Tag Archive for: hair loss

If you are the parent of a child suffering from trichotillomania, you might feel confused, embarrassed or even scared.  It seems like such a bizarre bodily disorder, but truthfully, this may not be the case.

A possible reaction to stressful circumstances, Trichotillomania (trick-o-til-o-MAY-nee-ah) is a disorder that causes people to want to pull out their own hair.  The following are a few tips that might help you manage your child’s Trichotillomania.

Be More Aware

First and foremost, it is important to understand as a parent that trichotillomania is not as uncommon as you might think.  Time magazine reports that trichotillomania currently affects about two million Americans.  The stressful adolescence phase is a common time for symptoms to start showing, where a majority start at age 12.  It is also important to understand that the act of pulling out hair can feel good to your child and bring them instant gratification.  Unconditional love and support is needed to help your child through this tough time.

Communicate Openly

If you find talking about the condition with your child or young adult difficult, you might want to try talking with support groups with kids near their age.  If you cannot find a support group in your area, be sure to check online for support forums.

Celebrity Role Models

If a child knows that successful celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Megan Fox and Olivia Munn also suffer from trichotillomania, it might help them not feel so alone.  Even the likes of Justin Timberlake and Leonardo di Caprio have stated that they have OCD, which can cause trichotillomania as a symptom.  The point is that this disorder can happen to even the best of us, but it is in no way unbeatable or life ending.

Keep Fidgety Fingers Occupied

Giving your child’s fingers something else to do might help them resist the urge to pull out their hair.  Some of these activities include, but are not limited to; typing, needle-work, playing piano, play dough or silly putty, cooking lessons or even watercolor painting.  Find any activity they enjoy that keeps their hands focused on something else.

Coordinate a De-Stress Time

Talk with your child to try and identify specific times throughout the day where they feel the urge to pull out hair.  Sometimes this can occur right before bedtime when they are alone and feel insecure.  Playing soothing music before bed or even relaxing activities such as kid-friendly yoga or a warm bath could seriously help.

Cover Up the Hands

Utilize the “out of sight, out of mind” idea to help prevent your child from pulling hair.  Let them dress up in cool gloves to keep their fingers from wandering to the scalp.

Makeup and Beauty Products

Since hair loss can affect self-esteem in a negative way, try to help your child focus on body image in a playful, fun way.  Let your child experiment with makeup a bit if they enjoy it.  The introduction of beauty products that enhance healthy hair may also be a step in the right direction.  Let your child see that you really do care that he or she has a healthy body image as well.

Hypnotherapy

Sometimes called trichnotherapy, this method has been proven to work on its patients due to the fact that the part of the brain that is affected by trichotillomania is also near the memory center.  A good therapist can help your child do brain exercises or work with certain memories that may help to heal the mind and the body.  Hypnotherapy works to aid in assessing you child’s life and specific circumstances to really get to the root of the problem.

It is possible to fully recover from trichotillomania, and with the right communication, help, and understanding, your child will be on their way to happiness, health, and a full head of hair.  If your child suffers from trichotillomania and needs a hair replacement option to help cover up hair pulling, we are here to help.  At Van Scoy Hair Clinics we offer many options to hair replacement. We invite you to a free consultation and you can make an appointment by calling (419) 289-6665 or clicking here!

Photo Credit: Sophie Via Flickr Creative Commons

Author Research Links
http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1909704,00.html
http://www.healthofchildren.com/I-K/Impulse-Control-Disorders.html#ixzz41wFDfthx
http://www.ibtimes.com/olivia-munn-battles-trichotillomania-five-celebs-ocd-symptoms-734128
http://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-beauty-products-help-trichotillomania
http://www.trich.org/

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the tissue of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma. The majority of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. Sometimes breast cancer can begin in other regions of the breast, but primarily it begins in the ducts or the lobules. Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer has spread from the milk duct or lobule to other breast tissue. Non-invasive breast cancer means that cancer is called “in situ” and has not yet spread. Read below to learn about symptoms of invasive breast cancer.

