Don’t Let Hair Loss Sneak Up on You

Chase It Away with Bauman Medical’s Detection and Treatment Tools

by Alan J. Bauman, MD, ABHRS

Have you ever tried on a piece of clothing you haven’t worn in a while and been shocked that it doesn’t fit anymore? (Perhaps it shrank in the dryer?)

Or maybe your car that’s been working fine suddenly runs rough and your mechanic tells you no wonder: you haven’t changed the oil since the dinosaur that provided it roamed the earth?

Or maybe someone you’re close to tells you that your hair is getting thin. (Are you sure? Hand me the mirror).

I know. Life is complicated. There are so many distractions, but small changes we fail to notice and address early—like hair loss—can sneak up on you with big consequences down the road.

This month we’re highlighting Hair Loss Awareness Month. Hair Loss Awareness Month is an annual campaign initiated by the American Academy of Dermatology, aimed at bringing attention to the issue of hair loss and its impact on individuals’ physical and emotional wellbeing.

Of course, at Bauman Medical, where we specialize in hair health and restoration, we don’t wait for August to spread the word. Hair loss awareness is a year-round campaign for us because we’re passionate about educating people about hair loss.

Helping our patients have the best hair possible is all we do. All the time.

Hair loss is slow. Hair loss is devious.
Did you know that you can lose as much as 50 percent of your hair before you notice it visually?

According to research, over 80 million Americans are affected by hair loss.

By the age of 35 nearly a third of all men have begun experiencing hair loss, typically male pattern baldness (receding hairline and thinning on the crown). For some men, it starts as early as their late teens. Women aren’t immune. Forty percent of those with hair loss are women. Women’s hair loss typically starts a little later, in the 30s and 40s, and is more diffuse with a widening of the part and overall thinning of the hair.

Every day I see patients whose hair has been thinning for years but they didn’t notice it until it was, well, noticeable. Sometimes someone points it out to them. Sometimes they see it on a security camera video screen (who’s that bald guy?) or a mirror in an elevator. Sometimes they see an old photo and realize how much hair they once had.

What kind of hair loss is it? How advanced is it? What can be done?
Here are a few of the state-of-the-art diagnostic and hair growth tracking tools we have in our “Hair Hospital” to answer all those questions, and more.

HairMetrix: Uses artificial intelligence to take a snapshot of your scalp without trimming any hair and applies an algorithm to get a readout of your precise hair quantity and quality (and other metrics) in specific areas over time. No “educated guess” required. This information helps us make diagnosis and treatment decisions, and to monitor better than ever before how well you’re responding to your treatment.

HairCheck: Another quick, painless, non-invasive way to measure and track the amount and quality of hair growing on your scalp called Hair Mass Index. It also measures the percentage of hair breakage you’re experiencing, a common cause of hair loss and hair thinning. If you’re on a hair growth or anti-breakage treatment, HairCheck measurements scientifically verifies any changes.

Trichological evaluation: This process provides an in-depth evaluation of your scalp by Kimberly Jenkins, WTS, CHC, our in-house certified trichologist and HairCoach™. (Trichology is the scientific study of the hair and scalp, including the structure, function, and health of hair follicles.) It addresses every aspect of scalp health, including:

Determining the acid mantle (pH) balance of your scalp
Assessing your scalp’s hydration status and sebum production. (Sebum is the oily substance that moisturizes and protects the scalp). Is your scalp too oily, blocking the hydration element? Is it too hydrated, impeding the secretion of oil?

Measuring your scalp’s elasticity
Taking magnified, close-up photos to see what’s happening on your scalp (looking for inflammation, dandruff, and other abnormalities like evidence of microorganism overgrowth)
Noting details of your lifestyle, health, and stress levels that may be contributing to hair loss

Armed with this data, Kimberly formulates your customized treatment plan. She often recommends some of Bauman Medical’s high-quality hair products, carefully chosen for your particular situation.

Trichotest™: An innovative tool that tests your DNA to identify which hair loss treatments are most likely to provide the best results for you. The process involves a simple cheek swab taken in our clinic or at home to obtain a sample of your DNA, and some details about your lifestyle. A computer then analyzes the genetic characteristics of your metabolism contributing to your particular hair loss situation. An algorithm identifies the treatment options likely to be most beneficial to you, saving time and improving results.

Polarized Trichological Microscopy: This technology uses polarized light viewed through a microscope to analyze individual hair fibers and the scalp. It assesses hair shaft abnormalities, determines hair growth patterns, and identifies scalp conditions like dandruff, infections, and hair loss conditions. It can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of certain treatments over time.

Treatments
And speaking of treatments, you’re probably wondering what we do with what we learn from our diagnostic tools—we put together a treatment plan specific to your unique situation.

Here are just a few of our most common products and services:
Compounded Formula 82M Minoxidil – a more powerful, non-greasy Rogaine alternative
Compounded Formula 82F Topical Finasteride + Minoxidil – designed to reduce the risk of side effects from oral finasteride (Propecia).
Low-level laser therapy – FDA-cleared, drug-free, side-effect-free hair regrowth with the Bauman “Turbo” LaserCap device for at-home use
TED (TransEpidermal Delivery) – Non-invasive technology that uses ultrasonic sound waves and air pressure to enhance the penetration of a specialized topical hair growth serum into the scalp.
High-density platelet rich plasma (HD-PRP) “Vampire” Hair Regrowth Therapy with Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
PDOgro™ – Implanted PDO polydioxanone threads for hair growth
Vitamins, nutritionals and nutraceuticals
FUE – Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplantation that leaves no telltale linear scar

Now that you’re aware that you might have been losing your hair, it’s time to turn the tables on that stealthy foe and schedule a consultation with us to find out. Call 561-220-3480 or to schedule your private one-on-one in-person or virtual consultation at www.baumanmedical.com.