Are you one of the millions of men and women suffering with alopecia, the medical term for baldness or hair loss? Then you know how devastating it is to see your hair gathering around the shower drain, on your pillow or in your brush. The promising news is scientists think they may have found a natural way to treat thinning hair or balding.
Before I tell you about Propolis, it will be helpful to know a little about the three most common types of alopecia so you’ll know whether this promising research may be right for you.
Alopecia Areata (AA)
More than 4.5 million people in the US suffer with alopecia areata. AA is an autoimmune disease which first causes hair loss in the form of small, round patches, before spreading to larger areas. For people with alopecia areata, their immune system attacks the hair follicles, making it virtually impossible for hair to grow.
Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)
Androgen Alopecia, also referred to as diffuse pattern alopecia, male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness, affects 50 million men and 30 million women. In men, the hair loss begins at the temples and on the crown of the head, gradually spreading across the scalp.
Women tend to experience hair thinning all over the head, and generally do not have total baldness.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is caused by too much tension put on hair shafts. Certain hair styles, such as braids, pull hair and can cause hair loss. Prolonged traction alopecia could lead to permanent hair loss.
Hair Loss Treatment for Men and Women
There are a number of hair loss treatments for men (and women) available right now. Some treatment slow down the hair loss, like topical and oral medications. While other treatment options replace lost hair.
Medication For Hair Loss Treatment
Rogaine (Minoxidil)
Often the first stop for many men and women with hereditary hair loss is a topical medication like Rogaine. Rogaine has shown to works for some men and women with hereditary hair loss.
The downsides to this treatment is that you have to apply Rogaine daily for it to continue to work. If you stop, your scalp will revert back to its pre-Rogaine state within 6-12 months. For women who don’t take precautions, the drips found on the pillow may promote facial hair growth.
Hair Restoration Treatment
Hair Transplant a.k.a. Hair Grafting: An outpatient procedure typically performed in your doctor’s office. The procedure works by taking a patch of scalp from a donor area is cut into small segments, then transplanting it into the balding area. The donor area is then closed with stitches, which usually come out in about 10 days. The end result is very natural looking and virtually undetectable.
Follicle Unit Extraction (FUE): The process begins with a skilled doctor applying a local anesthetic so you won’t experience pain, just minimal discomfort. Using a circular, handheld sharp biopsy punch each follicular unit is harvested and the grafts are then replaced in the balding area. The new, slowly growing hair begins to appear in about 4-6 months.
Promising New Treatment for Hair Loss
Propolis is a resin-like substance found in honeybee hives. Preliminary research has shown hair growth in mice. Propolis is thought to work by stimulating growth of keratinocytes, cells that play a part in hair shaft and follicle production.
Researchers shaved (or waxed) the fur of mice, applied propolis to some of the mice and left others without an application. The scientists noticed that after the topical application, the number of special cells involved in the process of growing hair increased.
The study was conducted on mice that could grow fur rather than balding mice. The researchers noted that hair loss conditions often result from abnormal inflammation and propolis contains anti-inflammatory compounds. Their expectation is that propolis may be able to one day help treat balding conditions. Further testing is needed to see if the beehive material affects human hair follicles.
Hair Restoration for Men and Women
Are you experiencing Alopecia or thinning hair? We encourage you to find out more about the variety of options available to treat hair loss in men and women. It’s important to consult with an experienced and trained restoration professional.
To learn more about which treatment option is right for you, schedule a Frank & Honest Hair Consultation or contact our team in New York City or Columbus, Ohio.
