Alopecia Treatment Geelong

Hair loss, or Alopecia, can be a frustrating and embarrassing condition. There are various reasons causing hair loss, with multiple treatment options available to help reduce the appearance of thinning hair.

What is Alopecia?

Alopecia, also known as hair loss, can occur in isolated patches or large areas of the head and body. Alopecia can affect both men and women, and there are many different types and causes; stress, health conditions, hair damage, and certain medications. Alopecia can be very distressing and really affects self-esteem and confidence. At RiverEnd Aesthetics, we understand how difficult managing alopecia can be, and our doctors offer medical advice and exosome treatments to those who might benefit.

Types and Causes of Alopecia

There are various types of alopecia:

Androgenetic alopecia
Also known as male-pattern or female-pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is caused by the effects of androgen hormones on the hair follicles. Most of the time, hormone levels are actually all normal.

– Female-pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a common concern, and is characterised by widespread thinning or balding of the hair. 50% of women will be affected by hair loss at some stage in their lives, and FPHL is the most common cause of alopecia in females. FPHL is thought to be caused by the effect of androgen hormones, genetic factors, and probably some other factors we don’t understand very well yet. It is important to see your GP or dermatologist if you notice generalised thinning of the hair on your scalp, as FPHL can be associated with high blood pressure, ovarian or adrenal conditions, and coronary artery disease.

– Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) is extremely common, and the pattern of hair loss is determined by genetics. In male-pattern hair loss the hair gradually thins on the crown of the scalp and the hairline starts to recede. MPHL is generally caused by an androgen hormone called dihydrotestosterone, and there are certain medications (5-alpha reductase inhibitors) that can reduce the amount of dihydrotestosterone in the skin and hair follicles, which can significantly improve hair growth and slow down hair loss.

Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks your own hair follicles. This condition is usually triggered by complicated genetic and immunological factors, and environmental factors such as severe psychological or physical stress. Alopecia areata is usually patchy, but can affect the hair on the entire body (alopecia areata universalis), or the entire scalp (alopecia areata totalis).

Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is a hair loss condition caused by a sudden physical or psychological shock to the body, where the hair follicles stop growing temporarily. Hair loss can continue for a few months after the initial shock, and you might notice more of your hair shedding. Triggers of telogen effluvium include:

– Pregnancy and/or childbirth
– Surgery or a general anaesthetic
– Fevers & systemic illness (eg. influenza)
– Severe psychological stress (eg. grief)
– Sudden weight loss
– Thyroid or flare-ups of autoimmune conditions (eg. lupus)
– Commencing or stopping certain medications

Other causes of hair loss
Other causes of hair loss include chemotherapy for cancer, skin infections (eg tinea), skin diseases (eg psoriasis), trichotillomania (a mental health condition characterised by pulling out your own hair), traction alopecia (where tight hairstyles pull on the hair follicles), chemicals, bleaches, and brushing your hair too often.

How is Alopecia Diagnosed?

Alopecia is diagnosed clinically, which means your doctor can diagnose alopecia by taking a full, detailed medical history and performing thorough examination of the hair follicles and skin/scalp, as well as a hair-pull test.

Blood tests are often required to rule out underlying conditions that might contribute to hair loss. Some blood tests your doctor might consider depending on your clinical history and examination findings include:

– Vitamin/mineral levels such as iron and calcium
– Thyroid screening
– Diabetes & cholesterol screening
– Autoimmune & inflammatory markers
– Some hormone levels (eg androgens, prolactin, DHEA-S, progesterone), keeping in mind hormone levels are usually normal in most hair loss conditions
– Syphilis blood tests

Sometimes, biopsy of the skin/scalp and hair follicles is required.

Alopecia can be the first sign of an underlying illness, particularly in women. It is important to see your GP or Dermatologist if you are concerned about hair thinning or hair loss, as tests can generally rule out any serious underlying causes, and there might be an underlying cause that is easily treated.

Treatment Options for Alopecia

Treatment for alopecia largely depends on the underlying cause and type of hair loss:

1. See your doctor
Sometimes, localised skin infections require treatment, or vitamin replacement or thyroid medication might be required. There are also some more specialised medications for androgenetic hair loss (eg finasteride, minoxidil, spironolactone) that are generally safe and can be very effective; these medications have been thoroughly studied in research trials. These medications require a prescription from your doctor, if your doctor feels they are appropriate for you and your specific circumstances. These medications usually require monitoring for side effects, and hair loss generally returns as soon as medication is stopped.

2. Alma Impact TED + Exosomes
At RiverEnd Aesthetics, we treat areas of hair loss over the scalp and beard with the Alma Impact TED device and application of topical exosomes. See our webpages for more information: Alma Impact Ted and Exosomes

3. Hairdressing techniques
Hairdressers can be very clever and try to disguise areas of thinning hair. They might also offer advice on hairstyling techniques to minimise trauma and traction on the scalp, and specific hair products/brushes/combs that minimise hair breakage.