We've all heard of 'Male Pattern Baldness', but what exactly is it and why does the hair only thin in those specific areas and not all over? TheChicGeek, as part of Thinning Hair Awareness Week, has asked Keith Hobbs of The Institute of Trichologists to explain further;

"Male pattern baldness occurs in specific areas because there is an enzyme in those areas that changes testosterone to a more potent hormone, di-hydrotestosterone. This causes each new growing hair to get shorter and finer with each succeeding hair growth cycle," says Keith.

Male Pattern Baldness or Androgenetic hair loss in men, usually starts either with a bilateral recession to the temples or a diffuse thinning to the crown and can be followed in some cases by a gradual thinning, then a complete denuding of the top. Very rarely is the hair lost on the sides and back although men over 70 can lose hair in the neck area. Androgenetic hair loss in men is classified by both the Hamilton and the Norwood scales. It is possible for men to pattern in the Ludwig classification which is normally associated with Female pattern hair loss.

Cause:

Androgenic hair loss has three causative factors: genetic predisposition, the presence of the androgen testosterone and the age of the patient.

Male pattern baldness is more commonly inherited from the maternal grandfather.

At puberty, more of the male hormone testosterone circulates around the body having opposite effects on hair in different places.

Under the arms and on the pubic area on men and women, and the beard, chest, back and legs on men, the fine vellus hair is slowly replaced in each succeeding growth cycle by coarser terminal hairs. These hairs do not grow as long as scalp hair with the exception of some beard hair on certain races of men.

Scalp:

On the scalp, in areas that are genetically programmed to thin (the pattern areas) each new cycle of anagen growth produces finer and shorter hairs.

Testosterone reaches the target organ, in this case the hair follicle, where the enzyme 5α-reductase changes testosterone into the highly potent hormone di-hydro testosterone which causes the above affects.

The effects are progressive but not always total. Familial history can help prognosis.

www.trichologists.org.uk 

Forget RoboCop, Ziering, a leading medical practice specialising in hair restoration, introduces 'Robograft', the first and only robotic hair restoration procedure to the UK. The ARTAS System, or ‘Robograft’, is a new, physician controlled robotic technology which is set to revolutionise hair transplant surgery in the UK.

This process of hair restoration entails a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure, which works by transplanting hair from healthy ‘donor’ areas one unit at a time into desired thinning or balding regions. To date, this procedure is done manually by a physician, but is a labour intensive process.

The Robograft procedure from Ziering, while still overseen by a physician – offers greater precision, consistency and speed allowing more time for artistic input. Patients therefore benefit from human expertise, enhanced by technological innovation.

Additional benefits of the ARTAS System include; Minimally invasive procedure with virtually no post-operative discomfort, no linear incision with a scalpel and no linear scarring, ability to wear hair at varying lengths without concern of a linear scar being visible to others and higher quality grafts which enhance transplant survival rates.

With high profile figures such as Wayne Rooney recently benefiting from the FUE procedure, the taboos around hair loss have been challenged, resulting in increased demand for solutions among men and women in the UK. The introduction of the ARTAS System to the UK means that for the first time ever, people in the UK worrying about hair loss will have access to the latest technology and a permanent solution.

Founder and Medical Director, Dr Craig L. Ziering, is an industry pioneer, teacher and author who remains in constant pursuit of seeking and developing new technology, surgical techniques and hair treatment solutions. He said of the launch, “I’m thrilled that Ziering is taking the lead in the field of Robotic Hair Restoration and is the first practice to bring the ARTAS system to Europe. By placing the robot in our London clinic, we are enabling the ARTAS robotic procedure to become a realistic solution for patients suffering with hair loss throughout the United Kingdom.

"My expert team of surgeons at our London clinic are excited about having this groundbreaking ARTAS technology, which provides the best surgical tools in the industry with which to perform procedures. It is an exciting time for our practice and our industry.