Symptoms

Early stage breast cancer usually does not have any symptoms. For this very reason it is very important for you to complete regular breast examinations, which might facilitate the discovery of breast cancer earlier than if you fail to do breast examinations. As breast cancer grows and advances in stages, there might be a breast lump in your breast or armpit that is hard, with uneven edges, which does not hurt. Your breast or nipple might change color, size, shape, or feel. Your breast may excrete fluid, such as blood or pus. Bone pain, breast pain, skin ulcers, swelling of one arm, and weight loss are also indications that breast cancer may be present.

Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer there are numerous treatments that are available to you. However, treatment is dependent on the type and stage of cancer, whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones, and whether the cancer overproduces HER2/neu, a particular gene. Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and/or targeted therapy. The type of treatment that is most appropriate will be decided upon by you and a team of doctors and surgeons who will work with you.

Hair Loss Treatment Options

If you’re currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer or are preparing to undergo treatment, inquire about the likelihood of hair loss. Even though hair loss might seem like the last thing to worry about right now, maintaining some aspect of your sense of self is possible. Purchasing a hair system that resembles your exact natural head of hair is a helpful preventative measure that could provide you with some comfort during difficult times. If you’re not ready to think that far ahead, it is possible to attend a consultation with a hair loss expert after you have begun to lose your hair.

Preventing and treating breast cancer requires commitment not only from you but also from your friends, family, and doctor. If you suspect that you might have breast cancer, make an appointment with your doctor and bring a friend or partner with you. Attending a doctor’s appointment, especially regarding a serious medical issue, can be very stressful. Write down your symptoms and a set of questions that you have for your doctor. If you discover that chemotherapy is in your future, schedule an appointment with a hair loss consultant prior to your first chemotherapy treatment.

References

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/

Men’s anguish from hair loss isn’t precisely newsworthy, yet finding the reason for Is Stress Causing Your Hair losstheir hair loss can be groundbreaking. Heredity is typically the guilty party and most men credit it to terrible genes. What a few men don’t understand is that their male pattern baldness isn’t fundamentally foreordained by hereditary qualities and that push could be capable.

Telogen effluvium is a hair loss condition activated by stressful or traumatic affairs like an accident, a serious sickness, or a life-changing event. This condition can make hair essentially quit developing or drop out. At the end of the day the anxiety powers hair follicles to sit in the resting stage, which will stop hair development and inevitably the influenced hair could be lost months after the fact.

On the off chance that you’ve encountered an life-changing event and you’re experiencing male pattern baldness, do your best to minimize the source of anxiety. Concentrate on moving beyond the occasion and work towards mending. It is additionally essential to get enough rest and eat right amid this time. At long last, make sure to see a male pattern baldness proficient who can comfort your psyche and assist you with affirming the reason for male pattern baldness and give you genuine solutions.

Try not to let the anxiety of male pattern baldness add to your anxiety. The most ideal approach to figure out which balding solution is a good fit for you is to meet secretly with an expert at Van Scoy Hair Clinic. A typical conference takes around 60 minutes. We will get in touch with you to plan you’re private, no commitment conference during a time that is most advantageous for you.

 

Photo Credit: Michael Clesle via Flickr Creative Commons

best surgical hair transplants columbus cleveland ashland ohio

There are often times when you come across a young patient that is highly interested in having a hair transplant procedure. A young patient refers to an individual that is 25 years of age or younger. Great care must be taken in considering someone at this age for a hair transplant. Young patients must be made aware that hair is transplanted in bald or thinning areas, the hair loss of their existing native hair will continue and new thinning areas may be created which will require further procedures in the future.

male baldness cure ohioYoung patients are divided into 3 main types:

TYPE 1: Ηair loss in the temporal areas (Norwood Class 2 or 2A) 
A person in with this type of hair loss will begin to lose hair on their temples and they are often worried to replace the lost hair.

