Treatments for hair loss
15/10/24
Treatments for hair loss:
I wish there was a single reversible cure of hair loss that requires a simple lotion that will bring back your hair, but unfortunately no such “magic bullet” exists.
What causes hair loss (also known as Alopecia)?
There are multiple causes ranging from our diets, our genetics, UV radiation, pollution exposure, how our immune system functions, how hormones influence our hair and the ageing process. These stimuli affect regular hair cycle and hair follicle recovery by exerting these effects on the follicle:
Cell Death
Inflammation around hair follicle
Release of damaging free radicals
The key is to get the correct diagnosis and then have recognised medically evidence-based treatments to help you to restore your hair.
What can be done to treat hair loss?
Firstly, the correct diagnosis needs to be made as there as there are a variety of types of Alopecia. These range from scarring to non-scarring conditions. The scarring variety may need a prescription from your Doctor for oral or topical medications to “switch” off your heightened immune system. The non-scaring can be helped by a variety of means including diet, shampoos, prescription medications which need monitoring, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Platelet Rich Fibre (PRF) and the Calecim Advanced Hair System.
What is the commonest cause of hair loss?
The most common non-scaring Alopecia I see in my clinic is female pattern hair loss often associated with the menopause. It’s not just the menopause that causes it, medications such as breast cancer drugs like Tamoxifen, Anastrazole, Letrozole, Exemastane, Alendronic Acid among others can induce some hair loss.
How does the hair grow and what are the growth cycles?
In a normal hair cycle, majority of follicles should be in anagen phase. Only 10% are in catagen and telogen phase. In cases of hair loss, there appears to be a dysfunction and imbalance in hair cycling which results in reduced length of anagen phase, and increased proportion of catagen / telogen phase.
The papilla (hair bulb area of the follicle responsible for hair production) is believed to be the orchestrator of the hair growth process, and conducts the precise signals that determine the size, color and productivity of the hair shaft, as well as dictates how the hair cycle functions.
Cell messaging treatments for hair thinning work by sending signals to the dermal papilla to trigger cell activity and regain a healthy hair growth cycle.
What are the best treatments for hair loss?
This very much depends on the cause of the hairloss.
To start with a nutritious diet will help. A diet rich in protein will help eg. fish, chicken, eggs (maybe 4/5 times a week). And a diet rich in iron eg. lentils, beans, especially leafy green vegetables will help all those who suffer with hair loss and it will ensure the remaining hair is fed nutrients.
There are some oral medications like Spironolactone, Minoxidil or Dutesteride that can be prescribed but these must be monitored by your Doctor. There are over the counter shampoos such as Regaine (minoxidil) that can be helpful in preventing further hair loss, but only works if you continue to use indefinitely. Most of these medications are not available on the NHS.
There is some evidence for hair improvements with PRP and PRF. This is when your blood is taken, spun and the plasma rich in growth factors are injected into the scalp. Our hair transplant centres often recommend regular injections of these after surgical treatments to maintain the hair that’s been transplanted.
There is some good anecdotal evidence for stem cell conditioned media such as Calecim Advanced Hair System. This 6 week program delivered once a week, at home, thickens the hair shaft creating more volume and a fuller head of hair. It is important to note female and male pattern hair thinning can be helped by this treatment, but if total hair loss has occurred then there is very slim chance of getting it back by any of these means.
This treatment is a combination of micro-needling and then applying a serum over the scalp. This serum is ethically sourced Red Deer umbilical cords that are rich in pluripotent cells that when added to a media, elutes lots of exosomes, growth factors and other beneficial signalling proteins. The cells and debris are then removed from the media and the result is a very concentrated serum and it is this that helps hair growth. This treatment is a bit like having fertiliser for the scalp and unlike Minoxidil, the effects are not reversed when you stop using it. However, as logic will dictate, your hair and scalp will continue to age, so lots of patients find it helpful to intermittently have courses of the system to keep their hair looking and feeling thicker and healthier.
The Calecim Advanced Hair System:
Is a 6-week hair restoration program
Contains powerful PTT-6® that stimulates hair growth by activating the hair follicles, and managing signs of inflammation that causes hair shedding
Comes with an activator to prep the scalp for maximum results
How does it work? The Calecim Advanced Hair System:
Optimizes hair follicle function
Stimulates hair regrowth
Boosts hair density
Reduces hair shedding
Causes no harmful side effects
PTT-6® harnesses the body's natural mechanisms of regeneration. It contains over 3,000 proteins, including growth factors, cytokines and exosomes that signal cells to regenerate.
Clinicians have found that women tend to respond more quickly than men when they start the Advanced Hair System.
HOW TO USE
Treatment phase:
At-home application
Wash and condition hair
Cleanse the activator (derma stamp) with the provided swab
Apply the activator to the target area two to three times
Apply half a vial of the Advanced Hair System to the treatment area
Massage into the scalp for at least four minutes
Avoid washing hair for at least eight hours, ideally 24 hours
Apply 2 x a week with the derma stamper. The derma stamper is a tool that creates miniature perforations in the scalp. This feels like combing the hair with a sharp toothed comb. One box of ampoules will last 6 weeks. The pink solution has a biological smell to it that disappears within a few hours.
Results are seen with once a week application but twice a week show superior results.
