Hair Loss Treatment Archives - Miami Hair Institute

Category: Hair Loss Treatment

April 5, 2021

Can Olive Oil Stimulate Eyelash Growth?

Lots of people (yes, mostly women) spend lots of time trying to grow thick, lustrous eyelashes. Mascara and other cosmetics can do the trick, at least temporarily. But some very preliminary research (as well as beauty bloggers and YouTubers) suggests that the road to fuller eyelashes doesn’t run through the make-up aisle. Instead, head over to the olive oil section.

While it is important to note that there is no definitive proof that applying olive oil to eyelashes will stimulate eyelash growth, it is an intriguing approach that doesn’t pose any downsides or risks.

Why Would Olive Oil Help Grow Eyelashes?

Olive oil’s potential benefits for eyelash growth come from its abundance of fatty acids, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. With potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, plenty of people around the world swear by olive oil for fatty acids’ alleged benefits to hair and skin.

Here is how olive oil’s fatty acids may help hair growth:

Oleic acid helps regulate sebum production, which keeps away bacteria and hydrates the eyelids leading to healthier eyelash follicles.
Palmitic acid acts as an emollient that can help soften the skin or eyelashes.
Linoleic acid helps keep hair follicles healthy by encouraging skin cell turnover to prevent clogged or dead hair follicles.”

Research On Olive Oil and Eyelash Growth

Some research, including a 2018 study of mice, suggests that safflower oil, which like olive oil, is high in linoleic acid, may also encourage hair growth.

Another study from 2015 concluded that applying oleuropein to the skin of mice helped regulate their hair growth.

But these effects on humans are inconclusive and need further research. Additionally, the processing olives undergo after picking can impact the amount of oleuropein any given bottle of olive oil contains.

How To Use Olive Oil On Your Eyelashes

If you want to give olive oil a go on your eyelashes, here’s how to do it:

Before going to bed, lightly dip a clean mascara brush in some olive oil.
Lightly coat the top layer of your lashes from root to tip along the lash line.
Wash it off when you wake up in the morning.
Repeat daily (or as directed by your dermatologist) for several weeks.

The typical eyelash growth cycle lasts between 30 to 60 days, at which point hair rests before falling out. That means you can expect to see results within two to four months. Please note: we do not advocate trying this without consulting a hair loss physician first!

Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today

At the Miami Hair Institute, our world-renowned hair restoration physicians diagnose and treat hair loss using the most effective and cutting-edge approaches. We have helped tens of thousands of patients regain their hair and their confidence through advanced hair restoration surgical 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.

February 8, 2021

The Pandemic Has Changed The Way We Care For Our Hair

After almost a year of living with the pandemic, we understand that the impact of COVID-19 extends far beyond those who actually get sick with the virus. We have all changed the way we live, the way we do our jobs, and the way we care for ourselves. This includes how we are treating our hair.

It has been established that hair loss is one of the many unfortunate consequences of COVID-19 infection. Even for otherwise healthy individuals, the stress of our current circumstances has led to an increase in cases of sudden stress-related hair loss. As reported by NPR, one dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic who used to see about five patients a week with stress-related hair loss and now sees between 20 to 25.

But hair loss is not the only way that the pandemic had changed the health of our hair. Lockdowns and quarantines and working from home have led many people to dramatically alter their hair care regimes. People who don’t go into the office every day or aren’t heading out for nights on the town are not shampooing their hair as often as they used to, nor are they using as much product. Shuttered hair salons kept people from getting their hair cut or styled, and even when they are allowed to reopen, many folks decide that it is not yet worth the risk.

While folks may be taking a more laissez-faire approach to their hair because of convenience or safety concerns, one unintended result is that their hair may be better off for it.

Shampooing every day can open and close hair cuticles so much that it breaks, which leads to split ends and breakage, especially when combined with styling or heating products. People who have reduced the frequency of shampooing or who have switched to dry shampoos are seeing stronger, healthier-looking hair. So too are those who are giving their hair a break from gels, sprays, curling irons, or blow dryers.

The pandemic will be behind us, hopefully soon. While we will be happy to say goodbye to face masks, social distancing, and quarantines, we may want to continue the gentler approach to hair care that many of us adopted during our COVID-19 days.