This is sometimes not the best solution. Hair loss will continue and by having a hair transplant into the temporal areas, it is possible that soon enough the hairline will begin to recede and the hair behind the transplanted temporal area will start to receding too. This can leave young patients with two patches of hair on the left and right temple. If that happens then the patient has no other options but to proceed with further surgeries to replace those empty areas or they would be left with a strange and unnatural look. It is important to examine the present condition of donor and recipient areas and a look at the family history of hair loss. This will help approximately predict the Norwood Scale that he might end up at in the future.A decision can be made to proceed once we know all the information.

TYPE 2:

  • Receding hairline & temporal areas (Norwood Class 3) 
  • Receding hairline & temporal areas and crown (Norwood Class 3V)
  • Receding hairline & temporal areas and top (Norwood Class 4 or 4A)

This type of young patient has reached a stage where they feel they are losing their youth, and there is a significant amount of hair that will be needed to replace the hair in these areas.

In this type of case, the family history of hair loss has to be examined in order to predict the final stage of baldness that could be reached.  We also need to investigate the quality of follicular units in the donor area. If it can be determined that the young patient is a potential Norwood Class 7, it is better to avoid the hair transplant surgery as the donor area may not offer enough to cover the potential baldness. If the patient is found to be a potential Norwood Class 5 or 6 then a hair transplant is possible but the individual must understand the limitations regarding hair density. If a high density is used to cover the front and crown areas, then there may not be enough in the donor area to maintain this high density with future balding. Because of this, a more conservative approach needs to be taken.Usually, young patients have a higher expectation as they have just recently lost their hair and are not willing to settle for anything less than what they once had. Before a hair transplant can be performed the patient must have realistic expectations or they will be unsatisfied with the results.

TYPE 3:

  • Receding top and crown (Norwood Class 5)
  • Receding top, crown, and back (Norwood Class 6)

This type of young patient has to have a lot of caution.This is the type of person that very well may end up in a high class 7 and a hair transplant is not recommended. We need to carefully examine the hair loss history from mother and fathers side and identify whether the patient has reached the final stage of hair loss or if the potential for hair loss in the future is possible. This is what when we would have them look into hair replacement as a solution. They can only replace their hair with a mature hairline, low density with the help of donor beard hair. Another option is to leave the crown area uncovered but still have a natural look.

These cases are looked at individually and advice is given according to parameters such as:

  • final expected stage of hair loss,
  • the density of the remaining donor,
  • quality of follicular units in the donor
  • and expectations.

At Van Scoy Hair Clinics we are very concerned about the correct approach to all of our patients and especially the young ones. We are committed to giving the correct advice.

mens hair loss replacement restoration columbus ashland ohio

Hair loss is far more common than many men and women would like to admit. While some medical hair loss treatments can help, there is no magical cure for hair loss. The one thing you can do is take care of your hair and doing so naturally is a good idea to improve your hair’s appearance.

Taking a natural approach

For many people, taking a natural approach to hair health as well as overall health just seems like a good idea. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help you to feel and look good. We all know that when it comes to food, eating fresh is much better for you than processed foods. A healthy diet that is rich in nutrients and vitamins and drinking plenty of water all can have a positive benefit for your skin and hair.

It has been noted by the US Office on Women’s Health that the best way to keep your hair in tip-top shape involves a healthy lifestyle and good hair care. It’s a good idea to wash your hair regularly but that doesn’t mean every day. Hair can get too dry and that will lead to breakage of the hair strands. Also, when you wash your hair, make sure the water is not to hot as that can work against your hair and can dry out your locks. Just like you would ingest chemicals, it is best to minimize the amount of chemicals you put on your scalp. Always look at the labels for hair dyes, shampoos, and other hair care products so you know what contents they have in them. Opt for natural, and high-quality products like those used by many professionals.