Your pack will come with detailed instructions and images on how to use it. It’s very easy and painless.
Maintenance phase
Apply 1 x a week with the derma stamper, utilizing half ampoule each treatment and each week. One box of ampoules will last approximately 3 months.
Cycle between the treatment and maintenance phase for optimal and the best results.
Exceptions to this guidance
However, some of Dr Kenningham’s patients have had such great results with one treatment that the maintenance phase was deemed unnecessary. Repeat treatment sessions can be repeated twice a year, although some case studies show excellent results 9 months after initial treatment session.
These are broad recommendations and highly dependent on the stage of hair loss when treatment begins. For more severe cases of hair loss in women, an initial 2 x Treatment Program may be required.
Does this work for everyone?
Clinicians have found that women tend to respond more quickly than men when they start the Advanced Hair System.
These are some conditions that affect hair growth and may impede results from the Advanced Hair System:
Vitamin deficiency
Pregnancy and birth
Lupus, discoid lupus or other scarring forms of hair loss
Rheumatologic conditions or autoimmune disease
Thyroid problems
History of breast, ovarian, cervical or uterine cancer
Other medical conditions
Who should avoid using the system?
Do not start on the Advanced Hair System if you are currently experiencing any of these symptoms on your scalp:
Burning or pain
Patches of rough, scaly skin or scarring
Pustules or crusting
How fast can I expect results?
Most of our clinical studies have been done in 6 weeks with significant results. There have been continued growth for patients who have continued with the treatment. Some users may enjoy better results if they embark on two x 6 week treatment programs continuously (ie 12 week treatment program).
The rate and speed of success is highly dependent on the stage of hair loss.
When treatment is started at an earlier stage, visible benefits can be observed within 6 weeks.
For others, the first 6 weeks of treatment help prep the scalp for hair regrowth though visible growth may not be apparent yet. There may be noticeable decrease in hair shedding and scalp inflammation. Please be aware that individual results do vary as well
Will I start losing hair once I stop the treatment?
The manufacturers advise users to begin a maintenance program of 3 months (utilizing only one box of Advanced Hair Serum) before starting the treatment program again (utilizing one box in 6 weeks) to ensure continued follicle activity. Unfortunately, all the elements that had caused your initial hair loss will still be present in your body and continued use of the Advanced Hair System ensures that your hair follicles do not fall into a state of inactivity again.
Minoxidil (Regaine) is a recognised treatment for hair loss which stops the hair from going into the natural hair dropping phase (telogen). Unfortunately, when you stop using Minoxidil, the hair that was stopped going into telogen phase will then move into the hair loss phase and you will notice a marked hair loss. This is not the case with Calecim Advanced Hair System.
What will help replenish my hair and scalp health?
Scientists have found that stem cell derived growth factors, exosomes and proteins are able to re-invigorate dormant and sluggish hair follicles, restoring healthy hair cycle and accelerating hair follicle cell production.
Signs of inflammation on the scalp that cause follicle death are also effectively managed.
Will this cure my hair loss?
There isn’t a cure for hair loss, but there are effective medications and hair restoration treatments. While these medications or procedures may slow hair loss or even reverse balding, beware of any company claiming to “cure” your hair loss, as there is no complete cure for hair loss.
Where does PTT come from?
The stem cells in CALECIM PTT come from the umbilical cord lining membrane of red deer:
Source: The red deer are raised organically and ethically in New Zealand.
Process: The umbilical cord is typically discarded after birth, but the stem cells in the lining membrane are isolated and used to create CALECIM.
Potency: The stem cells in the cord lining are neonatal cells, which are more potent than adult-sourced cells.
This is not a vegan product.
CALECIM PTT contains a patented active ingredient called PTT-6, which is a cell-growth medium that contains: growth factors, exosomes, proteins, and cytokines.
PTT-6 works by: Signaling skin cells to repair themselves, Increasing the activity of hair-follicle stem cells, Reducing inflammation, Thickening hair, and Restoring hair color.
CALECIM products include skincare regimes and a hair system. These products are used for: Post-procedure recovery, Anti-aging, Skin rejuvenation, and Hair loss.
Scientifically tested:
PTT-6® is rigorously researched to ensure that its positive results on hair can be objectively measured. It was shown there was a
24% increase in follicle cell production
30 times decrease in scalp inflammation
What treatments are there for complete hair loss or baldness?
If you have significant hair loss and follicles have scared over either through a disease process or through genetic factors, than a variety of different transplants can be performed, click here for more information: https://ishrs.org/
Where can I get the Calecim Advanced Hair System treatments for hair loss?
Please contact our clinic for a 6 week course for as little as £250 and this can be done with or without a consultation. Dr Kenningham is dermatology trained and can advise during a consultation on what is your best hair loss treatment options including whether PRF or Calecim Advanced Hair System is likely to work for you. Her consultation fee is £150.
Alternatively you can either call, text 07711190079 or email the clinic info@drksclinic.co.uk and have the Advanced Hair System delivered directly to your door.
Dr K's Clinic is 1/2 way between Chester and Wrexham in a countryside setting with lovely gardens. Her clinic was awarded Best non-surgical aesthetic clinic in Wales 2024. She will give honest, trustworthy and no obligation advice on what is likely to deliver the best results.