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Hair Loss From Anemia. What To Look for?

08.08.2007 in HAIR LOSS SCIENCE

Anemia, one of the more common blood disorders, occurs when the level of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) in the body becomes too low. This can lead to health problems because RBCs contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body’s tissues. anemia can cause a variety of complications, including fatigue and stress on bodily organs, and Severe Hair Loss.

Anemia can be caused by many things, but the three main bodily mechanisms that produce it are:

Excessive destruction of RBCs
Blood loss
Inadequate production of RBCs

Among many other causes, anemia can result from inherited disorders, nutritional problems (such as an iron or vitamin deficiency), infections, some kinds of cancer, or exposure to a drug or toxin and hair loss in women.

Anemia Caused by Destruction of RBCs
Hemolytic (“hemo” means blood, “lytic” means destroying) anemia occurs when red blood cells are being destroyed prematurely. (Normally, the lifespan of RBCs is 120 days. In hemolytic anemia, they have a much shorter lifespan.) And the bone marrow (the soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes new blood cells) simply can’t keep up with the body’s demand for new cells. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, infections or certain medications – such as antibiotics or antiseizure medicines – are to blame.

In a condition known as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the immune system mistakes RBCs for foreign invaders and begins destroying them. Others inherit defects in the red blood cells that lead to anemia. Common forms of inherited hemolytic anemia include sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Sickle cell anemia is a severe form of anemia found most commonly in people of African heritage, although it can affect those of Caucasian, Saudi Arabian, Indian, and Mediterranean descent. In this condition, the hemoglobin forms long rods when it gives up its oxygen, stretching red blood cells into abnormal sickle shapes. This leads to premature destruction of RBCs, chronically low levels of hemoglobin, and recurring episodes of pain, as well as problems that can affect virtually every other organ system in the body. About 1 out of every 625 African-American children is born with this form of anemia.
 

Thalassemia, which usually affects people of Mediterranean, African, and Southeast Asian descent, is marked by abnormal and short-lived RBCs. Thalassemia major, also called Cooley’s anemia, is a severe form of anemia in which RBCs are rapidly destroyed and iron is deposited in the skin and vital organs. Thalassemia minor involves only mild anemia and minimal red blood cell changes.
 

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency most commonly affects men of African heritage, although it has been found in many other groups of people. With this condition the RBCs either do not make enough of the enzyme G6PD or the enzyme that is produced is abnormal and doesn’t work well. When someone born with this deficiency has an infection, takes certain medicines, or is exposed to specific substances, the body’s RBCs suffer extra stress. Without adequate G6PD to protect them, many red blood cells are destroyed prematurely.
 

Anemia Caused by Blood Loss
Blood loss can also cause anemia – whether it’s because of excessive bleeding due to injury, surgery, or a problem with the blood’s clotting ability. Slower, long-term blood loss, such as intestinal bleeding from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can also cause anemia. Anemia sometimes results from heavy menstrual periods in teen girls and women. Any of these factors will also increase the body’s need for iron because iron is needed to make new RBCs.

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Do You Think That Vitamins And Other Things Sold In The Health Food Shops That Claim That They Reduce Or Reverse Hair Loss Really Work?

23.07.2007 in HAIR LOSS SCIENCE

The word ‘claims’ in this usage, reflects the lack of scientific proofs for naturally produced substances sold in heatlh food stores. Many of the items sold are sold on their potential and a ‘hype’ that is created by word of mouth. There is little regulation for natural food additives, so there is no way to determine the proof of the claims that are made. Some of the natural substances may have DHT blocking abilities, as claimed, but there is no proof of such activities.

It is common to find substances sold in health food shops that claim DHT blocking properties. There is no way to confirm or deny this, so it again becomes a ‘buyer beware’ issue, leaving the final action in the hands of those willing to spend the money on it.

At least speak to one of our trichologists and take advice on a proven DHT blocker and we know that because it has been thoroughly investigated by the drug company to meet a high standard of FDA regulations. We also know about the side effects (very low) and long term use statistics. A large company behind this medication tells us that someone is accountable if things go wrong. I can not say that for most of what is sold in the health food shops, particularly the ones online .

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Cloning Hair Can It Be Done?

17.07.2007 in HAIR LOSS SCIENCE

Question: Can doctors clone donor hairs so that the amount of available donor hairs is no longer an issue with transplant surgery?

