Hair Loss and Regrowth

Hair loss is a phenomenon that can affect anyone, regardless of age or sex, and which can make you feel embarassed. Loss of hair density or a receding hairline and baldness can, over time, create areas devoid of hair, especially on the top of the head and on the temples.

Previously difficult to treat, baldness is no longer a taboo today and can be treated from its beginning to its development, including recreating hair growth through surgery when it is at very advanced stage.

Although seen as a problem for seniors, alopecia can affect anyone, at any age. It usually starts at age 25 and can progress quickly if left untreated.

At NHT Europe we offer you a better understanding of baldness and the solutions that exist.

• What are the causes of baldness?
• How are the treatments evolving?
• At what age can you be treated?
• What does DNA sampling consist of?
• What are the treatments offered?

What are the causes of hair loss?

Hair loss can have different causes: medical treatments, stress, genetics, scalp or skin pathology ... It is a problem with multiple causes but has the same consequence: excessive hair loss.

At NHT Europe we attach particular importance to the reason behind of your baldness. Indeed, it is essential to understand the cause in order to offer an effective treatment and achieve optimal results.

Our specialists highlight several causes:

Hereditary alopecia caused by genes called "androgenetic" is the most common cause. In addition, at NHT Europe we offer a genome analysis by DNA sampling. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to analyse all the chromosomes, to locate the responsible gene and to identify its dysfunction; the results are obtained in 5 weeks and allow us to know which treatment will be effective and if it will cause side effects.

Iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, or vitamin D deficiency can also cause alopecia.

Another reason can be alopecia areata This pathology results in the loss of hair in localized areas, it can affect the whole body but is generally found on the beard and scalp; it is spontaneously regressive in less than a year but can spread all over the body: alopecia universalis.

Other causes:

Stress, the role of which is difficult to assess

Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling)

Complicated medical treatments, including chemotherapy, can also cause hair loss and sometimes hair does not naturally grow back as densely as it did before or with the same colour.

Finally, cicatricial alopecia can also be treated, they are due to scars or inflammatory dermatological conditions which prevent the natural regrowth of the hair. A hair transplant can only be considered after the inflammatory process has stopped.

At NHT Europe our specialists seek to understand the origin of your baldness in order to offer you an appropriate treatment.

Androgenetic alopecia

The essential information

In summary, there are several types of alopecia:

Non-scarring alopecia:

• Androgenetic alopecia: the most common
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Iron and vitamin D deficiency
• Alopecia areata
• Telogen effluvium (stress)
• Anagen effluvium (chemotherapy)
• Miscellaneous: pulling hair out (trichotillomania)

Scarring alopecia:

• Traumatic, burn, surgical, post radiotherapy scars
• Inflammatory dermatological conditions:
• Discoid lupus
• Lichen panoplies
• FFA Frontal Fibrosis Alopecia
• Decalvans folliculitis
• Pseudo Brocq alopecia areata

Before considering a hair transplant, you need to know how to differentiate all these conditions and make sure that the situation is stabilized.

In the case of a progressive inflammatory disease, a hair transplant is advised against.

The evolution of hair loss treatments

For many years, the treatments to fight against excessive hair loss and to stimulate regrowth seemed insufficient: no change in presentation, and significant drawbacks.

Now, the process of baldness is better understood and also better treated. Constantly evolving, research has made it possible to understand the mechanisms of hair regrowth. Still impossible a few years ago, hair regrowth is now sometimes possible.

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment has greatly contributed to improving the image of treatments against alopecia. Indeed, this innovative technique, which appeared in the 2000s, has demonstrated the effectiveness of treatments against excessive hair loss. PRP consists of injecting a concentrate of platelets, which contain natural growth factors, into the scalp in the area the follicles, to stimulate hair regrowth. Superficial treatment carried out via mesotherapy, it is minimally invasive and has shown convincing results but must be repeated regularly.

