Our hair, its color, its type, the style with which we like it to be seen, is an expression of how, as an individual, we wish to be perceived by others. For some, the hair is the vanguard of individualism, for others, to make a statement, “I am in vogue”.
From the pages of glossy magazines, and hi-tech devices, models stare out at the world with perfectly coiffured locks, curled, tussled and teased, permed or flatiron straight, they all look so perfect. These images influence millions of image-conscious people, young, old, male and female.
In the 21st century people are more image-conscious than ever before. The hair, the way in which it is styled and cared for is a large part of their overall image, and a sense of pride. But for many the story is quite different. The desire to emulate the handsome posers on Hollywood’s red carpet is nothing more than an unobtainable fantasy, due to baldness.
Why Do People Lose Their Hair?
Alopecia, being the medical term for balding, takes several forms. Androgenetic alopecia, which is more commonly known as male, and female, pattern baldness is a form of alopecia which causes gradual hair loss following a specific pattern.
Alopecia areata is a much less common form of condition. This is when hair loss occurs in patches, and in some cases is temporary. The exact triggers which cause this form of alopecia to occur are not known, but stress is thought to be a key factor.
Alopecia totalis is when all the hair on the entire scalp is lost. Finally, there is alopecia universalis, which is the least common form of the condition. For those people suffering with alopecia universalis the hair loss affects the entire body, the exact causes for this form of alopecia are still unknown.
Across all the forms of alopecia, both men and women are affected. However, the prevalence of hair loss is far more prominent in men, as opposed to women. Approximately 40% of women will experience some degree of pattern baldness, whilst in men the figure is about 70%.
What Causes Alopecia?
The very common androgenetic alopecia, the male and female pattern baldness, can be genetically inherited. If there is a family history of androgenetic alopecia, then a decedent will have a greater propensity towards this form of hair loss.
Hormonal changes during the menopause often causes the thinning and loss of hair. Additionally, people with thyroid health issues are very likely to experience hair loss. This applies to both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
The fungal infection tinea capitis, or scalp ringworm, will, very likely, cause some degree of hair loss, which would usually be temporary. Other bacterial and viral infections can also be a cause of alopecia, which could be temporary or permanent.
Individuals undergoing medical treatment for unrelated conditions may also experience temporary or permanent hair loss, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are a prime example. Certain prescribed medications can also cause hair loss as a side effect.
Other factors that can be the root cause of alopecia are stress, trauma and hairstyles that pull at the root of the hair. Also, chemicals used in styling and coloring products have long been known to present problems for those people with a propensity towards hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies and anemia are also known factors that can contribute to alopecia.
Treating Alopecia
Since time immemorial there have been quack remedies sold claiming to cure baldness. Thankfully, today the medical profession is able to tackle the condition of alopecia with the help of science and technology. This is very largely down to one person, Dr. Ong.
It was through his own experience of going bald at a very young age that inspired him to do an in-depth study into the condition we know as alopecia. After years of testing theories, treatment and procedures, Dr. Ong succeeded in achieving stemming and reversing hair loss. And, in 1992 he opened his first clinic in Australia, a facility dedicated to those suffering with alopecia.
Today, Dr. Ong’s Bioscor clinics are to be found across the world. Samitivej hospital, internationally known as a medical facility that believes firmly in the furtherance of science and technology to improve medical treatments and procedures, has created a partnership with Dr. Ong’s Bioscor International.
This partnership is officially known as “Bioscor International by Samitivej – The Hair Restoration Medical Center”. This facility, based in Bangkok, is the most advanced of its type, it boasts the newest advanced technology to diagnose and treat alopecia in all its forms.
The center put great store in diagnosing each individual client’s alopecia by its type and cause. This begins with blood and hormone analysis, done at the center’s own hi-tech laboratories, to exactly pinpoint the alopecia form, cause and severity. Armed with this information, highly trained physicians can develop an individual treatment program.
The exact treatment that each client is prescribed will vary, depending on the exact nature of their condition. It is likely that a treatment plan will include more than one treatment type to achieve the desired results.
Treatments may include the center’s advanced scalp laser program, this is often referred to as Low-Level Laser Therapy, or LLLT. This treatment employs low-frequency laser light which helps to stimulate the hair follicles, which in turn promotes hair growth. This treatment is particularly good at reducing hair loss and giving the hair a thicker appearance.
LED light therapy is another successfully tried, and tested therapy by Bioscor. This uses red and yellow light, the red being at a wavelength of 660nm, and the yellow at 830nm. The red light stimulates the metabolic processes beneath the skin, and the yellow light stimulates collagen production. This strengthens the nervous system in the scalp cells and tightens the skin.
When hair growth cannot be stimulated the center is equipped with the latest technology to conduct hair transplants. Hair transplants can be one of two forms. Surgical transplants involve removing a graft of hair-bearing skin from elsewhere, and regrafting into the area of hair loss. Once the graft has healed, the hair should grow as normal.
The other transplant method is Bioscor’s Robotic Transplant Procedure. Overseen by a skilled surgeon, as the title suggests, the process is robotic. Robotically, hair follicles are extracted and transplanted to areas of bald scalp, or thinning hair. The robot’s advanced optical three-dimensional guidance system and its unique dual punch mechanism create an unrivaled level of precision in hair transplantation.
There can be no doubt that the partnership that has led to the Bioscor International by Samitivej – The Hair Restoration Medical Center in Bangkok, is now a world leader. The center is proud to now be treating, not only Indigenous sufferers of alopecia, but also resident expats and visitors from across the world who seek the ultimate treatment for hair loss.