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BEST VITAMINS FOR HAIR GROWTH IN 2023

There are a variety of vitamins and supplements you can take to rejuvenate, nourish, and strengthen your hair. Whether you’re trying to improve your hair after a hair transplant, or you want to improve the strands you naturally grow, adding these to your diet may help you improve the appearance, feel, and overall health of your hair. 

Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Hair Regrowth

Taking your vitamins can begin to feel like alphabet soup, and with ever-emerging research and contradictory advice, we understand that it’s hard to figure out what you should take for a thick and full head of hair. Vitamins and minerals support the body’s natural hair growth enzymes, aid in the recovery process after your transplant, and help to maintain your new hair as it grows. Here is a list of after-care vitamins and minerals that we recommend to keep you looking and feeling good after the procedure: 

Vitamin B 

B vitamins are a group of eight essential nutrients that promote healthy cell functioning. They help create red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to your scalp and hair follicles. Vitamin B7 (biotin) and Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) are ideal for hair growth and post-transplant care, so try to incorporate them into your vitamin regimen if possible. 

Sick of swallowing capsules? Lucky for you, B vitamins can also be found in many of your favorite foods! Sources of biotin and cobalamin include foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, fish, and meat. So next time you’re at a steakhouse, you can congratulate yourself on supporting your hair regrowth with a juicy sirloin and seasonal salad. 

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is another important vitamin to take if you’re interested in cell growth and development. It aids in hair regrowth by stimulating the sebaceous glands to secrete sebum, which moisturizes your scalp. Sebum also relieves itchiness on your scalp, so you don’t have to worry about the need to itch and scratch as your hair continues to grow in! 

To get your daily fill of vitamin A, you can incorporate various foods into your diet, including sweet potatoes, carrots, eggs, milk, and cod liver oil. Alternatively, you can purchase vitamin A supplements, but make sure that your minimum intake is 700 mcg per serving. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C accelerates the healing process by stimulating collagen and elastin production, so it’s important to work it into your diet following a hair transplant procedure. It also offers protection from oxidative stress, which inhibits hair regrowth. Foods rich in vitamin C include broccoli, citrus fruits, berries, and kale, making it easy to intake during breakfast or if you make a healthy salad. If you opt to consume vitamin C supplements, make sure to find ones that contain 1000 mg per serving. 

Iron

Iron is a mineral that helps maintain healthy blood by secreting hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron is vital for hair regrowth since proper oxygen circulation can stimulate the hair follicles and provide them with the nutrients they need. It also boosts your immunity, which quickens the healing process after a hair transplant! You can purchase beef, beans, spinach, and clams and include them in your diet to boost your iron intake. Or, if it’s easier, you can also take iron capsules.

MAXIM Vitamins:

All-in-one supplement containing vitamins, biotin, amino acids, essential minerals, and exotic herbs from India – ashwagandha, turmeric, brahmi, bhringaraj, amla, neem, ginger, grape seed, balloon vine, aloe vera, and more. 

BENEFITS

Revitalizes thinning hair, promotes growth, improves strength, and benefits the overall health of the hair organ. 

Why Choose MAXIM Hair Vitamin?

MAXIM Hair Vitamin is a Powerful & comprehensive hair food complex that helps promote new hair growth, improves hair health, and makes hair stronger and thicker while fostering overall hair wellness. It is a complete health supplement with 6 vitamins, 6 amino acids, 5 essential minerals, 5000 mcg Biotin, and 9 different ayurvedic plants that have been seen to aid in hair growth. 

Price: $55 with qualified procedures. $65 without.

How Many Pills a Day? 

Twice daily. The pills can also be blended into your protein shake for easier consumption.

What does it do?

  • Aids in protein synthesis for hair follicles
  • Improves cellular proliferation
  • Supports follicular regeneration
  • Helps counteract the negative effects of inflammation in the scalp
  • Provides amino acids for the hair to use as building blocks

Advantages:

MAXIM Hair Vitamin is the only vitamin available in the US market that contains the unique mystical Ayurvedic herbs from India such as turmeric, amla, neem, bhringraj, bharami, ashwagandha, ginger, stinging nettle root, & fenugreek. 

It also contains amino acids: L-cysteine HCI, L- lysine, DI-methionine, L-arginine, L-cystine, and para-aminobenzoic acid, which are some of the most important amino acid building blocks of hair. In addition, it has 5000 mcg of biotin, which builds hair strength and aids in the growth process. Moreover, it contains your daily multi-vitamins and essential minerals which are critical for your body’s absorption of vitamins and nutraceuticals. Overall MAXIM Hair Vitamin will work as a complete hair supplement. It has several immunity-boosting and stress adaptogen herbs that assist your body in dealing with inflammation and oxidation.  If you want the best of both worlds – Western Nutraceuticals and Ancient Medicinal Plants from the East – MAXIM Hair Vitamin is the product for you. 

FAQ:

Is the vitamin good for my overall health?

It sure is. It not only includes ingredients that aid in your hair journey, but it also serves as a daily multivitamin, with the exception of Vitamin D, as it’s often prescribed in large doses due to low vitamin D being a commonality among the general public. It is a natural immunity booster that contains several important vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Are there any side effects of MAXIM Vitamin?

There are no known side effects. MAXIM Vitamin is a mix of natural ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and ayurvedic herbs that are generally well tolerated by all. Of course, some people are sensitive to supplements and may experience discomfort such as an upset stomach, though this is a rare occurrence. If you have a history of allergic reactions, you should always review the ingredients of products before you decide to make a purchase.

Can I take this if I am using a topical fin########/minoxidil product?

Yes, it is safe and recommended that you take the MAXIM Vitamin with a topical compound to aid in the best results. Products, procedures, and supplements can all act in a unique and positive way within the human body. Mostly, these three approach your hair from a different angle and help combat the various direct and indirect damaging effects of dihydrotestosterone and other culprits.

Other Supplements You Can Take

After undergoing a hair transplant at MAXIM Hair Restoration you may want to take nutritional supplements to aid your body with hair regrowth. Shedding hair all over your furniture can be really frustrating, especially when you’re trying to grow a luscious head of hair, but these supplements may help you control daily hair loss! We recommend supplements like: 

Saw Palmetto

Many factors play a role in growing strong, healthy hair, including your hormones! Saw palmetto is a potent berry extract that targets the natural regulation of hormones that contribute to hair loss. When appropriately harvested, saw palmetto maintains the vital compounds that block the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone, which is important because DHT can affect the hair follicles if your body produces too much.

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Collagen seems to be all the rage in wellness communities, but there’s a good reason for it. Collagen promotes keratin production, a structural protein component that makes up most of your hair, nails, and skin. It also encourages regular blood circulation to your scalp, stimulating new hair follicles and stronger hair roots. Collagen also acts as a natural antioxidant that minimizes graying of hair, so it can help you in more ways than one! 

Learn More About Hair Transplantation 

Thanks to technological and scientific developments, you now have several opportunities to consider if you notice hair thinning or loss. If you’re considering hair transplantation, it’s important to review your options so you can choose the method that’s right for you and your scalp. There are two primary hair transplantation techniques to choose from; follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Both techniques involve a surgical procedure that removes hair follicles from one part of the body called the “donor site” to a bald or balding area called the “recipient site.” With FUT, surgeons take a strip of hair follicles from the donor site to the recipient site, whereas FUE involves extracting individual hair follicles from the donor site to the recipient site to create a more natural pattern. 

We know that you have a busy schedule, and the expert hair transplant surgeons at our MAXIM Hair Restoration centers perform the FUT and FUE transplant procedures in as little as six to eight hours! This means that you don’t have to worry about sacrificing a lot of your free time for the procedure or recovery process, and can get back to living your life with a head of hair you feel confident about! 

