Effective Hair Loss Treatments in Encinitas
Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia affects over half of men who are over 50 years old. It is an inherited trait that’s difficult to avoid. But women are not completely safe from hair loss. Female pattern hair loss or FPHL also exists.
If you’re experiencing hair loss as you age, you may be thinking of just coming to terms with it. However, before you completely give up, call us at (760) 766-7546. We offer free consultations so you can see what hair loss treatment options are out there to address your predicament.
Dr Saami is an expert in the several approaches to reversing hair loss and restoring hair including the latest treatments in the field – PRP treatment.
Hair loss affects men and women. Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia affects over half of men who are over 50 years old. It is an inherited trait that’s difficult to avoid. But women also experience this type of hair loss although the specific pattern differs than what is seen in men.
If you’re experiencing hair loss, we can help. Dr Saami is an expert in hair loss and restoration and offers the latest treatments in the field including PRP (platelet rich plasma). Call us at (760) 766-7546 to find out what treatments are right for you.
The Types of Hair Loss
There are several types of hair loss. Getting to know these types better will take you one step closer to reversing them.
Hair loss or alopecia is the interruption of hair production in the body. It can technically occur anywhere in the body, but it affects the scalp most commonly. As part of the natural cycle, people can normally lose anywhere between 50 to 100 hairs each day.
If the cycle is disrupted, or if a hair follicle is damaged, hair loss may occur more rapidly , and a person may lose more hair than normal. Over time, this may result in symptoms like a receding hairline, hair falling out in patches, or diffuse thinning of the hair.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, occurs in both men and women, albeit with a different pattern between different genders. In the US, more than 50 million men and 30 million women are affected with this condition according to the New York University. It is the most common type of hair loss. Although it is hereditary, this condition can be managed with medication, injections, or surgery.
Telogen Effluvium
This occurs when large numbers of follicles enter the resting phase of the cycle simultaneously, which causes large amounts of hair to be lost rapidly. It is typically caused by physical or emotional stress, such as pregnancy, the loss of a loved one, or severe illness such as COVID.
Anagen Effluvium
This is a type of hair loss resulting from medical treatment like chemotherapy. It is usually reversible but not always.
Alopecia Areata
This is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles. It has a very characteristic pattern of loss where there are discrete patches of baldness. There are several different treatments that can be used to treat this depending on the severity. It occur in children and adults and can be very distressing if left untreated.
Tinea Capitis
This is a fungal infection that can cause hair loss, especially in children, although it is sometimes seen in adults as well.
Cicatricial Alopecia
This is a rare type of hair loss where inflammation destroys follicles and scar tissue forms in their place. There are several types of cicatricial alopecia. It is critical to treat this type of hair loss as soon as possible, since once the hair follicles are scarred, there are limited options in restoring hair in those areas.
Hair Shaft Abnormalities
This condition causes weakness and thinning in the hair and eventually results in breaking. This hair loss doesn’t occur in the follicle level but somewhere along the shaft.
Hypotrichosis
This is a rare genetic condition where there is sparse hair growth in the scalp and body.
What Happens During PRP Treatment
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP has revolutionized the treatment of hair loss and thinning, and has been shown to increase hair counts, density, and thickness.
It is safe for men and women as it uses a patient’s own blood cells to trigger hair regrowth naturally. After a small sample of the patient’s blood is drawn, it is spun down in a centrifuge to create a highly concentrated serum of the patient's own plasma and platelets. This is separated out from the rest of the patient’s blood cells, and the highly concentrated, or “platelet-rich” plasma is used to trigger hair thickening and regrowth.
The doctor then injects PRP into several places under the skin. When the platelets break down, they release growth factors that trigger the natural process of tissue renewal and cell proliferation.
The entire procedure may take around 30 minutes.
What results can be expected?
Increased hair counts, density, and thickness, and occasionally restoring hair color. Treatments are performed once a month for 3-4 months, then once yearly thereafter. Benefits are typically seen within 2 months of starting treatments and full results are achieved 6 months after the treatment.
Topical, Oral, and Surgical Options
When it comes to hair restoration and loss preservation, one-size does not fit all. Dr Saami is a master at the appropriate diagnosis of specific types of hair loss, all of which require different treatments.
Before you spend thousands of dollars on hair transplants, meet with Dr Saami to see if there is an easier fix to this common problem.
