LIGHT ENERGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF SKIN CONDITIONS

Skin is the largest organ in your body, covering about 20 square feet in total. Diseases of the skin have traditionally been treated by drugs. However, in recent times, use of light energy has been proven to be highly effective in treating these conditions . Light energy has become an effective and safe first line alternative to drugs.

 Below is a cross section of skin.

Skin is composed of 3 layers - the upper layer is the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin 

 Its purpose is to act as the body's major barrier against the environment. It is continually being shed and replaced with new skin about every 28 days. Some diseases such as psoriasis cause the skin to shed much more rapidly which cause skin lesions to develop on the surface of the skin. One of the hallmarks of treatment of psoriasis is light energy. UV energy (which is the same as sunlight) is administered with photosensitizing drugs in a regimen called PUVA to help slow and normalize the turnover of skin cells to effectively treat the condition.

The second or middle layer of the skin is the dermis.

The dermis is the middle layer of your skin. It contains the hair follicles and most of the glands such as sweat glands and oil glands. This layer contains nerves which help you judge sensations to the skin such as hot and cold.

This layer contains collagen which provides skin with elasticity, firmness and smoothness. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is one of the main causes of skin damage as it speeds up the natural aging process and is the primary cause of wrinkling. Exposure to UV light breaks down skin's connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers. Without the supportive connective tissue, skin loses its strength and flexibility and sags and wrinkles prematurely. Use of laser energy has been proven to work to restore the collagen and help to reduce wrinkles.

Two of the most common conditions resulting from diseases of the follicle in this layer, are acne and hair loss. Hair follicles are connected to sebaceous glands which secrete an oily substance known as sebum to lubricate your hair and skin. Acne occurs when the hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells which. When there is excess oil production, bacteria grows in the hair follicle and clogs it. Use of blue and red light with sensitizers can help to reduce the inflammation and reduce the breakouts by helping to unclog the gland.

The most common cause of hair loss is a condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. In genetically susceptible people, certain sex hormones trigger a particular pattern of permanent hair loss. A very effective treatment for treating pattern hair loss and stimulating the growth of healthy hair is the use of laser phototherapy as emitted by the HairMax LaserComb®. The HairMax has been proven in major clinical research studies (just as other light devices have been for treating other skin conditions) to work safely and effectively with no serious side effects from occurring.

Another disorder called hyperhidrosis is a condition caused by abnormally increased perspiration, in in the sweat glands contained in this layer. Laser energy has recently been found to be effective in helping to shrink the gland to help reduce excess perspiration.

The third layer of the skin is the deepest and is called the subcutaneous layer. 

The main function of the subcutaneous layer is to provide a cushion for the structures in the middle layer of the skin. It also functions to insulate the body to help regulate body temperature. As aging occurs fat in this layer, which gives the skin a plump appearance, starts to decrease. This also contributes to skin becoming loose and saggy which also causes wrinkling of the skin.

In conclusion, light energy has become a non-drug standard for treating many, many skin conditions safely and effectively. In the case of hair loss, laser phototherapy treatment with the HairMax has effective treated hundreds of thousands of men and women suffering from this devastating condition and enriched their lives.

USING TOPICAL DRUGS – A ‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’

Most people when deciding to treat themselves with a topical drug for conditions of skin and hair (or on the recommendation of their physician), do not realize that use of many of  these drugs also can cause internal side effects from their use.  Many drugs used topically are also absorbed into the blood stream from the skin.  As an example, corticosteroids taken internally for a vast number of medical conditions, can cause adrenal suppression.  These drugs are also formulated in topical form and are widely used for treating all sorts of skin conditions such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, inflammation, etc. However, in some cases these drugs are absorbed from the skin and can also result in adrenal suppression. Some other drugs known as retinoids have been associated with causing birth defects in animals and therefore when used systemically are not indicated for use in women of childbearing potential.  A few drugs in this class are also available in topical formulations, but because of the risk of systemic absorption they are not recommended for use in women of childbearing potential.  Finally, many topical antibiotics such as clindamycin are used to treat acne, but have also been known to be absorbed from the skin and cause major gastrointestinal problems, just as they do when ingested. 

