The Future of Hair Loss Treatment
There may never be a “cure” for baldness since hair loss is linked to a number of genetic and environmental factors. However, we can guarantee that hair loss treatment such as transplant/graft surgery and medication will continue to evolve. This is what has many members of the True & Dorin Medical Group team so excited.
The people at our New York, NY office would like to take a moment to consider some of the most state-of-the-art innovations in hair loss treatment that we are seeing today. Below are some advanced approaches to hair loss treatment, including a drug that may be the future in fighting baldness.
Refinements in Existing Surgical Techniques
Over the last decade or so, hair restoration surgeons have been focused on the proper angle and position of the hair follicles when they are placed. There has also been focus on proper placement of the follicles to ensure a natural and full hair density is achieved. Thanks to these modern considerations, the results of hair restorations surgery have come to look more and more natural.
Current Innovations Involving Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP is blood that has been run through a centrifuge to isolate the platelets. These components of blood are best known for the ability to help blood clot and allow injuries to heal properly. Thanks to centrifugal motion, the platelet count can be up to 10 times greater when the PRP is isolated.
When PRP is injected into certain areas of the scalp, it can help slow down the rate of hair thinning and hair loss. While this does not reverse balding, it can be helpful for patients who suffer from natural hair loss and thinning or alopecia araeta.
The HairMax LaserComb
Lasers have been a common part of surgery and cosmetic procedures in recent years. It should come as no surprise that lasers may play a part in hair restoration. The HairMax LaserComb treatment is applied to the scalp and areas of thinning hair as a means of slowing down hair loss. The 15-minutes of low-light laser energy exposure are typically followed by use of Minoxidil or Finasteride.
Not all patients respond to this low-light laser treatment, but the patients who do respond to it have positive outcomes.
Is WAY-316606 the Way to Fight Baldness?
News from earlier this year has shown a new drug that could be used to fight hair loss. It’s rooted in a discovery during the 1980s, which we should touch on first.
During the 1980s, doctors noticed that the immunosuppressive drug Cyclosporine A (CsA) had an unexpected side effect: hair growth. It turns out that CsA reduced the activity of the protein SFRP1, which regulates tissue growth, including the growth of hair follicles. Given the side effects of CsA, however, it was never used to treat balding or hair thinning.
Flash forward to 2018. Researchers have found that WAY-316606, an osteoporosis drug, targeted SFRP1 in a manner similar to CsA. They found that WAY-316606 can be used to promote hair growth, and without the unwanted side effects of CsA.
Is WAY-316606 the Future?
That remains to be seen. Additional research must be done in order to monitor for unforeseen side effects and complications. Thankfully, there are promising signs that researches are on the right track.
Ultimately, no one knows what the future will hold, but at least in terms of treating baldness, the future is promising.
Learn More About Hair Restoration
If you would like more information about advanced hair restoration treatments and how they can benefit you, be sure to contact our hair restoration specialists. The team at True & Dorin Medical Group will be more than happy to answer all of your questions. You can also reach us by phone at (212) 826-2525.
