Battle Against Bald | A Battle Against Hair Loss Through Hair Restoration

Hair loss myths BUSTED

Here's a good news story from the Austin, TX NBC News affiliate. Dr. DJ Verret shares some of the basics about dealing with hair loss. If you're new to the balding game and new to Battle Against Bald, this is a great place to start.

 

Introducing Sox21 — The hair loss gene

According to a May 26 article in the Telegraph, science is another step closer to finding a cure for hair loss.

Researchers at the National Institute of Genetics in Tokyo, Japan identified a genetic precedent for hair loss — specifically, a gene linked to the body's ability to retain hair (Sox 21). The discovery was made during experiments with mice that were genetically "programmed" without Sox 2. They displayed total body hair loss just 15 days after birth. Researchers believe the same gene is the cause of thinning hair in humans.

This new insight on the cause of hair loss can be big. Sure, it MAY pave the way for finding the cure for hair loss, but a more reasonable first step would be the ability to accurately target people who are predisposed to hair loss so that treatment can begin early on.

Old Habits Die Hard

Routines can change – just like priorities. Try taking a different route to work. Turning left just a few blocks sooner than usual can make your trip feel twice as long. Why? Your routine changed. Folding your arms is no different – fold them casually, now try to cross them the opposite way. It feels uncomfortable, foreign – but you can adapt.

But habits tend to entrench us – like our values. That is, until new information forces us to think differently. I recently came across an article in the New York Times that addresses the possible link between hair loss and smoking. This New York Times article presses the real fact: “…whether the link is a result of tobacco toxins directly affecting the scalp, or of smoking’s causing diseases and physical alterations that speed aging” and naturally along with that, male pattern hair loss.

By now its clear that smoking is one of the most addictive habits in our culture. While the risk warnings have been in place for generations now, for many they don’t have an impact. There is enough nicotine in 4 to 5 cigarettes to kill an average adult if ingested whole. Check out more Shocking Smoking Facts if you need additional reasons to quit this otherwise die-hard habit.

Hair loss breakthrough for women?

To apologize for our lull in activity, we have a present for you. Well, not really — but we do have some interesting news: Dr. Neil Sadick of Sadick Dermatology, NY says he may have found a new cause for women's hair loss, according to a Good Day New York news report this morning. In the video below, Dr. Sapna Parikh shares her insight on what this breakthrough might mean for women who suffer from hair loss.

Hair Loss for Dummies

Getting tired of giving your bald brethren knit caps for Christmas? Well, we've got a great gift idea for all of your friends and family members who suffer from hair loss - "Hair Loss for Dummies," by hair loss experts William R. Rassman, MD and Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, MD.

From Amazon.com:

What causes hair loss? Can you prevent it? Can lost hair be restored? This authoritative, user-friendly guide helps you understand hair loss and prevention in both men and women. You'll also find thorough, objective reviews of hair-replacement options, including surgery, prescription and over-the-counter medicinal treatments, hairpieces, natural remedies, and much more.

• Understand the problem — why hair loss and pattern balding occur, what Grandpa's head can tell you, and the diseases and disorders that cause hair loss

• Cover it up — pros and cons of hairpieces, attachment do's and don'ts, hair systems for women, and hairpiece maintenance

• Conceal it — fooling with fibers, applying foundation, and hair-thickening techniques      

• Learn about pharmaceutical, laser, and topical treatments — DHT inhibitors, Rogaine®, medications for women only, diet supplements, and LLLT

• Explore the surgical option — choose a doctor, understand surgical and postoperative procedures, and recognize possible complications

• Get real — assess the costs, control expectations, don't be fooled by hair-loss myths, and determine whether surgical or non-surgical options are best for you

      

Open the book and find:      

• What you need to know about hair and hair loss      

• How to take better care of your hair      

• Ways to prevent or reduce hair loss      

• Creative techniques for concealing hair loss      

• Shopping tips for hair-replacement systems      

• How finasteride, minoxidil, and other medications might help      

• Advice about low-level laser treatments      

• The lowdown on hair transplant surgery      

Image compliments of Amazon.com

8 Ways to Kill Your Hair

Here you have it, ladies (and men with Fabio-like locks), a comprehensive list from CBSNews.com of all the ways you can damage your hair during the "beautification" process.

1. Bleaching - Bleaching changes the structure of your hair, therefore making it more prone to damage.

2. Perms - Perming breaks down the bonds of your hair and reforms it in a different way, weaking the strands and leaving them dull and damaged.