Control Hair Loss With Help From MAXIM Hair Restoration

We’re excited about your hair regrowth journey, and want to help you every step of the way! Contact us at our various MAXIM Hair Restoration centers around the country for recommendations on the most suitable vitamins and minerals for hair regrowth. You can also visit us at one of our centers and consult with our skilled hair transplant specialists on hair loss causes such as alopecia, genetic factors, and hormonal imbalances. It’s important to make sure that your diet, vitamins, and supplements help you feel good and grow strong, healthy hair. 

PROBIOTICS FOR HAIR GROWTH: WILL IT HELP?

When people begin to experience hair loss, they often look for natural supplements to help them improve their hair health. If you’re researching natural and alternative treatment options, then you might wonder if probiotics are the magic answer. The answer may surprise you. Read on to discover what today’s studies about probiotics show, learn about the connection between your gut health and your hair, and explore which strains of probiotics may be the most beneficial to you.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are a good type of live bacteria and yeast that promote healthy body functions. Their primary purpose is to keep your gut healthy by maintaining a balance between good and bad bacteria, which supports your digestive system. In fact, studies show that probiotics can help with gastrointestinal issues [1] and prevent microbial reinfections. Probiotics can be found in a wide range of fermented foods, like yogurt, as well as in supplements. 

Can Probiotics Increase Hair Growth?

While you’ve likely heard about how probiotics can improve gut health, the benefits they provide extend to other parts of the body as well. This is because gut health has a significant impact on the immune system, which, as it turns out, affects skin and hair follicle health. [2] According to several scientific studies conducted on mice, there may be certain strains of probiotics that can improve overall hair health. [3]

While studies regarding the link between probiotics and hair growth in humans are limited, the studies involving mice provide some hope for men and women who want to decrease hair loss. Some of the other reasons scientists believe probiotics may improve hair growth include their ability to:

  • Fight inflammation: Studies show that probiotics can decrease stress-induced skin inflammation, which may improve hair follicle growth. [2]
  • Decrease stress: Probiotics can also help people reduce emotional stress and anxiety, which often contributes to hair loss. 
  • Balance hormones: People who have a lack of probiotic lining in their intestinal walls often experience hormonal issues. Hormonal imbalances can lead to thinning hair, which means maintaining a proper probiotic lining may decrease hair loss. 

What Are the Best Probiotics for Healthy Hair?

Here are a few of the probiotics researchers have studied that may promote healthy hair growth:

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus: As one of the most common probiotics, lactobacillus acidophilus can be found in yogurt and other fermented foods. It’s a part of the lactic acid bacteria group, which breaks down carbohydrates. This makes lactobacillus acidophilus great at combating bacterial overgrowth. 
  • Bifidobacterium animalis: This common probiotic lives in the large intestine, where it helps with digestion. It also prevents yeast infections, which can cause dandruff and hair loss. [4] You can find bifidobacterium animalis in some dairy products.
  • Escherichia coli: Some helpful strains of these bacteria can aid with digestion. It can also increase the production of biotin and vitamin K, which promotes several metabolic processes, including hair growth. 
  • Bacillus subtilis: This probiotic plays an important role in digestion and improves metabolic functioning. This turns the food you eat into energy your body can use and promotes basic cellular processes, such as hair growth. 

How Can I Include Probiotics in My Diet?

While there are plenty of probiotic supplements available, one of the best ways to reap the benefits is by incorporating fermented foods into your diet. That’s because these natural probiotics contain short-chain fatty acids, which provide additional anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting support. A few foods that contain probiotics include:

  • Sauerkraut
  • Tempeh
  • Buttermilk
  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Kimchi
  • Pickles
  • Miso

Some cheeses, like brie and asiago, also contain probiotics. Try incorporating a few servings of these foods into your meal plan every week to get started. Pair these dishes with prebiotics found in foods like oats, wheat, garlic, soy, asparagus, and onions to ensure the probiotics you consume have the sustenance they need to survive. [5] This can help you maximize the benefits you may experience. 

If you’re looking to incorporate more probiotics into your diet or start taking supplements, we suggest speaking with your doctor to determine what amount may be right for you. While probiotics are safe and beneficial for most people, people with certain immune system conditions may experience mild side effects, such as bloating or an upset stomach. 

Are There Any Probiotic Topical Treatments That Work?

Often, hair loss shampoos are one of the first options people try when trying to improve their hair health. While there are plenty of shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, and other treatments available that contain probiotics, there isn’t currently enough research to determine whether these products promote hair growth. If you’re interested in trying a topical probiotic treatment, we suggest taking the time to research the ingredients.

If you have questions about how to promote healthy hair growth or want to learn about your hair restoration options, our team of qualified and dependable specialists is here to help. Get started by filling out our online contact form or schedule a free consultation to discuss our wide range of hair transplant services and alternatives. You can also browse our photo gallery to see how effective our hair restorative treatments have been for others. At MAXIM Hair Restoration, our goal is to help you achieve the look you desire.


Footnotes:

  1. Susanne Hempel, Sydne J Newberry, Alicia R Maher, Zhen Wang, Jeremy N V Miles, Roberta Shanman, BreanneJohnsen, Paul G Shekelle. (2012). Probiotics for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22570464/
  2. Petra Arck, BoriHandjiski, Evelin Hagen, Maike Pincus, Christian Bruenahl, John Bienenstock, RalfPaus. (2010). Is there a ‘gut–brain–skin axis’? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2009.01060.x
  3. Tatiana Levkovich, TheofilosPoutahidis, Christopher Smillie, Bernard J. Varian, Yassin M. Ibrahim, Jessica R. Lakritz, Eric J. Alm, Susan E. Erdman. (2013). Probiotic Bacteria Induce a ‘Glow of Health’. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3547054/
  4. Shivaprakash M. Rudramurthy, PrasannaHonnavar, Sunil Dogra, Prakash P. Yegneswaran, SanjeevHanda, ArunalokeChakrabarti. (2014). Association of Malassezia species with dandruff. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4069738/
  5. Joanne Slavin. (2013). Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705355/

IS IT MALE PATTERN BALDNESS, OR IS IT STRESS?

When you notice extra hairs on your pillow or hairbrush, you may be wondering if it’s stress-related or if you’re starting to see the effects of male pattern baldness. If you’re used to running your hand through a thick layer of locks, it may surprise you to find thinning hairlines or limp strands with less life and volume. Here are some ideas to help you find out the likely cause of your hair loss or thinning hair on the scalp.

Stages of Hair Growth

To understand more about hair that’s falling out, it’s helpful to learn the process of how hair grows. For both men and women, hair grows in three main stages. The first phase, called anagen, is the process where the hair actually grows from follicles on your head. This is the longest phase, lasting for years at a time. The next phase, catagen, is a brief period when hair transitions from its growth stage to the next part of the process called telogen. In the telogen or resting phase, hair stops growing and just rests on your head.   

When hair loss happens due to stress, it occurs during the last stage of hair growth, which is why the condition is referred to as telogen effluvium. Extended periods of stressful activity, such as a demanding job or traumatic events, such as an accident, can cause telogen effluvium or the thinning and loss of hair due to increased cortisol levels (stress hormone).

Stress causes a disruption in the hair growth cycle, when a higher percentage of your hairs enter the telogen phase at the same time, making more of your hair susceptible to falling out. Telltale signs of telogen effluvium (stress-related hair loss) include a noticeable difference in the amount of hair coming out when you comb your hair, more hairs in the shower drain or on the bathroom floor, and more hairs littering your pillow in the morning when you get out of bed. 

The best way to treat telogen effluvium is to make lifestyle improvements, develop strong coping mechanisms, and eliminate unnecessary stressors. And here’s the really good news: Your hair can grow back. Stress-related hair loss often resolves on its own after you manage the stress-causing elements in your life. Healing after major surgery or an accident takes time, and you may not even notice hair loss until a few months after the incident. Finding ways to de-stress on the job or, amid a challenging time in your life, are key to restoring your hair to its normal fullness. 

