Posts Tagged: Autoimmune Disease

Hair Cloning Shows Promise in New Stem Cell Study

July 15th, 2009

Alopecia areata is an auto-immune disease that causes hair loss that ranges from small circular areas on the scalp to extensive or even total baldness. A new study, using hair cloning therapy to regrow hair, shows promise for all individuals with this condition.

The study, conducted by Marwa Fawzi, a dermatologist at the University of Cairo, used stem cells from the scalps of eight children with alopecia areata to regenerate their own hair. The Cairo researcher took small amounts of skin from the scalps of the children, isolated the hair follicle stem cells that stimulate hair production, and grew them in the lab, increasing the number of cells. After one month, she put the cells back into the scalps of the children, with numerous injections across the bald areas of their heads.

Six months after the hair cloning treatment, an evaluation showed a 50% increase in hair in more than half of the subjects. The stem cells had stimulated the follicles to transition from a dormant phase to a hair-generating phase.

Read the full article in the Hair Cloning News section of the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 3:32 pm

Can One Have Hair Transplant to Cover Single Bald Patch?

December 16th, 2008

Q: I just started to lose my hair but it’s just in one spot, like a circle on the left side of my head. Do you ever do a hair transplant just into a bald spot and not the whole head?

A: It is possible to have a hair restoration procedure into a single bald spot. However, it would be most beneficial to first determine the cause of the condition.

Bald spots caused by alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease) are best treated with injections of steroids into the scalp, rather than with a hair transplant. In fact, the transplanted hair can be rejected in patients with this condition.

Traumatic scars (i.e. from an accident) can be treated with follicular unit hair transplantation as the hair grows quite well in scar tissue, as long as the scar in scar tissue, as long as the scar is not thickened (hypertrophic).


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 6:54 am

Can Hair Transplant Correct Hair Loss from Autoimmune Disease Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)?

August 25th, 2005

Q: I have a bald patch on my scalp diagnosed as DLE, can this be corrected with a hair transplant?

A: DLE or discoid lupus erythematosus is a type of autoimmune disease where the body produces an inflammatory reaction to components of the skin, causing it to scar and lose hair.

The skin in the area of hair loss generally has a smooth appearance with tiny empty hair follicles, redness, and altered pigmentation. These skin changes help to differentiate it from the more common condition alopecia areata where the underlying skin appears normal.

The diagnosis of DLE can be confirmed by biopsy. Because DLE may exhibit a property called Koebnerization, where direct trauma can make the lesions enlarge, surgical hair restoration risks making the condition worse and is, therefore, not indicated.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 10:48 am

Can Hair Transplant Repair Bald Areas Caused by Alopecia Areata?

May 6th, 2005

Q: Can a hair transplant into bald areas caused by alopecia areata ever be successful?

A: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. It generally appears as round patches of smooth bald areas scattered in the scalp or beard. Less commonly, it can involve the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) or all facial and body hair (alopecia universalis). Unless the condition is well localized and totally stable, hair transplantation is not likely to be effective because the transplanted hair would be subject to the same problem.

We prefer that one have no new lesions for a minimum of two years before considering surgical hair restoration, although this does not insure that the procedure will be successful.

You may find more information on this relatively common condition at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. For more information, visit these websites: www.alopeciaareata.com or www.naaf.org.


Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:38 pm






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