It’s considered normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, but when should you be concerned about the strands left behind in your brush or on your pillow?

Whether caused by hormones, certain hairstyles, stress or a medical condition, experiencing hair loss and thinning can be debilitating. Furthermore, learning what causes hair loss can be a challenge, as there is a myriad of reasons one might experience it.

That’s why it’s important to see a physician about your concerns, as they can determine the source and develop a treatment plan that works for you.

To discuss the causes as well as various advancements in treatments for hair loss, we spoke with hair loss experts and board-certified dermatologists, Chytra Anand, Brooke Jackson and Neil Sadick.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss, known clinically as alopecia, can appear suddenly or over time and can range from mild thinning to complete baldness. Additionally, it can affect not only the scalp but the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard and any other place on the body that has hair. While some forms aren’t as obvious as others, it often has a substantial effect on a patient’s mental health.

Dr. Brooke Jackson of North Carolina says, “As dermatologists, we’re in the self-esteem business, and I think it’s important to recognize how much hair and hair loss plays a role in patients’ [self-esteem].”

This is especially important, as it is sometimes out of our control. Sometimes, it’s hereditary, while other times, it’s caused by medication or even hairstyles. Some common causes of hair loss are:

• Genetics
• Childbirth
• Hormones
• Infection
• Age
• Hair care Practices
• Styling Techniques
• Illness
• Chronic Inflammatory Processes
• Medications
• Stress (Childbirth, Surgery, Illness)

Sometimes, we lose hair due to a combination of factors. Dr. Jackson specifically points to special complications some women of color face—including traction alopecia (caused by tight hairstyles), Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (caused by chemical relaxers that straighten the hair) and Scarring Alopecia (caused by inflammation that destroys hair’s follicles).

Some patients may be experiencing many forms of hair loss without even knowing it. That’s why, Dr. Jackson says, “It’s really important to make sure that you’re making an adequate diagnosis, a proper diagnosis, because that’s really the only reason [a] treatment is going to work.”

At-Home Treatments for Hair Loss

The best time to treat hair loss and thinning is right away. The sooner you address your concerns, the more likely you are to see a good outcome. When coupled with in-office treatments, at-home treatments even advance results. But, are you a good candidate for treatment? We asked Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO, for his thoughts:

“After evaluating my patients and making sure that there are no underlying issues that can be treated dermatologically, I always offer options that are adjunctive in nature. The reason I do this is that nearly every patient will seek some outside treatments if we don't supply them and will likely fall prey to some fairly unscrupulous schemes. While the options that we have to offer are modest at best in comparison to full-court presses like PRP, Propecia, Rogaine or hair transplantation, they clearly play a role. Additionally, we can offer a reasonable idea of how much, if any, improvement these interventions can supply. My patients often choose to go to the next step or try these as a stop-gap alternative while considering more pricey options.”

Some at-home treatments can be effective, but choosing the right one directly depends on what is causing the hair loss. Dr. Schlessinger often recommends Viviscal Professional Supplements and the ReTress Hair Rejuvenation Kit for at-home treatment. Sometimes, at-home treatments are all it takes, but in more advanced cases, a complex approach is necessary.

PRP for Hair Loss

One such approach, known as PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, utilizes cutting-edge technology to stimulate hair growth. This treatment utilizes your own blood (comprised of blood cells and plasma, which is rich in proteins and growth factors), to trigger natural hair growth and improve blood supply to the scalp.

PRP works by accelerating healing. When someone experiences a wound or cut, their platelets come to the rescue. They improve healing time and boost tissue repair, allowing the wound to heal. This same premise applies to using PRP for the scalp—though in this case, the PRP is responsible for re-activating or healing the hair follicles. Dr. Jackson refers to PRP treatments as “CPR for the hair follicles” for its ability to awaken these follicles and give them new life.

“I’ve been overwhelmingly impressed by the treatments and use of PRP,” Dr. Jackson says.

While not all types of alopecia can benefit from this treatment, it is a promising step forward into the world of hair loss treatments. Additionally, sometimes it takes combination therapy in order for the treatment to be effective.

PRP Combined with Microneedling or Fractional Laser

Dr. Neil Sadick of New York has seen promising results when PRP for hair loss is combined with microneedling (a popular skin care procedure that uses tiny needles to stimulate healing and rejuvenate skin) and fractional laser (a laser used to gently resurface the skin).

As one of the early pioneers of PRP treatments, Dr. Sadick has performed over two thousand PRP injections and has found in most cases combination therapy is most effective. According to Dr. Sadick, this is because “Anything that injures the hair follicle will cause clinical wound response…that will stimulate stem cells in the hair bulge or hair papilla.”

Since stem cells stimulate healing, this allows the hair bulge or hair papilla (the base of the hair follicle) to function more normally.

While the benefits of PRP for hair loss are still being studied, Dr. Sadick’s comprehensive research has led to advances in the technology used to measure the efficacy of treatments. To do so, Dr. Sadick developed a non-invasive device that measures hair density prior to and throughout treatment, giving patients and physicians the opportunity to track their progress.

However, PRP for hair loss is not the only recent advancement in treatment.

Progenitor Cell Therapy

Dr. Chytra Anand, a dermatologist that operates primarily out of India, has seen success with an innovative new treatment called Progenitor Cell Therapy.

This treatment takes grafts of hair from the hairline and reinjects them into problem areas on the scalp. The grafts, which are rich in stem cells and growth factors, operate similarly to PRP treatments by stimulating healing.

The procedure, which takes approximately 45 minutes, is fairly painless and easily tolerated with visible results being seen as early as four months. Progenitor Cell Therapy treatments can be repeated on a yearly basis with maintenance being performed in-between with PRP treatments or hair transplants.

“I perform the Progenitor Cell procedure, and after six months, I perform PRP [on a] quarterly basis. This has enhanced my results,” Dr. Anand says.

While Progenitor Cell Therapy is not being performed in the United States at this time, Dr. Anand believes that the procedure shows promise, advancing the knowledge we have about hair loss treatments across the globe.

What questions do you have about hair loss and hair loss treatments? Let us know in the comments below!