There are plenty of ways to deal with stress, including managing your diet and exercising. Talk to your health care provider about ideas to change your routine or manage how you internalize daily stressors. Find what works best for you, whether it’s a calming sunset walk, breathing exercises designed to refocus your attitude, or enjoying a hobby more often. 

Male Pattern Baldness

Unlike hair loss caused by stress, male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, happens slowly and appears in specific places on the scalp. If you notice your hair thinning at the temples or on the top of your head, it’s likely male pattern baldness affecting your hair growth. 

Androgenic alopecia can begin as early as your teenage years, with your chances of developing this condition increasing as you age. Male pattern baldness is also linked to genetics. When other family members have it, you’re more at risk for the hereditary condition. Androgenic alopecia is also affected by the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone, a metabolite of testosterone. Men with higher levels of this hormone produce thinner and shorter hairs and the hair loses its signaling function. Once these hairs die off, they do not grow back. 

Ways To Treat Male Pattern Baldness

Hair restoration professionals offer a range of treatment options to deal with male pattern baldness. Both surgical and non-surgical procedures can help you regain lost hair or encourage your own hair production by stimulating key cellular responses. You can also combine methods, thus creating your own hybrid treatment plan for hair transplants and regenerative processes. Here are the main methods hair restoration professionals use:

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

The FUE treatment is a hair transplant that grafts a single follicular unit at a time from the donor area to a pre-arranged part of your scalp. The procedure lasts between six to eight hours and you can rest, talk, text, or watch something for entertainment while under local anesthesia for the FUE. 

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)

A follicular unit transplant takes more follicles at a time than the FUE from a donor area on the back of the head. After removing the donor hair and tissue, your doctor separates the hairs into individual or small groups of follicles to complete your hair transplant to balding and thinning areas. 

Collagen Induction Therapy

This quick procedure involves using micro-needles to increase collagen production in the scalp. Using a topical anesthetic, your doctor then performs the micro-needling process on your scalp to encourage new hair growth through collagen and platelet response. Collagen induction therapy can result in fuller and more hair growth. 

MAXIM PDO Threading

This non-surgical procedure uses dissolving polydioxanone sutures to oxygenate the scalp, regenerating blood flow to reinvigorate hair production in balding and thinning areas. The PDO method encourages the body to form new blood vessels in the scalp, supports the regeneration of collagen, and helps trigger your body’s continual platelet response, resulting in six or more months of new hair growth.

3D Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)

An SMP procedure requires two sessions where doctors use micro-needles to implant pigmentation directly into the scalp. The micro-needling used in this process replicates hair follicles through a stroke method to give the appearance of hair through a relatively simple procedure. 

Stress-related hair loss and male pattern baldness differ in their effects and treatment. When hair loss is stress-related, you can often see a complete reversal after lowering stress levels or making lifestyle changes. Male pattern baldness typically leads to complete baldness after a slow thinning process. If you’re trying to determine the reason behind your hair loss, pay attention to little signs, such as the amount of hair you lose in a period of time or the area where your hair thins. Concerned about thinning hair and possible male pattern baldness? Talk to our team of experts at one of the many MAXIM Hair Restoration locations close to you. 

ALOPECIA TREATMENT THAT TRIGGERS HAIR GROWTH WAS JUST APPROVED BY THE FDA

It’s okay if you’re losing a little hair every day while brushing or washing your hair; however, if you’re noticing excessive amounts of loose hair, it may be due to alopecia, an autoimmune disorder causing small bald patches. As per the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, over 6.8 million Americans may suffer from this form of hair loss. But the good news is that alopecia areata now has a cure with an oral tablet, Olumiant (baricitinib). 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Olumiant tablets for treating alopecia areata in adult patients. It is the first-of-its-kind drug for systemic therapy of alopecia areata, which means it treats the entire body and not just a specific area.

Let’s read more about this wonder drug.

What Is Alopecia Areata?

As the name suggests, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that affects the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Typically, hair loss on the scalp is accompanied by discrete bald patches that can occur on any part of your body. In Latin, alopecia means hair loss, and areata means a patch. Anyone from all races, ages, and genders can develop alopecia, although most cases occur in people before they reach their 30s. There are several variations of alopecia areata, such as:

  • Alopecia areata totalis 
  • Alopecia universalis 
  • Ophiasis
  • Ophiasis inversus
  • Diffuse alopecia areata

Symptoms of Alopecia Areata

The most common symptom of alopecia is severe hair loss. In most cases, it appears as small coin-sized patches that start occurring due to hair fall. The hair starts falling suddenly with itching and inflammation on the scalp, and the condition becomes severe within a few weeks. Hair sometimes grows back but falls from another part of the scalp making a new patch. In winter, the hair fall increases. Alopecia affects not only hair but also your fingernails and toenails. White spots, lines, and dents appear on your nails. They lose their shine and become rough, thin, and brittle.

Causes of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata occurs when hair follicles shrink and dramatically slow down hair production after white blood cells attack them. Why the immune system targets hair follicles in this way is still unknown. Having a close family member with the disease increases the risk of developing alopecia areata. 

Other than having a family history of alopecia areata, many people with alopecia areata also have atopy (an autoimmune disorder associated with allergy and hypersensitivity), thyroiditis, and vitiligo. The idea that stress causes alopecia areata is not supported by much scientific evidence. A lot of stress can trigger the condition, but most recent research points to a genetic basis for the disorder.

How Does Olumiant Work?

Olumiant is a drug that inhibits the enzyme Janus kinase (JAK) [1] and works on the inside of the body. It disrupts an immune signaling pathway that contributes to alopecia areata. Olumiant’s therapeutic effects may be associated with suppressing immune signals, though there is no scientific proof yet. Olumiant is already an approved medication for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis patients with moderate to severe activity can take Olumiant as a treatment.

The severity of the alopecia tool measured the patients with more than six months’ scalp hair loss. They were studied in two double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trials to determine Olumiant’s efficacy and safety. Using Olumiant with another JAK inhibitor, a biologic immunomodulator, cyclosporine, or other potent immunosuppressants is not recommended. Olumiant (baricitinib), a once-daily pill, is recommended as a systemic treatment for adults with severe alopecia areata. It is available in 4-mg, 2-mg, and 1-mg tablets.

Possible Side Effects of Olumiant

Olumiant comes with warnings and precautions that the patients should be closely monitored during and after treatment. They should also be evaluated for active tuberculosis and tested for latent tuberculosis before taking Olumiant due to the potential for viral reactivation. The package insert for Olumiant warns of serious infections, mortality, malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events, and thrombosis. Pneumonia, herpes zoster, and urinary tract infections were the most common serious infections reported with Olumiant.

Before beginning Olumiant therapy, consider the risks and benefits in patients with chronic or recurrent infection, those exposed to tuberculosis, those with a history of severe or opportunistic infection, those living or traveling in endemic regions for tuberculosis or mycoses, or those with underlying conditions that may predispose them to infection. Olumiant should not be prescribed for patients with active infections, including localized infections. 

There is a possibility that Olumiant may increase your risk of lymphoma and other cancers, such as skin cancers. It may also increase the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, which could cause blood clots in your lungs, legs, and arteries. In addition, it may also cause allergic reactions, such as rashes, trouble breathing, dizziness, or swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat. Sometimes it may cause inflammation in the stomach and intestine.

Other Treatments for Alopecia

Olumiant is the first oral medicine approved by the FDA for treating alopecia. A patient can use a few more treatments if his doctor prescribes them. Below are some of these treatments:

  • Corticosteroids: These are anti-inflammatory medicines that are advised for treating autoimmune diseases. They can be injected into the scalp, applied to the skin as a cream, lotion, or ointment, or taken as a pill. This medication works slowly and thus takes a long time to cure and start hair regrowth.
  • Topical immunotherapy: This treatment is given when you have severe hair loss. A chemical is applied on the scalp, which causes inflammation and irritation to the skin. This, in turn, regulates hair growth and stimulates new hair to grow. Ongoing treatment is required to promote new hair growth regularly.
  • Minoxidil: This is applied on the scalp, and it takes around 12 weeks to see any new hair growth. This treatment, therefore, takes a long time to see results. 

