approach two years of living through the pandemic, it is pretty well established that temporary hair loss – telogen effluvium – is one of the more common complications associated with COVID-19. Many of the physical and psychological impacts of COVID-19, such as high fever, severe infection, illness, significant weight loss, physical trauma, and emotional stress, are precisely the kinds of disruptions that lead to telogen effluvium. Quarantines, worries about jobs and finances, juggling the responsibilities of parenting and career – these common pandemic-related stressors alone are more than enough to cause hair loss, even for those who aren’t otherwise sick.

However, one aspect of the pandemic that DOES NOT appear linked to hair loss is COVID-19 vaccines. Plainly put, scientists have found no connection between any of the widely available COVID-19 vaccines and increased hair loss.

Anytime someone goes through an infection, gets a fever, or experiences significant stress, as is the case with COVID-19, they can experience telogen effluvium. Many vaccinated people experience side effects from the shot, including fever and mild illness. But those side effects do not appear to create the conditions that cause temporary hair loss like COVID infection itself.

As reported recently in the Boston Globe, “Dr. Shira Doron, infectious disease physician at Tufts Medical Center said hair loss following coronavirus vaccination has not been detected in any surveillance.”

Nevertheless, many fully vaccinated individuals and those who have not been infected with COVID-19 can and do experience pandemic-related hair loss. This is due to the immense stress, disruption, and uncertainty that COVID-19 continues to cause for so many people. Quarantines, worries about jobs and finances, juggling the responsibilities of parenting and career – these common pandemic-related stressors alone are more than enough to cause hair loss, even for those who aren’t otherwise sick.

During this time, the physicians and staff at the Miami Hair Institute remain committed to helping our clients address their hair loss issues safely and effectively through our

To receive your personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

November 1, 2021

Is Vitamin D Deficiency Behind Your Hair Loss?

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient. It bolsters our immune system, wards off illness, and is critical for bone health. Some studies suggest that insufficient amounts of vitamin D contribute to depression, heart disease, and cancer. But if those weren’t reasons enough to ensure you’re getting enough of the D in your diet, here’s another: a lack of adequate vitamin D intake can contribute to hair loss. If you see increased hair shedding and loss, it may be time to check your vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D Insufficiency Linked To Hair Loss

Multiple studies have made the connection between vitamin D insufficiency and hair loss. A 2017 review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found a link between low vitamin D levels and:

Telogen effluvium, a stress-induced condition that causes excess hair shedding
Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder where hair falls out in clumps
Female pattern hair loss

Another study published in 2019 in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal concluded vitamin D deficiency could increase hair loss over time. And another group of researchers in 2016 found that women showed greater vitamin D deficiency among younger people with hair loss.

Research has also found a connection between vitamin D and the promotion of healthy hair follicles and hair growth. A 2014 study published in Molecular Endocrinology found that hair regrew in mice two weeks after introducing vitamin D receptors. Other studies have suggested that a lack of sufficient vitamin D intake may lead directly to hair loss.

How to Up Your Vitamin D Intake

You don’t need to look far for a source of vitamin D; you just have to look up. The sun is our primary source of vitamin D, which is why it is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin.” But plenty of foods are also rich in the nutrient, such as fish, fish liver oil, eggs, and dairy. Supplements are also an easy way to increase your vitamin D levels.

While vitamin D isn’t a baldness “cure” by any means, but healthy vitamin D levels can strengthen your hair and reduce the chances of excess hair loss. If you are considering increasing your vitamin D intake, you should consult with your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet. Excessively elevated vitamin D levels can create health problems of their own, such as calcium accumulation in the blood, which may cause weakness or problems with the kidneys.

Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today

Of course, changes in diet alone may not stop your hair from falling out or restore your hair to the fullness it once had. At the Miami Hair Institute, our skilled hair restoration physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases that you can’t reverse on your own. Through advanced hair restoration surgery techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments, we can help you address your hair loss issues and improve your appearance and self-confidence.

