Hair Restoration Blog

Q:

I would like to ask Dr. Mohebi about hair stem cell research. If you can explain what it is, how long has it been in research, and in what phase it is at this moment? I’m 31and notice that I had AU, around the age of 29-30. At the time I was going through a lot of stress that made me feel like I’ve brought this on myself. I was taking treatment injections for my eyebrows to see if I can at least save my eye brows. Well, I got tired of the injections, and just left it in the hands of the Creator. Are there eyebrow and eyelash replacement that can be obtain and if so where? I just had a little girl and I really want to take some decent pictures with her and it bothers me at times that I can’t even do that, so I can relate to all who are going through the up’s an down’s and the fight within and without to BEAT-AU, and others. I guess only time will tell.

A:

Hair stem cell research is becoming very promising for treatment of many types of hair loss. Phase 3 of the study on hair multiplication was started about 3 years ago and it is still ongoing. The purpose of phase three study of any new treatment modality is to prove that there are no long term side effects on the volunteer patients who undergo any new treatment. Hair stem cell technology seems to be a real therapeutic option for many types of hair loss conditions for the next 5 to 10 years.

Having said that, some details about the process of hair multiplication is not quite clear yet. There is not much information released on the quality of multiplied hair and we are not quite aware about the final cost of the procedure. When it comes to AU (Alopecia Universalis) we cannot know for a fact that hair multiplication is the answer to this condition considering the mechanism of AU and the fact that the patient’s own immune system tends to destroy hair follicles.

It is likely that multiplied hair follicles have the same antigenic properties so they could be recognized by the immune system and destroyed the same way that the native hair was initially. A combination of some sort of anti-immune treatment and transplanting multiplied hair might be the answer, but we cannot know for sure before they are investigated thoroughly in the future.

I am a 26 year old female and felt like the world was mine, and then this happened and now I would rather hide, so I understand about feeling like a freak. But I think we all have to remember that we have nothing to be ashamed of This disease is more widespread than we think and people are more understanding than we give them credit for. We can all still live long and happy, if a little self consciously. Since getting AU, I have heard of so many people who have friends or family with this disease - there are a lot of us, and we are still lovable, attractive, successful and admired. We may look different but if we can overcome the self-imposed stigma of it, I think it will just serve to make us stronger.

Speaking as a woman, let’s give our daughters, sisters and mothers a good example for self-respect, and show them how to be fearless, how to overcome obstacles and show them that women are more than long shiny hair and a media approved image.

I know I am young and have not yet suffered with this disease as long as any of you, so it is likely easier for me to say these things. I just hope to remain this optimistic and not let it get the better of me. We are all more than our hair. And if being bald and shapely or hairy and fat is the choice, I choose to keep my body healthy on the inside instead of just looking it on the outside.

Thanks to all of you, I wish you all the best and just remember, you are more than your hair and do not accept feeling like a freak! Remember the people that love you when you are at home and hairless for all to see, what they see in you is what you truly are, not the you that has to wear a wig so people don’t stare or the one who has come to hate the wind.

A:

I like your attitude.  Treatment of Alopecia Universalis (AU) could be difficult or impossible in some cases.  You have to come to my office and talk to some of my patients who think the world has come to an end because they are losing their hair.

This is what I always say to my patients: It is important to try to look your best.  If you have the option to change your appearance for the better, do it as much as possible, but for the part that you cannot change, accept it.  Learn to use it to your advantage and learn to love it.