Catherine Zeta-Jones and Patrick Dempsey earn top Hair Honors

Members of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) know good hair when they see it, and they like what they see in Catherine Zeta-Jones and Patrick Dempsey.

According to results released today of a new member survey conducted by the ISHRS, 43.8 percent of members voted Catherine Zeta-Jones as the female celebrity with the best tresses, while 71.5 percent of members chose Patrick Dempsey as the male celebrity with the best hair.

The spotlight will be on all things hair at the ISHRS’s 19th Annual Scientific Meeting when more than 500 physicians and surgical assistants from around the world dedicated to advancing the art and science of hair restoration are expected to attend this premier educational event, September 14-18, 2011, at the Dena?ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska, USA.

This year’s scientific program, with the theme “New Vistas & Trusted Techniques in Hair Transplantation,” will feature presentations by the world’s foremost hair restoration experts on the latest research and scientific advances in diagnosing and treating hair loss.

“The growth we are seeing in hair restoration surgery is a testament to the great strides made over the years in the field and our commitment as a medical specialty to ongoing medical education and research,” said Jerry E. Cooley, MD, president of the ISHRS.  “Exciting new technologies are being investigated that will only further expand our ability to perfect the science of hair restoration and further help more people with hair loss.”

Genetic Basis of Alopecia Areata Established

Among the Most Common Forms of Hair Loss, Alopecia Areata Affects 5.3 Million in U.S.

New York – A team of investigators led by Columbia University Medical Center has uncovered eight genes that underpin alopecia areata, one of the most common causes of hair loss, as reported in a paper in the July 1, 2010 issue of Nature. Since many of the genes are also implicated in other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes – and treatments have already been developed that target these genes – this discovery may soon lead to new treatments for the 5.3 million Americans suffering from hair loss caused by alopecia areata.

According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere. It affects approximately two percent of the population overall. While it affects both men and women equally, it is diagnosed more often in women, since they are more likely to seek treatment.

Among the eight genes, one stands out for its potential role in the onset of alopecia areata. The gene, called ULBP3, is known to act as a homing beacon for cytotoxic cells that can invade and quickly destroy an organ. Normally, ULBP3 is not present in hair follicles, but the ULBP3 proteins are abundant in hair follicles affected by alopecia areata. The proteins attract cells marked by a killer cell receptor, known as NKG2D. In addition to ULBP3, two other genes are expressed in the hair follicle, while the five remaining genes are involved in the immune response.

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Hair Loss – Can We Change The Plans of Our DNA?

Our genes are responsible for determining our eye color, skin type and yes, our predisposition to hair loss. However, the gene responsible for hair loss has “variable expression”. This means that even if the gene was passed to you by your parents, you may not experience premature hair thinning and loss. A number of factors work together to either contribute to the problem, or to prevent it from worsening.

These factors include your diet, the level of stress in your everyday life and your lifestyle including habits such as smoking cigarettes and exercise. However, the most important factor is a chemical called DHT. Dihydrotesterone is a by-product of testosterone, which is why men are more often affected with hair loss than women.

Men who are predisposed to early hair loss by their genetics will find the problem compounded if they are also sensitive to DHT. The chemical causes the hair follicles to shrink, effectively choking off the hair shaft and causing thin and eventually disappear. The hair follicles on the top and sides of the scalp are most likely to be affected by this type of baldness.

Solutions and Treatment

While it is not possible to “fix” or change the gene responsible for hair loss, it is possible to treat the problem and prevent it from worsening. There are several medications available to help combat the symptoms of hair loss.

Rogaine is a medication applied to the scalp twice a day. The active ingredient is a medication called Minoxidil. It works by stimulating hair growth and is effective in 50-55% of the people who use it. Rogaine is available over the counter.

Propecia, or finasteride, is a prescription drug that lowers the body’s levels of DHT. This prevents the shrinkage of the hair follicles that causes hair to thin and eventually stop growing.

Some men opt for surgery to treat their thinning hairline. Specialists can remove the part of the scalp affected by hair loss and pull the areas thick with hair over to cover the bald spots. If that seems too drastic for some, hair plugs are also an option.

Get a hair transplant done by our Doctors.

Source: topix.com

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An extract of an article published recently on this subject showing how hair loss is becoming a problem of the past in womans life.

Fernie Wanda has always suspected that just like her dad and mum, she will one day suffer from heriditary hair loss. With more than 20 million American women facing the same problem, women still face a general lack of support from friends and family members who do not see their problem as a real issue.

The day came for Wanda after the birth of her first child when she was just 29, and it is gradually becoming worse ever since. Wanda said, “My husband joke about his own thinning hair. No one takes my problem seriously as they expect me to be able to laugh it off like some middle age men. They keep telling me it’s nothing when my self esteem keep going lower and lower.” Like any working woman, Wanda have an image to maintain and losing her have wreck havoc on her self confidence in the workplace as well as in public…
…It is not uncommon for women like Wanda to experience temporary hair loss post pregnancy or after they stop taking oral contraceptive. This kind of shedding is known as telogen effluvium, where a high numbers of hair enter their resting phase simultaneously. Compared to alopecia hair thinning in women, these conditions, although potentially severe, will go away after a few months when the hair follicles enter their active growing phase again.

In Wanda’s case, her hair loss problems continued to plague her, and she blamed it all on gene. “I do read about hair loss from time to time and in a way, I have even anticipated this to happen. What I learnt was that hair transplant is really the only permanent solution I can use if I don’t want to keep applying creams for the rest of my life.”

However, hair transplant for women is trickier than in men as women usually experience a general thinning on the entire head.