Nizoral (also known as Ketoconazole) is a shampoo used to treat hair loss and other scalp conditions such as dandruff and dermatitis. The shampoo works by reducing inflammation around the follicles.
Ketoconazole is actually an antifungal drug. So why does it help with hair loss? Ketoconazole competes with DHT to bind to hair follicles (for more on how DHT relates to hair loss, click here). The less DHT on your hair follicles, the less hair follicles are being inhibited to grow.
In addition to aiding in hair loss, Nizoral shampoo also helps treat dandruff. The anti-fungal properties inhibit the fungi from producing the necessary nutrients to keep it alive. The less surviving fungi, the less dandruff.
Nizoral shampoo has no known side effects. It should be noted that while the shampoo has shown benefits to hair loss, the oral version of the medication has not.
Dr. Yazdan recommends using a shampoo that has at least 1% Ketoconazole in it. Studies have shown that 1-2% has been successful at treating hair loss caused by inflammation of hair follicles.
Here at Modena, we specialize in the medical management of hair loss. Not everyone is ready for a hair transplant surgery, and we understand that. In addition to offering alternative methods to restoring hair such as PRP therapy and laser therapy, we also offer and prescribe medications for those patients who are candidates.
If you are interested in learning more about Nizoral as hair loss treatment option, give us a call for a medical management hair loss consultation.
Tag Archives: Hair Loss
Is a vitamin deficiency causing your hair loss?
According to recent research, a vitamin deficiency could be causing your hair loss. Researchers found that individuals who are experiencing low levels of iron and vitamin D are also experiencing hair loss.
And the connection is stronger than just correlation. As iron and vitamin D levels dropped – the individuals’ hair loss got worse.
The link between vitamin D and hair loss is still being investigated. Some doctors believe vitamin D may help regulate normal hair follicle growth. As far as iron goes, our bodies crave this nutrient for proper body function. Low levels of iron are believed to inhibit essential enzyme function which in turn may inhibit hair growth.
How do you know if low iron or low vitamin D is causing your hair loss? You should visit your doctor and request a blood draw testing for iron and vitamin D. A simple lab analysis will let you know if you’re low or not.
Think you may be low in iron or vitamin D? A combination of a healthy diet and vitamin supplements can help you reach your goal. Men should aim for approximately 10 mg of iron per day, while women should aim for 15 mg. As far as how much vitamin D to get – well, this depends on your general sun exposure throughout the year. Generally, anywhere from 400-4000 IU’s per day is considered normal.
Is your hair a lost cause?
What’s next for those who are not candidates for hair transplant surgery or medical management?
Losing hair and balding can take a toll on even the most confident man’s self-esteem. Not only does it cause some to have embarrassment, it can also age you tremendously. Hair restoration surgery allows us to regain the confidence and youth we lost some years ago with our hair. And medical management can be a great tool to stop and reverse recent hair loss.
Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate for medical management or even hair transplant surgery. Whether it’s due a poor donor area, a potential complication with the surgery, or hair loss that’s progressed too far. This can be heart-breaking news to anyone searching to solve their hair loss problems.
Fortunately, there is an option for those non-candidates to take back control of their scalp. Laser hair removal for the scalp has been a great tool for those who are balding. While it may be hard for some to part with what hair they have left, others find liberation and confidence in a polished look.
Laser hair removal is fast, effective, and affordable. If you’d like to learn more about laser hair removal for the scalp, give us a call today for a free consultation.
Finasteride (Propecia) for hair loss – what is it and who can use it?
Finasteride (or Propecia) is most commonly used to treat urinary problems that are the result of an enlarged prostate gland. Finasteride is considered a steroid reductase inhibitor and works by reducing the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. Less DHT means a smaller prostate gland, which in turn resolves the urinary problems.
For individuals that have hair loss caused by an excess of DHT in the body, finasteride can prove useful. In these cases, the reduced DHT allows hair growth to increase and hair loss to slow.
Finasteride should be used by adult men only. While the drug hasn’t shown that it causes harm to women, it also hasn’t shown enough evidence that it helps them either. The most recent research still deems the efficacy of Finasteride in female pattern baldness controversial.
As with any medication, there are some important side effects that should be noted. The most prominent is a decreased sexual drive. Additionally, the drug may also affect fertility.
When deciding whether to start a medication, one should always weigh the pros and cons with an experienced and certified doctor. Together, you can come to a conclusion as to whether the benefit is greater than the risk of side effects.
