Hair Foundation Blog

For many people facing thinning scalp hair, a number of remedies including reputable medical therapies and hair restoration procedures can help restore hair loss and slow down future ones. However some people, including those with thinning eyebrows, aren’t sure where to turn for help.

In a recent International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) press release, it tells of a new remedy for thinning eyebrows. The treatment came to light after Denise Goolsby, 37, of Virginia Beach, Va. started noticing her eyebrows were beginning to thin while in her 20s.

Goolsby explained,

“I always had fine eyebrows, so when I noticed them getting thinner I tried tattooing as a first step — but it only made the problem worse. It got to the point where I actually had no eyebrows left, and it became too much to deal with to pencil them in with cosmetics every day.”

So what did Goolsby do to remedy the situation?

She contacted Dr. Edwin Epstein, a Virginia Beach hair restoration surgeon and former ISHRS president, who has conducted hair restoration surgery on other areas of the body than the scalp, including eyebrows. For Goolsby’s case through outpatient surgery, tiny single hair follicular units from a donor area at the back of her head had been transplanted to the eyebrow area.

Epstein explained that donor hair is selected based on whether or not it has the appropriate texture and orientation to lay as eyebrow hair after transplantation. He noted that this type of non-scalp hair restoration can be a good option for many patients with hair loss, but prospective patients should always contact a hair restoration physician and discuss this alternative before taking any action.

The transplanted hair will slowly grow for several months and for Goolsby, her eyebrows were fully grown within six months. Because transplanted hair continually grows over time, her eyebrows will need to be regularly trimmed.

In response to the procedure, Goolsby said, ”My new eyebrows look great, and it’s so refreshing not to feel self-conscious about them after years of trying to cover up the noticeable hair loss,” said Goolsby.

Recent statistics

This summer, the ISHRS released a recent member survey and disclosed that 92.8 percent of hair transplant procedures performed in 2010 targeted the scalp area while 7.2 percent of procedures targeted non-scalp areas of the body. This included eyebrows (4.4 percent), face/moustache/beard (1.5 percent) and eyelashes (0.6 percent).

In the period covering 2008 to 2010, hair restoration procedures conducted on eyelashes, eyebrows and faces rose 14.2 percent while the highest hair restoration procedures for the scalp, facial (moustache/beard) and chest hair restorations had taken place within the United States.

Meanwhile, Asia performed the greatest number of eyelash, eyebrow and pubic area hair restorations.

To learn more about hair restoration procedures, please visit the Hair Foundation’s website at www.hairfoundation.org

In a recent Maria Claire article, Botox For Your Hair?, it explores remedies for aging scalps and hair. The article includes a reference to the Hair Foundation’s partner, HairMax Lasercomb.

It begins by explaining one of our aging hair challenges: the production of less keratin.

According to Christyn Nawrot, a national educator for Phyto, “As hair ages, we produce less keratin — the protein that renders it strong and healthy — because our bodies can’t absorb essential minerals and vitamins as effectively.”

Without either adequate or high-quality keratin, our hair will become porous, prone to breakage and thinning. To help with this natural challenge, here’s six things you can do.

Strengthen your hair: Heat styling your hair is the greatest contributor to your hair’s aging and keratin depletion. The heat takes moisture from hair and makes it more difficult for minerals to develop, keeping free radicals away. Instead of using the usual conditioner after shampooing, use new products from Pureology, Redken, and Phyto to copy the hair’s lack of keratin.

Look for products with keravis, Keralink and botanical keratin.

Minimize stress: Just as stress affects your skin with breakouts, it also wreaks havoc on your hair. Toning down stress will help hair. Try yoga or meditation; however, with a serious condition, speak with your physician about treatments that will help your hair problems.

You Are What You Eat: Eating for fuel and good health is important for your body just as it is for hair. Practice a balanced diet with protein, iron, zinc and antioxidant-rich foods including berries and leafy green vegetables.

Eating on a regular basis will also have a positive effect on hair.

Scalps Need Love Too: The way you treat your face should also extend to your scalp. After conditioning it, the health of your hair will improve. The article recommends Philip Kingsley’s Scalp Tonic and Nioxin’s three-part systems to help rejuvenate hair, rebalance pH and rebuild the scalp.

