Can You Use Minoxidil after 60?

 

 Minoxidil is a FDA approved drug used to treat hair follicles. Minoxidil increases the flow of blood vessels in the scalp which boosts the hair growth. But can Minoxidil be used by an individual over the age of 60? This can be tricky question which is answered by the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

 

Minoxidil is definitely a very helpful medical product but Minoxidil is not for everyone. It is approved for men and women for age group 18-65 suffering from a type of hair loss called androgenic alopecia, where the crown gets affected leaving the back and sides of the scalp as it is. If an individual is suffering from androgenic alopecia or any other type of hair loss and he is over 60 then he should check up with his physician once before using Minoxidil.

 

Minoxidil is not for everyone hence not prescribed if:

·       the patient has heart problems, especially ischemic type heart disease or certain types of heart failure

·       the patient has heart rhythm issues (like atrial fibrillation)

·       the patient has certain internal conditions (like pheochromocytoma)

·       the individual has allergies to any of the components of Minoxidil, such as propylene glycol in Minoxidil solution or allergy to the Minoxidil itself

 

To sum up

Minoxidil is undoubtedly a very good medicine to treat hair loss but there certain limitations for some people who want opt for minoxidil treatment. An 82 year old patient with heart failure and two previous heart attacks is not a candidate for minoxidil.

 

A patient with hair loss due to dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (a different condition than genetic hair loss), will likely find little to no use from minoxidil application. Minoxidil is not for everyone. Whenever a doctor recommends this medicine, he does it after considering the very possible risk that the person can have and knowing his medical history.

So it’s always recommended not self-medicate yourself and go for an expert physician and take his advice. They have the expertise for a reason.

Is Tellogen Effluvium Reversible?

 

Tellogen Effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss which happened due to stress, shock or a trauma. It generally occurs on the top of the scalp. This form of hair loss is different from androgenic alopecia though the hair loss happens in the same region. In this article you will get a detailed idea about telogen effluvium from the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

 

How is Telogen Effluvium defined?

If an individual experiences period of hair shedding for 6 months or more it might be the case of chronic telogen effluvium. In this condition the person lose their but it is reversible. Also their hair starts to become noticeably thin. It happens more in women which get triggered by the disturbance in hair cycle.

 

The hair cycle has three phases:

Anagen Phase

Catagen Phase

Telogen Phase

Telogen effluvium is associated with the telogen phase. Normally, 5-10% of a person’s hair is in the telogen phase at any one time.

With telogen effluvium, the anagen phase slows down, meaning that fewer hairs enter the next two stages. With this condition, around 30% of hair follicles move into the telogen phase, which means that hair shedding occurs.

 

SYMPTOMS & CAUSE:

The biggest symptom of telogen effluvium is shedding of hair suddenly. You may notice that there are more than usual hair strands in the pillow or drain.

Now disturbance in hair cycle can be caused by a various factors:

Severe stress. Prolonged periods of stress can result in telogen effluvium. Hair loss typically occurs about 3months after the stressful event.

Poor diet. Hair requires key nutrients including protein, iron, B-vitamins, and zinc to grow. A shortage of these nutrients may affect the quality and quantity of a person’s hair.

Sudden weight loss. Weight loss or chronic calorie restriction, such as in anorexia nervosa, can cause the hair to shed.

Pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy, more hair is in the growth phase for longer. Hormonal changes that occur 3 to 6 months after birth can cause hair to shed. This is called post-partum telogen effluvium.

Menopause. Hormonal changes that occur during the menopause may also cause telogen effluvium.

Certain drugs. Certain medications and recreational drugs can cause hair loss.

Underlying health conditions. These can include autoimmune disease, conditions that affect the thyroid gland, and alopecia areata.

Surgery. Depending on the type of procedure, length of stay in hospital, medications, and overall nutritional status.

Metal toxicity. Contact with toxic chemicals in metal can lead to hair loss.