Here at Modena, we specialize in the medical management of hair loss. Upon evaluation of your scalp and hair loss history by Dr. Yazdan, a determination can be made as to if you would be a good candidate for finasteride treatment.
If you’re experiencing hair loss and would like to explore your options, give us a call for a medical management consultation today.
Hair growth in scar tissue
Many people who have had injuries on their scalp or face find that there is a lack of hair growth where the scar resides. But, why is that?
The scalp is similar to the skin in that it is made up of layers of dermis. When the tissue is damaged as a result of a trauma, the underlying hair follicles that reside in the tissue endure damage as well. This is why individuals who have scars on their scalp often complain of a lack of hair growth in that area.
Over time, as the tissue heals and repairs itself, we can sometimes see new hair growth in the scarred area in some patients. But, this process can takes years, if it happens at all. Unfortunately, what usually happens is the scarred area is left with no hair, which can highly affect the overall appearance of our hair and beard.
This can be particularly upsetting to individuals with large and apparent scars. These scars can be a result of a fall, a poorly done weave, or even an FUT strip hair transplant procedure. The scar is made more obvious due to the absence of hair in that area.
The important thing to keep in mind is that every body heals differently. Some individuals may be prone to deep scar tissue and keloids, while others rarely scar. Additionally, various factors can play a role in the healing process such as the depth and severity of the scar tissue.
Thankfully, there are options for those who are suffering from scar tissue on the scalp or beard. A hair transplant procedure known as scar revision surgery involves transplanting hair follicles into the scarred area. The newly transplanted follicles grow in the scar tissue, coming in naturally and covering the visibility of the scar.
Here at Modena, we’ve seen great results with scar repair surgery. If you’d like to learn more about this procedure, give us a call.
How to keep your hair healthy in and out of the shower
Did you know hair is weaker when its wet? It’s true. Water weakens the keratin (hair’s protein) causing the hair to be more fragile and prone to breakage.
Unfortunately, this is often when we’re roughest with our hair. Washing, scrubbing, towel drying, blow drying, hot tools, and the application of products all take their toll on our hair.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to protect your hair’s health in and out of the shower.
Washing – make sure you’re using a sulfate-free shampoo. Many of the cheaper shampoos contain sulfates which wreak havoc on our hair. Additionally, you should be gently massaging your scalp during each wash. This not only cleans hair effectively but stimulates blood flow to the follicles as well. Lastly, use luke-warm water when washing. Hot water damages the cuticle while cold damages the scalp. Luke-warm water is your best bet for healthy strands and follicles.
Conditioning – don’t skip it! Conditioner plays an important role in moisturizing your locks. If your hair isn’t moisturized your hair may overproduce oil causing buildup. No one wants that, so make sure to condition your hair after every wash.
Drying – vigorously rubbing our hair damages the fragile strands. Try gently patting dry instead. This will soak up any excess water. If blow-drying is a must that can’t be avoided, switch the heat setting to a warm or cool level. This will help to take the edge out of the harsh heat on your freshly washed hair.
Styling – use hot tools in moderation. Hot tools cause breakage. If you need to style your hair with hot tools, try applying a heat protecting serum first. Additionally, use a wide-tooth comb instead of fine brushes. Regarding styling and care products, always opt for organic. These products sit on our hair and scalp all day. Harsh chemicals cause build up and irritate the scalp.
Does consuming more protein prevent hair loss?
Our hair is affected by many factors – genetics, age, environment, and medical history. But did you know your diet plays a role as well? If your diet is lacking key nutrients, your hair will show it.
When your diet lacks necessary components, your body begins prioritizing and rationing. Fortunately (or unfortunately) your hair is not as important as proper organ function and efficient large muscle group movement. When individuals engage in unhealthy or unbalanced diets, the body can neglect the hair altogether in favor of keeping us alive. This can cause hair loss over time.
We often see hair damage and hair loss in diets lacking substantial protein. Protein is a necessary macro our body needs to function and fuel itself properly. Further, protein is an essential component of our hair. Each hair strand is composed of a protein known as keratin which is crucial to our hair’s health. When our hair lacks keratin, it becomes brittle, weak, and thin. Overtime, substantial hair loss can develop.
Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to treat hair loss is to prevent it. A healthy balanced diet will not only make you feel and look better, but it’ll promote beautiful, healthy, strong hair and prevent hair loss. The USDA recommends at minimum 46 grams of protein per day. Nutrition and fitness experts typically suggest double or triple that amount. If you need help getting more protein in your diet, consider adding the following protein-packed foods to your diet: chicken, turkey, beef, seafood, eggs, nuts.
