Hair Loss Chicago: Q&A

Some common questions associated with hair loss in Chicago:

Q: I am a 24 year old male and my hair is progressively thinner and I am getting a receding hairline. Why is this happening when I am so young?

A: Unfortunately hair loss can start when people are at a young age. Probably someone in your family (maybe in the distant past) started losing his or her hair at the same age. Luckily now there are some good treatments to regrow hair.

Q: I had a baby recently and my hair is falling out in clumps. What’s going on?

A: You may have a condition called Telogen Effluvium. It is a condition where a group of normal hairs shed at the same time. It is usually a few months after a “traumatic” event, such as childbirth, surgery, or an accident. Usually the hair will regrow within a few months.

Q: Do you have any advice on how to prevent my hair from falling out or how to regrow new hair? I was diagnosed with androgenic alopecia and have a lot of diffuse thinning.

A: The best treatments are usually the strongest treatments. One is over the counter (minoxidil), one is a prescription pill (finasteride), and the last is a type of surgery (hair transplant). All of these methods have been extensively studied and work well in the right patient. Minoxidil, commonly known as Rogaine, is a topical solution or foam applied twice daily to the affected areas of the scalp. Finasteride (the brand name is Propecia) is a pill that locally affects hormones in the scalp to decrease hair loss. There is a newer similar pill called dutasteride that works with the same mechanism of action that may have slightly higher efficacy. Lastly, hair transplantation is a procedure where the patient’s thick hairs from the back of the scalp are placed in the front to improve the appearance of hair loss.

Q: Who is the best candidate for a hair transplant Chicago procedure?

A: A patient with stable androgenetic alopecia that has gotten the most hair growth possible with medical treatments is the best candidate for a hair transplant in Chicago.

Q: I have traction alopecia. Do you have any hairstyle suggestions?

A: The more relaxed hairstyle the better for patients with traction alopecia. The pulling and tight hairstyles damage the hair shafts and follicles. Another thing to remember is harsh treatments (perms and keratin) can cause similar damage and breakage of hair shafts.

Q: What is the difference between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata? What are the treatment options for both?

A: Those are the two most common types of hair loss that dermatologists see. Androgenetic alopecia – or genetic-related hair loss – also known as male and female-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss. It has a complicated genetic pattern, but usually someone in the family is affected as well. This condition is the main target of our most common treatments for hair loss – minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplants. Alopecia areata is fairly common as well. This condition presents with patches of hair loss, usually on the scalp, but can be in any areas on the body. In fact, one subset of alopecia areata is called “alopecia universalis” and involves every hair on the body. It is an auto-immune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles for an unknown reason. Most treatments are with types of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.

Q: How many hairs is a normal amount to lose per day and what in your opinion is excessive enough to seek treatment with a Chicago Dermatologist?

A: The average number of hairs lost daily is 150. Any amount over this can be abnormal. It can be difficult to tell if you are shedding too much (unless you count!) so most people notice thinner hair before they see a dermatologist.

Q: What are the best products you like to you use for shampoo and conditioner for male or female pattern baldness? Is there a difference in the ingredients if I buy them over the counter or at your dermatology Chicago location?

A: There are a few products that are marketed to thicken hair without being prescription products. These products are usually very gentle on the hair and give a fuller look to the hair. A few examples are Revivogen and Glytone (by Ducray) hair care systems. In fact we are doing a study for females with hair loss to help launch the Glytone hair care system in the United States. These lines are medical grade products, meaning they contain pharmaceutical grade ingredients and will optimize results and typically be more concentrated ingredients. It is best to consult with a skin care professional for a personalized regimen.

For a consultation about hair loss in Chicago or to see if you are a candidate for the Hair Loss Study, please contact us at our Chicago location 312-263-4625 or Bourbonnais location 815-933-2227.