Research advancements improve hair loss treatment options

Hereditary hair loss affects millions of men and women, but with more research, treatments are improving. Neil Sadick, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, will be speaking about the advances in hair loss and treatments at the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology meeting in June.

Dr. Sadick, who is board-certified in hair restoration, plans to address new applications to medical treatment to hair loss, such as low-energy lasers, inflammatory cases of hair loss, and transplantation techniques using new mediums.

In men, hair loss is generally genetic, but in women, it's commonly another of other factors come into play, Dr. Sadick says.

Low iron and vitamin D levels, hormone imbalances, thyroid problems, and occasionally autoimmune diseases such as lupus can all be causes of hair loss. Many women who experience hair loss are either on antidepressants or nonsteroidal medication and antihypertensive medications such as beta-blockers, he says.

“I don't think hair loss has changed, but we're seeing more drug-induced hair losses,” Dr. Sadick says. “That's been the No. 1 change in this. We also see a lot of temporary hair shedding or hair loss. For example, after people go under anesthesia for cosmetic surgical procedures.”

With research being conducted on hair growth factors, Dr. Sadick says he believes hair cloning and growing hair in cultures will be in the future.

As for the causes of hair loss, the focus of research should be shifted.

“I think we should be thinking now, it's not just about hormones and 5-alpha reductase-inhibitors,” he says. “We now need to consider other factors such as inflammation.”

At the VCS meeting in June, Dr. Sadick will also be speaking about:

• New technologies for skincare

• Whole body skin tightening and new approaches to cellulite

• Skin tightening without surgery: Hope or hype?

• At home with aesthetic devices: Will this play a bigger role in the future?

• Advances in autogenous soft tissue fillers and neuromodulators - panelist

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Did you miss last year’s meeting? Get caught up on what happened by reading our VCS 2013 coverage and watching videos from our panel discussion about fillers and neurotoxins.