Lifestyle factors to consider

There are a number of factors that can contribute to hair loss and one of the most common is genetics. There are medical conditions that can play a part in someone developing thinning hair or baldness as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic stress is a contributor to hair loss. Depending on how severe the stress in your life is, you might want to consider making changes in your lifestyle where possible in order to help minimize the stress levels you’re facing. This could involve talking to family and friends, a medical professional, getting regular exercise and other activities like yoga, acupuncture, and medication.

Other options

Making healthy choices from the foods we eat to the products you use on our hair and scalp can improve the appearance of your hair and keep it in healthy condition. If you have hair loss you should talk to your doctor or a hair loss specialist. There are a number of different treatments that over the years has advanced dramatically. There are men’s hair replacements and human hair extensions that can hide your hair loss and ensure your hair looks healthy and full.

Most people agree that having hair pulled out is a very unpleasant feeling. For someone with trichotillomania, though, pulling hair out feels good — and may help the person deal with stress and anxiety. Trichotillomania is one of the more unusual hair loss diseases. What causes this hair loss disorder, and can it be cured?

What Is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder that causes a person to have an overwhelming urge to pull out their own hair. Symptoms of trichotillomania include:

  • noticeable hair loss
  • increased tension right before pulling out hair, or when trying to resist pulling
  • pleasure or relief when hair is pulled

As long as hair pulling is not caused by another health issue, and it causes the puller enough problems to interfere with daily life, it can be classified as trichotillomania.

TTM is closely related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. The International OCD Foundation sheds light on the difference between the two:

  • OCD sufferers have repetitive behaviors that distract from bad feelings but do not bring pleasure.
  • TTM sufferers get pleasure or relief from pulling hair.

Scientists do not know the cause of TTM. Symptoms of TTM increase when the body encounters stress. Interestingly, this stress can be either negative stress (e.g., money problems) or positive stress (e.g., planning a trip). The brain does not differentiate between the signals, so both types of stress can increase the desire to pull hair.

What Are Complications of TTM?

On an emotional level, the sufferer may experience tremendous stress and shame because of their behavior. This can prevent them from going to work, engaging in social activities or pursuing higher education. Physically speaking, one of the worst complications occurs when a person eats the hair they pull. Strands of hair can build up in the intestines and cause painful, even life-threatening blockages, which may require surgery.

Can Trichotillomania be Cured?

There are several treatments for TTM. Different methods may work for some and not for others.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) interrupts and resets the mental processes that lead to hair pulling. Through CBT, the patient identifies the factors that lead to the desire to pull, then learns techniques that can redirect those urges. To be effective, CBT should be performed by a qualified psychologist.

Medication

There are several medications that have been helpful for TTM patients. Among the most effective are the antidepressant clomipramine and the amino acid N-acetyl cysteine. SSRIs like Prozac have had mixed results; a few patients have reported that they stopped pulling their hair completely, while others felt no effect whatsoever.

Support Groups

Because sufferers of trichotillomania deal with debilitating of shame, support groups can be very helpful. Hair pullers may find that being in a support group helps them to focus their energies on finding an effective strategy, rather than hiding their disorder and feeling embarrassed.

Alternative Therapies

Certain hair pullers have reported success with alternative therapies like biofeedback, hypnotism or a strict regimen of diet and exercise. These methods have not been studied by scientists, so their usefulness remains in question.
Who Suffers from Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania often begins in childhood or adolescence, but TTM symptoms can onset at any time in life. Boys and girls seem to be equally affected in childhood, but among adults, TTM appears to be more common among women.

Actress Olivia Munn has been open about suffering from Trichotillomania. In an interview for Self magazine, she speaks of the stress that brought on hair pulling. “I had it growing up, having had a little bit of a tumultuous upbringing, moving around a lot with a mixed family with five kids.” She remarked that the stress of being an actress has, at times, brought that anxiety back. “I just didn’t want to let anybody down,” she said.

