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Author: Alexis VIce

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How the Hair Growth Cycle Impacts Hair Loss Diagnosis & Treatment

Hair loss is a problem that many people face. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, age, and lifestyle choices. The most common type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, which is a result of the interaction between hormones and genes. Androgenetic alopecia accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men and women. In this blog post, we will discuss the different stages of hair loss, how it impacts diagnosis and treatment, and new products from Pharmacy solutions that are designed to improve hair loss!

When it comes to understanding hair loss and why it is occurring scientists and doctors typically refer to the hair growth cycle. This is a process that all hair follicles go through and can be broken down into distinct phases with which to understand the problem.

What Are the Four Stages of Hair Growth?

The hair growth cycle is divided into four phases: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.

Anagen: Growing phase.
Hair follicle cells divide rapidly to produce new hair.

Catagen: Transitional phase.
Hair follicle cells stop dividing and the hair shaft starts to detach from the blood supply. The hair follicle shrinks and helps to rest and renew the follicle.

Telogen: Resting phase.
New hair growth does not occur during this phase. The hair follicle is dormant and the hair shaft is fully detached from the blood supply.

Anagen Restart (Exogen): Shedding phase.
The old hair is shed to make way for new hair growth.

Overall, how long is a hair growth cycle?

The length of each phase varies from person to person. The average hair growth cycle is about three years long, but it can be shorter or longer depending on a person’s age, health, and lifestyle choices. Overall there is a large margin between 3 and 5 years largely determined by the length of the growth phase

  • Anagen is the growth phase. This phase can last for several years and is responsible for the majority of hair growth. During this phase, the cells in the follicle divide rapidly to produce new hair.
  • Catagen is the transitional phase. This phase lasts for about two weeks and is when the hair follicle shrinks. This phase is important because it helps to rest and renew the hair follicle.
  • Telogen is the resting phase. This phase lasts for about three months and is when the hair follicle rests. During this phase, new hair growth does not occur.
  • Exogen is the shedding phase. This phase lasts for about two weeks and is when the old hair is shed to make way for new hair growth.

How do I know my hair growth cycle?

There are several ways to determine your hair growth cycle. One way is to look at your scalp. If you have visible hair loss, you may be in the telogen phase. Another way to determine your hair growth cycle is to ask your doctor for a blood test. This test can measure the levels of hormones that are associated with hair loss. Finally, you can also ask your doctor for a biopsy of your scalp. This procedure is usually reserved for people with severe hair loss or who do not respond to other treatments.

Understanding The Structure Of Your Follicles

The hair follicle is a small, cup-shaped structure that sits at the base of your hair. The follicle is made up of three main parts:

The bulb is the bottom part of the follicle and contains the cells that produce new hair.

The shaft is the middle part of the follicle and contains the hair that you can see.

The root, which is the top part of the follicle and anchors the hair in place.

Each hair follicle goes through its own individual hair growth cycle. The length of each cycle varies from person to person but is typically about three years long.


Diagnosing Hair Loss Using Hair Growth Cycle

There are several different types of hair loss, and the hair growth cycle can be used to help diagnose the cause.

Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss that occurs when a person experiences a stressful event, such as childbirth, surgery, or severe illness. This type of hair loss typically causes the follicles to enter the telogen phase and shed their hair.

Anagen effluvium is a type of hair loss that occurs when the follicles are damaged during the anagen phase. This type of hair loss can be caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Alopecia areata is a type of autoimmune disease that causes patchy hair loss. This type of hair loss occurs when the immune system attacks the follicles, causing them to enter the telogen phase.


Treating Hair Loss in Men and Women
  • Minoxidil – Suppresses androgen receptor function, increases vasodilation and stimulates prostaglandin production. Helps to increase blood flow to the hair follicles and prolongs the anagen (growth) phase to promote hair growth.
  • Finasteride/Dutasteride – Blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which binds to the androgen receptor and miniaturizes hair follicles.
  • Spironolactone – decreases the production of hormones such as androgens which are responsible for causing AGA. It is used as add on agent for female-pattern baldness when minoxidil is ineffective.
  • Latanoprost – Has a positive stimulating effect on the hair follicle and stimulates the transition of the hair from the telogen phase to the anagen phase.
  • Corticosteroids – Reduces the inflammation and suppressing the immune system, to stop the body from attacking the hair follicles
  • Progesterone – Naturally inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which works to block the harmful effects of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
  • Estrogen – Extends the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle and causes hair to grow faster.
  • Azelaic acid – Inhibition of this enzyme by azelaic acid can reduce the concentration of DHT in scalp and therefore stimulate hair regrowth.
  • Cetirizine – Topical cetirizine showed that cetirizine increased total hair density, terminal hair density and diameter.
  • Biotin – Improves hair growth and helps with inflammation in patients with a deficiency.