"Reported hair restoration procedures among celebrities and high profile individuals can often lead consumers to believe that treatment may be beyond their reach. However a full-range of hair-loss solutions, including surgery, consultation services, laser, medical and non- surgical options; are available for a range of prices at Ziering.”

From £5000 – but it depends on the number of grafts a patient has. Roughly it is £5 per graft and 1000 grafts is the norm. 

www.hairtransplantziering.co.uk

TheChicGeek says "New technology like this that makes it less labour intensive for the surgeon, will result in the price for these operations coming down. Where once it was seen as unaffordable or for people on footballer's salaries, the 'Robograft' and other technology like it, will make the procedure within reach of many more people. Hair transplants will be the new laser eye surgery, what this space".

Thinning hair is major concern for the majority of men. There are many reasons for it; genes, diet, stress, environmental factors or damage, and there are as many solutions as there are reasons. The Michael John salon on London's Albemarle Street now offer Nioxin’s Scalp Dermabrasion Service designed to help regenerate the scalp skin surface and reduce hair-loss caused by breakage and environmental factors.

A facial for the scalp, the Dermabrasion Treatment professional in-salon service is a cosmetic treatment that removes built-up and excess oil around the hair follicle and helps to restore the scalp to its optimum condition. The treatment is recommended every 30-45 days.

TheChicGeek says "We often forget about our hair and continue the same monthly routine of hair cutting and daily washing without giving our scalps the same TLC we afford our faces. This treatment puts a new focus on hair and is an excuse for somebody else to wash your hair and give you a head massage. Bliss. The hair is washed first with shampoo and conditioner and then the treatment is left on for 5 mins, you may experience a slightly tingling sensation as it works its magic. 

My scalp definitely felt refreshed and my hair felt bouncier and fuller. It had the same feeling you get after you've had your hair cut. To continue the treatment at home Nioxin recommend one of their numbered system kits. Ranging from 1-6, according to the targeted problem, it contains a 3-step shampoo, conditioner and leave-in Scalp Treatment. I find that conditioning my hair makes it look greasy and limp, but you can opt out of this step as long as you use the final leave-on Scalp Treatment."

Nioxin Scalp Dermabrasion Treatment at Michael John, London - £45

If you would like to know more? Nioxin is sponsoring Thinning Hair Awareness Week, starting 18th February 2013 and in partnership with the Institute of Trichologists, selected Nioxin salons will be holding their very own event, where clients can speak with a Nioxin educator who will perform consultations on the cosmetic benefits of the brand and be on hand to offer advice. You can find out more at the website below.

www.nioxin.co.uk

ThikRx is a range of four innovative products representing the next generation in hair loss prevention technology. The ThikRx range directly addresses the main cause of hair loss - Male Pattern Baldness - using a full spectrum of proven and effective 5AR Inhibitors to block DHT (the harmful hormone that triggers hair loss) from reaching the follicles. These 5AR Inhibitors now form part of ThikRx signature, patented formulation clinically proven to improve hair growth in 60% of people in a double blind trial published in The Journal of Complementary Medicine.

In addition, ThikRx also targets a secondary major cause of hair loss – inflammation in the scalp hair follicles – using a combination of unique ingredients, never seen before in the hair loss remedy category and scientifically proven to suppress inflammation within human cells in the treatment of hair loss.

International hair loss expert Dr Geno Marcovici says, “The proprietary compositions used in the ThikRx range are currently the only drug-free hair loss treatment formulations supported with peer-reviewed clinical research. Unlike most other non-drug hair products available, ThikRx boasts objective evidence, making it a unique proposition in the hair loss treatment category. Because the active composition is naturally-derived, the product is suitable for both men and women suffering from the most common forms of thinning hair."

The ThikRx range comprises:

ThikRx Oral Soft Gel Capsules (30 capsules for £29.99) – a patent-pending advanced one-a-day formulation of naturally derived ingredients including thioctic acid and a patented form of acetyl L carnitine (Carnisol) to tackle, treat and prevent hair loss by inhibiting the metabolic progression of common pattern hair loss and combating follicular inflammation.

