A new home for our hair loss blog

We've got a new home for our blog. This will be the last post here. For future posts please check-out out hair loss blog in its new location... http://www.prohairbiosystems.com/blog/. Don't worry, we've copied across all of our great content.

Why does Hair Go Grey?

Grey hair is caused by a reduction of pigmentation, whereas white hair has no pigment all. Why this happens remains somewhat of a mystery.

In time, everyone’s hair turns grey eventually and your chances of going grey increases by 10-20% every decade after 30 years.

Fundamentally, hair is white. It then gets its natural colour from a pigment called melanin. The formation of melanin begins before birth and is also responsible for your skin colour and tanning in the sun. The natural colour of your hair depends upon the distribution, type and amount of melanin in the middle layer of the hair shaft or cortex.

Hair has only two types of pigments: dark (eumelanin) and light (phaeomelanin). They blend together to make up the wide range of hair colours.

Melanin is made up of specialized pigment cells called melanocytes. They position themselves at the openings on the skin’s surface through which hair grows (follicles). Each hair grows from a single follicle.

The process of hair growth has three phases:

* Anagenic phase: This is the active growth stage of the hair fibre and can last from 2- 7 years. At any given moment 80-85% of our hair is in the anagen phase.

* Catagenic phase: Sometimes referred to as the transitional phase, which is when hair growth begins to “shut down” and stop activity. It generally lasts 10- 20 days.

* Telogenic phase: This occurs when hair growth is completely at rest and the hair falls out. At any given time, 10-15 % of our hair is in the telogen phase, which generally lasts 100 days for scalp hair. After the telogen phase, the hair growth process starts over again to the anagenic phase. The extension of the telogenic phase has also been quoted as a cause of hair loss,

As the hair is being formed, melanocytes inject pigment (melanin) into cells containing keratin. (Keratin is the protein that makes up our hair, skin, and nails). Throughout the years, melanocyctes continue to inject pigment into the hair’s keratin, giving it colour.

With age comes a reduction of melanin. There is less melanin so the hair turns grey and eventually white.

So why does hair turn grey or white?

Dr. Desmond Tobin, professor of cell biology from the University of Bradford(UK), suggests that the hair follicle has a “melanogentic clock” which slows down or stops melanocyte activity, thus decreasing the pigment our hair receives. This also occurs just before the hair is preparing to fall out or shed, so the roots always look pale.

Unsurprisingly, Dr. Tobin suggests that hair turns grey because of age and genetics, and genes regulate the exhaustion of the pigmenting potential of each individual hair follicle. This occurs at different rates in different hair follicles. For some people it occurs rapidly, while in others it occurs slowly over several decades.

In a February 2005 Science article (Nishimura, et al.) Harvard scientists proposed that a failure of melanocyte stem cells to maintain the production of melanocytes could cause the greying of hair. This failure of melanocyte stem cell maintenance may result in the breakdown of signals that produce hair color.

In 2009, European scientists described how hair follicles produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. This bleaching chemical builds on the hair shafts, which can lead to a gradual loss of hair colour. (Wood, J.M et al. Senile hair greying: H2O2 mediated oxidative stress affect human hair colour by blunting methionine sulfoxide repair. FASEB Journal, v. 23, July 2009: 2065-2075).

In summary therefore it appears that hair goes grey via two mechanisms both related to age, the first being a reduction in the pigment (melanin) which gives the hair its colour and also an increase in hydrogen peroxide which actually has a bleaching effect upon the hair follicle.

With thanks to http://www.loc.gov

Retaining Hair Health's X Factor

Retaining Hair Health began as a hair loss blog in 2009 and is read by visitors from all over the world, particularly in America.

So we decided to run our very own "The X Factor " Poll of Blogs.

We are pleased to announce that the Top Ten of Popular Entries are as follows:-

No.1 Nizoral (Ketonazole) Shampoo

No.2 Finasteride (Propecia or Proscar) Cancer Warning

No. 3 The Norwood Scale for Hair Loss

No. 4 Hair Loss Product Advertisement on London Underground

No. 5 Early Signs of Hair Loss

No. 6 Stem Cell Research into Hair Loss

No. 7 James Bond and Indiana Jones

No. 8 Does your Hair Actually Breathe?

No. 9 James Nesbitt's New Hair

No. 10 Genetics and Hair Loss

Do We Know How Minoxidil Works with Hair Loss?

It has been known for over 30 years that minoxidil stimulates hair growth, yet understanding the mechanism of action on the hair follicle is still very limited.

Minoxidil was introduced in the early 1970s as a treatment for high blood pressure. Hair growth was a common side-effect in those taking minoxidil tablets and this led to the development of minoxidil lotion for the treatment of hair loss in men and women. The 2% product was first marketed for hair regrowth in men in 1986 in the United States and the 5% product became available in 1993.

Despite much research over 20 years scientists still have only a limited understanding of how minoxidil stimulates hair growth.

