The Latest Breakthroughs in Treating Hair Fall

 Hair fall is a problem that plagues both men and women, resulting in thin hair and severe mental distress. Previously, we relied on basic medications and simple nutritional supplements to try to stem the inevitable loss of hair, albeit with not so exciting results. Luckily, now there are a slew of new and exciting therapies available, which can take your hair back to its original splendour! Read on to get your dermatologist's guide to the latest breakthroughs in treating hair fall.

1 - Low Level Light Therapy
Once viewed with scepticism, lasers have become increasingly in vogue for their hair-stimulating properties. Now used in a multitude of medical specialties, low level light therapy or LLLT has been proven over and over again to stimulate the hair follicle's stem cells. In fact, the US FDA has approved an abundance of medical devices that use this magical technology due to the large amounts of data that demonstrates its efficacy. And, it's completely safe to use! With zero risk profile, zero pain and zero side effects, LLLT is the ideal therapy for getting an overall 20% increase in hair growth, improvement in texture and strength! Typically requiring a session 1-2 times a week for 3-6 months, LLLT does require some patience. But the results are worth it in the end!

2 - Vampire Hair Facial otherwise Known as PRP
Heard of the Vampire Facial, popularized by Kim Kardashian? Well, the same concept of the Vampire Facial can be applied to the hair. Essentially, your own blood has components called platelets, which release a host of growth factors when activated. These activating compounds can stimulate the hair follicle's stem cells to create new hair growth and reverse miniaturization. To isolate these growth factors, we draw blood from the patient, and then spin it down 1-2 times to get the plasma, which is full of platelets, called PRP or Platelet-Rich Plasma. This is then activated, and subsequently injected into the patient's scalp to the level of the hair follicle, so that the bulge, where the stem cells sit, can be stimulated by it. Completely safe since it uses your own PRP to activate your own stem cells, the Vampire Hair Facial is the ultimate in therapy for hair growth. Proven to increase your hair by approximately 30%, it is a powerful tool in a dermatologist's arsenal in treating hair fall.

3 - Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins have recently become known as having great potential in treating your mane. Previously, prostaglandins such as bimatoprost, were used to treat glaucoma. But, when doctors started noticing that the eyelashes of these patients were becoming much longer, its use also became expanded for hair growth! Now, bimatoprost has been approved for use in eyelashes and eyebrows, but its value for scalp is increasingly becoming known in the scientific world. Essentially, bimatoprost attaches to the prostaglandin receptor in the hair follicle, forcing it to increase the amount of hair in the anagen or growing phase. It also stimulates the hair bulb to increase in size. To get the best result, a dermatologist must prescribe this treatment and follow your progress.

In addition to the exciting discoveries that are currently being put into practice, there are a host of scientific studies going on where the stem cells in the follicle are being cloned and stimulated to form new stem cells! This exciting research will take some years before they can be applied for human use, but the days are soon coming where men and women can expect gorgeous healthy hair for their lifetimes!

Data Courtesy: Dr. Kiran Lohia, MD, American Board Certified Dermatologist