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By Dr. Alan J. Bauman, MD, ABHRS
Board-Certified Hair Restoration Physician
It has been a stressful year, and the one thing we can probably all agree on is, we’re thankful that it is almost over.
Between concern for our health and the health of our loved-ones, the stress has been overwhelming and seemingly never-ending. Not to mention our financial health, changes in work or school from home, impacts to our lifestyle including our nutritional habits, exercise regimens, sleep, social isolation and distancing, as well as disruption in our self-care routines, all have significant implications for us, our communities and nearly everyone around the globe.
Stress can often have us literally pulling our hair out, but what kind of effect can this stress really have on our hair and what can we do?
Stress and Your Hair
There is a lot of talk about all the negative ways stress can impact our health. Did you know it could even affect your hair? That’s right, it is no myth that increased levels of stress can severely impact our follicles. This effect is due in part to our body’s survival mechanisms, especially elevated cortisol, and our body’s response to them. Prolonged or severe psychological or physiological stress can lead to hair problems such as sudden excessive shedding and accelerated hair thinning, as well as trigger or exacerbate inflammatory problems like dryness, flaking, and types of dermatitis of the scalp – especially if there are underlying scalp and hair loss conditions like male or female pattern hair loss.
For many of us, the stress of 2020 has led us to make some lifestyle choices that aren’t always the healthiest, such as smoking, drinking, irregular sleep patterns, less exercise, etc. These habits aren’t just unhealthy; they can also act as triggers for unhealthy hair, and even hair loss.
If you and your tresses are feeling stressed, there is good news, there are an abundance of natural, chemical-free treatments that can not only help boost the health of your hair, but can also help relieve some of the stress you’re feeling.
Give Your Stressed Follicles Some ‘TLC’
Did you know that your hair follicles are amongst the most metabolically active populations of cells in your body? If you are looking to give your hair a boost at home, a nutritional supplement like professional-grade Bauman-MD “SuperBiotin” or perhaps Nutrafol — a multi-nutraceutical, are good places to start. Nutrafol for Men, Nutrafol for Women, and Nutrafol Women’s Balance, formulated for women over age 50, are exciting nutraceutical products because they target several possible triggers for hair loss and hair thinning, including inflammation, the effects of cortisol (stress hormones), free radical damage and others.
If your goal is to relieve a little stress while doing something good for your scalp, you may want to consider indulging in a “Scalp Makeover” by our salonB trichologist (hair & scalp specialist), which utilizes a scientific evaluation of the scalp and then a custom therapeutic regimen that might include a stress-reducing and circulation-stimulating scalp massage, scalp steaming and application of highly advanced topical therapeutic products to boost the health of the scalp and follicles.
Another great option for boosting the health of your hair is Low-Level Laser Therapy. This is a great, drug-free, chemical-free non-invasive treatment option for thinning hair and has been proven to improve the appearance of hair quality, hair strength and hair thickness in addition to promoting hair growth. Patients can now take advantage of powerful FDA-cleared devices, such as the CapillusRX 312 or the Bauman TURBO LaserCap, which are now available for at-home use.
The biggest takeaway should be that early intervention is the key to preventing and managing both unhealthy hair and hair loss. Once we understand the cause of your hair loss, we can determine the best way to stop you from losing more hair, enhance the hair you have and restore the hair you’ve lost. For most patients, this means using a combination, or ‘multi-therapy’ approach: several non-invasive treatments to protect the hair you have and hair transplantation to restore the hair you’ve lost. Some patients might accomplish their goals using only non-invasive treatments.
For more information on the causes and treatments for hair loss, or to learn what treatment regimen is right for you, please call 561-220-3480 or point your camera at the QR code on the right to schedule your consultation at www.baumanmedical.com.
Check Out the Bauman eStore
There are some exciting new offerings from the “Bauman eStore,” like our new Virtual PRP™ Home Kits – which offer patients an effective at-home treatment option. The VirtualPRP™ Home Kit is the next best thing to an in-office PRP or PDOgro™ treatment and combines low-level laser therapy, stem cell technology, and potent nutraceuticals in a powerful, at-home solution. This kit allows patients to begin, or continue, their hair restoration journey without sacrificing quality and effectiveness.
Additionally, our eStore is open for haircare, nutritional, laser device, and other product orders and refills (excluding prescription items) for discreet shipping directly to your home. If you have questions about what hair growth treatments you could be doing at home during this time (e.g., prescriptions, laser devices, vitamins/supplements, hair care, VirtualPRP™ Home Kit, etc.) please contact the office or set up a Virtual or In-office Consultation.
INTACT® for Stress-Related Shedding
Seeing hair literally fall out of your head and collect in your brush or your shower drain can be concerning. If you are experiencing stress-related hair fall, you may want to consider INTACT® Scalp & Hair Primer, which has been proven to reduce hair loss due to shedding by up to 77%. This new, cutting-edge, at-home topical treatment works by using a organic ingredient that has been scientifically proven to activate the arrector pili muscles, which are actually the “goosebump” muscles, protecting your follicles from hair loss by securing hair at the root during shampooing or styling – during times when shedding is most noticeable.
If you have questions about INTACT® for shedding, or other hair growth treatments you could be doing at home (e.g., prescriptions, laser devices, vitamins/supplements, hair care, VirtualPRP™ Home Kit, etc.) please contact the office or set up a Virtual or In-office Consultation at BaumanMedical.com.
Bauman Medical
Hair Transplant and Hair Loss Treatment Center
1450 S Dixie Hwy
Boca Raton FL 33432-735
BaumanMedical.com