To receive a personalized hair loss evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

May 31, 2021

Does Electromagnetic Radiation From Cell Phones Contribute To Hair Loss?

Our cell phones are a constant presence in our lives. We keep them in our pockets and by our sides almost all the time. As cell phones became ubiquitous over the past quarter-century, many people expressed concerns about whether and how the electromagnetic radiation they emit affects our health. While studies have made clear that there is no link between cell phone use and cancer or other serious conditions, some evidence has emerged, suggesting that prolonged cell phone use may contribute to hair loss.

While not definitive, the 2016 study “Hair Loss Due to Electromagnetic Radiation From Overuse of Cell Phone” published in the Journal of Cosmetology and Trichology concluded that “exposure to cell phone radiation can lead to hair loss” through three different impacts on the body.

Specifically, the researchers looked at the case of a 46-year-old male patient who had an unusual area of hair loss around his left ear. His hair surrounding this area was fragile, but could not be pulled out easily. Thinner, slow-growing hair was also seen on the base of the scalp. The findings of a biopsy indicated “prolonged exposure to an irritant or antigen” but did not indicate typical hair loss conditions such as alopecia areata or androgenetic alopecia.

The study considered previous research on the subject of cell phone use and hair loss and concluded that the radiation emitted from phones could lead to hair loss by:

DNA breakage. Subjects tested immediately before and immediately after extended periods of cell phone use showed an increase in DNA single-strand breaks in human hair root cells located around the ear where they held the phone.
Genotoxic and hormonal effects of mobile phone radiation. Cell phones impact the circadian patterns of gonadal, adrenal, and pituitary hormones, elevate estrogen, and reduce testosterone. All of these have a negative impact on the hair growth cycle. In addition to causing hair loss, mobile phone radiation can create hormonal imbalance, disturb hair growth regulation, and affect other systems in the body leading to secondary hair loss.

The good news is that the researchers were able to effectively treat the hair loss through the “use of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, which can aid in the recovery of the damaged cells.” Additionally, “low dose 2% minoxidil application combined with low dose comprehensive nutritional therapy, limiting mobile phone usage and keeping the mobile phone instrument away from the ear, helps in complete regrowth of the hair.”

Again, this research is not conclusive, so there is no reason to throw your phone out the window. But if you do notice unusual hair loss patterns on your scalp near where you usually hold your phone, you should consult with a hair restoration physician.

No Matter The Reason Behind Your Hair Loss, The Miami Hair Institute Can Help

Our world-renowned hair restoration physicians at the Miami Hair Institute diagnose and treat hair loss cases no matter what the underlying cause. Through advanced hair restoration surgical techniques, technology, and alternative non-invasive treatments, we can help patients suffering from hair loss regain their hair and self-confidence.

To receive your personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

April 19, 2021

New Study Sheds Light On Link Between Stress and Hair Loss

Scientists, researchers, and doctors have known for quite some time that chronic stress can lead to hair shedding and loss. Now, researchers from Harvard University have made a key discovery about the biological mechanics that connect stress and hair loss.

Recently published in the journal Nature, the study found that a major stress hormone in mice puts their hair follicle stem cells into an extended resting phase without regenerating the follicle or the hair. Hair follicle stem cells are what fuel that natural cycle between rest and growth. During the hair growth phase, hair follicle stem cells become activated to regenerate the follicle and hair, and hairs grow longer every day. These stem cells are dormant during the resting phase, causing hairs to shed more easily and frequently. That shedding becomes hair loss when the stem cells remain dormant without regenerating new tissue.

The Harvard researchers identified the specific cell type and molecule responsible for relaying the stress signal to the stem cells. They found that the overproduction of certain hormones triggered by stress had a negative effect on hair follicles and their growth cycle.

Corticosterone is a primary stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands in mice. The human equivalent of corticosterone is cortisol, often called the “stress hormone.” The researchers found that giving mice corticosterone reproduced the stress effect on the stem cells, suggesting that elevated stress hormones indeed negatively affect hair follicle stem cells.