Pharmacy Solutions Offers The Above Medications, as well as our
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Power of Three: Triple Combination Therapy for Hair Loss Treatment

Triple combination is a prescription we offer by combining the 3 most powerful ingredients into one powerful treatment for hair loss.

  • The secret lies in the combination of 3 medications amplifying the effect of the other! In some cases almost 4X as effective:
    • Combines Minoxidil, Finasteride, & Latanoprost
  • Keeping it simple with 1 daily application


Designed for men 18-65 and post-menopausal women. Experiencing alopecia, hormone imbalance, or post COVID-19 hair loss.

Ask your doctor if Triple Combination Therapy is right for you!

 

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Minoxidil Extra Strength and Hair Loss

Minoxidil was developed as a blood pressure medication in the late 1960’s and is still used today for moderate to severe hypertension (high blood pressure). Even during development for high blood pressure the “side effect” of hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) was reported but was minimized by the company doing the research. They felt that a drug for hair loss was not meaningful enough and did not want to jeopardize developing the use of minoxidil for blood pressure. But once the word got out to enough people, the company was convinced to start studies for the treatment of baldness in the late 1970’s.

The mechanism for the extra hair growth from minoxidil is not completely understood. One proposed mechanism is that by opening potassium channels it causes a hyperpolarization of cell membranes in hair follicles, which could cause hair follicles in the telogen phase to shed the hair and be replaced by stronger, thicker hair of the anagen phase of growth.

Minoxidil for hair loss has been approved by the FDA in only 2 concentrations: 2% and 5%. Both of these strengths have shown some effectiveness in treating various forms of hair loss. For patients with less than optimal response to the 5% formula, higher concentrations up to 14% have been prescribed by doctors seeking better results for those patients. Since the commercial drug companies do not make anything more than 5%, a compounding pharmacy has to make these stronger formulas. Additional hair growth has been reported with these formulas. It should also be noted that stronger formulas require more of the inactive solvents propylene glycol and/or alcohol, which could theoretically increase the irritation and redness from the application.

So for those patients who have experienced some effects but insufficient benefit from standard concentrations of minoxidil for hair loss, a trial of stronger formulations is reasonable.

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Hair Loss & Testosterone for Men

Hair loss can be a traumatic situation.  The amount of money spent on this issue, which amounts to over $1 Billion per year, demonstrates the value we place on our hair.

Briefly, let’s look at how hair grows.   The hair follicles, which are below the skin, are constantly undergoing cyclical rounds or phases:   the telogen phase is a resting phase with no growth, the anagen phase, which is rapid growth, and the catagen phase, which is degeneration.

Just as in other conditions, there are multiple reasons why people lose hair, but it usually boils down to the diet, stress levels, or hormone issues combined with genetic factors.  We will focus on the hormone aspect, but other factors should not be ignored. That diet affects hair can be surprising to some people, but lack of vitamins (like vitamin D, biotin and others), minerals and especially protein directly impact hair formation by decreasing the number of hair follicles. And stress is another often overlooked factor.  High cortisol levels from stress cause the hair follicles to go into the resting phase (telogen phase) and sometime later, that hair will fall out.

Other sex hormones have an effect on the condition of hair, but we will concentrate on testosterone.   Until the last couple of decades, it was assumed that the testosterone itself was causing hair loss, but it turns out that for scalp hair, it is not testosterone that causes the loss, but dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  Testosterone in the body is converted to DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase which can be found in the prostate and testes as well as in hair follicles . DHT is more powerful than testosterone itself and will attach more effectively to receptors.  It will cause a miniaturization of the follicle, a shortened duration of the anagen phase (growth), and a lengthened telogen phase (rest). All this leads to shorter hair which easily just falls out of the follicle causing the hair loss.

Another unusual aspect is that scalp hair will grow before puberty without DHT but it is required for other body hair. While not completely understood, once the person reaches puberty and testosterone rises, DHT starts being produced and hair loss begins. The rate at which this happens is determined by many factors including the genetic makeup of the individual, especially the amount of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.

It had been theorized that male pattern baldness was a result of an individual having high levels of testosterone but as we see above that is not the case.  A person can have normal or even low levels of testosterone and if they also have high levels of that enzyme they will still lose hair.