Trichotillomania can affect anyone at any age. VanScoy Hair Clinics specializes in hair replacement and hair loss solutions for those who suffer from Trichotillomania. We have many options to choose from. To learn more, call us at (419) 289-6665 or click here and make an appointment online.

Photo Credit: Martin Cathrae Via Flickr Creative Commons

Many people facing hair loss are well informed on the ins and outs of their specific condition. They might have heard that at least half of all men will have experience some degree of hair loss by the age of 50, or that 40 percent of hair loss victims are women, or even that the leading cause of hair loss is hereditary patterns. Although those are all true statements, there are some fictitious statements that get passed around which help the hair loss industry along. The real trouble is trying to decipher between fact and fiction.

Is it really your mom’s side of the family to blame for your hair loss? Can wearing a baseball hat actually make you go bald? The following are a few of the most common myths about hair loss, fact or fiction:

Hair Loss comes from the mother’s side

Fiction! Contrary to what people say, it is not your mom’s side to blame for your hair loss. Although male pattern baldness is hereditary, it has been proven that the condition could just as easily come from the father’s side as well. Since this condition is genetic, it cannot be prevented, but it can be treated.

Baseball Caps Cause Baldness

This one is actually fiction to. Health experts have not found any sort of specific link between hair loss and wearing a cap. Only hats that are tight enough to cut off circulation to the follicles would cause hair loss.

Poor Treatment of Hair, Causes Hair Loss

Fact! Using too much styling product like dyes and perms can cause hair loss. It is also stated that tight buns and braids can cause hair loss through follicle damage, so be sure to avoid those as much as possible. Even women that are trying to bleach their hair with natural sunlight should be sure to put a hat on because overexposure to the sun’s UV rays have shown to cause hair loss as well.

Hair Loss from Stress

This is a fact, but not in every aspect. Scientists have found that extreme emotional or medical related trauma can cause sudden hair loss. However, it is noted that stress stemming from every day stress of work and family life will not cause hair loss.

Hair Loss Only Occurs When You’re Old

This is fiction. Just like some of the examples given above, male pattern baldness among other conditions can occur as early as the teen years, or the early 20’s for women. For these cases, VanScoy hair loss specialists can work to help rule out a typical causes such as hormonal issues.

Let us help

Everyone is different when it comes to the reasons for hair loss. We understand that your needs are different than other, which is why we off many different hair replacement options. Visit us today for a free consultation.

 

Photo Credit: Chun-Hung Eric Cheng via Flickr Creative Commons

Red hair is rareRed hair is rare and the unspoken battle between hair colors has been going on for ages. Brunettes shudder at the idea of blondes having the most fun, and redheads are sick of the stigma tied to their hair color, along with nicknames. Today we end the war of the shades and tell you that, indeed, redheads are rare and do have more fun.

The Science Behind How Red Hair Is Rare

For all you redheads out there, know that you truly are one of a kind. Less than 2 percent of the world’s population is born a redhead, and it’s very difficult to be blessed with those beautiful ruby locks. For someone to be born with red hair, both parents must carry the recessive mutated MC1R gene, which is located on chromosome number 16. Even more rare is a blue-eyed redhead; this combination is found in less than 1 percent of the world’s population. Any blue-eyed, red-haired anomalies out there? Thank your parents!

The Posers

Since having red hair is so rare, many people will do whatever it takes to appear as if they were born with the color; on the downside, dying your hair red is extremely high maintenance, and it can be expensive. The color fades quickly, but for many people it is worth the time and effort. If you don’t want to make that big of a commitment, you can change to a strawberry blonde or burnt brown color. Neither are classically red, but hints and hues of the color can be almost as good as the real thing! A redhead can light up a room and is sure to have heads turning at the sight of such a rare and magnificent mane.

The Real Deal

Want proof that redheads do in fact have more fun? Just take a look at some of the most famous natural reds. Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Kidman and Isla Fisher are just a few celebrities who rock the red. Throughout almost the entirety of their careers, these women have kept their red hair and represented redheads throughout the globe proudly. Not only are they beautiful, but they definitely have a lot of fun (maybe Lindsay Lohan a bit too much).