Normally, time and aging slow down hair follicle regeneration over time, and the resting phase lasts longer. But when the researchers took the stress hormones out of the equation, the stem cells’ resting phase in the subject mice became significantly shorter. Their hair follicles constantly entered the growth phase and regenerated hair follicles throughout their life, even when they were much older.

The study confirms that reducing stress, thereby reducing the amount of cortisol we produce, can have a positive effect on hair loss. That is because stress keeps follicle stem cells from entering the growth phase and regenerating new hair follicles.

Of course, hair loss isn’t the only negative effect that too much stress has on our bodies. It can cause a whole host of health problems and diminish the quality of life. That is why self-care, including effective stress management, is so critical to our physical and mental health. Make sure that you identify a stress-reducing outlet that works for you, whether it is hanging out with friends, being alone with a book, walking your dog, or doing nothing at all.

No Matter Why You Are Losing Your Hair, The Miami Hair Institute Can Help

To receive your personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

March 1, 2021

4 Reasons Behind Female Hair Loss

For decades, stand-up comedians have joked about the many differences between men and women. But it’s doubtful that they would get any laughs if they started riffing about female hair loss. While many cases of hair loss in women arise for the same reasons they do in men, such as stress or genetic predisposition, the distinct nature of female biology and life changes are behind a significant proportion of female hair loss problems.

While you will need a professional diagnosis by a hair restoration physician to determine the exact cause of your hair loss, it is likely that if you are noticing an increase in hair shedding or thinning areas on your scalp, it is due to one of these common reasons behind female hair loss:

Menopause

Women going through menopause produce lower levels of estrogen and progesterone – two hormones critical for hair growth and follicle health. As these hormone levels decrease, hair growth slows while follicles become thin, brittle, and more vulnerable to damage.

Making matters worse, the decrease in hair-promoting hormones is accompanied by an increase in androgens – hormones that trigger follicle miniaturization on the scalp. This makes hair more susceptible to falling out.

The hormonal fluctuations of menopause also contribute to other mental and emotional conditions and lifestyle changes, which themselves can cause hair loss. These can include:

Stress
Emotional decline due to diminished self-confidence
Lack of exercise
Imbalanced nutrition
Dehydration
Damaging hairstyles
Medication

Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes wild fluctuations in hormones, as every mom knows. But these hormonal upheavals don’t end after delivery. The months that follow childbirth also see dramatic changes in hormone levels as the body works its way back to its normal state. This hormonal whiplash can take a toll on hair as well.

Many women notice that their hair seems thicker and fuller during pregnancy than it did beforehand. This is because of elevated estrogen levels that increase the percentage of hairs in the growth cycle while simultaneously freezing hair in the resting phase of hair growth. After pregnancy, estrogen levels fall dramatically, and all the hair that was growing so impressively starts to fall out. While we all shed hair regularly, at a rate of around 80 hairs per day, the extent of postpartum shedding can raise that number to closer to 400 hairs a day.

The good news is that this type of hair loss is almost always temporary, and hair growth will return to normal in short order.

Traction Alopecia

If you apply constant tension to your hair follicles, you will damage, weaken, and ultimately kill them. This is called traction alopecia, and it affects women who wear certain types of hairstyles or engage in other destructive habits.

The five primary causes of traction alopecia are:

Wearing unnecessarily tight ponytails, pigtails, or braids for extended periods.
Trichotillomania, a psychological condition characterized by constant (and often unconscious) hair twisting, pulling, or plucking.
Hairstyles in which hair is tightly wound for a prolonged period.
Hairpieces and weaves that are affixed/clipped to the hair.

Anemia

Anemia involves an insufficient amount of iron in the blood and is one of the most common causes of dietary-related hair loss in women. Low iron levels restrict proper blood flow and reduce the amount of growth-stimulating nutrients that hair follicles need. Changes in diet and iron supplements can help, including eating foods such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and other leafy greens.

