Hair Loss

Both men and women can lose hair. Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. But with about 100,000 hairs in the scalp, this amount of hair loss shouldn’t cause noticeable thinning of the scalp hair. Gradual thinning is a normal part of aging. However, hair loss leading to baldness occurs when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed, or when hair comes out in patches. When hair becomes thin or bald, it becomes quite distressing.


At Rejuvé, we will do a comprehensive history and examination to rule out all of the temporary causes of hair loss. Once this is done, if the patient has male or female pattern hair loss and if the patient has reasonable expectations, we will customize a non-surgical treatment that combines proper nutrition and vitamin supplementation, topical medications, oral medications, growth factors, and mesotherapy to help increase hair density, prevent further hair loss, thicken the remaining hairs, and to re-grow some lost hairs. This whole process takes 4-6 months and it takes place without any surgery.
What are some causes of temporary excessive hair loss?

1. Major stress – for example, going through a major illness or major surgery – one can see excessive hair loss 3-6 months later. This is only temporary. Once the body recovers the hair will grow back to normal in 3-6 months.

2. Hormones – thyroid disease can cause thinning or hair loss. Secondly, improper balance of male or female hormones known as androgens or estrogens can cause hair loss. Checking and correcting these levels may stop hair loss.

3. Post partum – Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they’ve had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

4. Medications – Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, certain medicines to treat high blood pressure, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills, and antidepressants. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine.

5. Medical treatments – Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you hair loss. Under these conditions, healthy, growing (anagen) hairs can be affected. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.

6. Infections – Fungal infections, commonly known as ringworm, can invade the skin on the scalp and cause hair loss. Often times the scalp can be red and flaky. The infection is easily treated with topical antifungal medicines.


Traction Alopecia

9. Diseases – such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated. There is another disease called Alopecia Areata, which is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. This results in small, round, smooth patches about the size of a quarter in the scalp but can include the beard and eyebrows. It can run in families. This can be completely treated with intradermal cortisone injections.
Alopecia Areata

10. Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder). Trichotillomania is a type of mental illness in which people have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it’s from their scalp, their eyebrows or other areas of their body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves them with patchy bald spots on their head, which they may go to great lengths to disguise. Causes of trichotillomania are still being researched, and no specific cause has yet been found.

Male-pattern Baldness
Q. What is Male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia)? 
A. This is the most common form of permanent loss for men where the pattern baldness can begin very early, even in the teens or early 20s. It’s typically characterized by a receding hairline at the temples and balding at the top of the head. The end result may be partial or complete baldness.
Norwood Chart

Q. What is Female-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia)?
A. This a form of permanent hair loss in women where the hair loss is limited to thinning at the front, sides or crown. Women usually maintain their frontal hairline and rarely experience complete baldness.
Female-pattern Baldness


Q. What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?


Hair Growth Phases

  • Anagen Phase
    Approximately 85% of all hairs are in the growing phase at any one time. The Anagen phase, or growth phase, can vary from two to six years. Hair grows approximately 10cm per year and any individual hair is unlikely to grow more than one meter long.
  • Catagen Phase
    At the end of the Anagen phase,the hair enters into a catagen phase whice lasts about one or two weeks. During the Catagen phase, the hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6th of the normal length. The lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla breaks away to rest (see Telogen phase below).
  • Telogen Phase
    The resting phase follows the Catagen phase and normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this time,the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a resting phase. Approximately 10-15% of all hairs are in this phase at any one time. Therefore, the length of time that the hair is able to spend growing during the growth phase controls the maximum length of the hair.

    At the end of the Telogen phase,the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase. The dermal papilla and the base of the follicle join together again and the new hair begins to form. If the old hair has not already been shed,the new hair pushes the old one out,and the growth cycle starts all over again.

  • Hair life cycle

    Q. What is Telogen effluvium?
    A. This type of hair loss is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical – causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or may fall out after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches. In a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow. Telogen effluvium may follow emotional distress, such as a death in the family, or after a physiological stress, such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually take months.

    At Rejuvé, a comprehensive history and examination will be done to rule out all temporary causes of hair loss. Dr. Tang specializes in the non surgical approach to hair restoration. His approach includes:

    1. Topical solutions (see below)
    2. Vitamins
    3. Medications
    4. Medical grade Minoxidil
    5. Mesotherapy
    6. PRP treatment

    On a more personal level, Dr. Tang has suffered from male pattern baldness himself for over 15 years and has done extensive research to find out the latest in hair re-growth technologies. Through his own struggles, Dr. Tang has devised this strategy that could benefit you as well Dr. Tang will customize your treatment plan based your needs and goals. Please send an email or call the office to to request an appointment to get more details.

    PRP featured on Good Morning America


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