When doctors prescribe topical drugs to treat medical conditions, they assess the benefit of the use of the drug vs. the potential to cause systemic side effects.  Depending on the seriousness of the medical condition being treated, the risk of certain side effects occurring is worth the benefit derived from use of the drugs in treatment.  If they feel that the benefit outweighs the risk of side effects, they prescribe or recommend the drug.

 

An excellent example of applying this benefit to risk assessment is with the drug minoxidil.  This drug was originally developed to treat severe heart conditions, and there were numerous serious side effects associated with it.  However, doctors determined that the benefit in using this drug far outweighs any risk of side effects if the patient is carefully monitored.  Minoxidil was also formulated as Rogaine® for topical use to grow hair in men and women with hereditary hair loss.  From 1/1/2004 to 03/31/2012, there have been 876 reports of a serious adverse event where Rogaine was identified as the primary suspect drug¹.  While use of the drug topically has produced a low number of serious systemic side effects, many of those that have occurred are related to cardiac side effects such as dizziness, and increased heart rate.

 

What all of this means, is that when you treat yourself with topical drugs you can’t just assume that they are benign, so you must weigh the benefit of using the drug compared to its potential for occurrence of systemic side effects. This is particularly true when you are treating yourself for aesthetic conditions such as aging skin and hair loss.   

 

In recent years, the advent of lasers has revolutionized the treatment of many aesthetic conditions, eliminating the concern of side effects occurring from use of using topical drugs.  One outstanding example of a non-drug alternative is the HairMax LaserComb® which is also indicated to treat hereditary hair loss. 

 

Prior to the introduction of the HairMax there was only one drug that was approved by the FDA to treat hair loss in both men and women - Rogaine.  The non-drug HairMax on the other hand, uses laser phototherapy to effectively treat hair loss and promote hair loss in men and women and has FDA Clearance.  Best of all, there have never been any reports of serious side effects occurring from use of the HairMax LaserComb.  This is in contrast to Rogaine, where there have been a number of reports of serious systemic side effects occurring.  This perfectly illustrates that need to assess the benefit of using a drug to treat aesthetic conditions vs. the potential risk that can occur from use and to seek alternatives that have a greater benefit to risk ratio. 

The use of topical drugs can be a ‘double-edged sword’ which while giving good treatment results, can also cause unforeseen internal side effects from their use.  When treating aesthetic conditions in particular such as hair loss, assessing the benefit to the risk entailed in use is an important consideration.  Seeking non-drug alternatives such as the HairMax LaserComb is an ideal way of gaining effective treatment, but with little if any risk from use.

¹ http://adverseevents.com/drugdetail.php?AEDrugID=5070&BrandName=ROGAINE

 

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When Treating Hair Loss, Shedding Of Hair Is Not The Same As "Losing Hair".

Shedding is one of the biggest concerns we hear about from people who start treating their hair loss. Shedding may occur when treatment begins with any of the three FDA approved/cleared products, such as the HairMax LaserComb®, Rogaine® (minoxidil) and Propecia®.  However, it is important to know that shedding is NOT the same as “losing hair”.  Since the concern about this occurrence is ‘real’, we will try to provide some important information on what exactly shedding is, why it occurs, and what it means in the usual course of treatment.

Shedding is Normal

While you may think you are the only one experiencing it, shedding after starting a treatment is fairly common. Many users report increased loss a few weeks after starting the HairMax, Propecia or Rogaine. The amount of shedding is variable and for many people it is not even noticeable.  However, for some people it can be to quite disconcerting if they don't expect it, because now that they have finally decided to treat their hair loss; rather than hair growth, they experience hair loss.  Instead of going forward, they feel like they are going backwards since they do not realize that this occurrence is temporary. They sometimes prematurely discontinue treatment without giving the treatment enough time to work. They incorrectly decide they are not "responders" to the treatment, that the treatment doesn't work, and the product is not for them - but they're wrong!!