No Matter The Reason Behind Your Hair Loss, The Miami Hair Institute Can Help

At the Miami Hair Institute, our world-renowned hair restoration physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases no matter what the underlying cause. Through advanced hair restoration surgical techniques, technology, and alternative non-invasive treatments, we can help patients suffering from hair loss regain their hair and self-confidence.

To receive your personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

February 22, 2021

Weight Loss and Hair Loss: Is There A Connection?

No good deed goes unpunished, so the saying goes. For many people, the good deed of getting in shape and losing excess weight can come with the unexpected and unwelcome punishment of hair loss. Fortunately, hair loss that is associated with weight loss is neither inevitable nor permanent.

Not All Weight Loss Is Created Equal

Putting aside gradual weight loss that comes from a healthy diet and exercise, rapid weight loss caused by illness, stress, or unhealthy crash diets is clinically associated with hair loss. Stress-induced hair loss, also known as telogen effluvium (TE), often happens in tandem with stress-induced weight loss.

But even controlled, healthy, and intentional weight loss can lead to hair loss if the modified diet adopted to shed pounds lacks the nutrients necessary to prevent hair from shedding.

Many dieters fail to get enough protein when they lose weight. This is a big problem for hair health. Protein and the amino acids they contain are essential for hair growth. But sufficient protein intake is also critical for a host of other crucial bodily functions. When the body doesn’t get enough protein, it essentially has to ration how to distribute the little it has. And it will inevitably decide to direct that protein to functions and organs far more critical to survival than hair follicles. Deprived of needed protein, hair becomes more brittle and susceptible to damage, and therefore more likely to fall out.

Make Sure Your Diet Includes Enough Protein

Losing weight and getting enough protein are not mutually exclusive. There are plenty of healthy diets that incorporate protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, and beef. For those who eat a vegan diet, great plant-based sources of protein include:

Quinoa
Tofu and soy products
Chickpeas
Chia seeds
Lentils
Walnuts
Almonds
Cashews
Beans

If you notice that you are losing more hair than usual while dieting, the good news is that it is usually a temporary phenomenon. By ensuring that you get the necessary nutrients that can keep your hair healthy, you can lose unwanted weight while keeping your very-much-wanted hair.

Call The Miami Hair Institute Today To Discuss Your Hair Loss Questions and Concerns

Of course, dietary improvements alone may not stop hair loss or restore your hair to the fullness it once had. At the Miami Hair Institute, our skilled physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases that can’t be reversed at home. We can help patients suffering from hair loss through advanced hair restoration surgery techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments.

To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

January 25, 2021

What Is A Scalp Biopsy And Why Would You Need One?

You can’t effectively fix a problem unless you know what it is. That is why understanding the reasons behind hair loss is an essential first step in the hair restoration journey. By understanding the cause of a patient’s hair loss, our hair restoration physicians can develop and implement the most effective treatment strategy specifically tailored to their unique characteristics.

At the Miami Hair Institute, we use a comprehensive methodology that includes gathering a detailed medical history, performing an in-depth scalp examination using state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging tools, and taking hair mass measurements. If appropriate and indicated, we may perform blood tests to identify any hormonal imbalances or deficiencies that might be contributing to a patient’s hair loss. And in some cases, we may recommend a scalp biopsy to get to the bottom of the issue.

What is a Scalp Biopsy?

When we perform a scalp biopsy, we extract one or two small specimens of scalp tissue and hair follicles for analysis. Each sample is about the size of a pencil eraser. To gather the specimens, we clean a discreet area of the scalp, trim the hair in that area, and administer a local anesthetic. Once we remove the samples, we close the small scar with stitches that we will take out a couple of weeks after the biopsy. The whole procedure takes approximately 15 minutes. After gathering the specimens, we submit them to a skin pathologist specializing in diagnosing hair loss problems.

