Specializing in hair transplantation, hair restoration and hair transplants with hair loss clinics in New Jersey (NJ) & New York (NY)

Hair loss, also known as alopecia can be caused by many factors from genetics to hormone imbalances to drug use, the list goes on. While androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness, AGA for short) is by far the most common form of hair loss, there are innumerable causes, which is why a consultation with a doctor is so crucial for determining the right diagnosis.

While there is no extensive research to define the frequency of male pattern baldness or female hair loss, generally speaking, male pattern baldness can be expected to occur in 25% of men aged 25-30, 40% of men aged 40, and 50% of men aged 50 or more.

Related pages

[Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Loss]
[5 Common Hair Loss Myths]

The majority of hair loss in both men and women are genetic, which means hair loss is a hereditary trait and can be inherited from either the mother’s or father’s side.

Genetic hair loss cannot be prevented without the use of drugs. However there are many other possible causes, especially for women, in which hair loss is temporary and can be reversed.

There are only 3 FDA approved treatments for the prevention of hair loss - Rogaine®, Propecia®, and laser combs. While all products have been found to halt the onset of hair loss, they must be used topically or taken orally for the remainder of your life. In the event that medication is stopped any prevention of hair loss will be reversed and once again your genetics will dictate the amount of hair you retain.

THE HAIR CYCLE

All hair follicles go through a normal cycle of hair growth and hair loss. There are three main phases of the hair growth cycle: anagen, catagen, and telogen.

During the anagen phase hair fibers are actively produced from the dermal papilla, a highly active group of pear-shaped cells within the follicle. The longest of the three phases, anagen lasts anywhere between 6 to 10 years, with an average growth rate of 1/2 inch per month.

During the catagen phase, which is estimated to last approximately 14 to 21 days, hair growth enters a period of regression; the dermal papilla condense as the cells become inactive. With a lack of cell stimulation, the hair fiber and root sheaths stop growing.

Lastly, the follicle enters a period of rest for anywhere between 30 to 90 days. In telogen the dermal papilla can become isolated and the hair fiber can be easily pulled out from everyday activites such as combing, shampooing, or brushing. At any given time, approximately 10% of hair follicles on the scalp are in telogen, which means each day an average of 50 to 100 hairs are pulled out.

While this cycle of hair production typically continues for the duration of the individual’s life, as explained earlier, there are follicles with a genetic disposition to permanent hair loss. Other factors that may effect hair growth include: adverse reactions to drugs or medical treatments, hormones, as well as immune system abnormalities.

Hair Basics and Hair Transplantation

There are two types of hair: terminal and vellus. The terminal hairs are the thick, strong, usually pigmented ones that constitute the greatest volume of our hair. The vellus hairs are the very fine, short, lightly pigmented hairs, sometimes called baby hairs, that can be often detected around the hairline, and throughout the scalp. This difference is significant when discussing balding, for in balding, the terminal hairs gradually undergo a metamorphosis called “miniaturization.” They become shorter, finer, and less colored, becoming vellus hairs. If you look closely at the heads of balding men, you will see that, in many of the areas of balding, the strong terminal hairs are replaced by fine, vellus hairs; this process is identified as miniaturization - hair loss.

Individual characteristics such as color, curl or kink, caliber (cross-sectional area) and density (number of hairs per unit area) are all important factors in determining an individual’s hair transplant.

For example, although African hair tends to have a lower density (hairs per square inch) than Caucasian hair, its extreme curliness lends it a great volume and ability to achieve coverage after hair transplant surgery. Asian hair, although it tends to be very coarse (high caliber), can be more challenging to transplant due to the straight nature of the hair, and the contrast between dark hair and lighter skin. These are but a few examples, and all of these characteristics should be taken into account by the hair restoration expert in designing a program for each unique individual. How skilled the surgeon is in placement and design is crucial to an effective hair restoration procedure.

Which brings us to follicular units. Not until the early 1980’s was it recognized that hairs grew in groups of typically one, two, three, and four hairs, not as individual shafts. This discovery is what revolutionized hair transplantation today. Transforming results from pluggy, doll-like transplants into natural, dense looking results that when done skillfully is virtually undetectable. Utilizing magnification these units are easily identified and in the past decade has revolutionized the process of donor harvesting, dissection, and implantation.