Studies have shown that early in the process there are some ways to mitigate but not stop hair loss. Of course, dietary concerns and stress should be addressed.  Medications like finasteride can inhibit the 5-alpha reductase enzyme while minoxidil dilates blood vessels around the follicle.

As we see, the process of hair loss is a common, natural process in most situations. So like other things in life, we can either accept the changes or we can attempt to stop them.

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What are the Best Hair Growth Remedies on the Market Today?

With the prevalence of androgenic alopecia on the rise, many men and women are looking for the best hair growth remedies on the market. Hair loss can be both psychologically and physically challenging; not only does it change a person’s physical appearance, but it can also lead to social anxiety. For those experiencing hair loss, feeling self-conscious and anxious in public and social situations is non-negligible. The trouble is that finding a suitable hair growth remedy can be both difficult and daunting. 

Fortunately, there is an array of hair growth remedies on the market that can target the different causes leading to androgenic alopecia, commonly called male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. “Since hair loss causes are multifactorial, the clinical literature shows that combinations of active ingredients and/or therapies against hair loss show better efficacy and satisfactory hair growth results,” explains Houfar Sekhavat, M.D. and founder of the Triple Hair Group. This can come as a relief to androgenic alopecia patients as advancing clinical literature and studies have made certain advances in preventing and reversing hair loss; new treatments and approaches that are more effective are now finding their way to the everyday consumer. In an industry that hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years, these innovations are certainly welcome! So, what are the new and relatively new solutions recommended by hair loss experts today?   

Combination prescription sprays  

Spray medication has become increasingly popular in the medical field. It offers a variety of advantages over traditional oral or injectable medications. One key advantage of spray medication is that it minimizes systemic side effects. Systemic side effects occur when medicines travel throughout the body, reaching areas not intended for treatment and that can be sensitive to the treatment. With spray medication, however, only the area intended for treatment receives the drug. 

One of the advantages of spray hair loss remedies

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Another benefit associated with spray medication is its ease of use. Sprays are designed to accurately target specific areas without wasting any product, allowing for precise application with minimal mess or fuss.  

By combining drugs that are known to work against androgenic alopecia, the active ingredients of the spray work together to attack several causes of hair loss at the same time.

Latanoprost is actually a relatively new ingredient in the world of hair loss. Traditionally, it is used to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension. However, patients using latanoprost eyedrops noted that it increased the length and thickness of their eyelashes. Further studies show that latanoprost not only helps in the growth of eyelashes; it can also contribute to the growth of hair!  

Through their research, Triple Hair has tested multiple fixed-dose combinations of recognized ingredients that encourage hair growth. The company has patented a formulation combining the active ingredients listed above which have shown superior results when used in combination, compared to the use of each ingredient on its own. To facilitate the process of getting a rapid diagnostic and treatment plan of topical solutions combining multiple active ingredients, Triple Hair has also developed a telehealth platform called Hair Loss Rx Consult. The patient’s hair loss consultation starts as a chat communication with the clinician, leading to a prescribed medication that is personalized to their specific hair loss situation. “The online, interactive messaging system and the medical data are encrypted to ensure the highest standard of confidentiality,” explains Jean-Philippe Gravel, President and CEO of Triple Hair.  

Derma Rollers

Derma rollers have risen in popularity in recent years, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles all the way to stretch marks. However, derma rollers aren’t just a great tool to reinvigorate skin; they can also rejuvenate weak or dormant hair follicles. This explains why they’re not only found in spas but also in specialized hair clinics.  

A derma roller is a handheld device with a wheel covered in small needles that are rolled over the scalp. The micro-needles create microscopic channels on the surface of the skin which triggers a natural healing process, boosting collagen production and cell renewal resulting in thicker, healthier-looking hair. By creating these microlesions, the scalp then heals itself, promoting better blood circulation and strengthening hair follicles with extra nutrients. When used regularly, it can help stimulate blood circulation and encourage healthy hair growth by delivering more nutrients to the follicles. It can also help topical sprays penetrate the scalp more effectively, providing greater absorption of active ingredients into the follicles and resulting in thicker, fuller hair.  

That’s why Triple Hair’s brands (RIZN for men and Plenty Natural for women) offer derma rollers with 5mm needles. These derma rollers are not only designed for easy, at-home use but they are also just the right length to stimulate hair follicles, creating optimal conditions for hair regrowth.  