Alopecia is medically harmless, but the psychological implications can be severe. As a result, Olumiant’s approval is significant for people suffering from alopecia areata and the experts advocating it. It enables many people to access a cure for this disorder and may allow them to regain their hair and enhance their overall quality of life.


Footnotes:

1. Upham, Becky. (June 15, 2022). FDA Approves New Treatment Olumiant for Hair Loss From Severe Alopecia Areata. https://www.everydayhealth.com/hair-loss/fda-approves-new-treatment-for-people-with-severe-alopecia-areata/

HAIR TRANSPLANT VS. WIG

Hair loss turns out to be a humiliating experience for both women and men. Because hair loss has a significant impact on one’s self-esteem, the situation can put a lot of stress on an individual’s personal and professional life. With the advancement of technological innovations, there are numerous hair restoration alternatives available at some of the best hair transplant outlets to assist people in achieving full hair coverage. However, people grappling with baldness or hair loss are frequently torn between choosing a hair transplant surgery or considering a wig to conceal their bald spots.

Let us examine each method separately to gain a better understanding:

Hair Transplant

hair transplant is a surgically performed technique. It includes removing hair follicles from the donor region (the back and side of the head) and permanently transplanting them onto the balding part of the scalp. This treatment is conducted under a local anesthetic to eliminate any needless suffering.

Pros

  • A hair transplant is your best bet if you want a more natural appearance because it requires transplanting your natural hair onto the areas with hair loss. Afterward, the hair strands grow naturally, providing a more natural appearance.
  • Hair transplantation is regarded as a permanent solution to baldness.
  • Unlike wigs, the maintenance burden is marginal because taking care of your transplanted hair is the same as taking care of your natural hair.
  • It’s a one-time expenditure and does not have long-term financial bearings.

Cons

  • A hair transplant does not prevent future loss, so you may still require medication to prevent existing hair fall.
  • Results take roughly 12 months.

Wigs

Wigs, often known as hair replacement systems, are hairpieces that could immediately cover bald regions on the head. They are made with artificial fiber or natural human hair and are available in a variety of colors, styles, textures, lengths, and densities.

Pros

  • Wigs can be created with natural human hair or synthetic fibers like polyurethane or lace.
  • Wigs are not at all time-consuming because they quickly modify your look.
  • Wigs are available in numerous colors and styles, which makes them more enticing.
  • They are easily removable as needed.

Cons

  • Only natural human hair wigs can be treated with a blow dryer, flat iron, and curler.
  • Wigs need maintenance regularly to keep the shine and natural appearance intact.
  • They can be irritating, mainly in hot climates.
  • Wigs can also contribute to baldness. The fasteners used to hold wigs in place frequently produce specific baldness. It’s known as traction alopecia, linked to the weaving technique, which involves weaving strands of hair into the base of the wig to keep it stable. The weave gradually pulls on the hair strands, some of which have already been affected due to weak hair roots. This stress on the natural hair leads to traction alopecia, which is permanent baldness in that location.
  • It’s actually a myth that wigs are budget-friendly. The long-term maintenance cost of wigs makes it a costly affair. Moreover, the supply chain issues and inflation with hairpieces/systems after the pandemic have put an additional premium on the availability and upkeep of wigs. 
  • The odor is one more downside of wearing a wig. Oils, sebum, and wax are naturally generated by the scalp and accumulate beneath the base of the hairpiece. These items will mix to produce stink if the user does not maintain a regular cleaning regimen.

Comparison Between Hair Transplant and Wigs

Here are a few more comparisons to guide you through to get more clarity on the practicality of two of the most commonly used hair loss solutions.

Economical vs. Expensive

Most people assume that a hair transplant is a much more costly remedy for baldness than wearing a wig. However, wigs require diligent maintenance, which increases the cost with each appointment. Transplanted hair, on the contrary, requires less upkeep because it works similar to natural hair. Consequently, a hair transplant is indeed a more cost-effective method that produces long-lasting and natural outcomes.

Natural Appearance vs. Artificial Appearance

Hair transplantation is a treatment that includes using natural hair removed from the person’s own scalp. The hair grafts that were implanted will ultimately develop into natural-looking hair. The employment of hair wigs, on the other hand, provides a wholly artificial appearance, as they are not the patient’s own hair, or sometimes they might be made with synthetic materials.

Permanent vs. Temporary

While hair wigs may quickly change a person’s appearance, they cannot be worn indefinitely. Wigs may be unpleasant and possibly cause irritation, headaches, and rashes when worn for an extended period. Hair transplants, on the other hand, provide a permanent remedy for natural hair growth. However, it may take many months to achieve the desired outcomes. While wearing a wig makes it hard to swim, exercise, or sleep, a hair restoration operation enables patients to engage in these pursuits without limitation.

Social Insecurity vs. Confidence

Most individuals who wear hair systems (wigs) say that they fear the possibility of a powerful gust of wind, stumbling into others, meeting someone with a keen eye, or anything that may reveal that they are wearing a hairpiece and it is not their natural hair. They create an unseen boundary and don’t let people come near in a social gathering. The emotional cost of keeping this truth hidden is high. On the other hand, a hair transplant places natural hair on that bald patch of skin and keeps it there forever. That boosts an individual’s confidence manifolds.

The advancement of hair transplant surgical techniques has rendered wigs mostly obsolete as a remedy for people grappling with baldness. Wigs are still the best option for certain people suffering from hair loss, especially those who’ve gone through chemotherapy or any other temporary hair loss. However, it’s clear from our discussion that a hair transplant is the most practical solution in most cases. If you are experiencing hair loss and want to consult an expert, please get in touch with us to schedule a free appointment, and we at MAXIM will gladly resolve your hair-related issues.

HOW DO I KEEP MY SCALP HEALTHY FOR HAIR GROWTH?

Like most of our other body organs, many of us take our scalp’s health for granted. When we choose our shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products, the only pre-thought is how they will improve the health of our hair. However, hair health correlates to our scalp’s health. Many of us often experience certain scalp problems, such as repeated scratching, visible dandruff flakes, and bumps, which can be highly annoying.

Let’s learn how to upkeep the health of our scalp that will provide us with a sense of peace and aid in preventing future loss.

What Constitutes a Healthy Scalp?

Having a healthy scalp refers to keeping your scalp skin in the greatest possible condition, devoid of itchiness, redness, or flakiness. It will also be without any acne, cysts, or sun damage. We must lead a stress-free life and have a balanced diet to achieve this. Besides that, we should also make informed choices about hair care products.

What Are the Signs of an Unhealthy Scalp?

Dandruff and some minor infections are significant signs of an unhealthy scalp. Dandruff frequently starts with a minor scalp infection. With time, hair products, oil, debris, and dead skin accumulate on the scalp. Bacteria and yeast can become trapped in the buildup and develop on the scalp. These yeasts cause an abnormal spike in the growth of skin cells on the scalp. Dandruff is caused by an excess of skin cells that pile up and shed.

Irregular shampooing or poor hygiene are the most common causes of product and oil accumulation. Unbalances in these microorganisms can also be caused by stress, hormonal changes, dietary changes, or diseases. However, some people are more susceptible to the yeasts that produce dandruff; this is probably hereditary. In that case, they have to take extra care of their scalp. Also, the skin can get flaky due to a dry scalp.

What Are the Ways To Keep Your Scalp Healthy?

Simple tweaks to your hair care routine may make a significant difference in keeping your scalp healthy. More often than not, it’s as simple as being gentler with your shampoo or just going easy with harsh hair colors or other chemical hair products. Consider the following tips to help you take care of your scalp.