The Miami Hair Institute Is Here For You During These Trying Times

At the Miami Hair Institute, we know how difficult and stressful things can be as we cope with the uncertainties and disruptions caused by COVID-19. During this time, we remain committed to helping our clients address their hair loss issues safely and effectively through our advanced hair restoration techniques, technology, and alternative non-invasive treatments. To receive your 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.

May 25, 2020

Treatments for Hair Loss During Menopause

Along with hot flashes, mood swings, and other physical and emotional disruptions caused by wildly fluctuating hormones, hair loss can also be an unwelcome consequence of menopause. Making matters worse, the stress of losing or shedding hair can feed on itself and make menopausal hair loss even more prominent.

Fortunately, women can take steps to curb menopause-related hair loss. Many of the hair restoration treatments that we use at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute to treat pattern baldness and other types of hair loss are equally effective at addressing menopausal shedding and loss. It is one aspect of this life change that you can change yourself, and it would be our privilege to help.

What’s Behind Menopausal Hair Loss?

The primary reason behind menopausal hair loss is that women going through it produce lower amounts of two hormones necessary for hair follicle health and growth – estrogen and progesterone. The decrease in these hormone levels slows down hair growth, and follicles become thin, brittle, and more vulnerable to damage.

While estrogen and progesterone levels plummet, levels of androgens increase. These hormones trigger follicle miniaturization on the scalp, which makes hair more prone to falling out.

Menopause’s hormonal fluctuations 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

Menopausal Hair Loss Treatments

Fortunately, menopausal hair loss is treatable. The physicians at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute understand how challenging this life change can be for women, particularly when it involves hair loss. We work with our female patients to proactively restore their hair and their self-esteem through early detection, comprehensive diagnosis, and optimal treatment and restoration approaches.

Treatment options include non-surgical hair restoration through the use of medications such as Minoxidil (available by the brand name Rogaine®), which has shown success in slowing or stopping hair loss in women.

Low-level laser therapy for hair (LLLT) is another non-surgical restoration method that can reduce hair loss and, in some cases, stimulate new hair growth in women. Safe, painless, FDA-approved lasers promote blood flow and nutrient delivery to the hair follicles, strengthening and encouraging follicle growth. Women are particularly fond of these “laser therapies for hair loss” because they are quick, convenient, safe, and effective.

Finally, women may elect to have hair transplant surgery, a procedure during which the patient’s own hair follicles are extracted from areas of healthy scalp and relocated to areas experiencing thinning or balding.

You Don’t Have to Live With Menopausal Hair Loss. The Miami Hair Institute Can Help.

Some of life’s changes may be inevitable and unavoidable. Menopausal hair loss is not one of them. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment provide the best chance for women to restore their hair to its naturally full state. To learn more about how we can help and to schedule your personal hair loss evaluation, call the Miami Hair Institute today at 305.925.0222 to speak directly with a member of our team.

February 3, 2020

Hair Loss Treatments: Do’s and Don’ts

They say that when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Unfortunately, many people who start to experience hair loss keep on digging and needlessly make matters worse for themselves. While many of the reasons behind hair thinning and baldness are out of our hands – genetics, primarily – plenty of styling, lifestyle, and diet choices can have a significant impact on the health, strength, and resilience of our hair. By doing the right things and not doing the wrong things, you can make great strides in slowing or preventing further hair loss.

If you notice more hair in your sink or shower and start seeing thinning areas on your scalp, keep these hair loss do’s and don’ts in mind:

Hair Loss Do’s

DO eat healthy. As with other aspects of health, the health of our hair relies on eating the right foods in the right amounts to ensure we get the nutrients we need. A diet that includes a healthy amount of protein from various sources can be key to growing and healthy hair. Few foods are as rich in protein as nuts and legumes. Nuts also contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Try to make nuts like almonds, walnuts, and cashews a regular part of your diet. Additionally, a lack of iron can contribute to hair loss. Iron-rich foods such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and other leafy greens can increase your iron intake and help feed your hair.
DO get enough sleep. Sufficient sleep is an indispensable part of overall health, as we expend tremendous amounts of energy every day and need the time to recharge so our bodies can function as they are supposed to. A lack of sleep keeps our bodies from repairing and regenerating hair follicles, causing hair to stop growing, weaken, and eventually fall out more than it otherwise would. Even hair that doesn’t fall out will suffer noticeably, losing shine and volume.
DO manage your stress. Overproduction of stress hormones contributes to adrenal fatigue, which happens when the body produces too much cortisol. In turn, this excessive production leads to a corresponding underproduction of hormones like aldosterone and androgens. Since these hormones are needed for healthy hair growth, an insufficient supply will cause thinning or balding hair. Find ways to alleviate day-to-day stress that work for you.
DO stay hydrated. Just as a plant won’t grow and will ultimately die without water, your hair needs to stay hydrated to stay healthy. Hair is one of the first parts of your body to show the effects of water, vitamin, and mineral deficiency. Make an effort to push fluids – at least 64 ounces of water per day.

