Hair gel on its own does not cause hair loss. But, not keeping your scalp and follicles clean and healthy can.
If you use hair gel regularly, you should be washing your hair daily. Gel builds up on the scalp and clogs pores. This can constrict the follicles and interfere with the growth process.
To understand how gel interferes with the growth process, we first have to understand the cycle our hair grows in. Each hair grows for several months and years. It then goes into a resting period for a couple of weeks before it falls out. Once it falls out, a new hair grows in its place. If there is gel or sebum build up on the scalp, the follicles can become blocked. This blockage cannot be resolved with regular shampooing methods. Over time, the hair follicle miniaturizes and eventually dies.
Unfortunately, once a hair follicle dies there is no bringing it back to life. This is why its so important to take good care of our hair.
While hair gel does not directly cause hair loss, it can definitely contribute if you’re not taking care of your hair and scalp. Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to fight hair loss is to prevent it. Before you begin noticing build up on your scalp, consider switching to an organic, all natural hair gel or wax. Limiting the harsh chemicals that sit on the scalp will improve the health of the scalp and follicles.
If you are experiencing any type of hair loss and would like to learn more about managing it and re-growing it, give us a call. Here at Modena, we’re experts at utilizing alternative methods to restore and reverse hair loss.
Tag Archives: Hair Loss Prevention
Is stress causing you to lose your hair?
We’ve all heard that stress can cause our hair to fall out – but is this actually true? According to the Mayo Clinic, yes! There are three types of hair loss that are correlated with high stress levels. They are telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and alopecia areata.
Telogen effluvium – this condition causes hair follicles to be converted into a resting phase. The affected hairs can then fall out suddenly during brushing and washing.
Trichotillomania – this condition has more to do with hair pulling as a coping mechanism for stress. Some individuals utilize hair pulling as a way of dealing with negative feelings, such as stress.
Alopecia areata – although there are many factors that can cause this condition, severe stress is thought to play a role in some patients. Stress can affect our immune system which then attacks our own hair follicles causing hair loss.
The good news about stress related hair loss is that it isn’t permanent for most patients IF you can get your stress under control. Of course, that’s easier said than done. But, the important thing to keep in mind is that living a healthy lifestyle involves more than just adding vegetables to our dinner and going for a walk occasionally. Our mental health plays a huge role in our complete wellbeing. If we don’t take care of all aspects of our wellbeing, we may find that our bodies are negatively impacted.
Here at Modena, Dr. Yazdan specializes in the medical management of hair loss. Our clientele often face extremely stressful environments. We are skilled in evaluating the condition of your hair loss and determining the exact cause, utilizing tests and lab work. Once we know the cause we can begin working towards correcting the problem.
If you think stress is causing your hair loss and you aren’t sure how to reverse or stop the process, give us a call for a consultation.
Laser therapy for hair loss
Although half of all men experience hair loss, many don’t see a hair transplant surgeon until much of their volume is gone. This is unfortunate because once a hair follicle has died, there is no bringing it back to life. That’s why it’s so important protect the hair we have now.
Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to treat hair loss is to be as proactive as possible. As soon as you start noticing thinning or hair loss you should be taking steps to maintain and protect your current volume and density from future and continued hair loss. Laser therapy can be a great tool to prevent future hair loss, even reversing hair loss and thinning in the right candidates.
Laser therapy is a great option for those looking for a treatment with no known side effects and a high success rate. The treatment is extremely easy to use – simply put the laser cap on and let it do its work! Dr. Yazdan likes to use his laser therapy cap while working on the computer or driving to work. Instructions are easy to understand and you can multi-task while getting the treatment.
Perhaps you’re interested in taking a more aggressive course of action towards your hair loss… Laser therapy can be used in conjunction with PRP treatments, medications, shampoos, and even hair transplant surgeries. In fact – it often increases the efficacy of these treatments and procedures.
If you’re interested in learning more about laser therapy for hair loss and want to know if you’re the right candidate for it – give us a call for a free consultation today.
Can a medical condition be causing your hair loss?
While most hair loss is caused by a hereditary condition called male-pattern and female-pattern baldness, some cases may be caused by more serious medical conditions.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many medical conditions that can be at the root of your hair loss problems. I’ve outlined some of the more common hair loss causing medical conditions below.
Thyroid problems/Hormonal imbalance: Many individuals don’t realize the important role hormones play in hair growth. When our hormones are imbalanced or going through rapid changes, this can cause our hair to thin, fall out, and even stop growing all together! Constant hormone imbalance can be a sign of a thyroid condition.
Alopecia Areata: Alopecia is a medical condition in which a patient’s immune system attacks their own hair follicles. This causes smooth bald patches to present on the scalp.
Infection: Although we don’t often think of our scalp being the same thing as our skin, our scalp is in fact made up of epidermis and dermis. Our scalp is therefore susceptible to infections, just like the rest of our skin. Infections can penetrate the scalp and cause patches of hair loss.
Chronic illnesses: Any ongoing chronic illness can cause hair loss. More serious conditions such as heavy metal poisoning, sarcoidosis, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and lupus can cause hair to become brittle and fall out.
Medications: Hair loss can be a side effect of certain medications. Drugs used to treat arthritis, depression, heart issues, high blood pressure, and even birth control have been shown to cause hair loss.
Think your hair loss might be caused by a more serious underlying condition? Dr. Yazdan specializes in the medical management of hair loss. Upon reviewing medical history and patient records, as well as testing and analyzing a small sample of the patient’s hair follicle and scalp tissue, he can determine the cause of your hair loss. Give us a call for a consultation and find out what’s causing your hair loss today.
PRP – Who benefits from it?
