Another hair-loss myth goes down the drain

Hint: It’s not the water

Bath time can turn into a nightmare when you see precious hair making its way to the drain. And the solution does not lie in wearing a shower cap forever.

The secret life of hair

There’s a common notion that hair, being made up of dead cells, has no life to it. Fact is, although the cells within the strand of hair may not be alive, there are tiny blood vessels at the base of very hair follicle that feed the hair root to keep it growing. And, anything that grows, must have a life cycle.

Some amount of hair fall is normal since every strand of hair is shed at the end of its lifecycle (which typically lasts around six years). This lifecycle consists of three stages. The Anagen stage is the active growth phase where the strand sprouts out of the hair follicle and grows, all the while taking nourishment from the blood supply in the scalp. At any given point in time, roughly ninety percent of the strands are at this stage. Then the Catagen stage, where the strand takes a breather after all the growing. And finally, the Telogen stage when it is shed. Hence it is perfectly normal to lose around fifty to seventy strands of hair in a day, which barely makes a visible difference on an average adult head which has around 100,000 strands.

It’s not hard water; it’s harsh treatment.

It’s easy to blame the city water supply and assume that the minerals, salts or chemicals in the water are responsible for the slow erosion of your hair. Scientific studies have shown that this is not true. The problem may be a bit closer home. Often our hair is put through the wringer regularly. They are straightened and they are permed. They are bleached and they are dyed. These harsh chemicals and heat styling devices deplete the condition of the hair and sometimes the scalp too, causing hair breakage, hair fall and bald patches. Fortunately, this is often a temporary situation. When the source of the problem is removed and reversed, the hair grows back.

So, reversing hair damage is key to preserving a head full of it. Dry, damaged, brittle and frizzy hair is more prone to breakage and falling. Regular hair care with shampoos and conditioners appropriate to the hair type is a good starting point. Keeping the scalp conditioned and dandruff free helps too. And periodic salon treatments and spas keep the hair shiny and smooth.

However, sometimes even all that TLC does not keep the scalp from showing through. Clearly the root cause of the problem lies deep down. And it is never too soon to reach out to a dermatologist.

Rooting for great hair. The region’s top dermatologists are on your side.

Obvious though this may sound, the greatest hope arises from the fact that hair is rooted in skin; and skin is something that gains each day from medical advances and innovations. In fact, the route to healthy hair is through the scalp. Dermatological experts have a hair-raisingly large bag of tricks – medication, topical applications, surgical procedures and treatments. Mesotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) in particular, are growing in popularity for their safety, reliability and effectiveness.

Mesotherapy is a technique where microscopic quantities of pharmaceuticals, vitamins and minerals are injected into the scalp to help it rejuvenate and repair itself. An integral part of the treatment to tackle balding, loss of hair in patches and the progressive thinning of hair which are all symptoms of alopecia, or male pattern baldness. Starting the treatment with the first signs of hair loss keeps the thinning from advancing. When it comes to reversing hair loss, it is essential to revitalise follicular nourishment. In Mesotherapy for the scalp, an injection gun is used to deliver a tonic containing minerals and vitamins in the layer of fat deep in the mesoderm. These replace the nutrients that the follicles have ceased to absorb. They also stimulate blood circulation, which in turn retards hair loss and reactivates hair growth. This healthful boost stimulates circulation and nourishes the hair follicles. Hair growth is restored as the rejuvenated hair follicles are stronger. The strands of hair that grow out of these follicles are now thicker, stronger and healthier. Hair shedding, hair loss and even hair breakage are reduced.

The other popular treatment, PRP Therapy, uses the innate healing and regenerative powers of your own blood. Your blood platelets, rich in growth factors, are injected into targeted areas of the scalp to stimulate and accelerate cell regeneration. It works wonders on the hair, making it appear thicker and more conditioned.

To ensure long lasting results, the dermatologist may also describe certain hair vitamins and peptide serums to care for your hair on a daily basis. It’s worth getting our heads around hair care – after all it’s about the crown that we wear every day.