Hair Loss

What causes hair loss?

You can lose your hair for many reasons, including:

• Taking certain medications
• Wearing tight braids and ponytails
• Experiencing extreme emotional or physical stress
• Having an autoimmune condition
• Developing a fungal infection
• Undergoing cancer treatment

Of all the possible causes, however, the most common is a genetic condition called androgenetic alopecia.

What type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia is better known by its common names: male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, which is inherited, makes your hair follicles sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

If you have androgenetic alopecia, your hair follicles shrink when they’re exposed to DHT. Then the follicles start producing thinner hair, and ultimately, they stop growing hair.

Male pattern baldness follows a classic pattern. Men notice a receding hairline and hair loss on the top of their heads. Some retain only a ring of hair around their head.

The pattern is different for female hair loss. Women may notice thinning at their part that gradually expands. But in most cases, they experience general thinning over the entire scalp.

How is hair loss treated?

Though some types of hair loss can be treated with medication, the team at RGV Endocrine Center offers today’s most advanced treatments, such as:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

PRP contains a high concentration of platelets combined with plasma, which is the liquid part of your blood. Your provider draws a sample of your blood and uses a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma.

Then they immediately inject PRP into your scalp. The platelets release growth factors that stimulate the follicles, promoting new hair growth, increasing hair thickness, and slowing down hair loss.

Most patients have a series of PRP injections. They get one each month for three months, then a treatment every 3-6 months to maintain their results.

LightStim red light treatment

Red light treatment (low-level light therapy) uses wavelengths that are absorbed by your hair follicles. This therapy:

• Stimulates hair growth
• Boosts blood circulation and lymph drainage
• Activates cellular metabolism
• Generates collagen and fibroblast production
• Reduces inflammation

Low-level light therapy works best when you get treatments twice a week.

Fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF) is a special protein that stimulates growth in fibroblast cells, regulates cellular growth, and regenerates hair follicles.

If you notice thinning hair, call RGV Endocrine Center to schedule an appointment.