3. Highlights and coloring - Dyes can also change the inner structure of the hair, causing dullness and dryness.

4. Flat iron and blow-drying - These temporarily change the hydrogen bonds of your hair, making hair appear dull.

5. Ponytails and braids - Ponytails and braids can cause hair to break, especially when pulled tightly.

6. Over-brushing - Over-brushing your hair can cause split ends and breakage from the consistent friction.

7. Over-shampooing - Over-washing can wash away your hair's natural moisture that helps your hair look healthy, making your hair dry. Although a significant amount of research has gone into making shampoos beneficial for your hair, you can still get too much of a good thing.

8. Extensions and weaves - Extensions and weaves are a lot like ponytails and braids. Over time, they can leave hair broken and brittle. The difference is the damage is at the roots where it is harder to cut out.

Image courtesty of BuyCostumes.com

Don't restore that hair line just yet!

A New Zealand airline is offering $1,000 to anyone - bald or willing to be bald - who will agree to tattoo their dome with an advertisement for their new domestic check-in procedures. The tattoos are temporary and only last two weeks.

The idea is pretty genius, if I may add my personal opinion. Everyone spends a lot of time in line at the airport, staring at the back of the person's head in front of you. What a great place to talk to consumers!

4 Hair Styles for Balding Men

If you're not one for hair restoration then you may as well make the best of your hair loss. HairLossAdvisory.org offers a few tips on how to make your hair loss less of a topic of discussion. Here's what they had to say:

Bald Hair Style Option 1:
Short, clean cut. If you leave your hair long in the back or on the sides in the hopes that a comb-over will solve your problem, think again. It only draws more attention to the fact that you are balding. So why not go for a short, clean cut? With this hair style, you can use different products in your hair, such as muds and waxes, to create different styles any day of the week.

Bald Hair Style Option 2:

Grow facial hair. By growing a beard, goatee, or moustache, it will take attention away from your head and people will focus on your new “accessory”.

Bald ManBald Hair Style Option 3:
Color your hair. It’s not just women anymore! The truth is by lightening your natural color, it will reduce the contrast between the hair and the scalp which in turn makes your thinning hair much less noticeable.

Bald Hair Style Option 4:
Shave it off! Vin Diesel does it, so does Michael Chicklis, as does Hector Elizondo. If you don’t think using waxes or coloring your hair is you, then simply go bald. This way, everyone will think that you have chosen to have no hair and women find it attractive!

HairDX At-Home Genetic Test Now Physicians Only

HairDX announced that it will no longer offer its genetic test for predicting hair loss risk to consumers online.  The California-based biotech company will continue to offer its test to physicians who can conduct the tests and determine the best course of action based on the results.  The news comes as part of an on-going concern of state and federal regulation issues surrounding at-home genetic tests. Both the FDA and CDC have indicated that the potential for misinterpretation of results and incorrect testing are significant enough to limit genetic tests to a lab or physician’s office.  The test was previously available online for $149.00 and was believed to help individuals identify a hair loss risk in their genetic make-up.  Read the complete HairDX news brief

Try Silica For Reducing Hair Loss

Hair loss sufferers may have heard about silica and its known benefits for your hair but may not be sure exactly where to get it or why it is so helpful.  Here are some Silica basics to clear some of those questions up.

What is Silica?
Silica is a natural, non-metallic element that makes up part of our hair, skin and nails’ chemical structure and is thought to be incredibly important in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular and skeletal system as well. The average adult requires approximately 20 grams of silica in their system to promote overall good health. Our body naturally gets rid of 10-40 milligrams a day through hair loss, trimming our nails and urination.  It is important that people that are starting to lose their hair replenish this mineral in their body if they want to stop the process.

What Does It Do?
Because it is a vital part of what makes up our hair, increasing our body’s silica concentration has been shown to slow down hair loss, promote healthy hair regrowth and strengthen hair follicles. It puts back into our body the needed mineral that makes up our hair’s biological make-up. 

Where Can I Get It?
Silica can be found in many healthy food choices. Bean sprouts are high in silica, as are raw oats. Skins of potatoes, green and red peppers and cucumbers also have a high concentration of silica.
Silica is also an active ingredient in many shampoos aimed at battling baldness or strengthening hair.  Any natural food store will have a shampoo that includes silica.  The nutrient can also be taken as a vitamin supplement.