 

Treatment:

Since hair loss due to telogen effluvium is temporary, as soon as the treatment for the cause of hair loss gets started (be it stress or trauma) the hair loss eventually stops and the hair cycle comes to its normal phase and hair regrowth starts.

Treatment options include:

addressing nutritional deficiencies through diet

non-surgical hair replacement

hormone replacement therapy for people experiencing menopause

counselling support to manage stress or anxiety

An individual suffering from hair loss should try to avoid all sorts of chemical and heat treatment like the usage of blow dryer, straightener, curler or any form of hair styling products.

Dietary consideration includes:

Protein based food as the hair components are mainly made up of protein. Hence in-taking protein in the diet will help in regrowth of hair

Iron deficiency may lead to telogen effluvium. Iron-rich food will help the hair to grow faster.

Supplementation can be considered for a temporary period of time.

 

Conclusion:

From the above it is quite evident that telogen effluvium is a temporary form of hair loss and nothing like androgenic alopecia. Getting diagnosed with a temporary form of hair loss is much better than its permanent counter parts. If you notice the symptoms of this form hair loss visit a physician as soon as possible.

 

How to Do Painless Hair Transplant?

People considering for hair transplantation surgery has gone several times for hair transplantation videos in the internet. Though it helps to visualize and set up your mind but experiencing the surgery in reality is a completely different experience.

 

And every individual planning to undergo hair transplant surgery must have at least wondered once the question “Is the surgery painful?” To get a clear understanding of hair transplant in Kolkata and the doubt that comes to the mind of every individual, stay till the end of the blog.

 

FUE technique: The most comfortable hair transplant method.

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)technique involves extraction of the individual hair follicles from the donor area using a punch of 0.8mm to 1mm diameter. The follicles are then inserted to the affected area. This method of hair transplant is generally opted for the patients requiring lesser number of grafts. This method doesn’t leave any linear scar but tiny dots in the scalp from where the donor grafts are extracted.

As FUE consists of least involvement of surgical incision it is considered to be the process causing the least discomfort to the patient. The only procedure that can be compared to FUE is the FUT method of transplant which involves extracting a strip from the back of the scalp (the donor area) and then dissecting it into individual grafts which are then inserted into the affected area.

The major objective of this advancement is to perform the surgery in a much precise manner and the patient should feel the least pain and discomfort while going through it. In a FUE procedure there are two fundamental area where minor surgical activity is needed.

The process of harvesting individual follicular grafts from the donor area with the aid of micro motors.

Creation of recipient sites for graft placement.

Both of the processes need the administration of anaesthesia.

 

Harvesting Grafts

This process involves extraction of hair follicles using micro motor and micro punch tips. The separation of hair grafts from the surrounding tissues is generally carried out by sharp punch.  In the process local anaesthesia is used for the comfort of the patient. Also the rotational speed of the punch is minimized and the surgical grade steel are used for the punches to ensure least discomfort of the patient. An indicator of a quality hair transplant clinic, is the quality contained within the equipment that is used. Unfortunately, it may not be that easy to understand this during the operation. You will, however, be able to evaluate the quality of the clinic during the postoperative phase.

 

Transplantation

Before placing the grafts two important things need to be done. First is to make the recipient area ready for the implant. Second is to load the grafts in the front part of the choi needle that is used to implant the follicles in the area. The creation of the recipient site and implantation of the grafts need to happen simultaneously.

 

The need for anaesthesia in hair transplantation

The usage of anaesthetic agent prior to the two processes in mandatory. The active ingredient in the anaesthetic agent makes the area numb and the patient doesn’t get to feel the discomfort or pain while the incisions are made.

To carry out the process local anaesthesia is used which is administered by needle-free jet injection or the traditional injection technique, which makes the particular portion numb where surgery is to be performed. General anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia is never used in this process. While injecting the anaesthesia a slight pain is felt by the patient similar to an ant-sting.

 

Other Factors That Make a Hair Transplant Procedure Pain-Free

Using a micromotor that rotates at a low speed during the extraction process.

Using a micro motor featuring small cylindrical needles (punches) that are made of high-quality surgical steel grade.

Renewal of the cylindrical needles that are used during the extraction process before the punch becomes blunt due to excessive usage.

Utilization of special sapphire blades instead of steel blades during the process of creating incisions within the recipient site.

Having the wound-dressings, which will be done shortly after the operation as well as the following day, carried out by health-care professionals,are other factors that can affect the overall comfort of the operation.

Hair Shedding, Hair Loss and Baldness – Are They Inter-Related?

 

Getting bald is probably the last thing that any man would want in their young age. But in this twenty first century having serious hair issues has become very common especially with the youngsters. But hair fall doesn’t always mean you will end up being bald. In case you are suffering through severe hair loss problems you can always contact the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata. But this interrelation between hair fall, hair loss and baldness is quite tricky.

 

Hair shedding is something that happens to each and every person in the planet because it is very normal. According to studies every human sheds around 50-100 hair strands every day. Since there are around 100,000 hair follicles in the scalp, shedding of 50-100 strands don’t make much difference.

 

Now if you start to notice excessive hair strands on your comb or your clogged drain and your hair has become thinner and quite noticeable then maybe something is not right in your body. Hair loss can happen due to many reasons. It can be genetic, hormonal, diet, environment, stress and a lot of things. If you have start experiencing hair loss you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. There are treatments like Minoxidil, Finasteride and PRP which are very effective when used before you have lost a huge amount of hair.

 

Minoxidil comes in a form of topical solution, increases the blood flow in the scalp to boost the hair growth. On the other hand Finasteride is a DHT blocker, the androgen which makes the hair thin and discoloured and damaged. Finasteride stops the conversion of testosterone to DHT by blocking the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase which does the conversion.

 

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment is a kind of treatment where plasmas are extracted from the blood which are rich in platelet and then injected in the scalp. The blood is taken out and put in a centrifuge machine where the platelet rich plasma is extracted and then is injected in the scalp. It takes quite a number of sitting to complete the whole treatment.

 

But if your hair loss has become severe and you’re diagnosed with Androgenic Alopecia also known as Male Pattern Baldness and that too in a severe stage, then you have to opt for hair transplantation surgery. Androgenic alopecia is a kind of baldness where the major hair loss occurs at the crown of the head and the hair on the back and the sides of the scalp remain unaffected. The hair follicles are extracted from the back and sides of the scalp where the hair is undamaged and then implanted in the affected area.

There are two basic techniques used in hair transplant surgery, FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction). In FUT technique, a strip of skin is extracted from the back of the scalp, where the strip is then dissected into individual grafts and then the individual grafts are implanted into the affected area. In FUE (Follicular Extraction Unit) technique, the hair grafts are extracted from the back and side of the scalp using a punch and the grafts are then inserted into the bald spots.

Bottom line:

General hair shedding doesn’t mean hair loss. Hair loss can occur due to various other complications in the body. Hair fall in not the indication of hair lossor baldness but also there is a possibility of baldness if you are suffering from hair loss. Since it’s very clear from the above that hair shdding , hair loss and baldness has a complicated relationship so it’s always recommended to consult a doctor if you see unnatural hair fall or hair condition.

 

7 Myths that Hover around Hair Transplant

Hair transplantation surgery is one of the most common and life changing cosmetic surgery. People suffering from hair loss especially androgenic alopecia go for this surgery. Also cost of hair transplant in Kolkata has become quite affordable. But there goes a lot of rumours about this cosmetic surgery.

 

1. Transplanted hair last forever

This is a common myth that the transplanted hair on the area of balding lasts forever. No it’s not completely true. Good news is most of your hair stays but not all. As time passes your hair will start to thin. Now there are a quite number of reasons why it happens. For some it may happen that the donor area is not completely resistant to balding or the back of the scalp (donorarea) is prone to thinning. But considering a huge number of case the conclusion comes most have the men will have almost all the transplanted hair but for some a proportion of transplanted hair may disappear.