If you are experiencing hair loss and think your diet may be playing a role, give us a call for a consultation. Here at Modena, we offer diagnostic testing to address the root of your hair’s problems.
Using the sauna to promote hair growth
Saunas offer many health benefits such as flushing toxins, boosting the immune system, and aiding in recovery post-work out. But did you know they can also stimulate and promote faster hair growth?
An additional benefit of saunas is that they increase blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow to the skin also means to the hair follicles. Blood is known as a transporter, meaning it carries nutrients we need such as oxygen and minerals. When there is more blood flowing to our skin and hair providing the nutrients our bodies are craving, we see an increase in hair growth.
One downside saunas may have on our hair has to do with the heat. Extremely hot environments can cause our hair to lose moisture. This means the hair can feel brittle and dry and we can see an increase in breakage. If you are going to use to sauna regularly to stimulate hair growth, you will also want to make sure you’re taking care to retain your hair’s moisture.
To prevent damage to your hair as a result of loss of moisture, consider applying a deep conditioner prior to entering the sauna. The conditioner acts a barrier to the heat while also giving your hair a deep conditioning treatment. When you’re finished with your sauna session, simply rinse out the conditioner.
While saunas may be a great natural way to stimulate hair growth, they are not a miracle cure for hair loss. When we experience progressing or sustained hair loss, our follicles actually die off. Unfortunately, there is not yet a cure to revive dead follicles. When our hair loss gets to this more advanced stage, our options turn to surgical and nonsurgical methods of hair restoration, such as PRP therapy and laser therapy.
If you are experiencing hair loss and would like to learn more about the surgical and nonsurgical options available to you, give us a call. We have over ten years of experience in advanced hair restoration techniques.
Natural ways to prevent hair loss
While there are many medical methods to prevent hair loss thanks to advancements in hair restoration, there are also natural ways you can prevent hair loss in your everyday life.
Some of the biggest contributors to hair loss besides genetics and age are stress, environment, products, and diet.
Reducing stress in your everyday life can help reduce and prevent hair loss. Meditation, walking, yoga, and daily exercise can lower cortisol levels and in turn prevent hair loss.
The environment you create for your hair and the products you use on it contribute to the health of your hair. Tight hair styles that pull on the hair can harm the hair follicle. Additionally, hair ties can cause damage and breakage. Further, excessive use of hot tools like curling irons and straighteners can damage your hair.
A healthy diet with lots of water contributes to overall health and well-being. A healthy diet that provides the nutrients and vitamins your body craves will not only prevent hair loss but prevent other ailments as well and just plain make you feel better.
While improving stress levels and maintaining a healthy diet will help you prevent hair loss as well as promote a healthy life, tightening up these areas of your health won’t do much to reverse hair loss. If you are experiencing hair loss at a rate you’re uncomfortable with, you may need to utilize some more advanced medical treatments to restore your hair. There are many nonsurgical methods such as PRP therapy, laser therapy, and shampoos and medications.
If you would like to learn more about reversing your hair loss and re-growing your hair, give us a call. Here at Modena we specialize in the medical management of hair loss.
Is hair gel causing your hair to fall out?
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.
Hair transplant recovery – when can I expect results?
Many individuals who have hair transplant surgery are eager to see results right away. This makes sense – you sat through a full day of poking and prodding and when you unwrap those bandages you expect to see something different. After all, you just had thousands of hair follicles transplanted. Instead, you see some redness, scabbing, and the same ol’ hair you’ve had.
In order to understand the timeline for expected results, we need to fully understand the hair transplant process as well as the hair growth process.
The FUE and Strip procedures we do involve Dr. Yazdan hand selecting, extracting, and transplanting, each and every hair follicle. This process is not only grueling on the doctor and patient, but also on the follicles. These follicles have gone through a sort of trauma. Once they are transplanted they do not begin growing immediately. They need to heal and settle in their new place.
Hair grows in cycles or phases. There are the anagen (growth), catagen (regression), telogen (resting), and exogen (shedding) phases. It can take months or even years for our hair to cycle through these phases. That means, it can take at minimum, months for our newly transplanted follicles to cycle through these phases. That is why we expect to see results 6 months – 1 year post-surgery.
The best advice for post-hair transplant recovery is to sit back, relax, and be patient while your newly transplanted follicles get comfortable and begin growing in their new home. If you would like to speed up recovery and ensure your results, you may wish to consider other treatments such as laser therapy, PRP therapy, and medications.
