Blog
WELCOME TO THE TRICHOLOGY BLOG
Clinical Trichology is the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the hair and scalp.
Jane Mayhead is a well respected Trichologist with many years of Trichological expertise.
Here at the Trichology Blog you can read exclusive tips and up to date Trichological information including general hair care news.
Article At Home Magazine
Study suggests vitamin D derivative may provide alternative treatment for hair loss Published on February 9, 2017 by Life Science Daily News Desk
A derivative of activated vitamin D may help to manage hair loss caused by alopecia areata (AA), according to a new study.
AA is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, resulting in the loss of clumps of hair, and occasionally, baldness. The disorder currently affects approximately 6.8 million people in the United States. Results from a pilot study have shown that a vitamin D derivative called calcipotriol may be an effective treatment for AA.
In the recent study, which was published in the journal Dermatologic Therapy, participants applied a 0.005 percent calcipotriol lotion twice daily for three months. Researchers measured hair regrowth after four, eight, and 12 weeks, finding that regrowth began to occur after an average of 4.2 weeks. Hair regrowth had begun in 59 percent of patients after 12 weeks of treatment.
“Topical calcipotriol can be an alternative treatment in AA and it could prove to be more useful in patients who are vitamin D deficient,” the authors said.
A previous study suggested that the severity of AA was linked to low vitamin D levels, while another found that the hair follicles of AA patients contained fewer vitamin D receptors than those of healthy controls.
Hair loss in women
Female hair loss is an issue frequently seen and can at times, prove a challenging problem to solve!
A trend towards this type of hair loss seems to be quite apparent in recent years, indeed research has shown that as many as 1 in 4 women can experience hair loss of this kind.
As a Trichologist I see this issue daily. Often presenting as a Diffuse (widespread) hair loss. Telogen Effluvium either acute or chronic (over 6 months’ duration) is the most common. Another common problem is Female pattern hair loss, which is the now more preferred term for Androgenic Alopecia.
These two conditions can be largely confused and are all too frequently misunderstood. The exact causes of either is relatively unknown but many studies have been done to look into the most likely.
Frustratingly though, no cause is found in approximately one third of Telogen effluvium cases leaving many confused.
Female pattern hair loss can be very varied in its progression and severity resulting in many sufferers feeling quite desperate.
For the Trichologist it is several areas that are investigated and wider treatment options that bring about the best results for women.
Investigations are most important before any treatment can be decided upon. This will include, among other things, a detailed case history which may indicate the cause of the hair loss and would usually have occurred some 6 to 8 weeks before the hair begins any noticeable shedding.
The condition Telogen effluvium, usually presents with an increased number of hairs in the grooming and washing process, sometimes even blocking the plug! In some cases, thinning of the hair is observed resulting in less dense hair causing much anxiety. Fear of washing the hair can then lead to further problems with the hair /scalp and even more noticeable hair fall when eventually the hair is washed.
Female pattern hair loss is presented by more of the scalp becoming visible and wider partings observed over time rather than a sudden hair fall.
Seeing a Trichologist will include various examinations to exclude other types of hair loss and to determine if any hairdressing practices or scalp issues are causing or adding to the problem.
Is your hair healthy?
Most people characterise ‘unhealthy’ hair when it feels Course, rough or brittle in texture and looks dry in appearance with breaks or splits in the hair shaft. This is in fact damaged hair that has endured external treatments that have caused the condition to deteriorate. Looking after, the hair with a good hair care regime and products can alleviate and prevent these problems. When the hair has become ‘over processed’ then it cannot not be repaired, if it becomes matted when wet and feels like ‘wet cotton wool’. This is a sure sign it is over processed by chemicals.
Maintaining a healthy head of hair starts with healthy eating. All the nutrients required for normal healthy hair growth come from the blood passed to your hair via it’s follicle. Interruptions in this process can lead to hair growth issues. As well as diet for newly growing hair a good hair care regime is vital in preserving a healthy head of hair. Particularly as it is often there for a few years before it is replaced!
If you are unsure of how to care and maintain your hair through diet and hair care regimes, then why not visit a Trichologist for a tailor-made regime to suit you.
Platelet rich plasma therapy for hair loss
Platelet-rich plasma (abbreviation: PRP) is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets. As a concentrated source of autologous platelets, PRP contains several different growth factors and other cytokines that can stimulate healing of bone and soft tissue. As of 2016, no large-scale randomised controlled trials have confirmed the promise of PRP in basic science and preclinical trials to treat musculoskeletal injuries (including tendinitis, nerve injuries), help in bone grafting or androgenic hair loss.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an old therapy and used extensively in specialities of dermatology, orthopaedics and dentistry. Platelet rich plasma therapy utilises growth factors present in alpha granules of platelets in an autologous manner. Main indications in dermatology for PRP are Androgenetic alopecia, wound healing, face rejuvenation etc.
For preparation of PRP, various protocols are used and no standard protocol exists but main principles essentially involve concentrating platelets in a concentration of 3–5 times the physiological value and then injecting this concentrated plasma in the tissue where healing or effect is desired
If you would like to enquire for this treatment make an appointment to see if you can be referred.
New Baldness Cure?
A new medical treatment for Male pattern baldness could be on the horizon.