 

2. A single session of hair transplant will be all.

A person suffering from androgenic alopecia after getting hair transplant may think that it will last forever. But no, androgenic alopecia may slow down for a period of time but never stops. The existing hair in a region will thin over time. So to maintain the post-surgery look of early 30’s at the age of 60, you might need another session.

 

3. Hair transplant surgery has a 100% success rate.

The success rate of hair transplantation surgery with the right surgeon and team is always high and this is the reason why it is so popular. But sometimes (rarely of course) it happens that the patient who has undergone transplantation may not get the result that they hoped for. Now this may happen due to different reason. It may be due to post-operation care was below par or the skill of the surgeon and his team wasn’t good enough.

 

4. Hair transplant surgery is a one day event

The hair transplant surgery is a one day event. Technically it is true. But when it comes to recovery period that is what the most important.

Generally a person undergone surgery by FUT method takes longer time to recover than a person went through FUE technique. The medical time period to recover for a patient undergoing FUE is about 2-3 days, but the psychological recovery may not be the same. A person who had to shave his head for the surgery may take up months to regain their confidence level and going back to normal life. This psychological recovery varies from person to person.

 

5. Hair transplant is always the solution for hair loss

No. not everyone can go through hair transplantation surgery. The patient might be too young or they may have such medical condition that doesn’t allow the surgery or may be the hair loss is so severe that that there is no possibility of performing hair transplant surgery.

 

6. There are no complications in a hair transplant surgery.

It is true that hair transplants are safe but that doesn’t mean there is zero possibility of complications. Redness, swelling and post-operative crusting are common. Generally FUT takes a longer time to heal than FUE. But there are complications that happen rarely like long lasting nerve pain and persistent scalp redness. Unless a physician is constantly monitoring the whole procedure the patient can even fall sick. Many people call it a simple procedure nut at the end of the day it is a surgery and every surgery has some kind of complications.

 

7. You will have the look of your youth again.

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure which involved moving anywhere from 10 to 10,000 hairs into an area of balding. If an area of hair loss is small, it may be possible to build some very nice density in the area – but the density is generally less than it once was. For example, in a patient who is very bald, a density of 35-40 follicular units per square centimetre will typically be created.  

This area likely had a density of 90 or more follicular units per square centimetre at one time years earlier. Therefore, it is generally the norm for a hair transplant to create results that are less dense than the original density. A skilled surgeon can often help make 35-40 follicular units look like the original density. However, photos and videos of patients with amazingly thick and dense hair following their procedure may not always be accurate.

Can Women Use Finasteride?

 

Finasteride is a FDA approved drug to treat hair loss. And it has been formally recommended for men only but usage of Finasteride in women has been going since two decades. When Finasteride is prescribed to a woman by any physician it is done in an “off label” manner. But the question of why women cannot use Finasteride has been hovering in the mind of most individuals and hence which is answered by the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

 

Perspectives on the usage of Finasteride:

The recommendation of Finasteride to women varies from physician to physician. There some physicians who will never recommend Finasteride. There are some who will recommend to post-menopausal women. There are some physician who will recommend to pre-menopausal women. But whoever prescribes Finasteride to any women, does it with considering every kind of risks.

The usage of Finasteride by any woman during the time of pregnancy can seriously affect the foetus. The risk is quite serious and might lead to some fatal consequences. Hence Finasteride is considered in the category of highest risk if used during pregnancy. So it should never be taken during pregnancy.

The other concern about the usage of Finasteridein women is cancer. Though there aren’t enough studies or researches that shows that usage of Finasteride can lead to breast cancer. In fact, reasonably well conducted studies in men would suggest that breast cancer risk is not increased. However women with history with breast, ovarian or any kind of gynaecological cancer should discuss thoroughly with the doctor before taking Finasteride.

 

Does Finasteride help women with genetic hair loss?