Response of the Hair Follicle
There are a number of ways in which a drug may stimulate hair growth; it may increase the linear growth rate of hair, increase the diameter of the hair fibre, alter the hair cycle, either shortening telogen (resting phase of the hair growth cycle) or prolonging the anagen (growth) phase, or act through a combination of these effects. Present evidence suggests that minoxidil acts mainly on the hair cycle; it may also increase hair diameter.

In male pattern balding (male androgenetic alopecia) there is a gradual reduction in the duration of anagen and a prolongation of the latent period of the hair cycle (the time between shedding of the telogen hair and the onset of the next anagen). Hair follicles also become miniaturized.

Clinical trials of topical minoxidil in male and female hair loss show an increase in hair growth, measured by hair counts or hair weight. The increase is evident within 6-8 weeks of starting treatment and has generally peaked by 12-16 weeks. It seems improbable that a response of this rapidity can be accounted for by reversal of hair follicle miniaturisation, and a more likely explanation is that minoxidil triggers follicles in the latent part of telogen into anagen.

Minoxidil Metabolism
The conversion of minoxidil to minoxidil sulphate is catalysed by sulphotransferase enzymes. In a clinical setting, scalp sulphotransferase activity was higher in men who responded to minoxidil compared with those who did not respond.

Does Minoxidil Act on Hair Growth Via Potassium Channels?
Minoxidil sulphate is one of several chemically unrelated drugs which cause opening of Plasma membrane adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels – known as “KATP channels”, and its relaxing effect on blood vessel muscle is via this mechanism.

Evidence suggests that the promotion of hair growth by minoxidil is related in some way to its action as a potassium channel opener.

The Cellular Response to Minoxidil
Whatever the mechanism whereby minoxidil modulates hair growth, it has been concluded that there must be a primary effect on cell function. The hair follicle is a complex structure comprising epithelial, dermal, pigment and immune cells, and a perifollicular vasculature and neural network and research in this area has no far been inconclusive.

Vascular (Blood Vessel) Effects
The idea that minoxidil stimulates hair growth by increasing cutaneous blood flow has been the subject of two studies giving contradictory results. One study looked at the effect of topical minoxidil on blood flow in balding scalp and they saw an increase in skin blood flow following application of minoxidil with the 5% solution.

The other study failed to find any change in skin blood flow following application of 3% minoxidil topical solution to the scalp in 10 balding men. The difference in results may have been due to the higher concentration of minoxidil used in the first study although, as although 3% minoxidil topical solution is clinically effective.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
VEGF has a central role in promoting production of blood vessels as well as influencing diverse cell functions including cell survival and proliferation. Research has found that capillary (tiny blood vessels) proliferation during anagen was temporally and spatially associated with expression of VEGF in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. Overexpression of VEGF in the outer root sheath increased the tiny blood vessels and led to accelerated hair growth following depilation and the growth of larger hairs.

Conclusions
The emergence of topical minoxidil for the treatment of male pattern baldness in the early 1980s led to the realisation that hair loss is potentially treatable and brought in a new era in hair research.

Studies show that topical minoxidil shortens the telogen (resting phase of the hair growth cycle), causing premature entry of resting hair follicles into anagen (the growth phase), and it probably has a similar action in humans.

Minoxidil may also cause an extension of the anagen phase which increases hair follicle size.

Minoxidil tablets lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessel walls through the action of its metabolite, minoxidil sulphate. Evidence exists that the stimulatory effect of minoxidil on hair growth is due to the opening of potassium channels by minoxidil sulphate, but this idea has been difficult to prove and to date there has been no clear evidence that Potassium channels are expressed in the hair follicle.
(With thanks to www.medscape.com for the original article).

Basically, scientists have a good idea of the possible channels or combination of channels which are involved in minoxidil helping hair loss, but no one pathway seems to be involved and the overall network of mechanisms by which minoxidil works has yet to be unravelled.

In the meantime, Minoxidil does work well for some men (like all treatments it works better in some than in others) and can be used with ProFusion shampoo and conditioner.

With thanks to www.3dchem.com and www.regaine.co.uk for the images.

ProFusion Shampoo and Conditioner - Testimonials and Results

At Pro Hair Biosystems we are always keen to point out that there is a whole range of products on the market for hair loss and the best product for hair loss, is the one that works best for you. You might even decide to use a combination of products.

This is the same principle when doctor's prescribe medicines, if there was one perfect tablet for blood pressure then no-one would prescribe the others.

So how do you, as a potential customer, judge the likely success of a product?

One way is looking at the number of repeat orders. If clients reorder products, then this must be because they are finding sufficient benefit to continue the treatment.

In June 2010
50% of all of our orders for ProFusion shampoo and conditioner were from repeat customers, and
50% from completely new customers.
(as at 28th June 2010)

We believe this indicates a good level of confidence in these products.

Some of our customers have also written ProFusion testimonials, which are available on our website.

