Alopecia & Hair Loss

There are several different reasons one may experience hair loss. The most common causes of hair loss are genetics, hormonal changes, stress, and aging.

Additionally, a few lesser-known causes of hair loss may include nutritional deficiencies, various grooming practices, and some medical conditions, such as prescription medications.

Common hair loss symptoms include:

• Hair that breaks easily.
• Gradual thinning hair on the scalp.
• Receding hairline.
• Thinning hair along the part.
• Random patches of hair loss.
• Visually seeing more of the scalp.

A few more uncommon signs of hair loss include burning, tingling, or itchiness on the scalp; scales or flakes from the areas of hair loss; and issues with fingernails or toenails, such as notching or pitting.

Furthermore, these can all be signs of a more serious underlying health condition. Thus, it’s important to see your doctor if you experience any of these uncommon symptoms.

Hair loss cannot be completely prevented or stopped, but with various lifestyle changes, you can certainly improve the health and quality of your hair to increase your chances of stopping hair loss and thinning.

Some of our top healthy hair tips include:

• Eat a healthy, nutrient-dense diet that boosts healthy hair.
• Be gentle with the hair you have — avoid excessive heat, tight hairstyles, vigorous brushing, and harsh chemical treatments (like perms).
• Protect your skin and hair from UV damage; wear a hat when outdoors in strong sunlight.
• Include supplements like biotin, collagen, zinc, and iron into your daily diet. Make sure to consult a board-certified dermatologist before implementing a supplement regimen for hair loss.
• If you feel stress may be playing a role, look at healthy ways to reduce or manage daily stress levels or stressful situations.
• Use quality hair care products, avoid those with harsh chemicals that dry out hair, cause breakage, and prevent the follicle from growing new strands.

For more questions on how to take care of your hair and scalp, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced dermatologists! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have regarding hair loss and thinning.

At Cumberland Skin in Hermitage, TN, we offer a few different hair loss treatments. This includes:

• Surgery to promote hair growth
• Laser therapy
• Medication
• PRP for hair loss
• Developing a healthy hair care routine

It’s important to know that finding an effective treatment for hair loss depends on the reason behind it. For example, if hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. This is why our board-certified dermatologists will first uncover the main cause and then go over your treatment options.

Low light laser therapy is a new hair loss treatment that has recently been FDA-approved as a treatment option. This form of hair loss treatment is delivered through a brush, comb, or cap. The low laser light is directed at the scalp and works to combat hair loss by stimulating hair follicles, which restores natural growth.

At Cumberland Skin in Hermitage, TN, we primarily use minoxidil – a prescription medication – to address and treat hair loss. Better known as the popular brand of Rogaine, minoxidil is a topical applied to the scalp and works by increasing the delivery of nutrients to hair follicles. This both helps restore lost hair and increase hair growth to prevent further shedding.

We do offer PRP therapy for hair loss at Cumberland Skin. An innovative hair loss treatment, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, uses your body’s own platelets to boost hair growth and increase hair thickness. Platelets have essential growth factors, which are proteins that stimulate cell growth and tissue repair.

Additionally, PRP therapy helps to reverse follicle damage – which is thought to be the main cause of hair loss – and encourages hair to regrow naturally. Learn more about this cutting-edge treatment by getting in touch with one of our experts.