Two decades ago, in the year of 2000, a study showed that two post-menopausal women having androgenic alopecia were treated with a dosage of 1mg Finasteride but there was no improvements. Hence it was considered that Finasteride doesn’t work on women. Then 2 years later, 4 women (2 pre-menopausal and 2 post-menopausal) were treated with a higher dosage of Finasteride which was 2.5mg, showed significant results. This again changed the perspective on usage of Finasteridein women.

In 2006, an Italian physician published a report on which again increased the interest on usage of Finasteride in women. He diagnosed 37 women with female pattern baldness and prescribed Finasteride to them. 12 months later 24 out of 37 patients showed significant result with increased hair density, 13 patients’ hairless was stabilize and the remaining one lost hair density.

 

What could be the side effects of using Finasteride in woman?

Side effects of Finasteride in women include, but are not limited to: harm to a foetus (Finasteride cannot be used in pregnancy), fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, hair shedding, breast tenderness, breast enlargement.  Other side effects can occur but are less common. These include changes in platelet counts and muscle injury (myopathy).

 

Conclusion:

From the above there are various things that need to be considered such as the risks that are associated with the usage of Finasteride in women could be fatal especially for women who are pregnant or planning to be. Also the fact that there is no approval from any of the agencies in the world regarding it.

 

FDA has approved the usage of Finasteride to treat hair loss but that too only for men. So considering everything it is better not to use Finasteride for women. But if there is a special case and the physician recommends it considering every possible risks then it can be used.

 

Can I Apply Finasteride Solution Instead of Pills?

 

 70% of male in the world are affected by the onset of balding by the age of 35. Hence to find a solution for a lot research and innovations are going on. The sector of people affected by baldness always try to find some way to resolve it.

 

Most men suffer from androgenic alopecia where hair loss occur in the crown of the head keeping the sides and back of head intact. In this case depending upon the severity of hair loss, there are two ways to restore your hair. I) Non-surgical method of hair restoration II) Surgical method of hair restoration. In non-surgical method of hair restoration, there are only two FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved that are used to treat hair loss. Minoxidil and Finasteride.

 

And the surgical method of hair restoration is called the hair transplantation surgery where the hair follicles are extracted from the back and sides of head, which is also known as the donor area, and the follicles are then inserted in the area where you have suffered hair loss. If you have suffered from severe hair loss and opt for surgical method then you can always consult with the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata where you will the find the best surgeons.

 

If you’re going through hair loss which is not severe yet noticeable enough, you can go for Minoxidil and Finasteride. Minoxidil comes in a topical solution which need to be applied in the scalp. Minoxidil increases the blood flow in the scalp leading to boost of hair growth. Minoxidil doesn’t stop the hair fall, it just improves the growth.

 

On the other Finasteride comes in the form of tablets which basically works as a DHT blocker. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is an androgen which blocks shrinks the hair follicles leading to thin and damaged hair and which ultimately fall out. Finasteride blocks the action of the enzyme 5 alpha reductase which converts testosterone to DHT.

 

But there are some side effects of Finasteride like decreased libido and abnormal ejaculation, so men try to avoid the intake of Finasteride. So counter this problem, topical solution of Finasteride came into existence in the year of 2012. It was formulated to minimize the side effect of Finasteride as it was to be taken external. But does it completely eliminate all the side effects?

 

MYTHS ABOUT TOPICAL FINASTERIDE:

1. No Side effects: pharmacies doctors and various website claimed that there is no side effect of using Topical Finasteride solution. Unlike its oral counterpart, it is supposed to be applied externally and hence completely safe.

But it’s completely a false statement because when you apply topical Finasteride it tends to penetrated the skin and mix with the blood hence it will show side effects. Also many people have reported side effects after using topical Finasteride solution. Though the degree of side effect of the solution is different from the Finasteride tablets. It’s still not completely safe.

 

2. Standard Formulation: The finasteride pills are approved by FDA whereas the topical finasteride has no approval from any of the agencies. Therefore they don’t have any standard formulation. Different companies creating Finasteride solution with different combination of ingredients.

Hence another reason not to use the topical solution.

