Yes, it happens to many of us as we age. Skin aging, hair loss, joint degeneration, and more are involved in the aging process. We do seem to notice the superficial appearance of our body when we think about anti-aging. The truth is, everything in our body is aging not just the parts that we see.
Hair loss.
It’s not just about male pattern balding anymore, it’s prevalent in women as they age as well. There are different ways this condition can be treated, but it definitely depends on the cause. Some is hereditary, and some is due to changes in our body that can be diagnosed through blood work. Stress, medications, autoimmune diseases, nutritional deficiencies, certain medical conditions can be issues as well.
For the hereditary issue, there’s not much you can do about that. But for internal issues and others related to your health, your bloodwork needs to be done to determine what is really going on. Thyroid issues, autoimmune diseases, and hormones may have a serious effect on hair growth and loss.
You need blood work that includes thyroid and hormone levels to rule this out. We have special nutritional tests that can be done that will determine if your micronutrients are balanced.
Many times patients take the wrong type or the wrong amount of a supplement. They also may be following a specific food or nutrition plan that is not right for them. There are nutritional supplements that help to reduce hair loss, but without knowing what the patient is deficient in, “cookie cutter” solutions rarely work. Fast weight loss may also cause hair loss.
Medications and vaccines may also contribute to more severe cases. Research is showing that the COVID vaccine may also cause hair loss. Once you’ve received any vaccine, it cannot be taken out of the body. Many of those who have had COVID, also report some hair loss as well. Some popular medications can also contribute to it, although this may not be the case for every patient who takes them. Anticoagulants, antidepressants, over the counter NSAIDS, statins, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors are just a few. Of course, chemotherapy medications are the most widely known medications to affect hair growth.
Stem cell therapy, (HCT) other regenerative therapies and PRP for hair loss is a cutting edge field of research and treatment that shows promise for promoting hair growth and potentially reversing hair loss in certain cases. Here’s what can be done for this condition.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. PRP is a treatment that involves drawing a small amount of the patient’s blood, processing it to concentrate the platelets and growth factors, and then injecting it into the scalp, after numbing cream is applied. While not true stem cell therapy, PRP contains some growth factors that may stimulate hair follicles and improve hair growth.
Stem cells, obtained from cells from a live birth donated umbilical cord, can be put into the scalp. These stem cells have the potential to stimulate the regeneration of hair follicles and promote hair growth. Many clinical trials are ongoing to explore the potential of stem cell-based treatments for hair loss.
These trials aim to determine the safety and efficacy of various stem cell therapies, including the use of embryonic stem cells. Results vary for each cause as well.
In each case, it is very important to know the cause. Blood work and a strong health history are very important to finding the cause, making the diagnosis, and designing the treatment plan that works best for the patient.
Anyone who is suffering from hair loss, please call my office for a complimentary consultation to see if regenerative therapies may help.
For any questions regarding my articles, please email me at [email protected]
Leisa-Marie Grgula. DC
Chiropractic Physician
Accurate Care Medical Wellness Center
18261 N. Pima Rd. Ste. #115
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-584-3955