Use Mild Hair Care Products

Avoiding products that have sulfates, alcohols, or scents may help enhance the health of your scalp. Sulfates eliminate natural oils from your hair and dead skin cells, leaving the scalp dry and susceptible to irritation. Additionally, because your scalp is already sensitive, applying shampoo or other products containing alcohol and scents sucks the moisture out of your hair. This will lead to your hair becoming dry and brittle and cause inflammation, leaving you with a dry, irritated scalp. Parabens cause scalp inflammation and dry your scalp as well.

Also, avoid hair products containing harsh ingredients and hair treatments such as perming, hair coloring, and bleach. These can harm the hair roots and scalp skin.

Adjust Your Shampooing Technique

Massage your scalp instead of scraping it when washing your hair. This will promote circulation and prevent scalp abrasions.

Wash Less Frequently

It’s reasonable to assume that you must wash more frequently if you want to avoid greasy hair. This, however, might have the opposite effect. Shampooing your hair everyday removes natural oils. As a result, your scalp may create extra oils to keep itself moisturized, leading to more oily-looking hair.

Dermatologists recommend washing your hair three times a week. If your scalp is dry, you can utilize items such as coconut oil to moisture in a positive way.

Take Omega-3 Supplements

Despite the lack of solid scientific proof, many people think that fish oil supplements can help encourage hair health and manage hair loss.

Consume More Antioxidants

When harmful free radicals in our body exceed the number of good antioxidants, oxidative stress happens. Oxidative stress may create health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, but it is also thought to impact scalp health, which can cause hair loss. Vegetables and fruits are the most potent sources of antioxidants. We must include them in our diet, as their benefits go beyond keeping your scalp healthy.

Take Probiotics

Probiotics are essential for maintaining your gut health, which is directly responsible for healthy scalp skin. It would help if you consumed probiotics to keep a healthy gut microbiome. It is recommended to have probiotics with a minimum of two bacteria strains, such as Lactobacillus, which has shown in a study to have thickened mouse hair.

Exfoliate Scalp Skin

Similar to a face scrub, a detoxifying shampoo acts as a method of exfoliating the skin and hair of your scalp. These contain various chemical and physical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells, sebum, and dandruff. They may also improve the blood flow beneath your skin, thus increasing hair growth. They are also incredibly calming and aid in stress-reduction. This is something that should be done once in a great while, not every day and not every week. Make sure the product you use is scalp specific and research the ingredients prior to use.  

Use Conditioners and Natural Oils

Use a leave-in conditioner to replenish hydration in your scalp after every wash. Afterward, lock in moisture with any natural oils, like avocado oil, jojoba oil, or Jamaican black castor oil.

Optimal pH Balance of the Scalp

The pH of a healthy scalp fluctuates between 4 and 5. The pH of your scalp is critical for retaining moisture in your hair. Acid flattens the hair cuticle, allowing it to remain hydrated. When the scalp skin is too alkaline or basic, the cuticle opens, and the hair dries faster. Moreover, optimum acidity also reduces tangles, and an ideal pH balance is responsible for preventing bacterial and fungal development.

Many products have a very high pH, which upsets the scalp’s equilibrium. Products with a very low pH, on the other hand, might damage your hair and skin. So, always choose a product that can help maintain the pH balance of your scalp. So, the bottom line is that because a healthy scalp results in good hair, it’s critical to take care of your scalp. If you still experience redness, itching, flakiness, discomfort, or severe hair loss after taking all the precautions mentioned above, consult a dermatologist. They can tell you whether you have an undiagnosed health issue or if you need to adjust your hair care regimen.

PDO THREADS AND HOW THEY WORK

While it’s common to lose some hair during bathing or brushing each day, if you start to notice excessive shedding, thinning or bald spots, it might be time to talk to the experts at MAXIM Hair Restoration. We offer a plethora of surgical and nonsurgical methods to help restore your hair and confidence. You’ll start with a complimentary consultation to discuss your options and decide which of our hair restoration methods would work best for you. One of the many services we offer is PDO Scalp Threading, which is a combination therapy primarily focused on polydioxanone (PDO) scalp threading.

What Is PDO Scalp Threading?

Polydioxanone (PDO) threads were first used in procedures such as Dr. Emran Imami’s nonsurgical Ultra Facelift before gaining popularity as a hair restoration method. PDO threads are made with a synthetic monofilament suture. A clinician inserts PDO threads into carefully chosen dermal pockets near the dermal papilla of the hair follicles. These threads promote hair regrowth by increasing blood flow and tissue oxygenation to various tissue planes of the scalp and distressed hair follicles. PDO is a slow-dissolving synthetic suture material that promotes collagen production as well as hyaluronic acid, elastin, and new blood vessel formation. Essentially, by using PDO threads, we are biohacking the scalp, tricking it into loading the damaged tissue with growth factors, oxygen, fibroblasts, and nutrients. This stimulates tissue repair and promotes hair regrowth.

PDO threads will generally remain in the scalp for roughly six months. PDO scalp threading works similarly to microneedling, involving hair-related genes, which directly activate your body’s natural mechanisms in the hair bulge area, and it stimulates the release of growth factors such as PDGF. The biggest difference between the two methods is that microneedling causes a calculated acute micro-trauma to trigger this response, whereas PDO threads create a temporary chronic micro-trauma. This triggers your body’s response consistently, over an elongated period of time, reaping greater rewards. PDO scalp threading also incorporates microneedling into the procedure alongside using soft tissue injections for optimal benefit.

What Are the Benefits of PDO Scalp Threading?

PDO scalp threading can rejuvenate the thinning spots in your hair, providing you with a fuller head of hair after treatment. PDO threads provide your body with the nutrients your hair needs to grow. They stimulate a selective inflammatory response to your scalp that encourages your body to heal itself, thus promoting hair growth. Research has shown that PDO threads may cause  increased hair regrowth from an average of 65 to 93 hair follicles per centimeter. That’s quite an increase in regrowth.

PDO scalp threading is also a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that can be done in a clinic setting over your lunch hour. In order to maintain a fuller head of hair, the process can be repeated every six months, but this may not be necessary if you are on preventative treatment options such as fin########. PDO scalp threading is a quick and painless procedure, leaving patients with a mild headache the following day. It’s very tolerable.

Who Is a Good Candidate for PDO Scalp Threading?

The patient needs to have hair follicles present in order for PDO threading to be successful. This hair restoration method does not make new hair follicles reappear on the scalp. It works best on intermediate or miniaturized hair that can be rejuvenated. Patients with severely thin areas probably won’t see much in the way of results, although PDO scalp threading can help them protect the little bit that remains.

The best results have been achieved on men and women with high numbers of intermediate (weak) hairs. If you’re in the beginning stages of hair loss, you may be an excellent candidate for PDO scalp threading.

How Do You Prepare for PDO Scalp Threading?

Because PDO scalp threading isn’t a surgical procedure, there’s very little preparation needed prior to your appointment. You will receive an anesthetic scalp ring-block, such as Septocaine, bupivacaine, or lidocaine, to minimize the discomfort of the procedure. The session will last approximately 60 minutes, and you can watch TV, take a nap, or read a book to pass the time. You will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment before leaving the clinic, and you may notice some redness, swelling, or bruising following the PDO procedure.

MAXIM Hair Restoration’s PDO Scalp Thread Technique

At MAXIM Hair Restoration, we offer PDO threading as one of our premier hybrid nonsurgical techniques. It uses three different procedures: PDO scalp threading, microneedling, and growth factor injections. The PDO procedure starts by drawing a bit of your blood, which is processed through a centrifuge, using dual-spin technology to isolate the growth factors from your blood and create a high concentration. Next, your scalp will be numbed using a scalp ring-block to minimize the discomfort of injecting the serum into your scalp.

