One of the most common concerns that we see in the clinic is hair loss – mainly male pattern baldness and thinning hair in women. From genetics to hormones, there are so many factors that could be keeping you from having fuller hair. As with many things, the first step to regaining control of your hair is to get to the bottom of what’s causing the problem in the first place and from there, we can deliver a targeted treatment plan to help combat the changes.

If you’d like to understand why you may be shedding more than normal and what to do about it, consider this your comprehensive guide.

Why do we lose our hair?

Many possible factors may result in hair loss for both men and women, and not all are easily managed.

The most common cause of hair loss is genetics which is closely followed by stress. Hormones are a common factor of female pattern hair loss, which is why many women will experience hair shedding post-pregnancy or during the menopause. Nutritional deficiencies, poor scalp quality and autoimmune diseases can also lead to hair loss.

Two-thirds of all men will eventually be affected by male pattern baldness in the UK, whilst around 1 in 5 women aged over 25 will experience hair loss or thinning. It’s a prevalent issue, but the good news is that there are solutions available, some of which can be life-changing for hair loss sufferers.

Genetic testing for hair loss

The Trichotest is a unique genetic test that identifies the root cause of hair loss and the most compatible treatment options, cutting out the guesswork so we can develop a targeted treatment programme for your unique requirements.

The Trichotest involves taking a quick swab from the inside of your mouth, which will then be sent off to a laboratory where specially trained technicians will produce an in-depth report outlining the possible causes of your hair loss and the most likely treatments be effective for you, including supplements and /or specifically formulated hair serums.

The test analyses 48 genetic variations of the most relevant mutations related to the personalised treatment of alopecia. This provides an extensive understanding of specific characteristics of your metabolism that are related to your hair loss.

The TrichoTest helps to remove the trial and error out of hair restoration treatments. The information allows us to create an informed and personalised treatment plan specific to your genetic coding.

What are some other treatment options?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy injections are a proven hair loss treatment that can regenerate and promote hair growth for men and women by using your own plasma and growth factors to target areas of hair loss.

During treatment, your practitioner will take blood from your arm by the same method as a blood test. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge and ‘spun’ to extract and separate its components and isolate the platelet-rich plasma. This rich concentration of growth factors is then injected directly into the scalp at the level of the hair follicles, increasing blood flow and stimulating the growth of new follicles.

Mesotherapy

As well as having some excellent skin rejuvenating benefits, you may be surprised to learn that mesotherapy is also very successful in treating hair loss.

Mesotherapy formulations contain very low doses of compounds, including medicines, trace elements, vitamins, and amino acids. It nourishes and moisturises the scalp, stimulates cell regeneration and blood flow, strengthens follicles, restores hormonal balance, and eliminates infections, strengthening the follicles and making our hair grow stronger, thicker, healthier and brighter.

We are also able to use the results of the Tricotest to help determine which formulas are best suited for you personalised mesotherapy.

HydraFacial Keravive

Poor scalp health is a significant contributor to damaged and thinning hair. The Keravive by HydraFacial uses patented vortex technology to unclog hair follicles, boost circulation and remove dead skin and congestion whilst nourishing and hydrating the scalp.

The treatment infuses a proprietary blend of skin proteins and growth factors to encourage the growth of thicker, healthier and stronger looking hair. It works well as an individual treatment but can also be combined with other hair restoration treatments such as PRP to enhance results.

Hormone testing and Bio-identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT)

Hormone testing will begin with an assessment of your current and past medical history and follows up with a sampling of your blood profiles to determine the current level of your hormones and highlight any areas that need addressing or imbalances.

BHRT is an excellent option to consider if your blood profiles show that your hormone levels are off-balance. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy works to counteract menopausal changes and other hormones imbalances, by replenishing the critical hormonal supply. Once the balance of these hormones has been restored, symptoms such as hair loss can be significantly reduced.

We always suggest an initial consultation with one of our doctors to discuss your concerns with a practitioner to understand which treatment is right for you. Click here to book a consultation with one of our expert practitioners.