Dove, Sally Hershberger, Kevin Murphy and Ojo also have serums with ingredients that will nourish your scalp.

Plump Up Your Hair: Just as faces lose their fullness and elasticity as we age, Intra-Cylane can help strands of hair increase its density. Another option is to have your hair stylist give you a hair color that will add depth to your hair shaft. It is also important to have soft colors around your face.

You may also want to alter your hairstyle as face shapes change as we age.

Losing Your Hair: Men and women lose hair as they get older. If you find either a large amount on your pillow or in the shower, you may want to contact your physician. If the problem involves a lot of hair loss, there is minoxidyl (Rogaine) and the HairMax LaserComb.

To learn more about hair loss and anti-aging, please check out the Hair Foundation’s website and our physician videos.
 

On Nov. 25 or “Black Friday,” five cities will offer free head lice screenings through the organization, Hair Fairies. This full-service nationwide clinical salon removes head lice safely, effectively and in a kid-friendly environment.

They will spread their wings to San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

But why Thanksgiving Weekend?

According to Maria Botham, CEO of Hair Fairies, “Kids riding head-to-head on long drives or flights can make lice contagion easy. Lice also can lurk in shared bedding and spread from children to parents.  About three percent of school children have lice at any given time, so the odds for coming in contact with lice are more common than many parents realize.  As the pioneers in this service, we have perfected not only non-toxic products but also exclusive techniques that work and are the safe solution for frantic families.”

Lice may also travel head-to-head from families and relatives sharing space over Thanksgiving weekends, added Botham.

According to a press release,  Hair Fairies‘ is a full-service clinical salon that will evaluate early lice detection for free. If treatment is necessary, salon professionals can treat and eliminate lice at an affordable cost.

At the salon, Hair Fairies will manually remove lice.  They are professionally trained and their client treatments will take one to three hours, depending the severity of the condition.

Hair Fairies have a three-prong approach for treatment. They will evaluate the stage of infestation, physically or “nit-pick” the active lice and eggs and provide a treatment to condition the scalp and discourage immediate re-infestation.

The process has been developed from scientific research. The fairies use all-natural, non-toxic shampoos, combs and rinses developed and produced in the company’s laboratory in Riverside, Cal.

For more information about Hair Fairies, here’s is the website at www.hairfairies.com.

If you are unable to meet the Hair Fairies on Nov. 25, please read our recent blog post to learn more about at-home lice treatments, New Head Lice Treatment Puts An End to Nit Combing.

In the two-part series, the Hair Foundation discusses supplements as a hair loss treatment alternative. This first part looks at supplement claims and hair loss treatments and supplements.

Part II will be included in the online November newsletter. 

“Natural” May Not Always Mean “Safe”

For almost every malady–from memory loss to weight gain–a supplement or herbal remedy promises a cure. Many of us try them, with the belief that because they’re natural, they are safe and effective.

However, before you begin taking supplements, you may want to do some research and even consult with your doctor, according to Paul T. Rose, MD, JD, and member of the Hair Foundation Board of Trustees.

This could include reading articles from reputable sources, speaking with your doctor or other health care professionals or visiting health food stores and asking questions.

“Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” said Rose. “Potassium is a natural product that we need to survive but too much of it can be lethal.”

Rose urges caution when taking supplement, especially because many of them are untested when it comes to providing any actual benefits.

Hair Loss Treatments and Supplements

Currently there are only two products in the United States proven to limit hair loss and promote hair growth: Propecia® (Finasteride) and Rogaine® (Minoxidil). They have completed rigorous testing and clinical trials to earn FDA approval.

The supplement palmetto is advertised and sold as a hair loss treatment without providing any evidence of its effectiveness. Supplements may show some effectiveness in a test tube; Rose noted that an individual would need to consume enormous quantities to achieve similar results.

Supplements may be useful for a particular vitamin deficiency or a trace element. If a person experiences hair loss from an iron-deficiency, iron supplements can help restore their health and associated hair loss.

“Certain supplements may be helpful, but you have to diagnose the problem first,” Rose said.

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