Currently, different medical and surgical treatments exist:

• growth factors from stem cells taken from the umbilical cord
• mesotherapy with vitamin factors or mineral salts necessary for hair growth
• scalp stimulation, light therapy with LEDs or laser diodes
• personalised lotions after DNA analysis

At what age can hair loss be treated?

Baldness is more common in older men, but reality shows us that from the age of 18 baldness, especially androgenetic, can begin to appear. It frequently develops between 20 and 30 years old. This type of early-onset alopecia has a strong psychological dimension. Indeed, young people can experience real embarrassment due to this excessive hair loss.

It is also important to note that alopecia progresses more easily between the ages of 20 and 30, after which it generally slows down. It is therefore at this time that it is necessary to start treatments. Indeed, these will help to limit hair loss.

It is imperative to stabilize the alopecic process before performing a transplant.

Scarring alopecia

DNA sampling for optimal treatment

NHT Europe offers you the service of DNA testing with genome analysis. This innovative test not yet widely available despite its relevance especially with regard to baldness. Being a very recent development, we have been offering it since January 2020.

Results are received in about 5 weeks, and these will allow us to better understand your problem.

This test allows us to study all the genes involved in alopecia and thus know the gene responsible for hair loss and the nature of the dysfunction.

Other treatments

Baldness can be treated by different means and NHT Europe offers a range of solutions tailored to your expectations and your health.

The FUE procedure (Follicular Unit Excision) is a surgical technique which consists of taking, thanks to circular micro-punches, adapted to the size of the follicle, of the hair, one by one, to reimplant them in your scalp on the affected areas. This technique does not leave a scar and has demonstrated its effectiveness. Unlike the FUT technique (the strip technique), this allows the doctor to take the grafts one by one to keep their quality and thus offer an optimal and lasting result of the hair transplant.

Do not hesitate to consult our section "surgical treatments" for more information, by clicking here.

However, treatments to treat alopecia without undergoing surgery also exist.

Amongst the most common treatments, our specialists offer PRP, defined earlier in this article, as well as lotions recommended by the results of genome analysis.

Classic treatments for alopecia which are nowadays not the most effective:

As a lotion, minoxidil (Rogaine) can be applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. With this treatment, it thickens and grows; this treatment accelerates the hair cycle, thus triggering a new follicle cycle (hair loss at the end of the cycle, shedding effect). This technique only shows results after 6 months of treatment. Its effectiveness is inconsistent; this is confirmed by the analysis of the genome which does not systematically recommend this molecule.

Finasteride (Propecia) is a product that can also be offered in the treatment of baldness. This is recommended to stabilize baldness and may even allow the growth of new hair. In tablet form, this treatment is to be taken over time. This product is now available as a lotion for local application, with local action and a lower concentration in the blood. Again, it is not always recommended after genome analysis.

This treatment, a type 1 5α reductase inhibitor, can have repercussions on male sexual function, decreased libido, erection, sperm concentration; it is therefore to be avoided when a couple is considering a new child and is advised against for women of childbearing age.

Some dietary supplements are effective in combating baldness:

A study carried out in India recently showed marked improvements in hair thanks to the use of these vitamins.

Many laboratories offer them, but we cannot name them all. (Luxéol, Forcapil and Nutrafol, etc.)

DNA sampling provides more precision by allowing the use of selected vitamins or minerals supplements.

Light stimulation has also been shown to be effective on hair loss. NHT Europe can guide you in choosing the devices to purchase from manufacturers.

Several devices exist on the market:

• Capillus 272, 82, 202
• Laser Cap
• Theradome

These devices are laser or LED- equipped helmets that will stimulate hair regrowth. This treatment is not definitive, so it must be used regularly to be effective; stopping it will stop the desired effects.

The essential information

A big team is present and available for large grafts (6000 grafts or more).

Permanent training and frequent reassessment of procedures.

More effective medical treatments: study of the genome.