Once the growth factors have been injected into your scalp, the clinician will place the PDO threads in the problem area. Finally, the remaining serum is applied to your scalp topically post microneedling. All three of these procedures have been proven to stimulate a recovery response from your body, increasing blood flow to the area to trigger tissue repair.

PDO scalp threading aids in hyaluronic acid, elastin, and collagen production in the scalp. MAXIM’s approach combines three of the most highly effective techniques for nonsurgical hair restoration to give patients a growth response for up to six months following the procedure. PDO scalp threading provides daily benefits to the scalp 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for up to eight months post-treatment.

MAXIM’s PDO thread technique can also be combined with a hair transplant, such as follicular unit transplantation. If this is something you’re interested in, you’ll want to be sure to discuss it with the professionals during your free consultation.

Potential Side Effects of PDO Scalp Threading

While PDO scalp threading is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure, some patients may experience side effects, including:

  • Redness.
  • Swelling.
  • Bruising.
  • Pain or discomfort.
  • Hematoma.
  • Infection.
  • Protrusion or extrusion.

Patients have also commented on a heavy feeling after a PDO scalp threading treatment, similar to having a hat on their head. This side effect isn’t harmful and is likely caused by the pressure of inserting the PDO threads.

Most side effects can be treated at home with over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen. NSAIDs help reduce swelling and relieve pain associated with PDO scalp threading. These side effects are extremely rare with PDO scalp threading. If you experience any side effects that can’t be controlled with at-home treatment, you should contact your hair restoration specialist for further instructions.

A Brief History of PDO Threads

Facelifts, or surgical facial rejuvenation, date back as far as 1911, but the more modern practice of midface suspensions for facial augmentation started in 1998. Those first procedures used a non-absorbable thread, which remained permanently in the body, creating the possibility of additional future facelifts to adjust the threading anytime there were significant changes in the facial structure. In 2011, PDO materials were introduced as a dissolvable solution, offering sustainable results. PDO threads are now used to treat a variety of issues, including:

  • Facial contouring. PDO thread is used for cheek enhancements, brow lifts, jawline lifts, and nose augmentation.
  • Skin tightening. It can treat drooping cheeks and sagging jowls.
  • Wrinkles. PDO thread can reduce wrinkles around the lips, forehead, cheeks, and eyes.
  • Reducing pore size. Doctors can use PDO thread to decrease the size of pores in the skin.
  • Neck skin. PDO thread tightens sagging neck skin and reduces double chins.
  • Hair rejuvenation. Thinning hair is stimulated to regrow with PDO thread.
  • Body contouring. Plastic surgeons utilize PDO thread for chest tightening, cellulite issues, knee lifts, upper arm tightening, and abdominal tightening.

MAXIM Hair Restoration Team

Our hair restoration team has the experience and knowledge to provide you with the best results possible, from PDO scalp threading and more. We employ only the best plastic surgeons and professionals for your hair restoration needs. Our technicians have eight or more years of experience in many areas of hair restoration and are registered as nurses, surgical technicians, or certified medical assistants. Rest assured that you’re receiving the best service possible when you trust your hair restoration needs to MAXIM.

Payment Options at MAXIM Hair Restoration

You’ll find that MAXIM Hair Restoration offers competitive prices that are transparent from the start, with no hidden costs. The price you’re quoted at your free consultation is the price you’ll pay for your recommended procedure. All of our services can be paid with cash, check, or credit card.

MAXIM Hair Restoration also offers several financing options to help you pay for your procedures. We have conventional financing that will allow you up to three years to pay off the balance on your treatment. There’s also an option for 0% financing in the United States if you pay off the balance in full over six months. Other options include Green Sky Credit, Lending Club, and Care Credit.

Contact the Team at MAXIM Hair Restoration Today

If you’re experiencing hair loss and would like to discuss hair restoration options, reach out to the professionals at MAXIM Hair Restoration today. We offer a free consultation to discuss available surgical and nonsurgical hair restoration options, provide answers to any questions you may have, and go over pricing as well as financing options.You can schedule your free consultation online via our secure messaging system or give us a call at 941-208-9327. MAXIM Hair Restoration has locations across the United States and Turkey, Poland, and the Philippines to service you and your hair loss needs. Let us help you restore your hair and your confidence.

THE FUTURE OF HAIR RESTORATION TECHNOLOGY

In recent years, hair transplant treatments have undergone a significant transformation. If you’re considering hair restoration therapy, chances are you’re looking for a natural-looking hairline with suitable density. Thanks to advancements in technology, multiple new techniques yield incredibly realistic outcomes.

Opting to undergo hair restoration is an important and personal decision, and finding a reputable clinic to undertake your hair transplant procedure can be challenging. With MAXIM Hair Restoration, which specializes in various hair transplant treatments and hair-related services, you can rest assured you’re in good hands. Hair Transplant Surgeons and clinicians use both surgical and nonsurgical hair restoration techniques, such as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), SMP, FUT, or FUE hair transplants, and frequently combine several approaches to get the best possible outcomes.  Let’s go through each of these advanced hair transplant techniques in further detail.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

During this hair restoration surgery, one hair graft, or Follicular Unit, is taken and implanted at a time. WAW FUE, Ellis FUE, the Cole FUE System, the SAFE FUE System, and the ATERA are examples of modern technology used in the FUE technique. At MAXIM’s clinic, a hair transplant expert performs FUE hair surgery [1] under a local anesthetic. Hair transplant technicians aid the specialist. You can listen to music during your hair restoration operation, talk to the crew, or talk on your mobile phone. You can even take a siesta. 

Follicular unit extraction or excision (FUE) is one of the most advanced hair transplant techniques and has several benefits. It’s less invasive than other kinds of hair transplants and there are no noticeable linear scars or sutures, so it delivers a natural appearance and allows a hair transplant doctor or clinician to transplant up to 4,000 grafts at once. After the procedure is finished, you can return to work quickly—there isn’t much follow-up treatment.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

FUT is a hair restoration [2] technique that allows MAXIM hair transplant doctors to undertake long hair transplants. It is also known as The Strip hair transplant method. FUT entails removing a strip of hair and tissue (skin) from the rear side of your head, commonly known as the donor site. Individual hair transplants are detached from this strip of hair and implanted into balding and thinning areas of the head. 

Each graft, also known as micrografts, comprises one to three hair follicles, and the operation is commonly known as micro-follicular hair transplantation.  At one time, each graft comprised five to 10 hair follicles and each graft was called a plug. They resembled doll hair and were easily identifiable as transplanted hair to the naked eye. With micrografting, this is no longer an issue.

The FUT method is well-known, well-proven, and regarded as an established performer, especially for those who are seeking longer sessions of up to 4,000 grafts at once and a thicker, fuller outcome. This surgical hair restoration is a realistic, durable, and cost-effective option.

3D Scalp Micropigmentation

3D Scalp Micropigmentation or the SMP process is a non-surgical approach that injects pigment into the scalp using microneedles and a stroke technique to mimic small hair follicles and the appearance of natural hair. There is no bleeding since a topical anesthetic is administered.

Hybrid Procedure

Under this technique, your hair transplant doctor will create a personalized treatment plan for you. For the desired outcome, hybrid hair replacement treatments are made in conjunction with or within a short time span of each other. This may require more sessions than other types of treatment. The best hair loss therapy is a mix of surgical hair transplants and nonsurgical therapies. To help you feel comfortable during the process, topical and local anesthetics will most likely be used throughout the surgeries.

The results of a hybrid procedure are often better because of the mix of hair restoration treatments they use. In this type of treatment, it’s possible to enhance your hair’s density and texture. You’ll also be treated by a team of hair transplant physicians and hair restoration specialists, as well as other medical technicians. Compared to one-size-fits-all treatments, the hybrid technique represents a distinct approach at MAXIM.