Hair Loss Don’ts

DON’T wear destructive hairstyles. Some hair loss problems are caused by the way we treat and style our hair. Tight ponytails, pigtails, or braids can lead to a condition called traction alopecia. Constant and severe tension on hair follicles because of such hairstyles will damage and weaken those follicles and eventually kill them, causing them to fall out. Avoid these styling habits, and also avoid hairstyles that require hair to be tightly wound for a prolonged period or hairpieces and weaves that must be affixed or clipped to the hair.
DON’T smoke. 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.
DON’T let styling products build up. Despite concern to the contrary, there is little evidence that everyday styling products like mousse, gels, or hairspray have any adverse effect on our follicles if used correctly. The key is ensuring that you wash your hair regularly to prevent such products from contributing to any long-term buildup of sebum-based plaque. When combined with pollutants, oils, and sweat, this buildup could lead to a condition called scalp folliculitis which can make it impossible for hair follicles to support a normal hair growth cycle.

Schedule Your Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today

At the Miami Hair & Skin Institute, our skilled physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases that can’t be reversed at home or through changes in lifestyle or diet. Through advanced hair transplant techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments, we can help patients who are ready to take action and restore their hair and self-confidence.

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

December 30, 2019

Hair Loss Treatments in 2020

No one likes to break promises. But every year, as the calendar turns from December to January, all of us make promises to ourselves – New Year’s resolutions – that we tend to break in a matter of weeks or months (or days!)

If you are and have been experiencing hair loss, you may have had one or more New Year’s Days where you woke up and said: “This is the year I’m going to do something about it!” If that’s you, and you still haven’t done anything about your hair loss, make 2020 different. By making one phone call to the Miami Hair & Skin Institute today, you can put yourself on track for a fuller, more youthful head of hair and increased self-confidence this year.

We offer several surgical and non-surgical treatment options for men and women living with every type and degree of hair loss issues. Our world-renowned hair restoration experts have the experience and insights to choose the treatment option best suited to your goals.

Here are just a few of the effective, safe, and proven 2020 hair restoration treatments we offer at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute:

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

A popular non-invasive hair loss treatment, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) involves the use of specialized caps and combs which direct pulses of energy into inactive hair follicles. These pulses stimulate the follicles back into a phase of regrowth by promoting increased circulation and cellular respiration.

Among the LLLT options we offer is the Capillus272 laser cap. This FDA-approved device contains 272 professional-strength lasers that make it the most powerful at-home tool for treating hair loss. The cap is indistinguishable from any other baseball cap, so you can go about your life while simultaneously strengthening your hair follicles and turning the tide against hair loss.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

An increasing body of research has shown the effectiveness (and safety) of an approach to hair restoration that utilizes the body’s own natural growth and healing factors to stimulate the regrowth of hair. Platelet-rich plasma therapy takes the body’s natural processes and turbocharges them. In this therapy, we take a blood sample from the patient and place it in a centrifuge where the platelets are separated from other elements of the blood. We then inject the PRP into the treatment area, stimulating the repair and healing that the body is already working on.

At the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, the author of a comprehensive study about the use of PRP wrote that “With consensus forming around treatment protocols, studies are indicating that PRP is a safe, effective hair loss treatment that has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life of millions of people.” We agree.

Stem Cell Therapy

Full heads of hair are the result of hair follicles which are continually regenerating, due in part to the presence of stem cells. But when those stem cells shrink and deteriorate as we age, hair stops renewing and ultimately falls out. That’s why reintroducing an individual’s own stem cells back to the follicles has the potential to create a nourishing environment which may foster regrowth and fight the battle against hair loss

Using a liposuction tool, we take fat cells from the belly, flanks, or love handles and extract the stem cells that can foster hair growth. We then inject this concentrated stem cell sample onto the scalp. The procedure is fast and minimally invasive.

