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With new treatment options for Hair Loss Awareness Month
By Dr. Alan J. Bauman
August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month and it’s an important time for men and women to talk to their doctors about the newest tests and treatments available to help them enhance, maintain and restore their own living and growing hair.
For more than a decade, the American Academy of Dermatology has been sponsoring National Hair Loss Awareness month as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the condition, which an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in America suffer from. It is further estimated these men and women spend more than $3.5 billion a year on treatments. But, much of the time, this money is wasted on treatments that either don’t work, or don’t work as well as they should.
Unfortunately, despite the availability of effective medical treatments, there still many myths and misconceptions surrounding hair loss, and few physicians who specialize in helping those who suffer from hair loss–a condition which, for some, may have detrimental effects both socially and professionally.
Here is a look at some of the best treatments and tests available for those with hair loss concerns.
Formula 82M Minoxidil — Aside from the generic and brand-name Rogaine you find on the shelf at every pharmacy, a growing number of off-label customized compounded versions of the medication, like Formula 82M, can be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. With improved tolerability along with the addition of some powerful synergistic components such as retinoic acid, anti-DHT and anti-inflammatory ingredients, Formula 82M minoxidil may offer a dramatic improvement over the aging Rogaine/minoxidil recipe. This advancement is good news for consumers since medical studies have found that the efficacy rate for over-the-counter minoxidil is just 38.3 percent!
LaserCap Laser Therapy — In recent years, low-level laser therapy or LLLT has become a key element of a multi-therapy hair restoration regimen. Medical research has confirmed the ability of phototherapy to increase energy production in cells – helping weak hair follicles to grow thicker, darker, longer and healthier hair fibers in an all natural way without side effects.
Thanks to new FDA clearances and a wide array of devices, from in-office laser ‘hoods’ to at-home hand-held units, more patients and doctors are utilizing phototherapy as an effective non-chemical treatment option.
However, a new breakthrougah technology in this field now offers a significantly better laser therapy experience – it’s called LaserCap. LaserCap is the first wearable LLLT device and consists of 224 laser diodes to provide extensive scalp coverage. The LaserCap is a cordless, rechargeable, battery-powered, hands-free powerful unit that fits under any baseball cap, hat or bandana. It offers clinical-grade laser therapy at home and many patients start seeing improved hair health and volume in 3 to 4 months. It is important to remember that laser therapy, like other non-invasive hair growth treatments, is no ‘miracle cure,’ but it is an important tool in the treatment of damaged hair, thinning hair and hair loss.
Vampire PRP Cell Therapy — Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a well-known regenerative treatment used in sports injuries, nerve damage as well as oral and cosmetic surgery. Its powerful growth factors can also help restore dwindling hair follicles. Today a few pioneering are using patients’ own concentrated and activated blood platelets for wound healing after hair transplants and as a stand-alone treatment for enhancing hair growth. PRP contains your own concentrated growth factors that stimulate the hair follicles, increase blood circulation and decrease inflammation at the follicle level.
Latisse — Latisse(Bimatoprost) is already FDA-approved for growing long, beautiful eyelashes, but many believe the drug also holds potential as a treatment for hair loss on the scalp. Allergan has already completed Phase I and Phase II clinical trials on Latisse with hopes of attaining the coveted FDA approval “for hair growth.” If it succeeds, it will be only the second topical treatment to receive FDA approval for hair loss, after minoxidil.
NeoGraft FUE — The FDA-approved NeoGraft FUE machine is used to extract hair follicles from the donor area at the back of the patient’s scalp – which are then implanted into the bald or thinning areas. This means no scalpels, sutures, or staples for the patient. It replaces the older “linear” or “strip harvest” method of hair transplantation, which removes a large strip from the back of the patient’s scalp, resulting in a long linear scar. The FUE procedure has been available for years, but prior to NeoGraft, it was too time-consuming and expensive for most patients to utilize. Now that NeoGraft makes the process more efficient, surgeons can perform the “Cadillac” of hair transplants in considerably less time, and at less expense for patients.
Genetic Tests — A breakthrough in the medical evaluation and treatment of hereditary hair loss, new genetic tests – like HairDX – can be used to not only accurately determine a man or woman’s risk for losing hair, but also to predict their response to various treatments like finasteride and minoxidil. The quick, non-invasive, DNA tests are a reliable way for you and your doctor to determine if you are ‘high-risk’ or ‘low-risk’ for the hereditary form of hair loss and whether you are a good candidate for certain types of medical treatment.
To learn more about any of these treatments, or to assess your personal hair loss risk, contact a full-time hair restoration physician who can work with you to determine the most effective treatment regimen for your specific needs. Patients should look for someone who is board-certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, recommended by the American Hair Loss Association and an active member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. Only a qualified and experienced hair restoration physician can perform natural-looking hair transplants and prescribe the most effective multi-therapy treatment options, including the latest available products.
Dr. Alan J. Bauman is the Founder and Medical Director of Bauman Medical Group in Boca Raton, Florida. Since 1997, he has treated nearly 15,000 hair loss patients and performed nearly 7,000 hair transplant procedures. A international lecturer and frequent faculty member of major medical conferences, Dr. Bauman’s work has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as CNN, NBC Today, ABC Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, Men’s Health, The New York Times, Women’s Health, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Dateline NBC, FOX News, MSNBC, Vogue, Allure, Harpers Bazaar and more. A minimally-invasive hair transplant pioneer, in 2008 Dr. Bauman became the first ABHRS-certified Hair Restoration Physician to routinely use NeoGraft FUE for hair transplant procedures.
Hair Loss Study
Candidates Needed!
Bauman Medical is currently enrolling qualified candidates for an exciting Hair Loss Study.
Please visit www.844GETHAIR.COM for more details.
Hair Restoration for Men and Women
1.877.BAUMAN.9
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