Hair has always acquired a great deal of social and cultural importance. Hair loss, a condition also known as alopecia, generally refers to the loss of hair from any part of the hair bearing area of the body, like the scalp, eyebrows, beard or all over the body.

Normal hair growth cycles last anywhere from 2-7 years. However, forms of hair loss are characterized by shorter hair growth cycles such as in androgenic alopecia.

A normal human growth cycle consists of 3 phases as:

• Anagen phase (main growing stage).
• Catagen phase (resting stage).
• Telogen phase (shedding off stage).

When telogen phase ends, old hair gets replaced with a new hair from the same follicle. Normally a person sheds about 50-100 hair strands per day, but it is not noticeable. However, with the gradual increase in thinning of hair, hair loss becomes prominent.

• The most common form of male hair loss is androgenic alopecia, also called male pattern balding. This is an inheritable form of balding that comes with aging and is mediated by the active form of the hormone testosterone called DHT.
• Similar condition in females is called Female Androgenetic alopecia due to a multitude of hormone disturbances, which could also be heritable.
• Telogen effluvium is another type of hair loss which is usually temporary that is as a result of the effect of stress on the body. This stress may be caused by illness, pregnancy and childbirth or weight loss and nutritional deficiency etc.
• Patchy hair loss also termed alopecia areata, which occurs suddenly on any part of the body where hair grows.
• Trichotillomania, due to pulling of hair deliberately; this is a psychological disorder.
• Certain drugs like anti cancer medication, radiation therapy can cause hair fall.
• Scarring alopecia occurs due to skin diseases like lichen planus, lupus etc. and they are irreversible.

The specific type of hair loss can be determined by common blood and hormone investigations. A biopsy of the scalp may also be done to confirm the type of alopecia in some cases.

• Medications can be administered to prevent further hair loss for example minoxidil, Finasteride, flutamide etc. depending on the cause of the hair fall.
• Hair supplements in case of nutritional deficiency
• Hormone correction if required, for example in cases associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
• Platelet rich plasma injections
• Stem Cell Treatment: Stem cells taken from your own fat or peripheral blood , referred to as Autologous stem cells, are injected into the affected area These cells release factors which send molecular signals to hair follicles which are revivable, which then give rise to new hair growth.
• QR678 Hair Growth Factor Injections Treatment: The regulation of epidermal hair follicles is brought about by the powerful interaction between mesenchymal and epithelial cells; hence the hair follicles pass through a cycle of phases viz. Growth, transition, resting, and fall. The mesenchymal cells release specific growth factors which are the ultimate stimulators of follicular epithelial cells which in turn multiply resulting in full development of hair follicles.

  It is the latest in non-surgical hair re-growth treatment developed by a team of expert medical professionals from India. A mixture of hair growth specific growth factors are injected via multiple injections into the affected areas, in monthly sessions (8-10) of about 15 minutes each, over a span of 8-10 months. It is a targeted therapy involving the final growth molecules, ie: the growth factors, being administered directly in the hair roots. By-passing skin as well as blood barriers, hence supposedly, it should be a very effective therapy for most patterns of hair loss and virtually devoid of side effects. It can be an alternative to transplant in the earlier stages of alopecia and also work in cases where no other therapy has worked.

• Hair transplant: For later stages wherein hair re-growth with medical means is no longer possible, Follicular unit transplant, follicular unit extraction, or the latest direct hair implant techniques can be used.
• Studies are underway for genetic remodelling for Androgenetic alopecia, generation of hair follicle with stem cells in the laboratory, hair cloning etc. However, they are still in the initial stages and will take years before they can be used in humans.
• Laser treatment can also be done as adjunct though the results are unproven in clinical studies.

All treatments including transplants come with a shelf life especially in Androgenetic alopecia and maintenance is the norm.

Hair loss can be prevented by:

• Healthy eating habits
• Iron and protein rich diet,
• Regular exercise
• Avoiding medications and chemicals that are likely to cause hair loss
• Stress management.
• Using the right products on the hair and limited hair styling treatments.

• Every skin is different, just like every individual is unique. One must have realistic expectations and not get carried away by advertisements, results obtained in other patients, celebrities etc.
• A trained expert cosmetic dermatologist with ample years of experience should be your treating physician.
• There may be cases in which nothing works. This is sad but true as there are still some gaps in our knowledge in this subject.

The QR678 therapy cost is INR 6000/- per session. Hair transplants cost in lakhs depending on the area involved and the type of transplant.