Sammued a medical research company have just published some new data on phase 2 trial of a treatment for baldness. March 7, 2016
The trial included men of ages 18 - 55 suffering from baldness. The study involved a 90 day once daily topical solution of its compound SM04554 treatment, with a 45-day post treatment follow up.
The Phase 2 trial studied the safety, tolerability and efficacy of two different concentrations (0.15% and 0.25%) of SM04554 in male subjects
Samumed, a leader in tissue regeneration, presented results from its Phase 2 trial during the 74th Annual Meeting of the AAD in Washington, DC, at the “Late-breaking Research Forums—Procedural Dermatology” session.
The presentation slides can be found at www.samumed.com.
Grey discovery
Scientists for the first time have identified the gene responsible for the process of hair losing its colour and turning grey.
The study, which was led by researchers at University College London, also found genes relevant to dense eyebrows and beards.
Dr Kaustubh Adhikari author on the study said that "this is the first time the gene for greying hair had been identified" adding that "we already know the several genes responsible for hair colour and balding but not that of shape and density".
Published in Nature Communications, the study analysed a population of over 6,000 people with varied ancestry across Latin America to identify new genes associated with hair colour, greying, density and shape, i.e. straight or curly.
The gene identified for grey hair -- IRF4 -- is known to play a role in hair colour but this is the first time it has been associated with the greying of hair. This gene is involved in regulating production and storage of melanin, the pigment that determines hair, skin and eye colour.
Hair greying is caused by an absence of melanin in hair so the scientists want to find out IRF4's role in this process. Understanding how IRF4 influences hair greying could help the development of new cosmetic applications that change the appearance of hair as it grows in the follicle by slowing or blocking the greying of hair.
The scientists found additional genes associated with hair including EDAR for beard thickness and hair shape; FOXL2 for eyebrow thickness and PAX3 for monobrow prevalence.
"It has long been speculated that hair features could have been influenced by some form of selection, such as natural or sexual selection, and we found statistical evidence in the genome supporting that view," added Dr Adhikari. "The genes we have identified are unlikely to work in isolation to cause greying or straight hair, or thick eyebrows, but have a role to play along with many other factors yet to be identified."
Jane attended and received Aderans Human Hair Custom Made Technical Training Award. Custome Made Hair replacement systems are now available at The Maylan Cenre. Please contact the clinic for a consultation.
Sentoo Collection
Premium plus have added 6 new shades and 2 new styles to the collection. Contact the Maylan Centre for information.
I was Invited to talk about hair loss on The ChrissyB show. This is a live talk show that has a wide variety of subjects. I took along some hairpieces to show and pictures of hair loss cases. It was a great experience.
The New Trichology Clinic and Hair replacement studio is all now up and running! There are many hair replacement options available that range from small clip in hair systems to full head wigs. A full prescribing and follow up service is also available for Minoxidil and Propecia.
After 10 long years in Rainham sadly it's time to say goodbye but on to pastures new in Rochester! I hope the next 10 years will be just as rewarding as the last but with new and exciting things ahead!
Trichology Clinic November 2012
I was invited to the Trendco Open day Postiche Seminar. A launch of a new collection was of great interest. The Sentoo Premium plus. Some new styles with Flexi Fibre. The texture, feel,weight and look was brilliant! I was so impressed with them that I will be making them available through my clinic and website.
Trichology Clinic October 2012.
There is some news on a new drug to rival Minoxidil for hair growth. A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal shows how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow. It's been commercially available as a way to lengthen eyelashes, but these data are the first to show that it can actually grow human hair from the scalp.
"We hope this study will lead to the development of a new therapy for balding which should improve the quality of life for many people with hair loss," said Valerie Randall, a researcher involved in the work from the University of Bradford, Bradford, UK. "Further research should increase our understanding of how hair follicles work and thereby allow new therapeutic approaches for many hair growth disorders."
To make this discovery, Randall and colleagues conducted three sets of experiments. Two involved human cells and the other involved mice. The tests on human cells involved using hair follicles growing in organ culture as well as those take directly from the human scalp. In both of these experiments, the scientists found that bimatoprost led to hair growth. The third set of experiments involved applying bimatoprost to the skin of bald spots on mice. As was the case with human cells, the drug caused hair to regrow. "This discovery could be the long- awaited follow up to Viagra that middle-aged men have been waiting for," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal. "Given that the drug is already approved for human use and its safety profile is generally understood, this looks like a promising discovery that has been right in front of our eyes the whole time.
Trichology Clinic September 2012
Female hair thinning
It has been an age old endeavour for men and indeed women with hair loss to try and alleviate the problem ,often being tempted by the alluring assortment of lotions notions pills and potions to treat it. So what actually works? The answer to this depends on how far the hair loss has progressed.
There is a scale of hair loss for men and women devised by Drs Hamilton and Norwood.
This scale can help determine what level of hair loss the individual is at. Once this is established then the appropriate treatment can be successful.
For women level one can often be successfully treated using a topical treatment called minoxidil. This is a lotion containing a medical ingredient that can improve hair growth. Level two can also be treated with minoxidil but less of a result will be achieved. Level three is ulikely to be much improved by using the minoxidil and more of a hair replacement method is required for better results.