 

3. Limited availability: An impression is created that very limited pharmacies or clinics offer Topical Finasteride; but in reality it is easily available everywhere and it can even be formulated on demand.

 

TO CONCLUDE:

From the above statements it’s quite obvious that Finasteride topical solution has lesser side effects than the oral Finasteride pills. But few things that need to be considered like no approval of the solution from any of the agencies all over the world. Also the fact that it is not completely safe. So it is recommended not to use the Finasteride topical solution and stick to its oral counterpart but if you still want to go for it considering the risk, you can go for it.

Hair Fall and Baldness – What is the Relationship?

 

Having a stylish, voluminous, shiny hair is every man’s dream. And that’s the sign of healthy hair. At least most men think so. And whenever you see your drain clogged with hair strands you freak out considering that you’re having some health issues which is causing hair fall. And then you overthink and come to a conclusion that you may get bald. But that’s not how it works. And even if you do, you can always come to the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

 

Hair fall and getting bald share a typical relationship. If your hair is falling it doesn’t mean that you are going to be bald. The reason you are going through can be the cause of your balding though. But first things first.

 

Every human being shed their hair each and every day. The number of hair lost by a man on average in a day lies in between 50-100 which is considered normal. Since our scalp contains around 100,000 hair follicles so losing 100 doesn’t make any difference.

 

Life cycle of hair:

There are hundreds of thousands of hair strands on your head and each one of them are in a different stage of its two to five years life span. The factors which are responsible of your daily hair loss are nutrition, stress, hygiene and styling.

 

In the cycle of hair there are phases, Anagen, Catagen and Telogen.

 

The phase in which hair strands are growing is called the anagen phase. About 90% of the hair strands are in this phase at any given time. Your hair grows approximately at the rate of 1cm per month. And when something disrupts the growth of the hair in this phase, it’s called anagen effluvium.

 

Then comes the catagen phase where the hair strands stop growing. It doesn’t fall out but it stops growing. This generally lasts for a week of two. About 1-2% hair stays in this phase.

 

And lastly the telogen phase where the hair strands prepare themselves to fall out of the scalp. About 8-9% of the hair stays in this phase at any given point of time.

 

Telogen Effluvium describes having more than 10 percent of your hair in the telogen phase. Telogen effluvium is temporary, but more hair will fall out while you have it. Stress, surgery, or even having a fever for a few days can bring on telogen effluvium, but your hair will probably be back to normal within six months.

 

Reason behind hair fall:

Regular hair fall is normal but if you start to have sudden hair fall which is more than the normal rate of hair fall, there could be some possible reasons:

Alopecia

Thyroid condition

Lupus

Nutritional deficiencies

If the hair fall seems to be heavy then you should consult a doctor before the time runs out!

 

Alopecia and Baldness:

Amongst the many reason of hair fall alopecia is one and one of the most difficult to get rid of. There many kind of alopecia out of which Androgenic alopecia is the most common that you will find in the streets. In this condition the hair falls out form the crown leaving the hair in the back and side areas intact. If you are suffering from this condition, there are some probable solutions to get your hair back depending upon the intensity of hair loss you have suffered from.

 

If the hair loss is medium and there are still some hair on your crown, your physician may recommend you to use Minoxidil and Finasteride along with PRP treatment.

 

Minoxidil is a topical solution which increases the blood circulation in the scalp which boosts the hair growth. On the other hand Finasteride is a DHT blocker. DHT is the hormone that blocks the hair follicle making the hair strands thin and grey and ultimately prone to breakage. Finasteride stops the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase which converts testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

 

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy is a kind of therapy where platelet rich plasma is extracted from the blood and then injected in the scalp. This platelet rich plasma acts as a fertilizer to the hair follicles.

 

Now if you have suffered from heavy hair loss then you have to opt for hair transplantation surgery because no medications will work if you don’t have the hair follicles. The concept of hair transplant is very simple. The hair grafts are extracted from the back or side of the head (known as the donor area) and then are inserted in the region where you have suffered hair loss.