What exactly is Shedding?

Hair follicles work in cycles as part of their normal processes. There are 3 cycles of hair growth, 1) anagen is the growth cycle, 2) catagen is the cycle where hair breaks down, and 3) telogen or resting cycle is where hair shedding normally occurs.  Anagen hair grows for about 2 to 8 years and at the end of this growth cycle, the brief (2 to 4 weeks) catagen phase ‘kicks’ in and the hairs start to break down. Hair then goes into the telogen or resting cycle which can last for 2 to 4 months.  Eventually, the growth cycle starts again (anagen) where a new hair begins to emerge. 

On a normal scalp, hair loss in the telogen or shedding  phase is not noticeable  as only 50 – 100 hairs are shed each day.  And, no more than about 10% of all follicles on the scalp are in the resting (telogen) phase at one time.  Since the normal scalp has over 100,000 hairs, the hair loss part of the cycle is not noticed since hair is normally shed on a random basis.  Even for the person not suffering from hereditary hair loss, his or her hair goes through the same cycles. The hair grows for a period of time, rests for a while, then regrows.

In all cases, treatments or no treatments, shedding is NOT the same as "losing hair". This is one of the most common misconceptions about the treatment of hair loss. Shedding is in fact just the transition of follicles from growth phase to resting phase. On a normal scalp, follicles don't generally die, never to return to growing hair. They in fact "go to sleep", to return to producing hair several months later.

In the case of someone experiencing Androgenetic Alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), shedding is typically the result of continued cyclical process, combined with miniaturization. This means that each time hairs go dormant and come back, they instead come back weaker, thinner, and less pigmented. Without treatment, many of the hair follicle eventually do in fact die and this is when hair LOSS occurs permanently.  So early treatment is a wise choice.

Shedding With to Treatment

If you start a new treatment like the HairMax, Rogaine or Propecia, you probably will experience some shedding in the first few weeks of treatment, but the amount of hair shed varies from person to person. However, it is important to know that this shedding is temporary and if you  continue your treatment as directed, despite the anxiousness it causes, shedding will end and the lost hair should be replaced with thicker healthier hair.

Although we do not know exactly why the shedding occurs at the start of treatment, the most likely explanation is that when that follicle gets exposed to a growth stimulant like the laser energy of the HairMax, it is given a very strong signal to enter the anagen phase and increase activity. The follicle  must then stop the telogen phase, and start over into the anagen phase.  When the laser energy of the HairMax  is applied to stimulate hair follicles, the follicles must regress, shed the old hair, rearrange themselves into a more healthy hair follicle, and start making a new, thicker terminal hair. This process inevitably lead to the temporary shed phase you might experience. It’s unfortunate that the first stage of new hair growth sometimes seems like hair LOSS, but that is really shedding and that is the why it a positive sign that your hair is responding to treatment.

In Conclusion - Don't Count Hairs

In terms of understanding hair loss, the nature of shed hair and the rate of shedding is not very important, although it may be disturbing to see. Shedding is natural, in that everyone sheds hair daily whether affected by hereditary hair loss or not. You can shed up to 100 scalp hairs a day without having any noticeable scalp hair loss. A few people may shed more than this but still not develop baldness. The problem comes when someone sheds hair at a faster rate than it is replaced and this is where baldness develops. If the hair is being shed faster than it regrows then alopecia will develop. Since you will always shed some hair, the amount of hair shed each day is a poor indicator as to the effectiveness of a hair loss treatment. Rather, to define how a treatment is working, you must judge overall results over time to see if more hair is growing than is lost which takes patience and perseverance to judge final results.  Results of treatment takes many months, not days or weeks. Only when you know what to expect when you start treatment and understand that shedding can occur, can you deal with it and resolve to take the time necessary to achieve the results you are looking for.

