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www.thevillagenews.co.za
26 August 2020
MY WELLNESS
Healthy hair through thick and thin By Dr Michelle Emett, Refine Clinic Hermanus
O
h, the woe I suffer as my hairdresser grabs my hair and says: “Where has your hair gone”? As she lifts it into a ponytail (more like a rat’s tail), the sunlight streaks straight through my thinning wisps onto my scalp, in all its shining glory! Hair loss can be a painfully slow, progressive process which affects the best of us. Fortunately, science has provided us with much information in the understanding of hair loss, as well as relatively simple solutions. Hair loss in women in the peri- to post-menopausal stage of life is usually hormone related. As oestrogen and progesterone decline, our hair remains longer in the non-growth phase and fewer hairs are produced. This results in an overall thinning of the hair over the whole head. We call this female pattern balding. Your hairloss doctor could request blood tests to check your hormone levels, but they are not the only culprits. As many of us know, our thyroid begins to slack off as we head for middle age and this, too, could result in hair loss. Have a look at an older woman’s eyebrows – there is often hair loss in the lateral one third of the brow. This is typical of low thyroid levels and in certain cases this should also be checked. Fortunately, Leanne Steinmann has the “permanent” make up solution for such brows. Thyroid levels should be checked in certain cases. Men probably suffer even more than women when it comes to hair loss. Testosterone
imbalances – both too much or too little – cause balding on the crown of the head as well as the frontal hairline to recede. These imbalances are common and easily detected with a blood test. Remedies include testosterone creams or injections which can rebalance the levels. Likewise, anti-testosterone scalp lotions such as minoxidil can slow hair loss and stimulate new hair growth.
factors which have been extracted and multiplied from human DNA. AQ Hair Solution achieves phenomenal results with a simple 5-step in-clinic treatment plan.
So, if you are experiencing hair loss and we’ve done your blood tests, where to from there? On examination of the scalp, we check to make sure that there are no medical conditions of the scalp. For example, eczema and psoriasis are relatively common skin conditions which can affect the scalp, as can other infections or inflammation in the hair follicles. The same fungal infection which causes athlete’s foot, can also cause circular patterned hair loss. Empitigo is a bacterial infection that causes a yellow crust to form on the scalp and can also result in hair loss.
The patient comes into the clinic, the scalp is numbed, BEFORE and we then needle the solution into the scalp. No mess, no fuss! This effective program can be followed for most cases of hair thinning in women or male pattern hair loss.
It is therefore important for your doctor to determine if there is a skin condition causing the hair loss, and to either manage it appropriately or refer you to a specialist dermatologist, as it could result in scarring hair loss which is not treatable. Other common causes of hair loss include dietary imbalances, anorexia, bulimia and malnutrition, as well as poor quality shampoos, hair dyes and tight braiding. With so many possible causes, you may well ask: what about the solutions? The good news is that the majority of hair-loss cases can be managed with in-clinic treatments. Needling stimulates hair follicles and if you add medical serums or injections the results are exponential. Science has gifted us with the latest technology, whereby we can deliver high-potency growth
We commonly also use minoxidil hair-loss lotions to stimulate hair growth. So, if clinic treatments are not for you and the cause of your hair loss is treatable, a simple medical solution can be scripted. You can also use supplements such as liquid collagen and biotin to support your treatments. Although we prescribe mild, calming shampoos during your treatment stage, preceding or following treatments we also have hair-stimulation shampoos and revitalising serums such as PeloBaum available at the Refine Clinic. These are excellent ways to start your hair-recovery journey or to manage mild hair loss. If you are suffering from hair loss, leave it up to the experts to assist you. We are here for you through thick and thin! Contact Dr Michelle Emett at Refine Clinic Hermanus on 028 316 4122 or 028 316 1532.
AFTER Advanced Hair Complex + Growth Factor Solution combined with Dermastamp Needling