Facial Hair Transplant

Depending on the patient’s needs, area to be covered, skin texture, donor site, and medical history, facial hair transplant surgeons use different procedures for eyebrow, face, mustache, and beard hair transplants. MAXIM’s hair transplant specialist may recommend FUE or FUT hair transplants or nonsurgical options such as SMP or micro-pigmentation. They may also recommend a mix of surgical and non-surgical hair restoration procedures. This will be assessed by our team of experts during your hair restoration consultation appointment. 

Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT)

CIT is a minimally invasive process that increases collagen synthesis in the scalp, resulting in rejuvenated hair follicles and improved hair health. A doctor performs this procedure using a topical anesthetic, which can be paired with a hair transplant. There is minimum preparation for this procedure, and it’s followed by applying a healing serum.

PDO-MAX

PDO-MAX is a hybrid nonsurgical scalp rejuvenation technology developed by MAXIM that combines three separate procedures: Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), Microneedling (CIT), and PDO threading. In this procedure, growth factors are isolated in high concentrations. Then blood is taken and processed via an elaborate, cutting-edge centrifuge that employs dual-spin technology. Afterward, the scalp is numbed with a ring block before the regenerating serum is injected across it. Threads are then inserted into the location undergoing treatment. The threads are triggered and then removed. Afterward, the residual regenerating serum is administered topically. 

Other emerging and future include A.I. diagnostics and robotic hair restoration although its limited by session size (no. of grafts). Futuristic technologies follicular multiplication, cloning, autologous therapy and others although many of these are still in their research stage. 

The current and future prospects for hair transplant treatments are possibly brighter than ever. To overcome the trauma and anxiety associated with hair loss, you can reach out to MAXIM Hair Restoration, where seasoned hair transplant surgeons and hair restoration technicians can help you make informed decisions and provide you with safe and effective hair transplant treatments. If you’re interested in learning more about your treatment options, get in touch with MAXIM’s reputed and friendly staff for a free consultation.


Footnotes

1. Dua, Aman & Dua, Kapil. (2010). Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplant. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956961/

2. Yetman, Daniel. (2020). What You Need to Know About Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). https://www.healthline.com/health/fut-hair-transplant

WTF IS IN MY HAIR? THE REAL IMPACT OF DHT

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a genetic predisposition to hair loss that occurs after puberty. Essentially, your hair is damaged by your body’s reaction to androgen over-sensitivity.  The body’s reactions are inappropriate and lead to various malfunctions and, ultimately, the death of your beloved hair. While most people with male pattern baldness are familiar with the abbreviation DHT, very few are aware of how it actually impacts your hair and what options can help slow or even reverse hair loss. DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone, which is an androgen and metabolite of the male sex hormone testosterone. This may be confusing if you consider that over 30% of women experience hair loss secondary to androgenetic alopecia, but unfortunately, AGA does not discriminate. Now, let’s take a closer look at WTF DHT is doing to your hair and a common misguided treatment approach for hair loss.

WTF is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the most potent of the androgens. It’s considered a pure androgen due to its inability to aromatize. That means that, unlike testosterone and other androgens, it does not convert into estrogen. DHT is an important sex hormone that plays an essential role in the sexual development of male genitalia. Even into adulthood, DHT plays a major role in prostate function, body hair, facial hair, and, unfortunately…male and female pattern baldness. If you are a woman reading this, even though DHT can impact your hair too, it doesn’t play a significant role in your overall body function and development. In addition to DHT being unable to aromatize, it also has a long half-life, it is slow to dissolve, and aggressively adheres to androgen receptor sites. Unfortunately for those with the genetic pattern of hair loss, this means it will progressively damage your hair faster than your body can disassociate with the hormone.

So WTF is DHT Doing to Your Follicles?

As unfortunate as pattern loss is, the process by which DHT destroys your crowning glory is fascinating. It’s also extremely intricate and most health care providers do not properly educate patients as to what is occurring inside of their scalp, opting instead to take one-track approaches to treatment. Of course, a complex problem usually requires a complex solution, and one medication or compound is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

DHT is most abundantly found in peripheral locations, such as the scalp, where it adheres to androgen receptor sites on the hair follicle and begins altering the functionality of the organs’ key components. Most importantly, it begins breaking down the dermal papilla, which is essentially the brain of your hair follicle. The dermal papilla induces hair growth and regulates hair cycles. It’s also responsible for the regeneration of the follicle and proper hair pigmentation, and it’s a significant reservoir of multipotent MSCs. Now, it’s important to understand that hair loss is a progressive issue, and the simplest explanation for why it’s progressive is due to the slow disposal of DHT once it adheres to an androgen receptor. When your hair follicle’s receptor sites are saturated, it doesn’t simply “cap” out. Instead, every time it goes through the growth cycle and begins to develop again, it tries to adapt to the androgenic needs of its environment, creating more receptor sites to uptake even more DHT. Most believe that DHT simply adheres to the hair and begins to destroy it, but the truth is that DHT does significant damage both indirectly and directly, affecting the environment and various functional mechanics of the hair organ.

Due to the genetic sensitivity to DHT, your body reads the DHT as something that doesn’t belong in the hair follicle, and it responds by triggering inflammation in an effort to dispose of it. Ultimately, this leads to chronic inflammation. Inflammation serves as a response with one of two primary functions. Function 1 focuses on migrating healing growth factors to the damaged tissue. Function 2 is an immunological response to foreign bodies that don’t belong, in which it will try to devour and remove anything it sees that is out of place. In the case of AGA, the entire environment is attacked by this inflammation, slowly causing hair loss.

Next, the inflammation and DHT both have a negative impact on the dermal papilla’s ability to properly signal growth cycles and regenerative body mechanics. This means that the growth cycle of the hair begins to shorten, and the resting phase begins to elongate. These quicker overall shifts through the cycles expose the follicles to damage because DHT is adhering to receptor sites more frequently over a shorter period of time. Eventually, the hair will stop growing altogether and the organ will begin to atrophy and die. 

Now, you’re probably thinking that it couldn’t possibly get any more intricately destructive than that, right? Well, it does. The broken signaling leads to imbalanced calcification regulators and when you throw in the chronic inflammation, it begins to cause an increase in fibrosis. Fibrosis is the formation of connective tissue in light of an injury that normally aids in healing (think of scarring). In this case, it does quite the opposite. The fibrosis and over calcification begin to harden the tissue of the scalp and crowd the environment, restricting blood flow to the scalp. If you have ever seen an older man’s bald scalp, you might have wondered why it’s leathery and ultra-thick. This is the precise reason why.

Think of it this way, in the iron ages of castle sieges, one of the most widely adopted strategies for success was to cut off the trade routes to prevent the defending soldiers from getting food and water. This is essentially what’s happening in your scalp, except it’s worse because your blood also carries oxygen to your tissue. In other words, decreased blood flow means fewer nutrients and less oxygen, which means more cellular death and a quicker decline in scalp health. To summarize this analogy, you will increasingly mourn the death of your beloved soldiers.

Well, WTF Do You Do To Treat It?

First, we start with the cause: DHT! This is ironically the most simple part of the complex process of treatment, although it’s often ignored by dermatologists, who tend to favor steroidal treatments that focus on inflammation instead. In men, you can use alpha5-reductase-inhibitors such as fin######## to block roughly 70% of DHT metabolization by inhibiting the enzyme that causes testosterone to DHT conversion. This is typically prescribed for hair loss as 1mg orally per day. In some men, if caught early enough, this can be sufficient to stop hair loss. In others, it can even reverse the miniaturization of follicles and cause the hair to grow back healthily. Since you are here reading this article, it’s probably safe to assume that you have read the flaccid and impotent horror stories of fin########. While there is validity to these stories, it is a rare occurrence in men, but we still don’t recommend taking that risk. After all, what’s the point in hair if you lose your sexual function? 