Hair Restoration Drugs

Hair loss medications such as Rogaine® (Minoxidil) and Propecia are popular and proven ways to treat pattern hair loss without surgery. Both drugs, for the right patients, can stop or slow down hair loss and stimulate new hair growth in many patioent.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Of course, the Miami Hair & Skin Institute is a world leader in advanced hair transplant surgery. Our surgeons have been instrumental in the development of the most effective and widely used techniques, and have used their skills, experience, and artistry to perform successful procedures on thousands of men.

Call the Miami Hair & Skin Institute Today For Your Personalized Hair Loss Evaluation

If 2020 is the year you’re going to keep your promise to yourself to take care of your hair loss issues once and for all, we welcome the opportunity to help. Schedule an appointment with the Miami Hair & Skin Institute today by calling 305.925.0222.

September 16, 2019

Hair Loss Pharmaceuticals in 2019

There are many roads you can travel to reach your hair restoration destination. Which path offers the best way to restoring your hair to its full, youthful look will depend on your specific condition as determined by an experienced hair loss physician. It may involve hair transplant surgery, low-level laser therapy, or cutting-edge treatments such as platelet-rich plasma therapy and stem-cell hair growth.

But many patients who want to stop their hair loss and regrow the hair that has vanished can get outstanding results with prescription medication. Since Minoxidil, more commonly known as Rogaine®, was approved for the treatment of hair loss in the 1980s, pharmaceutical options for the treatment of pattern baldness in men and women have expanded, offering patients non-surgical avenues to address their hair loss issues.

Here are the most popular and commonly prescribed pharmaceutical hair loss treatments in 2019:

Minoxidil

The granddaddy of hair loss medications, Minoxidil works by converting vellus hairs – short, fine body hairs – to terminal hairs, which are fully developed “regular” hairs. This not only increases the size of hair follicles that have been affected by pattern baldness but also extends the growth phase of the growth cycle, resulting in thicker hair.

Minoxidil is typically applied topically to the scalp once or twice each day depending on the patient’s condition and the doctor’s recommendation. Application is easily done at home.

Individual users of Regular Strength Rogaine® report success rates of 30-40% while users of Extra Strength Rogaine have observed success rates closer to 50-60%.

Minoxidil is not a cure for baldness. Rather, its real benefits are stopping or slowing down hair loss.

Finasteride (Propecia® and Proscar®)

Finasteride’s appeal is its effectiveness at maintaining existing hair for men with pattern baldness. 83% of men studied retained their original follicle count, and 64% experienced re-growth after two years.

Finasteride drugs like Propecia keep hair from shedding by inhibiting the body’s production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a naturally occurring derivative of testosterone. While DHT assists with sexual development in males during fetal development and puberty, research has also linked it to hair loss. Typically, due to genetics or other hormonal changes, hair follicles develop a sensitivity to DHT and begin to miniaturize. This process shortens the hair growth cycle and eventually causes new hair to stop growing. As such, individuals with elevated DHT levels may be more prone to hair loss.

Reducing DHT levels is what makes DHT blockers such as Propecia and Proscar so effective. Some studies have shown that Propecia can lower DHT levels by as much as 70%.

It is critical to note that because finasteride and DHT blockers like Propecia affect the hormone system, pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should not handle the medication as it may increase the risk of birth defects in male babies.

Dutasteride (Avodart®)

Like finasteride, dutasteride is a DHT-blocker. While the FDA ultimately approved finasteride in 1997 for the treatment of male pattern baldness, dutasteride has yet to receive such approval. But that may come soon.

The lack of FDA approval of dutasteride for hair loss treatment belies the fact that it works really well as a DHT blocker, meaning it may be equally effective at slowing the progression of pattern baldness. One study found that dutasteride blocked 98.4% +/- 1.2% of DHT at a 5mg daily dose, compared to 70.8 +/- 18.3% with the same amount of finasteride.

Dutasteride not only is effective at slowing hair loss, but it may also be better at promoting hair growth. A 2006 study of 416 men between 21 and 45 years-old found that over a 12-24-week period, dutasteride produced better hair count results than finasteride.