 

There are two basic ways of hair transplantation; FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant).

In case of FUE the hair grafts are extracted from the back or side of the head where the follicles are healthy and less prone to damage using a punchinstrument and then the grafts are inserted in the affected region. This method is opted for the person who needs comparatively less number of grafts in the affected area.

 

In case of FUT a strip in cut from the back of the head and then they are precisely separated into individual grafts, the grafts are then inserted in the affected region. This method is opted for the people who has gone through heavy hair loss. The strip in the back is then stitched up.. General studies say FUT procedure gives access to higher donor yield area compared to FUE. While going through this method of hair transplant the patient doesn’t need to shave their head. It gives a fuller and denser look as maximum number of donor grafts can be extracted in this method. Also this method of transplant is cheaper than FUE.

 

Bottom line:

Just because you’re experiencing regular hair fall it doesn’t mean that you are going to be bald. If the rate of hair fall is normal then there is nothing to worry about. But if you are suddenly experiencing heavy hair fall visit a physician. Not every cause of hair loss will make you bald.

 

How Drug Abuse is related to Hair Loss?

Recreational drugs are very common in this 21^st century. Knowing the fact that it harms your body you still want to get high. But do you know that apart from your physical health (which you think you can handle) they even affect your hair. Now how cool is that?

 

Drug addiction and chronic substance abuse not only affects your physical health but also affects your hair. Hair is an important part of our culture, both among men and women. In the process of ageing hair loss is an integral part which people try to avoid the hardest. Constant intake of alcohol and drug leads to a series of health issues including affecting the hair health and people taking drug fail to realise. Even if they do they still can’t get out of it as the stage they realise it’s already too late. The best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata will explain how drug abuse depletes the hair health.

 

How Drug addiction affects the hair?

There are various reasons why drug abuse affects hair health. Strange changes in physical appearance are quite noticeable in person going through regular drug or alcohol abuse. Also unhealthy hair is very prime symptom of drug abuse.

A very common side effect of drug abuse is anxiety. When a person is suffering from anxiety he/she starts to pull his/her skin or hair without even their knowledge. Constant pulling of hair damages the hair follicles and make them traumatized.The hair follicle is where the hair grows out of and anchors the hair to the scalp. If the follicles get damaged the person has a high chance of permanently losing hair on that spot. There are few drugs that acts as nervous hair pulling stimulant like:

Cocaine

Methamphetamine

Adderall (and other ADHD medications like Ritalin, Vyvanse, or Concerta)

Crack

People who are constantly into drug abuse, invests most of their time in taking drugs and doing nothing. Resulting to which they forget to take care of their basic hygiene like cleaning up or to take a bath. Washing hair and taking care of hair are in the lowest row of their priority list hence leading to hair damage and chronic hair loss.

 

Taking care of hair includes washing them, using shampoos, brushing them properly which cleanse the dead skin off the scalp and removing already fallen (or about to fall) hair strands. When none of these are done the dead skin starts to accumulate and leading to seborrheic dermatitis, in other words dandruff which causes itching in the scalp. Eventually the hair gets picked up one way or other and may lead to permanent hair loss.

Drug abuses, chemical changes and other causes of Hair loss

The drug abuse and hair loss is more complicated than just not washing your hair. People suffering from drug abuse goes through drastic psychological and hormonal changes which has various negative effects on the body.

Hair growth is a sensitive physiological process. When a person gets stressed the process gets disrupted and hence the hair growth doesn’t happen in the way they are supposed to. Drug abuse causes anxiety and anxiety results in taking drugs again to get a temporary relief and it becomes a loop. That’s how drug addiction works. Chronic drug abuse makes the body adapt to higher level of toxins which means they need higher doses and frequency of drug abuse to achieve the same effects.

Studies show that constant drug abuse at high level damages the keratin in the hair. Keratin is the protein that makes the hair strong and thick. When it gets damaged the hair becomes weak and brittle and ultimately falls off.