Joking aside, MAXIM formulated a topical solution with 0.01% fin########, 6% minoxidil, caffeine, biotin, and hair & skin growth peptides to combat hair loss. When you take the pill, the dosage is significantly higher than spot treatments because it passes through your liver and bloodstream twice, systemically blocking DHT conversion and a small dose would not effectively reach peripheral organs such as the hair. This is why rare sexual side effects can occur in some men, because it will systemically decrease serum DHT. However, with the topical solution, instead of 1mg pills, the compound contains just 0.01% fin########, which translates to 0.1 milligrams/ml. Yes, it’s only a fractional 10th of the drug that the oral contains per dose. You would use it twice a day, which equates to 0.2mg per day, as opposed to 1mg. Because of this, and the directional focus of the topical using liposomal technology to deliver the medication to the hair follicle, there is a dramatically lower risk of seeing a systemic decrease in serum DHT and subsequently, a significant decrease in side effects. 

Fun side note: this topical also shows to be 2% more effective at blocking the DHT conversion. Hopefully, you aren’t like I once was, too bogged down learning about patient care and medicine to notice that you lost most of your hair (which I have since restored, for the record). If you are, you will have to live with the realization that a transplant may be necessary to restore the lost hair, and fin######## alone cannot regrow what has since died and left the building. If you are somewhat early, but still have some cascading damage caused by putting off your hair loss for too long, you will need to treat the chronic remnants of DHT, such as inflammation, which can also worsen due to the fibrosis and calcification. I know…it comes full circle and keeps getting better, right? The good news is that it’s okay. Many people are still in a good stage to restore their hair without any transplant whatsoever. Others may need a small FUE and non-surgical treatments.

So let’s recap, we have identified 5 core components to DHT induced hair loss:

  1. Chronic inflammation
  2. Decreased blood flow
  3. Over calcification
  4. Over fibrosis
  5. Broken cell signaling

Let’s address the treatments accordingly:

  1. Chronic inflammation: If you have gone to a dermatologist, they are likely to try or mention the possibility of using steroidal creams or injections to treat your hair loss. Unfortunately, this is mostly due to a very basic understanding of what’s occurring beneath the surface. The reality is that many people are likely to see a noticeable result in a relatively short period of time. However, there is a caveat in which this treatment is rife with detrimental consequences. 

This is a classic case of treating a symptom, not the cause. By using steroids, you are only temporarily suspending symptoms and damage that are secondary to the cause (inflammation caused by DHT) and tertiary (damage actively caused by inflammation) instead of the root cause. Now you might wonder if you can just continue using steroids to prevent the inflammatory response, and the answer is both yes and no. You can, but it will slowly degrade your scalp, and eventually, this will induce hair death as well. 

The answer for how to treat the inflammation is simple: stay well hydrated, make sure you eat in a way that aids in the prevention of negative inflammation, and most importantly – TREAT THE CAUSE!

       2-5.) 

Decreased blood flow, over calcification, over fibrosis, and broken cell signaling: Please note that treatments for #2 also treat symptoms #3,  #4, & #5, which are caused by #1 and #5. It’s important to understand that these “symptoms” may also become a permanent issue if not treated as if they were an independent issue. Tissue perfusion is the essence of life within our bodies. Blood carries nutrients, oxygen, water, and just about every important healing factor through your body. There are several ways to improve blood flow to the scalp. The simplest method is to use a topical such as minoxidil, which effectively induces vasodilation. However, this has limitations because you will still have to deal with the inflammation, calcification, and fibrosis constricting blood flow. To really treat the decreased blood flow, I repeat, we have to treat the cause. 

The fibrosis and calcification cannot be treated through medications alone, as they will remain present even if you treat the DHT. However, it can be accomplished through collagen induction therapies where we cause calculated microtrauma to the scalp, extracting natural growth factors and healing molecules from the body for reinjection, placing dissolvable foreign bodies into the scalp, and/or extracting healing mechanics through micrografting of hair follicles. These therapies are akin to biohacking, tricking your body into producing and migrating growth factors and healing molecules to acutely heal the intentionally damaged areas. This also aids in better tissue perfusion because, you guessed it, it uses the blood vessels to transport the healing mechanisms. 

In order for your body to utilize the faltering vessels the body will recognize that it must first repair them. In other words, all of these measures induce angiogenesis and activate fibroblasts, which produce collagen and initiate positive tissue degradation, effectively breaking down fibrotic tissue in addition to the calcifications. 

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from old vessels. Now, this doesn’t mean that it simply rebuilds the old road with some patchwork and replacement concrete. It also forms brand new bifurcations, like a multi-directional fork in the road, allowing for various paths of less resistance to allow for improved tissue perfusion.

I know that I said there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and you might have gathered that by reading subsection #2 where several treatments are mentioned. The reason for this is that many of the delivery methods and treatment options require one of the conjunctive treatments to function optimally. Subsequently, all of these areas of contention are treated during these combinative processes. 

Micrografting and mechanical dissection of the dermal papilla is the only treatment mentioned above that directly impacts the cell signaling functions. This procedure works by extracting hair follicles from your donor area, which are not responsive to DHT and typically remain in good health. After extraction, the dermal papillae from the follicles are mechanically dissected, forcing them to release hair follicle-specific growth factors while emptying its healing reservoirs into saline solution, which is reintroduced to the damaged tissue in your area of hair loss. This can aid in the dermal papilla’s ability to restore signaling.

If you’re tired of wondering WTF your hair has gone, or WTF has happened to your hair, MAXIM is here to help. At MAXIM, we offer complimentary consultations with a focus on education first. We will sit with you to discuss your goals, analyze and explain the stage of progression you are at, and provide the most appropriate clinical pathway to reach your desired goals. Please call us or chat with us online to schedule your consultation with our team of hair restoration experts.

Authored by Joseph Hart, BSN, RN

DEALING WITH HAIR LOSS AT AN EARLY AGE

In many cases, hair loss occurs due to genetics. Even so, it can occur at different times for different people and proceed in varying degrees. Some men with male pattern baldness may not lose their hair until they are well into their 40s or 50s; for others, it may start in their 20s. Some men may experience hair loss gradually, where the hair thins for several years with a bald spot appearing only much later. Or, hair loss can occur relatively quickly, with a bald spot making its appearance within a year. Individuals from the same family may even experience baldness in different ways.

early hair loss

Because many people associate hair loss with aging, even a young man with hair loss can appear much older. This means a man with thinning hair in his 20s may appear as if he is in his 30s or older. How much older a person looks depends entirely on their looks and the type and severity of hair loss.

While we may be resigned to the fact that all of us age – no one ever really wants to look older if they can help it. If baldness is making you appear older than your years, it can negatively affect your confidence, self-esteem, and personal life.

But don’t lose hope. If you suffer from baldness, there are a variety of long-term treatment options that can help you get your hair back, so you can feel and look younger and be more confident.

Medications

There are over-the-counter and prescription medications available that can prevent baldness and even help regrow hair. These medications include minoxidil and fin########. You can also get oral medications that will help you stop hair loss. There are a lot of options available on the market that may be able to help you with your hair loss. The best person to suggest medications a hair transplant specialist. These individuals can assess the thinning of your hair and recommend the right products for you.

Surgery  for Hair Loss

Hair transplant surgeries are effective for hair loss situations that cannot be fixed through medication.

There are several hair transplant procedures that are affordable, safe, and offer great results. The type of procedure that is right for you depends on your budget, and preference. A hair transplant surgeon is the best person to speak to when deciding on which procedure you should get done.

If you are suffering from baldness and feel like you look older than you really are, talk to a hair restoration doctor about what options are available to you. With so many treatment options, there is definitely something ideal for your particular situation.

If you are looking for a way to restore your hair for a fuller head of hair and a more youthful appearance, MAXiM Hair Restoration can help you find the right hair restoration solution for you. Request an appointment at one of our locations today.

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