Always Remember - SHEDDING OF HAIR IS NOT THE SAME AS “LOSING HAIR”!!

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Hair Loss During Menopause

Menopause, is when a woman's body makes a natural shift from more-or-less regular cycles of ovulation and menstruation to permanent infertility. Hair loss is a common and upsetting menopausal symptom which can cause women to suffer a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Understanding why hair loss during menopause and being aware of treatment options will help you take action to treat the condition and help restore your hair health.

Introduction
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) also called female pattern hair loss, involves a diffuse reduction in hair density, but unlike men with male pattern baldness, the frontal hairline is retained. As many as 10 percent of pre-menopausal women reportedly have some evidence of androgenetic alopecia; however, the incidence increases greatly in menopausal women. As many as 50-75 percent of women 65 years or older may be affected by androgenetic alopecia [1,2].

1. Feinstein, RP. Androgenic Alopecia. Emedicine http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic21.htm
2. Norwood OT. Incidence of female androgenetic alopecia (female pattern alopecia). Dermatol Surg. 2001 Jan;27(1):53-4.

What is hair loss during menopause?
Many people assume that androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss is a condition that mostly affects men, but what is less well known is that all women experience some degree of hair loss and thinning during menopause. The most common evidence of this hair loss is noticeable hair thinning, which is a loss of hair density where the scalp can be seen through the hair. However, while hair loss during menopause in women can sometimes be severe, it almost never results in complete baldness.

Due to the fact that excessive hair loss during menopause can affect a woman’s self-esteem and feelings of self-worth, it is vital to know that it can be dealt with successfully.

What causes hair loss during menopause?
Hair loss from androgenetic alopecia during menopause is usually a direct effect of fluctuating hormone levels. The cause of excessive hair loss during menopause varies depending on the individual, but generally is triggered from this hormonal imbalance. There are two main hormones are involved in hair growth in women, estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen helps hair grow faster, and stay on the head for a longer duration, leading to thicker, healthier hair. In estrogenic alopecia, the most common type of hair loss for menopausal women, this loss is directly attributed to a fall in estrogen levels. Estrogen helps hair grow faster, and stay on the head for a longer duration, leading to thicker, healthier hair, so a reduction in production of estrogen by the body leads to thinning and hair loss.

Estrogen is not the only hormone that comes into play with the issue of menopausal hair loss. Testosterone (which women have in minute quantities in their body) converts to dihydrotestosterone or DHT with the aid of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, which is held in a hair follicle's oil. DHT appears to bind to hair follicles and force them to go into their "resting" phases, or telogen, sooner than is normal, shrinks the hair follicles and causes the new hairs to grow into fine, wispy, vellus hair with each cycle of hair growth.

What can effectively treat thinning hair and hair loss during menopause?
There is only one drug, minoxidil which is FDA approved for treating androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) in women and only one non-drug option, the HairMax LaserComb with FDA clearance for treatment of female pattern hair loss and the promotion of hair growth.

Minoxidil is an over-the-counter (nonprescription) medication is approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men and women. Minoxidil is a liquid or foam that you rub into your scalp twice daily to grow hair and to prevent further loss. This can be messy and time consuming.

The HairMax LaserComb is a non-prescription home-use laser phototherapy medical device is easy and convenient to use that only requires treatment 3 times a week for 8- 15 minutes per session. The HairMax is the ONLY home-use device of its kind that has FDA marketing clearance and clinical proof of efficacy (http://www.hairmax.com/key-clinical-study)  for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and the promotion of hair growth in both men and women*.


*The HairMax Advanced 7, Lux 9, and the Professional 12 models are indicated to treat Androgenetic Alopecia, and promote hair growth in males who have Norwood Hamilton Classifications of IIa to V and in females who have Ludwig (Savin) I-4, II-1, II-2, or frontal patterns of hair loss and who both have Fitzpatrick Skin Types I to IV.