Protect, Promote, and Prevent

Health/Wellness

Jun 14

By: Dr. Jennifer Armstrong

We all know someone who has experienced hair loss, but the amount of people suffering from hair loss is much greater than most realize.

In my Newport Beach, CA practice, I have treated hair loss for almost a decade. My interest began with a personal journey experiencing my own hair loss. This devastating event fueled my interest to rapidly perfect hair growth. I researched why other treatments did not work or if they worked but were not sustainable. Traditionally, the hair follicle cycle is divided into three main stages: anagen (active hair growth), catagen (cessation of hair growth), and telogen (follicular rest). Tapping into my degree in Eastern Medicine as well as my MD degree, I quickly realized hair GROWTH products could grow hair but did not address that hair was falling out. Other products and medications would prevent the loss of hair yet came with life-altering side effects. Topical shampoos and foams would be a messy way to grow hair but would make existing hair brittle and dry, causing it to break off. Thinking through the physiology of the hair growth cycle and the products available, I devised My three "P" systems that synchronized all the issues and developed a formula to address each. The three "P's" are Protect, Promote, and Prevent. Protect the hair you have, Promote new growth, and Prevent hair loss. Each ingredient of my formulation falls into one of these categories: to grow and keep the hair that you have with minimal to no systemic (internal) side effects.

Preventing Hair loss

Inflammation:

Male and female pattern hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss affecting nearly 80 million people in the US. 40% of the tissue specimens biopsied suggest a relationship between inflammation and male and female pattern baldness.
Betamethasone is a topical steroid to decrease inflammation of the hair follicle.
Azelaic Acid is an anti-inflammatory and may act as a potent 5α-reductase inhibitor.

Blocking DHT:

Azelaic Acid also reduces hair loss by blocking testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes hair loss. This conversion is done by the enzyme 5α-reductase. By blocking 5α-reductase, you block the conversion of testosterone to DHT and can have testosterone but not convert to DHT, preventing hair from falling out. You can keep your hair!
Finasteride is an oral medication that works the same way to block DHT, but when taken orally can cause impotency. I make this drug as a topical solution, only working on the hair follicle and not affecting the body systemically.
Progesterone is the third potent DHT blocker; progesterone blocks 5α-reductase, preventing DHT at the follicle level and not affecting the internal body.

Protecting the Hair You Have:

Hair serum seals and protects the hair preventing brittleness and breakage.
Retinoic Acid can reduce hair loss, helping to decongest hair follicles and improve the absorption of other ingredients to boost hair growth. Using retinol on the scalp can help maintain a healthy scalp which helps prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.

Promoting New Hair Growth:

Retinol can also help prolong the hair cycle's growth stage (the anagen phase) when combined with Minoxidil.
Minoxidil directly stimulates the hair follicles, mainly dormant hair follicles. Minoxidil is an epidermal growth factor that delays aging by prolonging the active hair growth phase (the anagen phase). My formulation contains 8% minoxidil which is prescription strength and cannot be found over the counter in stores.
Latanoprost, brand name Latisse, acts by stimulating the anagen phase, increasing the conversion of soft hair into thicker hair. What does that mean? It takes peach fuzz hair and grows it into thick, coarse hair that grows on your scalp and makes up your eyelashes and eyebrows.

Despite the hair growth business's enormity, treatment options, and results still need to be improved. The combination of a treatment void and my personal journey of hair loss inspired me to develop the three "P" systems: Protect the hair you have, Promote new growth, and Prevent hair loss. As you can see, each of my carefully picked ingredients falls into one of these categories. This unique formulation utilizes science and extensive knowledge of the physiology and pathophysiology of hair loss and hair growth. When we balance the two and keep the follicles in harmony, only then can we successfully grow and keep hair, and the end result, and happy patients.

My proprietary products include:

Hair Strengthening Shampoo
Eastern medicine blend of botanicals that promotes hair growth and hair strength.

Hair Growth Spray
A revolutionary combination of prescriptions that works to protect the hair you have, promote new growth, and prevent hair loss.