Why Would We Perform A Scalp Biopsy?

When a follicle scarring process appears to be the cause of a patient’s hair loss, a scalp biopsy is often necessary to establish or confirm a diagnosis. We can use the results of a biopsy to make or confirm a diagnosis of alopecia. We can also obtain important information in cases of unexplained hair loss or when the potential for regrowth is in doubt.

Call the Miami Hair Institute Today For Your Personal Hair Loss Consultation

Not all patients require a scalp biopsy to determine the cause of hair loss and choose the best treatment options. But the first step in discovering why you are losing your hair and what you can do about it is to schedule a hair loss consultation. We invite you to schedule an evaluation at the Miami Hair Institute. Drs. Nusbaum and Rose are internationally acclaimed hair restoration surgeons with more than 40 years of combined experience. To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

January 18, 2021

Alcohol Consumption and Hair Loss

Just as having one drink may not significantly put you at risk for drunk driving, having the occasional beer, wine, or cocktail will not increase the chances that you will lose your hair. But if you drink heavily and regularly, your alcohol consumption can lead to health issues, like nutritional deficiencies and hormonal problems, that directly impact the strength and resiliency of your hair in ways that can lead to hair loss.

Interference With Absorption of Nutrients

Like the rest of your body, your hair follicles need a steady supply of essential nutrients for strength and growth. If hair does not receive or cannot absorb sufficient vitamins and minerals, it will weaken, die, and fall out.

Excessive alcohol consumption can distract people from eating enough nutrients in their diet. Even if someone who drinks too much eats well, all of that booze interferes with the body’s ability to process and use that fuel to maintain its optimal functioning.

Specifically, heavy drinking can deny hair a sufficient supply of iron, zinc, copper, and protein, all of which are necessary for hair health.
An inadequate amount of iron is one of the more common causes of dietary-related hair loss. Low iron levels limit proper blood flow – something hair follicles need to receive and absorb growth-stimulating nutrients. Excessive drinking can lead to a decrease in the amount of iron-rich foods a person consumes.

Alcohol may also diminish zinc absorption, further increasing the possibility of hair loss. A 2013 study involving people suffering from alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, female pattern hair loss, and male pattern hair loss revealed that zinc deficiency might contribute to hair loss.

As you may remember from your high school biology class, protein and their amino acids are the “building blocks” of the body. That applies to hair, as well. A diet that includes a sufficient amount of protein from various sources can be the key to resilient and growing hair. Drinking alcohol may interfere with the absorption of protein or lead to lower protein consumption.

Drinking Can Lead To Thyroid Problems

When the thyroid produces too much or too little of the hormones that play a critical role in hair growth and retention, hair loss is often the result. Unfortunately, excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to just such disruption.

Both hypothyroidism (too few hormones) and hyperthyroidism (too many) can cause hair loss through its impact on the development of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). A synthesized version of the hormone testosterone, DHT plays a role in the development of sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics, including physical appearance. Unlike testosterone, however, too much DHT disrupts the natural growth cycle of hair and can cause hair follicle shrinkage or elimination, resulting in shedding or thinning hair.

Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation

Of course, hair loss isn’t the only health problem associated with excessive drinking, and excessive drinking isn’t the only factor that can contribute to hair loss. No matter what the nature or cause of your hair loss issues, we can help. At the Miami Hair Institute, our skilled hair restoration physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases through the most advanced hair transplant surgery techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments.

To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

December 7, 2020

Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss

If you’ve ever seen a television ad for a new drug or game-changing medication, you know that about half the ad’s time is taken up by someone reading a seemingly endless list of potential side effects. That’s the way it is for almost any medication – all the good they do also comes with some bad. For many vital and life-sustaining drugs and treatments, one of those side effects can be hair loss.

Drug-induced hair loss can be just as troubling as pattern baldness or any other type of hair loss. The good news, however, is that most hair loss caused by medication is temporary, with hair growing back after you stop taking the drug.