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP Therapy has been gaining popularity recently. For those who are unfamiliar with the therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma is derived from your own blood. This plasma contains growth factors and healing agents. Using a small amount of blood, the doctor separates the platelets and activates them. These platelets are then injected into the scalp and get to work decreasing inflammation and promoting healing and hair growth.
We know PRP is an effective treatment for hair loss, but who is it most effective on? The great thing about PRP Therapy is that it is effective on both men and women. Unlike certain prescription medications that are reserved only for men, PRP does not discriminate. We have seen amazing results on both our male and female patients. PRP also works on people of all ages. Some of you may have seen Dr. Yazdan on the Doctors TV show performing PRP on an eight year old patient with trauma scarring.
While PRP Therapy can be used in conjunction with hair transplant surgery, it is also a great solo tool for those who may not be ideal surgery candidates. You are an ideal PRP candidate if you are experiencing ANY thinning or hair loss, even if just a small amount. PRP decreases inflammation around thinning hair follicles which leads to thicker and denser hair. In addition, it prevents the dying off of follicles, which means PRP can actually save your hair and stop hair loss in its tracks, thus making it an ideal treatment for anyone who is just beginning to notice hair loss and thinning.
So, what can you expect after starting your PRP Therapy at Modena Hair Institute? Results begin to be visible after about three weeks and gradually increase over the following months. Dr. Yazdan recommends patients do at least four sessions to see desirable results. You can also increase results at home by utilizing dermal rolling.
Dr. Yazdan believes the best defense in fighting hair loss is preventing it. So start fighting back against your hair loss and give us a call, today!
How often should you wash your hair?
There are a lot of differing opinions on this topic for both men and women. There are many factors that contribute to how often you should wash your hair. For example, if your hair is curly vs straight, long vs short, thin vs thick. Further, how often you sweat and what products you use can also play a role in how often you wash your hair.
There are benefits to washing your hair everyday as well as washing your hair less frequently. If you are using gels, hairsprays, and other products, washing your hair everyday can be beneficial. Letting these products sit on your scalp can cause irritation and dryness since they clog your pores.
If you sweat often or exercise daily, you may also want to wash your hair daily. Sweat contains lactic acid and DHT which can cause hair loss in some people.
If your hair is naturally oily, this would also be ideal for daily washing. Oils or ‘sebum’ can build up on the scalp and clog the pores. Sebum also contains DHT, the potential hair-loss causing hormone.
The type of hair you have (curly, long, thick, etc.) can determine how sebum moves through and builds up on your hair. Straight, thin hair often shows oil more significantly.
So now we know when we should wash our hair, but can washing it too frequently be bad for us?
Yes. The oils our hair secretes are our body’s way of naturally conditioning our hair. If we’re constantly stripping our hair of its natural oils it can dry out and appear frizzy and unhealthy.
Additionally, if we’re not using quality shampoos, we can be stripping our hair of its nutrients. Many cheap shampoos contain harsh chemicals such as sulfates. These chemicals are known to cause hair and scalp problems.
If you are experiencing any hair loss, considering investing in a good shampoo and washing more often. Ease up on the gels and products that can clog our pores and constrict the hair follicles. Here at Modena, we stand by prevention as the best way to fight hair loss. If you have begun noticing hair loss or thinning and would like to learn more about ways to protect your hair and prevent future hair loss, give us a call for a hair loss management consultation.
Depression caused by hair loss
The appearance of our hair plays a big role in our overall appearance. It’s no surprise to many that our self-esteem is directly tied to our mood and self-worth. For those who have experienced hair loss, it is not uncommon for them to suffer from low self-esteem, low self-worth, and depression.
This is especially common in individuals who would not expect to be experiencing the hair loss they are. This can be because they are too young or female, it can also occur when the hair loss is a result of an underlying medical condition. Regardless of the cause of hair loss or demographic of the patient, hair loss can have a tremendous effect on our overall well-being.
If you are experiencing hair loss and are suffering from depression as a result, know that you’re not alone. We all like to look and feel our best. In fact, looking and feeling out best is directly tied to our happiness.
The first step in addressing your hair loss is to visit a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. After all medical conditions have been ruled out, take comfort in knowing you have options. There have been tremendous advancements in hair restoration both surgical and nonsurgical.
Here at Modena, we specialize in more than just hair transplant surgeries. Dr. Yazdan is skilled in the medical management of hair loss and alternative methods to stimulate hair growth. The best way to fight hair loss is to be proactive. Hair loss, if not treated, often continues to get worse over time. Give us a call today to see what options you may be a candidate for.
Oils for Natural Hair Loss Prevention
Natural health remedies are all the rage as of late. Coconut oil seems to be the front runner, boasting such health benefits as improved brain function, improved immunity, promotion of heart health, improved digestion, boosts energy… the list goes on. Some homeopathic sources are promoting oils for hair loss. Let’s evaluate the research to see if there’s any truth to this claim.
Natural oils contain excellent nourishing properties. Coconut oil, in particular, has been shown to penetrate well within the hair shaft. This acts as a sealant and prevents hair from losing moisture. Well moisturized hair is strong and less likely to suffer damage.
Almond oil is rich in vitamins and minerals that our hair craves. These vitamins nourish the hair and cause increased growth. Olive oil, castor oil, and lavender oil also have hair benefits. Olive oil’s natural fats play an important role in hair growth. Castor oil contains anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties which nourish the follicles. Lavender oil increases blood circulation.
To see any benefits from natural oils on your hair, you should massage the warmed oil (or combination of oils) on your hair every day. Let it soak for a couple of hours or overnight, and shampoo and rinse the next morning.
These natural oil remedies for your hair will most likely improve the texture and appearance. Whether they improve hair loss is still up for debate. The fact is, there just isn’t enough research either way. They won’t harm your hair so if you’re looking to improve your hair overall appearance and feel, natural oils can be beneficial.