Shock loss – what is it and can it happen to you?
Shock loss is a condition which can occur after a hair transplant surgery. The pre-existing hair in the recipient and donor areas fall out, causing new and increased hair loss. As you can imagine, this is upsetting for many people, as they feel they look worse-off than pre-surgery.
Why does the hair fall out? Anytime we put our bodies through the stress of a surgery, our bodies experience a degree of trauma. Our bodies have different ways of dealing with this trauma such as fatigue and pain. With hair transplant surgeries, the surrounding and existing follicles can be traumatized (or shocked) by the transplantation of new follicles and can respond by falling out.
For most individuals that experience shock loss, the condition is temporary and the hairs return during the next growth cycle. This can take anywhere from 2-6 months. But for others, the shock loss is permanent. This is the case when the hairs that have fallen out were on their way out anyways, meaning, they were due to fall out soon. The trauma of surgery gave them just the push they needed to fall out permanently and create new areas of hair loss.
There are many factors that play a role in whether you will experience shock loss. Firstly, the condition of your existing hair. Hairs that are weak are more likely to fall out. Secondly, the type of hair and hair loss you have. If you have hair that is thin and thinning throughout, you are more likely to experience shock loss. Those who are experiencing receding hair loss are less likely to get shock loss.
Regardless of your predispositions, a certified and experienced hair transplant surgeon can evaluate your hair and give their suggestions and expectations for surgery. Dr. Yazdan believes maintenance and prevention are two of the best tools in fighting hair loss. Treatments such as PRP therapy, laser therapy, and medications can work in conjunction with surgery to protect and nourish the existing and newly transplanted hair follicles and prevent future hair loss.
If you would like to learn more about surgical and nonsurgical hair loss options, give us a call.
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.
Does it really matter which hair transplant surgeon performs your surgery?
The answer to this question is a resounding – yes! Not all hair transplant surgeons are created equal. The last thing anyone who is seeking a hair transplant surgery wants is to come out of the surgery with a worse situation than before. We’ve seen this time and time again: quality matters. It is much more difficult to fix a botched surgery than it is to do it right the first time. This can happen if you don’t do your due diligence in researching an expert hair restoration surgeon.
So how we can make sure our potential hair transplant surgeon is the right fit?
First and foremost, do your research. A qualified surgeon with expertise will have before and after pictures, plenty of information on their practice, and positive reviews.
Next, ask lots of questions. It is important to know what types of surgeries your doctor performs, if he does them by hand or machine, and what his success rate is. A qualified hair restoration surgeon will be more than happy to answer any questions, making you feel comfortable and confident in proceeding with surgery.
Above all else, utilize your resources. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons is the leading authority on hair loss. If your potential doctor isn’t a member of the ISHRS, there may be a reason; it’s possible they may not be certified as a hair transplant surgeon.
Dr. Yazdan is not only a member of the ISHRS but he has over 10 years of experience with hair transplants and has conducted thousands of successful surgeries. There are a plethora of case studies, before and after pictures, and testimonials available right here on our website.
While hair transplant surgery is minimally invasive, it is important to realize that is a surgery requiring extensive medical expertise. Protect your hair and appearance and ensure your surgeon is qualified, has had proper training, experience, and certifications.
Do hair growth vitamins really work?
We’ve all seen them on the shelves at our local store as well as advertisements on television. But do hair growth vitamins really help us achieve healthy, longer, thicker hair?
To answer this question we must first educate ourselves on what exactly is in these vitamins. Though exact ingredients and profiles vary brand to brand, most hair growth vitamins contain some combination of vitamin c, vitamin a, vitamin b3, fatty acids, collagen, folic acid, and biotin.
These nutrients are essential to hair growth in humans. According to manufacturers’ claims, these vitamins can stimulate hair growth, prevent hair loss, promote healthy texture, fight dryness and damage, decrease scalp flaking, and prevent breakage.
Sounds great but do they actually work? While there is promising research that these nutrients are beneficial to our hair as well our skin and nails, some of the doses needed to see results are much higher than any found in an over the counter capsule. That being said – they don’t hurt. If there is a vitamin deficiency at the root of your hair problems, increasing your vitamin intake can be a good place to start.
Just don’t be unrealistic about the results. While hair growth vitamins can help some people, they aren’t a miracle cure for hair loss and won’t help in more severe clinical hair loss cases. If you fall into the latter category, we suggest meeting with a qualified hair transplant surgeon who specializes in medical management to figure out where to begin.
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!