What’s Behind Drug-Induced Hair Loss?

Medications can cause hair loss by interfering with hair’s normal growth cycle. Hair grows during the anagen phase, which usually lasts between two to seven years. Hair then rests during the telogen phase, which is about three months long. At the end of each telogen phase, hair falls out and is quickly replaced by new hair.

Medications can disrupt one or both of these cycles. Telogen effluvium, the most common form of medication-related hair loss, usually appears two to four months after starting a drug. Telogen effluvium causes hair follicles to go into their resting phase and fall out earlier than they should. People with telogen effluvium usually shed between 30 percent to 70 percent more hairs than the typical 100 and 150 hairs per day.

Drug-induced hair loss that occurs during the anagen phase of the hair cycle is called anagen effluvium. This condition prevents the matrix cells, which produce new hairs, from dividing as they usually would. This type of hair loss usually occurs within a few days to weeks after taking a medication and is a common phenomenon for patients taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment.

What Medications Are Associated With Hair Loss?

In addition to chemotherapy medications, plenty of other common prescription drugs list hair loss as a potential side effect, including:

Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)
Antibiotics and antifungal medications
Steroids
Thyroid medications
Weight loss drugs
Birth control pills
Anticlotting drugs
Mood stabilizers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Antidepressants
Drugs that suppress the immune system
Drugs that treat breast cancer and other cancers
Epilepsy drugs (anticonvulsants)
High blood pressure medications (anti-hypertensives), such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics
Hormone replacement therapy
Parkinson’s disease drugs

As noted, medication-related hair loss is almost always reversible. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your prescription, and never discontinue a medication because of hair loss without first discussing it with your physician.

No Matter The Reason Behind Your Hair Loss, The Miami Hair Institute Can Help

To receive your personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

November 30, 2020

Another Reason to Stop Smoking: Hair Loss

You don’t need us to tell you how bad smoking is for your health. You already know that it causes lung cancer, heart disease, and a whole range of other serious ailments. But even if the risk of such chronic health problems isn’t enough to convince you to quit, perhaps the knowledge that smoking can contribute to hair loss will do the trick.

Research has established a significant connection between the harmful chemicals and other materials in cigarette smoke and hair loss in men and women. Here are some of the ways that smoking can kill your otherwise healthy head of hair.

Damaged Hair Follicles

Tobacco smoke contains a grabbag full of substances that are just awful for the human body, including nicotine, caffeine, acetone, aluminum, ammonia, arsenic, benzene, butane, cadmium, tellurium, carbon monoxide, goroside, and cyanide. Of these, nicotine is the biggest villain in terms of hair loss, as it damages hair follicles, making them weaker and more prone to falling out.

Reduced Blood Flow

Smoking limits the flow of blood in your body and reduces the amount of essential nutrients that make their way to your hair follicles. Without an adequate supply of those nutrients, your follicles will grow weak instead of just growing, and will ultimately fall out.

Increased DHT Levels

DHT is an androgen that helps to give men male traits. Typically, due to genetics or other hormonal changes, hair follicles develop a sensitivity to DHT and begin to miniaturize. As a result, the hair growth cycle is shortened, and eventually, new hair stops growing. As such, individuals with higher DHT levels may be more prone to hair loss. Since cigarettes increase the production of DHT, smoking can make hair loss and a receding hairline more likely.

Increased Oil Secretion

The nicotine in tobacco can accelerate the body’s secretion of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes the production of adrenaline. In turn, the increase in adrenaline can cause more oil to be secreted on the scalp. Too much oil can block hair follicles’ ability to get the nutrients they need and make them more prone to falling out.

Schedule Your Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today

Of course, smoking is hardly the only factor that contributes to hair loss. At the Miami Hair Institute, our world-renowned hair restoration surgeons use the most advanced hair transplant techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments to help patients restore their hair and self-confidence.

To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.

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