Spironolactone (Aldactone® or CaroSpir®)

Approved by the FDA to treat fluid retention caused by a range of conditions such as Iiver disease and kidney disease, spironolactone is also used to treat other ailments beyond its approved use, including the treatment of high blood pressure, heart failure, and hyperaldosteronism. In recent years, physicians have added female pattern hair loss to this list of “off-label” uses for spironolactone, usually after other medications or treatments haven’t worked for a patient.

Spironolactone is an “aldosterone receptor antagonist.” The “antagonist” part refers to the medication’s effectiveness at slowing down and reducing the body’s production of androgens. These male sex hormones, also found in women, are associated with hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia. Reducing androgen levels can stop the progression of hair loss and even can encourage hair regrowth.

Call the Miami Hair & Skin Institute to Learn More About Pharmaceutical Hair Loss Options

If you’re ready to do something about your thinning hair and want to learn whether medication offers a viable solution for restoring your hair, contact the Miami Hair & Skin Institute online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222 to receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan.

June 24, 2019

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) News in 2019

The evidence keeps accumulating, the results continue to impress, and a consensus among physicians and hair restoration professionals is growing. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy – a relatively new biotechnology being used with increasing frequency to help heal injuries, speed recovery after surgery, and fix dermatological problems – is quickly becoming a mainstream treatment for certain types of pattern baldness.

The rise of PRP as a way to treat androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of pattern baldness, is reflected in the comprehensive research presented this past March at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in Washington, DC. As the author of the study, Dr. Jeffrey Rapaport, put it, “With consensus forming around treatment protocols, studies are indicating that PRP is a safe, effective hair loss treatment that has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life of millions of people.”

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Hair Loss?

Platelets are the clotting cells of our blood, but they are also much more. They are enriched with growth and healing factors that initiate repairs and provide help to stem cells in damaged muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

PRP contains several growth factors and cytokines that enhance the body’s natural capacity to repair and regenerate itself. PRP therapy essentially takes these natural processes and supercharges them. A physician or technician takes a sample of blood from the patient and then places the sample in a centrifuge where the platelets are separated from the blood’s other elements. As used to treat injuries and trauma, the resulting PRP is then injected into the injured tissue, stimulating the healing that the body is already doing.

In hair loss therapy, the plasma is injected directly into the patient’s hair follicles in a process that usually takes no more than 10-20 minutes. Injections continue once a month for three months with injections once every three to six months thereafter.

PRP has high concentrations of over 20 growth factors, including several factors thought to stimulate hair regrowth. PRP nurtures hair follicles with critical growth factors that take the follicles from their dormant state (in which hair is no longer growing) to an active state (in which the normal hair growth cycle occurs).

At the Miami Hair & Skin Institute, we have seen excellent results when using PRP in conjunction with other hair restoration procedures. However, PRP therapy may not be the most effective course of treatment for every case of hair loss. But PRP therapy is an option you should consider and discuss with your hair restoration physician if you:

Are in the early stages of hair loss
Have areas of “weak quality” hair growth on your scalp, where functioning hair follicles can still be observed
Have small areas of alopecia areata
Are in good health and are not suffering from certain types of blood disorders, skin issues, liver disorders, or diabetes

As Dr. Rapaport noted in his presentation, an evaluation by a board-certified hair restoration physician or dermatologist is essential to determine whether PRP is a possible treatment for a specific person: “Since PRP therapy has taken off, there have been a lot of non-dermatologists performing this procedure. Only board-certified dermatologists have the medical training to identify if you are a good candidate, because this treatment will not work for everyone who experiences hair loss.”

Learn More About PRP and Hair Loss Treatment in Miami

At the Miami Hair & Skin Institute, our world-renowned hair restoration physicians are committed to delivering only the newest, safest, and most effective methods of hair loss diagnosis and treatment. Platelet-rich plasma is just one of many advanced hair restoration treatments we offer for men and women who wish to restore their hair to its robust, full, and youthful appearance. Learn more about PRP in Miami by contacting our Institute online or calling directly at 877-443-9070.