 

Drug abuses and stress induced hair loss:

Stress induced hair loss also known as Telogen Effluvium. It is very common in drug abusers as they go through mental and physical stress.  When the body is under stress, it puts all of its resources to the vital organs. Since hair is not that important, the body keeps it in a resting phase which means in that time span no new hair will grow and the other falls out prematurely.

People who abuse drugs might be overly stressed for a variety of reasons, ranging from emotional or mental struggles to problems within relationships or finances. As a result, stress is just another way that drug abuse causes hair loss.

People suffering from telogen effluvium doesn’t go through permanent hair loss. As soon as their mental state comes to normal the hair’s resting phase end and it again enters the regular hair cycle.

 

How to reduce the negative consequences?

You cannot just stop the negative consequences of drug abuse, to stop the negative consequence you have to stop drug abuse. The only way to ensure that addiction stops having negative effects on hair growth is to seek treatment for substance abuse. Even if you don’t think it will happen to you, drug abuse can cause hair loss. However, getting sober will reduce the physical strain being out on the body.

In addition to helping with physical changes, inpatient addiction treatment programs provide comprehensive therapy that includes stress management techniques. By learning new ways cope with anxiety, stress, and other emotions, you will not only learn to stay sober but to begin improving your hair health as well.

 

HAIR TRANPLANTATION SURGERY – HOW IT ALL BEGAN?

Hair transplantation surgery is one of the most common cosmetic surgery that is performed in these days as hair loss has become an enraging problem in this 21^st century. No one wants a patchy scalp or a shining bald in their late twenties or early thirties hence hair transplant in Kolkata has become very popular. But ever thought how it all started?

 

Way back in 1987, Menaham Hodara, an ottoman surgeon, successfully implanted hair on a patient, taking from the unaffected part of the scalp on a scar that was left by favus, a disease usually affects the scalp, but occurring occasionally on any part of the skin, even on the mucous membranes.

 

In the year 1939, Dr. Okuda first documented his surgical attempts to restore hair in burn victims. He used a “punch technique” to extract skin with hair cells and then implanted them in the scarred areas of the patient. After recovery hair continued to grow on those scarred areas.

 

In 1943, a Japanese dermatologist named Dr. Tamura refined hair transplantation surgery with finer grafts consisting of 2-3 hair strands, a process similar to the ones used today. But their efforts did not receive worldwide attention at the time, and the traumas of World War II kept their advances isolated for another two decades.

 

Later on in 1953 a Dermatologist from New York, Dr. Norman Orentreich while experimenting with free donor grafts with a patient suffering from male pattern baldness successfully implanted the hair grafts. Previously it was thought that the graft from the donor site will turn out to be same like the hair fell out when implanted in the recipient site. Dr. Orentreich demonstrated that the hair from the donor site are “donor dominant” and will act the same as it was supposed to act in its original position.

 

Advancing the theory of donor dominance, Walter.P.Unger defined the parameters of the “Safe Donor Zone” from which the most permanent hair follicles could be extracted for hair transplantation. As transplanted hair will only grow in its new site for as long as it would have in its original one, these parameters continue to serve as the fundamental foundation for hair follicle harvesting, whether by FUTor FUE.

 

In the next 20 years there was no development. Each and every experimentation failed and the end results turned out looking too artificial using the plug technique. Then in 1980’s the strip technique was introduced which replaced the plug technique.Carlos Uebel in Brazil popularized using large numbers of small grafts, while in the United States William Rassman began using thousands of “micrografts” in a single session.

 

The follicular unit transplant technique has evolved since and became much more refine and precise. Much lesser incisions are made along with more number of grafts are implanted in a single sitting. Surgeons have devoted much more time and attention to improve the technique considering the least incisions and discomforts to be made with the patients.

 

Currently there are two procedures that are used to transplant hair. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant). In FUT a strip is extracted from the back of the head which is then dissected into individual graft which is them implanted in to the affected area. Whereas in case of FUE individual hair follicles to be removed from the donor area. They are transplanted to the balding area without causing any type of linear scar on the scalp.