ThikRx Natural Activator Serum (50 ml for £24.99) – a maximum strength topical lotion applied to the scalp once a day to block DHT from entering the follicles via a unique molecular delivery system, which takes the active ingredients directly to the targeted structures within the hair follicle. With calming Evening Primrose Oil and Camellia Leaf Extract to reduce inflammation.

ThikRx Natural Activator Shampoo (50ml for £9.97) – this revitalising, cleansing and thickening shampoo should be used for maximum results. Using the same patented active formulation as the Soft Gels and Serum, Natural Activator Shampoo regulates the cellular membrane lipid peroxidation to help prevent apoptosis (death of the cell) within the follicle. Use every other day for optimum results

ThikRx Natural Activator Conditioner (50ml for £9.97)– hair that has been affected by pattern hair loss is often weaker, duller and finer than healthy hair. This innovative conditioner is formulated with strengthening ingredients such as natural wheat protein and L-Carnitine to protect weakened hair. Use 2-3 times per week

A 30 day kit of the complete ThikRx range is available for £69.99, and a 60 day kit is £130

www.thikrx.co.uk

TheChicGeek says "Hair loss treatment has become a huge area of the grooming market. Men are very sensitive about hair loss and want to hold onto their hair as long as possible and brands know this. This made lots of promises and had the science to back it up.

Here's what I thought - There's quite a lot to do here. 4 products all to be taken or used together throughout the day or in your grooming regime. Capsule in the morning, shampoo in the shower, conditioner a couple of times a week and the serum foamed into the hair loss areas before bed and left in. All the topical products have a nice foaming pump action and like everything, once into a regime you can stick to it. I decided to ditch the conditioner after a week as it was making my hair greasy and I don't usually use a conditioner normally for this reason anyway. All the products were easy to understand and use, with no side effects or superficial negatives.

I'm writing this after 3 weeks use and there isn't a noticable difference to my hair. There could be a couple of reasons for this - I could be part of the 40% it doesn't work on, as per the trial above, or I may need to use it longer. As a consumer would I buy another 30 days to prove the later or would I just decide this wasn't for me? It's not cheap and for this price you'd want to see results, and faster."

In response to our review the company states - hair loss is stopped after one month of use; regrowth begins after 2 months and 'comb-able' hair can be achieved after 3 months.

When Wayne Rooney first had his hair transplant we likened it to lipstick on a pig. But pleasantly surprised by the results, it seemed to be worth every penny of the reported £30,000 he spent. For a man who probably earns that in an afternoon, it was a relative bargain to reinstate a youthful hairline. But what has happened to it? The recent England Euros matches have only highlighted the reemergence of his thinning thatch. Is this the result of too many headers or does this happen to hair transplants after time? TheChicGeek decided to investigate:

Jonny Harris, Managing Director of The Belgravia Centre www.belgraviacentre.com and Hair Loss Expert says “For those who act early enough, there is no need to have a hair transplant in the first place. There are a number of medically proven preventative/regrowth treatments and hair growth boosters that will in most cases stop hair loss. If Rooney would have used the correct treatments when he started to lose his hair, it would never have thinned in the first place.

"These same treatments need to be used following a hair transplant in order to maintain the ‘old’ hair (which is the hair that was still present before the transplant). Those who do not use the correct treatments after a hair transplant might, as in the case of Rooney, lose this ‘old’ hair which will either create bald patches or general thinning. It is likely that the hair Rooney still had is the hair that is still shedding, leading to a thinner appearance in the transplanted area.”

So, there you have it. Rooney hasn’t been taking his supplements or using the correct products. Looking more Bobby Charlton than David Beckham, we just hope he’s reading this after the money he’s spent. 

Above - Rooney could always try the candy-floss-like Trump comb over!