Pro Hair Biosystems also offers a money back guarantee, further details of which are on the Pro Hair Biosystems website

Gene Identified Controlling Hair Growth

(reproduced with thanks to Science Daily*)

Hair is important for temperature regulation, physical protection, sensory activity, seasonal camouflage, and social interactions. Hair is formed in hair follicles, which are complex mini-organs in the skin that are specialized for this purpose. All hair follicles are formed during fetal development, then new hair is generated in the hair follicle by continually undergoing phases of recession, rest, and growth throughout life. The length of the hair is determined by the duration of the growth phase; for example, the growth phase for scalp hair can proceed for a number of years, while the growth phase for eyebrows last a few months.

After the growth phase, hair formation ceases, and the follicle recedes and enters a period of rest. After a period of rest, a new growth period starts, and the old hair is ejected and lost from the body. The reason for this complex regulation of hair growth is not understood, but it has been suggested that it makes it possible to adjust hair growth to the season.

In the present study Leif Carlsson's research team identifies the transcription factor Lhx2 as an important regulator of hair formation. The Lhx2 gene is active during the hair follicle's growth phase and is turned off during the resting period. The scientists have been able to show that Lhx2 is functionally involved in the formation of hair, as hair follicles in which Lhx2 has been inactivated cannot produce hair. Moreover, the activation of the Lhx2 gene in hair follicles has been shown to activate the growth phase and hence the formation of hair. Thus, Lhx2 is a gene that is important for the regulation of hair growth.

In stark contrast to previously published research findings from other teams of scientists, Leif Carlsson ( Umeå University, Sweden) and his colleagues found that Gene Lhx2 is primarily expressed outside the so-called bulge region of the hair follicle, where the follicle's stem cells are found. The researchers have also shown that Lhx2 is necessary for the hair follicle's growth (anagen) phase to proceed and for the hair follicle's structuring. Moreover, transgenic expression of Lhx2 after birth is sufficient to activate the growth phase and stimulate hair growth.

These findings allow for an alternative interpretation of the function of Lhx2 in hair follicles compared with previous results and is a factor that is necessary for hair to be formed and to grow.

Admittedly this does not immediately provide a solution to hair loss, but the greater understanding of the overall genetics of hair growth, inevitably leads to a much greater understanding of hair loss and possible treatments or preventative treatments.

*With thanks to ScienceDaily. Article retrieved June 25, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/04/100415085317.htm

Ten James Bond Facts

The theme of James Bond seems to reoccur quite a lot in these blog entries, mainly because Sean Connery started experiencing hair loss very early in his career and wore a hairpiece in most of the 007 movies, which he stopped wearing in his later movies and lost none of his charm or magnetism.

Just for fun, here are some interesting facts on Sean Connery and the other James Bond actors and movies.

1. Sean Connery's contract allowed him to keep most much of the wardrobe he wore in the Bond movies.

He ended up with
147 suites
23 Tuxedos
17 Overcoats
11 Jackets
41 Hats
and 68 pair of shoes
all of which he wore when playing 007

2. Author Ian Fleming believed that his swashbuckling spy character needed a dull name.
The name "James Bond" was chosen from a favourite book, a 1936 Birdwatchers Guide by American Ornithologist "James Bond"
Pierce Brosnan is seen reading a copy of the book in the movie, Die Another Day

3. All of Roger Moore's contracts as Bond included a right to an unlimited supply of Monte Cristo cigars.

4. The highest actual number of tickets sold for a Bond movie was for 1965 film, Thunderball. The second highest was Goldfinger in the previous year.

5. From Russia with Love became the second Bond novel to be made into a movie after JFK listed it as one of his favourites. Sadly the movie version was the last film that JFK ever saw. It was screened at the White House on 20th November 1963, two days before his untimely demise.

In America, its commercial release was delayed for 5 months as a result of his assassination and didn't get released until April 1964.

6. Halle Berry, who was in Die Another Day, is the only actress to have won an Oscar before playing a Bond Girl. Kim Basinger who was in "Never Say Never Again" won hers years later for LA Confidential.

7. At 5' 11" Daniel Craig is the shortest ever 007

8. In his novels, Bond sleeps with an estimated 13 women, in the movies he sleeps with 64 (and counting)

9. In 1964 Body Painting was virtually unheard of outside of psychedelic art circles

In Goldfinger, when Bond claimed that Jill Masterson (played by Shirley Eaton) died from skin suffocation after being painted gold by baddie Auric Goldfinger, audiences believed him. For years later, rumour persisted that Eaton herself had actually expired during the filming.

10. The highest Chart positions of James Bond Theme Songs

No. 2 A View to a Kill (Duran Duran)
No.3 Die Another Day (Madonna)
No. 7 Nobody Does it Better (Carly Simon)
No. 8 For Your Eyes Only (Sheena Easton)
No.9 Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings)
No. 21 Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey) - Wouldn't you have expected that to have been higher?