Are young people losing their hair faster than past generations?
New research shows that anxiety and poor eating habits may be factors in the early onset of hair loss in millennials and people in their 20s.
At the same time, men and women over the age of 50 experience hair loss or thinning, either due to genetics, hormonal changes, or the aging process.
Together, these factors have led to a surge in demand for treatments and drugs to prevent and treat hair loss. So far, the FDA has only approved topical minoxidil and finasteride as drug treatments. For nearly 30 years, no other drug has been approved by the FDA for the most common form of hair loss. But that may change soon.
With at least six drugs and cell-based treatments moving forward in clinical trials, Florida dermatologists see hope on the horizon.
“These are exciting times,” says Dr. Joshua Berlin, a Boynton Beach dermatologist who treats hair loss patients. “We’re seeing more and more companies looking for solutions to this condition again. It’s not life-threatening, but it affects a large part of the population, and it’s upsetting for them.”
Berlin said increased advertising for hair removal products has increased awareness and interest in solutions. “I’ve definitely seen an increase in the number of people coming to my office for hair removal.”
Dr. Brett King, associate professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, specializes in hair loss. He is excited about the advances and attention being paid to the most common hair loss condition called androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia and androgenetic alopecia. He recently discovered something that works for his patients.
Mr. King has had great success by prescribing oral minoxidil, a well-known hair loss treatment that is usually applied to the scalp. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, a lotion or foam applied to the scalp that is now generic. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for oral use for hair loss. However, more and more hair loss dermatologists are now administering the low-dose pill to their patients, and are reporting similar successes to Dr. King.
“Oral minoxidil is very good for many reasons,” he said. “Topical agents only work where they are applied, whereas oral agents treat all areas of the scalp.”
Two new drugs approved in the past year and a half have also shown efficacy in people with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Alopecia areata is the second most common type of hair loss. This drug allows users to regrow their hair again.
“Hair loss is now something where someone goes to a dermatologist and the doctor doesn’t throw up his hand and say, ‘I don’t know, go get me some Rogaine,'” King said. “New treatments have now been developed for the two most common forms of hair loss.”
He believes these advances are just the beginning.
Some drugs in clinical trials have shown promise in the early stages of hair loss and baldness, while others have the potential to stimulate existing hair follicles to produce new hair growth. It shows. Additionally, medicines targeting other health conditions are repurposed as hair growth promoters, sometimes unintentionally leading to advances. Another area of research and development is cell-based treatments that stimulate hair growth by injecting stem cells into the scalp.
“I think within the next 10 years we will see new developments in drugs that really grow hair. They not only work pretty well, but they do a great job of treating severe hair loss in younger and younger age groups. “It’s a medicine that does that,” Dr. King said. .
Biotechnology researchers believe that people suffering from hair loss will increasingly turn to convenient, direct-to-consumer treatments, pills, lotions and injections that can be used at home.
Of course, hair transplants are still popular as well.
Dr. Berlin says the best way to know the right choice is to see a dermatologist. Your scalp may be examined and blood tests may be ordered to check for potential causes.
If nutrient deficiencies are a problem, taking certain supplements may improve the situation. In addition to biotin, Berlin is also a fan of a nutritional supplement called Nutrafol, which is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and botanicals. One study found that Nutrafol reduced hair loss in perimenopausal women. “They work to some extent, there’s no question about it,” he said.
“Alopecia is a disease where you have had no new symptoms for years and then suddenly you have breakthrough symptoms,” he says. “The goal is a more novel threat, and we know that’s what a lot of people want.”
Delray Medical Center has a new CEO and a new kosher hospitality room.
Heather Havericak named CEO of Delray Medical Center (Courtesy of Delray Medical Center)
Delray Beach’s large Jewish community may be relieved to know that if a family member needs hospitalization, they will be accommodated. Delray Medical Center has opened a kosher hospitality room to support Jewish families visiting loved ones in the hospital. The hospitality room offers kosher food, a separate microwave for milk and meat, and a quiet space for spiritual reflection, including prayer books, reading materials, and a hospital-safe Shabbat package.
The medical center also has new leadership. Effective July 12, Heather Havericak is the new CEO of Delray Medical Center. She is responsible for overseeing all strategic, operational and clinical activities.
“Heather is an executive with more than 17 years of healthcare leadership experience in South Florida,” Maggie Gill, Tenet Healthcare’s East Coast regional group president, said in a written statement. “Her experience, clinical background and market knowledge will ensure Delray can execute on our quality and growth initiatives.”
Mr. Habelikak comes to Delray Medical Center from Broward Health, where he most recently served as CEO of Broward Health Medical Center.
Boca Raton Hospital Experts Use Dual Testing to Diagnose Parkinson’s Disease
Dr. Sameer Hussain-Wilson, a neurologist and movement disorder expert, can often tell if a patient has Parkinson’s disease through a test at his Boca Raton clinic.
She is currently using two types of tests to confirm the diagnosis. A new skin biopsy test called SynOne and DaTscan (Dopamine Transporter Scan), a brain imaging test that can help diagnose Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions.
Hussain Wilson works at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and says he is very busy diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s disease patients in Boca Raton. The disease tends to affect Ashkinazi Jewish men, many of whom are in Boca Raton. Additionally, the average age of diagnosis is 65 years old, and the proportion of elderly people in this region is high. Although not as common as men, women also get Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Sameer Hussain-Wilson is director of the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Baptist Health Medical Group, which produces the SynOne skin test for Parkinson’s disease. (Baptist Health/Provided)
“If the patient shows the characteristics of Parkinson’s disease and it’s signed, sealed and delivered, I don’t use the test. That’s where my training comes in,” explains Hussain-Wilson . However, if doctors suspect that the disease is in its early stages and need confirmation, they tend to rely on imaging tests, which are less invasive than skin biopsies. Both the SyneOne and DaTscan tests are equally effective in confirming the diagnosis, she said.
Neurologists have found that the earlier the diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin and the more likely it is to keep symptoms under control.
The most obvious signs of Parkinson’s disease are tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and problems with balance. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that affects more than 500,000 Americans.
Symptoms that are less noticeable in the early stages include dreams of being kicked or punched while sleeping, constipation or sudden loss of smell, and rapid onset of depression and anxiety. “These are symptoms that develop decades ago and will never be seen by someone like me (a specialist),” she said. “It’s important to be transparent with your doctor about what you’re experiencing.”
Diagnosis is different than it was in previous decades. The field of treatment options for Parkinson’s disease is rapidly evolving.
“I have a lot of medication and a pump to deliver the medication. With all the new treatments that are being offered for patients, I can live a fuller, more active life again while living with Parkinson’s disease. “You can,” she said.
Sour Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.
First Published: July 24, 2024 at 7:00 AM