June 10, 2019

Recent Study Looks at Vitamins and Hair Loss

Nature vs. nurture. While people may debate the role each of those plays in what makes us the individuals we are, there is no doubt that both nature and nurture contribute to hair loss. The genes we are born with have an oversized impact on whether we will have a healthy, full head of hair for most of our lives or whether we will start to notice signs of hair loss when we’re younger. But nurture – how we take care of ourselves and our bodies – also can contribute to the health or weakness of our hair follicles.

If we don’t get essential vitamins in minerals in sufficient amounts, it can lead to a whole range of health problems. Our immune systems suffer, making us more vulnerable to illness. Our bones can weaken, making us more prone to injury. And our hair follicles can become fragile, break, and die.

A healthy, balanced diet rich in essential nutrients can help boost hair growth in addition to improving your overall health and sense of well-being. Recently, a comprehensive study of the role that vitamins and minerals play in alopecia – pattern hair loss – is confirming that what we put into our bodies can affect what is on top of our heads.

Published in December 2018, the study put it quite plainly: “Vitamins and minerals are important for normal cell growth and function and may contribute to hair loss when they are deficient.”

The researchers found that the two of the most common types of hair loss – androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium – can be slowed or reduced by ensuring sufficient intake of certain vitamins and minerals. Specifically:

Supplementing the diet with low levels of vitamin D can improve symptoms of these hair loss conditions;
If a person with androgenetic alopecia or telogen effluvium has low iron levels (more commonly seen in females), they should supplement their diet with vitamin D;
Iron-deficient patients should also ensure their vitamin C intake is adequate.

Deficiency of these micronutrients can be what the researchers call “a modifiable risk factor associated with the development, prevention, and treatment of alopecia.”

Schedule an Appointment Today at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute

Of course, dietary improvements and sufficient vitamin and mineral intake alone may not stop hair loss or restore your hair to its robust, youthful appearance. But at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute, our world-renowned physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases that can’t be reversed at home. Through advanced hair restoration surgery techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments, we can help patients suffering from hair loss regain their hair and their confidence.

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

December 10, 2018

Are Edge Control Products Causing Your Hair Loss?

Are Edge Control Products Causing Your Hair Loss? For many women experiencing hair loss, the blame can be placed squarely on their genes. But heredity isn’t the only culprit for female hair loss. Often, it is the result of the way women style and treats their hair and the products they use to get the look they want. For example, traction alopecia is a specific type of hair loss that results when tension is applied to hair for a prolonged period, as with tight braids, ponytails, or cornrows.

While women of all races deal with hair loss issues, African-American women face unique risks because of common styles and looks that can weaken and damage hair follicles, making them more prone to fall out. In addition to hair loss caused by traction alopecia, edge control products popular among African-American women can contribute to shedding and loss.

Edge control products are typically firm-hold gels designed to keep frizzy edges under control. But getting that sleeked-back look requires a product strong enough to do the job. To get that strength, most edge control products contain copious amounts of alcohol. While the alcohol provides for quick-drying and hold, it can also do tremendous damage to hair follicles if used too often or if it is not cleaned from hair often enough.

Alcohol can dry out your follicles, and dry follicles are more brittle and susceptible to breakage. This is particularly true for hair along the hairline, which is often finer and shorter than hair elsewhere on the scalp. The longer alcohol-filled edge control product is left on the hair, the more likely it is that follicles will become terminally damaged and fall out. Combine this with a tight hairstyle left in place for extended periods of time, and you have a recipe for problems.

This doesn’t mean that edge control itself will lead to hair loss. It is simply a matter of using the product prudently and cleaning your hair regularly. If you want to look good without making your hair feel bad, keep these tips in mind:

Try to use alcohol-free or low-alcohol edge control products containing hair hydrating ingredients.
Thoroughly rinse out previous applications before applying another treatment of edge control product.
Don’t go to sleep in your edge control gel.
Switch-up your hairstyles on a regular basis between tight and loose.

Concerned About Hair Loss? Call the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami Today.

Many different treatments can be used to address female hair loss. Which treatment will be most effective depends on the causes and degree of hair loss in the individual patient. At the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami, we use a comprehensive, holistic approach for evaluating and treating women experiencing hair loss and leverage the very latest scientific advancements in hair loss treatments at our state-of-the-art facility.

Schedule an appointment with the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami today by calling 305.925.0222. We look forward to assisting you.

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