Answer: Hair cloning as an issue keeps coming up because it seems to be promoted by some unscrupulous people who use the cloning ‘card’ as a way to elevate their own position of authority in this business. There is no cloning on the short-term horizon for hair, despite claims to the contrary. If and when the cloning problem for hair is solved from a research perspective that can be replicated ,it will take legislation to make that reality into a clinical tool. Hair was first cloned by Jahoda in Scotland in the late1980s. Since then, there is been a relatively long silence in the industry on repeating his work. His report stands alone as a successful cloning experiment. Attempts to do this in mice and other animals have produced many dead animals in at least one study I have been told about. Attempts to do this in humans have met with failure after failure. Fortunately, no deaths have occurred. I would urge anyone who sees this promoted as a reality to ignore these claims or check with the centre for any updates on hair cloning.

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Antibiotic Could Stop Hair Loss – New Medical Breakthrough In The Treatment Of Hair Loss.

11.07.2007 in HAIR LOSS SCIENCE

A Japanese medical research team has found that a form of antibiotic could prevent cancer patients from losing hair during chemotherapy treatment, a doctor involved in the research study said this week.

Professor Sakai said his team had found that the drug “alopestatin” reduced hair loss by 70 percent when used on rats also given etoposide anti-cancer drugs.

Etoposide is widely used in the treatment of lung and other cancers but can cause hair loss.

Professor Sakai, at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, said his team was hoping to to put the agent to practical use in the near future.

“I want people to know that few studies have been made on reducing side-effects of anti-cancer drugs,” he said.

“This field is lagging behind (the development of cancer drugs) but is still important for patients’ quality of life.”

The study, which was outlined at an academic meeting in Japan last week, is still ongoing, and the chances are “low at the moment” that alopestatin will be commercialised soon, he said.

No clinical tests have been carried out or are yet in sight, but one possible use for humans would be to apply it to the head in the period when hair loss is most likely to occur during chemotherapy, he added.

For further information and updates on this exciting new breakthrough feel free to speak to one of our trichologists on our Hair Loss Advisory Helpline on 0207 976 6868.

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World Largest Hair Congress Convene In Vancouver For The Fifth International Congress On Hair Research.

15.06.2007 in HAIR LOSS SCIENCE

The fifth International Congress on Hair Research will be convened in Vancouver this week. It is the largest gathering of hair experts, with clinicians and scientists examining many aspects of hair disease and medically recognised and approved trichogical regrowth treatments.

Whether long or short, thin or thick, loosing hair can weaken a person emotionally. Hair loss is not simply a matter of aesthetics but can also influence career advancement and emotional well being, adds Shapiro, who is a member of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and clinical research director at the Hair Research Laboratory at the Skin Care Centre at VGH.

Along with workshops and symposiums, experts will be trying to help patients from the University of B.C.’s hair clinic suffering from a range of hair problems.

They vary from cicatricial alopecia, a rare disorder that destroys the hair follicle and replaces it with scar tissue, and alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease resulting in hair loss, to more common disorders such as male pattern hair loss and women who have too much hair. Session topics include chemotherapy-induced hair loss, tissue engineering of hair follicles, nutrition and hair growth, pigment biology and hair-related surgery.

One of the main topic of discussion here, will the stem cell therapy. Stem cells found in hair follicles could one day heal people with paralysis or neurological diseases. Stem cells can be grown into different types of tissue. The ones thought to have the most potential to heal are embryonic stem cells.

We think that hair-follicle stem cells may be an alternative for many of the applications,” said Dr. Robert Hoffman, a San Diego researcher. They’re very readily accessible and it’s not an invasive procedure.” 

Hoffman’s research team found that hair-follicle stem cells could form the cells that build neurons, blood vessels, muscle cells and brain tissue.

The UBC lab, one of only a few that deal with hair research, is investigating the connection between the immune system and hair growth, as well as between hormones, aging and hair growth. People looking for a new baldness treatment can take comfort in the researchers’ compassion for them.

Hair loss has sprung a $7-billion-a-year industry in North America as people pay for hair transplants and clinically tested drugs that work to restore their locks.

Many of the drugs available are not completely effective. Many have side effects like sexual impotency.

Many scientists believe that environmental conditions are responsible for the growing number of baldness along with genetic from either side of the family.

Scientists are also researching whether implanting the cells into bald heads can generate hair growth.

For further information:  http://www.hair2007.com/

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