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Some hair shedding is a natural and healthy part of life; in fact, daily shedding is a key step in the hair growth process. After a period of time in the growing phase, your follicles go into a resting phase and shed. This is followed by a new hair follicle growing in its place. Problems arise when this natural process of shedding and regrowth is disrupted—and in many cases, cancer treatment can expedite this process. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the ways in which cancer treatment can lead to hair loss, setting some clear expectations about what cancer patients can expect.

In 1966, Hungarian physician Endre Mester first published an experiment in which he observed accelerated hair growth in rats treated with laser therapy, making alopecia the first legitimate therapeutic indication for laser therapy.

At some time in their lives; about one-third of women experience hair loss (alopecia), and amongst postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds experience hair thinning or bald spots. In this post, we’ll take a look at the science behind this phenomenon, and inform women what they might expect in the way of menopausal hair loss. We’ll also share some potential treatments —some ways to minimize the effects of menopausal hair loss.

There are many potential causes for hair loss, and one of the most significant is the condition known as alopecia areata or AA. More than 4.5 million people in the United States are estimated to be affected with AA, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. In this post, we’ll take a look at what this condition is, how it is diagnosed, and ultimately how it is treated.

Here at HT&RC, we hear from many parents who are worried about their children—children who are dealing with hair loss at what seems like an awfully young age. Note that, when we talk about children here, we are mostly talking about those in high school or college, or potentially just after college in their twenties. Note, too, that most young men and women who deal with early hair loss don’t call us of their own accord—it’s almost always concerned parents who do so.

Having a baby is, of course, a joyous thing—but it’s not without some potential side effects. Hair loss is one that is especially frustrating. Here at HT&RC, we hear from many women who had a baby months or even years ago, and experienced thinning hair afterward. Often, these women wait, assuming the hair will grow back—but it doesn’t, perhaps because of stressful life events that further impact their natural hair growth cycles.

Male pattern baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia) is the most common type of hair loss in men affecting ~50% of men over 40 years of age and caused by the interaction of genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol and stress from a hormonal perspective. The primary contributor, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), results from metabolized testosterone and changes gene expression, leading hair follicles to shorten their growth phase and to miniaturize.

The latest hairstyles and hair colors can seem exceptional in photographs splashed across magazines covers, and the internet, but creating these looks requires exposure of hair to heated styling devices and harsh chemicals that, in turn, can severely damage hair. Notably damaged hair can be suggestive of a disease, or a hair-shaft disorder, a condition our medical practice can diagnose and provide an individual treatment protocol for hair restoration.

How is it treated? In this last post on Cicatricial Alopecias, I discuss details on treatments, hopefully providing more clarity on this group of disorders.

How is it diagnosed? This third blog post in a series on cicatricial alopecia continues with new learnings regarding associations with other illnesses, diagnosis, and seeking treatment. Much of the information provided is from the Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation or CARF. Their website is www.carfintl.org, and I encourage everyone seeking more in-depth knowledge to visit the site.