The moral of the story is that regardless of your hair color, it is all about the attitude. Redheads spend their lives standing out so they may have a head start, but be yourself and your true colors will shine.

Hair Loss Does Not Have To Prevent You From Having Red Hair

If you or someone you know is experiencing hair loss and want to have the ability to style, color, and have the look they use to have back, then we invite you and them to a free visit! Contact us today for a free consultation by clicking here!

Photo Credit: Brooke Duckart Flickr Creative Commons

Diet-Related Hair Loss

Could your diet be causing your hair loss? Following a restrictive diet can cause your hair to thin or even fall out. If you need to stick to a diet for medical or lifestyle reasons, use these tips to make sure you get all the nutrients you need to keep your hair healthy.

Weight Loss and Hair Loss

Shedding pounds to reach a healthy weight can reduce your risk of many long-term health conditions, but in the short-term a very low-calorie diet can have negative effects on hair health. According to dermatologists, hair loss is common after a weight loss of 15 or more pounds, but growth usually returns once the weight stabilizes.

Protein for Hair Health

Hair is made from protein, so not getting enough protein reduces your body’s ability to produce hair. This causes a disproportionately large number of hairs to go into the resting phase of hair growth, which lasts around three months, before falling out. If you notice that you are shedding more hairs than usual, check that you are getting enough protein in your diet. Adults need to eat two or three servings of protein-rich foods every day, such as lean meat, fish, beans, eggs or peanut butter.

Iron and Hair Loss

Hair loss can be a symptom of iron deficiency, which your doctor can quickly diagnose using a blood test. Vegetarians are most likely to suffer from iron deficiency, as iron in plants is not as easily absorbed by the body as iron in meat. If you are vegetarian, consider eating cereals that have been fortified with iron to increase your intake. Soybeans, pumpkin seeds, lentils and spinach are also good sources of iron.

Vitamin D for Hair Health

Many people don’t get enough vitamin D. The body can produce vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight, but excessive sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer. Other sources of vitamin D include fortified cereals and milk. Vitamin D plays a vital role in the body’s cycle of hair production.

If you’re worried about hair loss, see your doctor for advice. Many vitamin deficiencies can be quickly diagnosed with a blood test. Once you know which nutrients you lack, you can change your diet or take supplements to support the health of your hair.

For any questions you may have or to speak to a hair loss expert, Contact Us or visit our website for more information!

Hair Care WhatnotsMen have been puzzled for years as to how much women spend on hair care products. They don’t understand the amount it cost to keep up on the style, keep long hair healthy, and everything else that goes into it. On average, women spend around $700 a year on just their hair. Surprised? Something that isn’t so surprising is that men spend about one third that, or even less, than women do.

To help men understand what women go through, lets pull back the veil for a second. Women do everything they can to keep those pesky grey hairs from peaking through. And blondes do whatever they can to maintain those roots. So hair coloring adds to the price per year a good amount. Then there are all the other products that go with hair. There’s curling irons, straighteners, blow dryers, and more that can range from $20-$300 each. And we can’t forget about how expensive it can be to find the right shampoos (organic, sulfate-free products).

If a woman has beautiful hair, she will regret nothing about the cost. To many people, keeping their hair maintained and looking great is just the same as staying in shape and eating right. In the grand scheme of things, it evens out because hair loss is more common in men than it is in women. So looking good and keeping hair healthy becomes more of a priority to men when they see it leaving.

With saying that, hair loss is a big issue with both men and women. From alopecia to trichotillomania, or thinning hair to effluvium, Van Scoy Hair Clinics can help with any needs in hair loss you might have. Contact us HERE, and our trained professionals can meet with you at our free consultation, and plan out what the best course of action will be. Let us help restore your hair and your smile!

Photo Credit: Christina Saint Marche via Flickr Creative Commons