Laser Hair Removal Central

The November Ezine edition of The Health Gazette will be published on time, tomorrow, November 1st.

This month's main article by Dr Jenny Tylee considers the significant problem of air pollution within the home. There is plenty of research to confirm what is perfectly obvious -- people spend many hours every week inside their homes. Add to this number the additional hours spent inside other buildings and the level of exposure poses quite a problem.

This significant risk to health is all the more worrying because it is largely silent. People just don't realise what they are exposed to and what problems can result. Many people suffer poor health as a direct result from exposure to toxins found in the air inside their own homes. Might you be one of them? What can you do about the problem?

This important discussion was written by Dr. Ricardo Mejia of Jupiter, FL who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

Before any woman with female hair loss proceeds with hair surgery, she should properly be evaluated for medical and other conditions that can mimic female pattern baldness. Be sure not to ignore this as I have seen many women have surgery only to find out later there was a medical reason for their hair loss.

I generally do not initially recommend a hair transplant for women unless they have had a proper medical workup. I found too many cases of underactive thyroid, low ferritin / iron and causes of telogen effluvium or shock loss due to other factors mimicking androgenic alopecia. I have also found two cases of diffuse alopecia areata, an immunological condition where the hair transplants would not work.

We deal with a lot of women and it is our standard practice to assure this is done. These are some of the basics. For a woman’s perspective on hair restoration results see below:

Video: Womans Perspective on Hair Transplants

Dr. Ricardo Mejia

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

This question was posed by a female hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by  Dr. Humayun Mohmand of Pakistan who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

Can you tell me what the difference between these two hair transplant methods are: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT - Strip Surgery) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

FUE stands for follicular unit extraction.  In this hair restoration method, the surgeon extracts one follicular unit at a time with a punch ranging from 0.7mm to 1 mm leaving a small little mark.  The advantage of FUE is no linear scar, but scarring in the shape of small round pits.  Know that there is always a scar, but the visibility is different.  There is also minimal pain during the FUE healing process, though it’s significantly more expensive in some cases.

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or the “strip” method is where a hair restoration physician will harvest a strip of tissue creating a liner scar from one ear to other.  These days, most surgeons are using the tricophytic closure technique to minimize the visibility of the scar in most cases and if done correctly.  Many surgeons do the tricophytic closure, but their method could vary and hence so does their result.  It’s a bit more uncomfortable than FUE, but you can get it for a very competitive price.  There are either stitches or staples to be removed in 10 days time.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Knowing what’s causing your hair loss is the first step to developing a long term hair restoration treatment program. Some of you may already be aware that male pattern baldness is genetic and caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, what other contributors exist that facilitates or expedites hair loss?

Hair styling products which have been traditionally identified with women are now very popular with men. But do these styling agents contribute in any way to male or female hair loss? Join this hair loss forum discussion between patient and physician members who offer their input on this highly important topic.

Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

I have been experiencing dizziness after a month of using Rogaine (minoxidil) 5%.  I woke up a few times from it and felt my heartbeat racing for a few seconds. Anyone know about this type of side effect?  Should i discontinue use?

This hair loss question was answered on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Paul Shapiro of Bloomington, MN who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

If you are having dizziness and heart palpitations on Rogaine, I would advise you to stop it right away.

Minoxidil is a vasodilator which means it relaxes the veins and arteries in the body. It was first used as an oral medication to lower blood pressure. The fact that minoxidil stimulates hair growth was an accidental finding. In fact, it is no longer used to lower blood pressure, partly due to this side effect.

When used topically (applied directly to the balding scalp) usually the amount absorbed into the blood stream is minimal. In most hair loss sufferers, it does not cause systemic (affecting the body ) side effects.

Dizzy spells and heart palpitations are known side affect of minoxidil and you may just be extra sensitive to the medication. But there also may be a medical reason why the minute amount of Rogaine absorbed into your blood system cased palpitations. I would see your primary care physician and/or a cardiologist to do some simple testing to evaluate your heart. Another possibility is that you have a skin condition on your scalp which allows more of the hair loss treatment to be absorbed into your body, (i.e. bad psoriasis) but I think you would know of such a condition.

I hope this is helpful.

Paul Shapiro, MD

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog