Hair Procedures Mobile

Hair loss (alopecia) as a consequence of aging occurs in 20% of women and 70% of men. The degree of loss ranges from significant thinning of scalp hair to varying patterns of baldness. Female hair loss may become evident during hormonal imbalance (menopause, oral birth control). Decreased testosterone may lead to male pattern hair loss. An individual with androgenetic alopecia may have normal levels of testosterone but increased activity of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase, accounting for hereditary hair loss. Other causes of hair loss include trauma, infection, stress, chemotherapy, radiation, endocrine disorders (thyroid), malnutrition, medication side effects, and autoimmune disease (alopecia areata). Dandruff (Seborrheic dermatitis) is the most common cause of scaling of the scalp.

Treatment for hair loss includes camouflage products (hairpieces, bonding, hair weave), medications (Minoxidil – Rogaine® and 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors (Propecia®, Proscar®, Avodart®), hormonal manipulation, hair transplantation, removal of bald areas surgically (scalp reduction), moving scalp tissue surgically (scalp flaps), stretching and then moving hair bearing scalp (scalp expansion).

Dr. Swain medically treats hair loss and Dr. Park surgically treats hair loss.

Hair Removal

Hair removal can be attempted with several methods: waxing, plucking, depilatories, electrolysis, and lasers. Only lasers have permanent effect. Hair removal lasers target chromophores (usually melanin) within the hair follicle, thereby destroying hair during its growth phase. This process of selective thermolysis only destroys the actively growing hair which is on average 20% of hairs, therefore requiring repeat treatment at monthly intervals. There usually will be some persistent hairs but far reduced. The most common lasers used in hair removal are Nd-Yag (Altus Cool Glide® and Candela GentleYAG®), Ruby (Epitouch® and Epilaser®), Alexandrite (Candela Gentlelase Plus®), and Diode (Coherent Light Sheer®). Dr. Park prefers the Diode for fast, relatively painless hair removal but also offers the ND-Yag for certain hair and skin types.