As part of National Hair Loss Awareness Month, Dr. David Melamed at West LA Hair is sharing information about the common causes of hair loss to educate and provide available treatment options to help men and women suffering from hair loss.

Hair loss is a common condition that affects both men and women.  Approximately 35 million men and 21 million women will have significantly thinning hair by age 50, and about 40% of women will experience hair loss or thinning by age 40.  It’s normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day as part of the hair growth cycle.  Hair shedding is part of a natural hair cycle. When the balance is interrupted is when hair falls out and less hair grows in, therefore causing hair loss. The medical name for hair loss is alopecia.  If you are noticing that your hairline is receding, thinning, or you are seeing more hair than usual in the shower drain, you may be considering permanent options to treat your hair loss.

Causes of Hair Loss

Genetics plays an important factor as a cause of hair loss, however other influences may include:

  • Aging
  • Hormones
  • Physical or emotional stress
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Medical treatments
  • Prescription drugs
  • Poor diet
  • Harsh chemicals and styling products

Which Hair Restoration is Right for You?

Depending on your hair restorations goals, there are different options available to you.  At West LA Hair, Dr. Melamed provides surgical and non-surgical procedures that are innovative in hair restoration backed by research science and results.  In order to select the right treatment for you, begin your hair restoration path with an initial consultation with Dr. Melamed to review your history and the right treatment plan that’s right for you.

What are My Non-surgical Options?

 Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP is a non-surgical treatment that utilizes your body’s natural resource of platelets and growth factor to stimulate hair growth.  A small amount of your own blood is drawn, and the red blood cells and white blood cells are isolated from the platelets.  The PRP is used to stimulate a variety of stem cell and growth factors in your own body.  If you chose not to take the surgical approach and are looking for results, then a series of PRP treatments is a great option.  This is an ideal treatment for both women and men.  Over time PRP will improve thinning and patchy bald areas. 

Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy is the process of hair growth and repair by using your own stem cells or those from a donor.  Stem cell treatment is combined with PRP, and most patients require only one treatment. There are also additional options that accompany this treatment, depending on the progression of your hair loss. Stem cell therapy, much like PRP, uses cells within your own body. These stem cells are injected into the affected area and actively repair the damaged follicles.

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

Laser therapy uses FDA cleared medical grade low level laser light to stimulate hair growth and increase blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.  Popular with both men and women, and those at the onset of their hair loss process, laser therapy is a simple and easy integration into a patient’s lifestyle. Regular laser treatments can promote hair growth and stimulate follicles, resulting in a 25%-300% increase in hair volume. The popularity of this treatment largely relies on the fact that it’s portable and can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. Laser therapy is available for purchase and personal use at .  Laser therapy is available for purchase and personal use at WWW.ICanGrowHair.com.

Oral Medications

Rogaine (Minoxidil) and Propecia (Finastride) are the only FDA approved medications for the treatment of hair loss.  At West LA Hair, Dr. Melamed uses both Propecia and Rogaine in conjunction with other, more permanent treatments. Minoxidil is available over the counter, while Propecia is only available by prescription.  On the onset, both Rogaine and Propecia slow down hair loss and cause hair regrowth, but they cease to be effective once you stop using them. There is a small chance that Rogaine can cause some level of scalp irritation.  Also 2% of men using Propecia may experience difficulty with their erection. Consult with Dr. Melamed or your physician before using either.

Propecia (Finasteride)

This prescription-only medication contains the active ingredient Finasteride. It works by preventing testosterone from converting into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which contributes to male pattern hair loss. Finasteride is only FDA approved for men, and it doesn’t work for everyone; discontinuing the treatment may result in the hair loss resuming. In a very small number of people, it may cause a rash or other symptom associated with lowered testosterone.  Dr. Melamed does prescribe Finasteride in cases that prove to be effective, and it may be combined with other treatment recommendation to assist in the hair loss prevention process.

Nutritional Therapy

Some cases of hair loss can occur due to nutritional deficiencies. Dr. Melamed’s customizes individual nutritional therapy designed to detoxify and improve the digestive system.  By including essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, the pH balance of the scalp is stabilized and helps to alleviate excess oils. Many hormonal imbalances that impact hair growth is also addressed with nutritional treatments.

 What are My Surgical Options?

Artas iX Robotic FUE

The cutting edge in hair transplant technology, the Artas iX is a robotic, physician assisted system. Using 3D mapping and intelligent graft selection, individual follicles are removed from a discreet area of the scalp and transplanted into the thinning or balding area. The Artas iX has the most sought out benefit of being the only robotic hair restoration system that eliminates linear scarring and making your hair restoration procedure virtually undetectable.  Patients can expect clinically proven results without the side effects and long recovery time common with older procedures.  If you’re looking for a natural look and precise results, this treatment will give you the results you’re seeking.

For any of our custom treatment plan, schedule your consultation with Dr. Melamed to learn which hair restoration treatment plan is right for you.