Derma rollers help to improve blood flow in scalp


Vitamin & mineral supplements 

Our bodies need the right vitamins and minerals to function properly, and this is also true for growing healthy hair. There are actually a few different vitamins and minerals that are crucial in the maintenance of healthy hair, such as biotin and niacinamide.  

Biotin helps keep your scalp in a healthy state by providing nourishment to the hair follicles while also helping protect against excessive shedding. It has been shown to improve overall scalp health as well as support stronger hairs that are more resistant to breakage. 

Niacinamide helps maintain healthy skin cells and can improve the health of hair strands by increasing their diameter. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce scalp irritation which can contribute to hair loss. Studies have demonstrated that niacinamide can be successful in reducing hair shedding, promoting new growth, and strengthening existing strands. This is done by increasing the absorption of nutrients into the scalp through increased blood circulation, thus improving the health of hair follicles and encouraging them to produce healthier hairs. 

Although studies have seen some potential benefits in taking vitamins for treating androgenic alopecia, it is still important to understand their limitations and not considering them as ‘the ultimate cure of androgenic alopecia’. Vitamin and mineral supplements can help in cases where the person who is losing their hair doesn’t have all the vitamins and minerals they need. However, hair loss can be caused by nutritional deficiencies and/or by other factors like age, a genetic predisposition, etc. 

Common causes leading to hair loss

In cases where someone might not be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need, it’s important to consider using a supplement that can counter these deficits. Triple Hair brands, Plenty Natural for women and RIZN for men, have a vitamin and mineral complex specifically designed to encourage healthy hair growth.  

A good hair loss treatment might include a vitamin and mineral supplement

PRP

PRP, also known as Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, is a non-surgical hair growth solution used to counter androgenic alopecia. This revolutionary procedure utilizes the plasma and platelets found in one’s own blood to promote natural hair growth. It has been used therapeutically since the 1970s to treat various medical conditions, including as a hair loss treatment. 

The PRP process begins with a simple blood draw from the patient’s arm. The sample is then centrifuged in order to separate out the platelets and plasma from red and white blood cells. Once separated, the platelets and plasma are then injected into areas of thinning hair or baldness on the scalp. The platelets release growth factors which stimulate dormant follicles and encourage new hair growth over time.  

How blood is used in PRP

The cost of a PRP hair loss treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition and where you live but can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per session. As any treatment for androgenic alopecia, consistency is important to maintain results: PRP should be done 3 times in the first 6 weeks of treatment followed by a maintenance session every 4-6 months. Results also vary but studies have shown that patients treated with PRP therapy saw an average of 81 percent increase in total amount of hairs after three months yet only a 40-50 percent increase in overall coverage. It can be an effective treatment for someone who is at the beginning or mid stages of hair loss but it might need to be paired up with another approach to get sufficient scalp coverage.

Hair transplant

Hair transplants have been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to restore hair growth or cover receding hairlines. This procedure involves taking healthy donor hairs from one part of the body and implanting them into areas that are balding or thinning.

The success of a hair transplant depends on an individual’s age, health, the extent of their hair loss, the technician’s experience, and the type of procedure.

The best candidates for a hair transplant are usually men between 20-50 years old who have male pattern baldness, and women with thinning hair due to aging or genetic factors. Additionally, those who have had successful results from other treatments such as dications may also be good candidates for this procedure.

Having a hair transplant can be an important decision for many individuals. It is not only about the cost, but also about the commitment to maintain the results. Although modern techniques and technologies make hair transplants more effective than ever before, there are still some risks involved that should be taken into consideration.

The scars from a hair transplant are permanent; however, their visibility can depend on how well you take care of them in the weeks after surgery.

FUT procedures tend to leave a more visible linear scar, but it can be covered with the help of scalp micro pigmentation (SMP), a tattoo technique performed by an SMP professional.

An FUE hair transplant is known to be less invasive. To prevent any scarring or damage to your scalp, it is important to follow all post-surgery instructions carefully.

To maintain the desired outcome, it is important for patients to understand that taking medication after a transplant is beneficial. There are several medications available that can help keep newly transplanted hair healthy and strong while also helping to prevent further hair loss. The decision to take medication should be discussed with a doctor prior to undergoing the procedure to determine which type of medication would work best for the individual’s specific needs. If you have any questions concerning hair transplants, a good resource is info@hairlosssolutionsmoncton.com

There may not be a definite cure for androgenic alopecia but there are different options that can lessen the impacts of this medical condition. If you have any questions about our hair loss services, make sure to contact us!

The next generation of hair growth therapy.