Parting ways with traditional scalp treatment

A hair disorder or perceived deficiency can easily impact a person’s confidence or quality of life. The most common hair-related dermatology condition in the United States — and worldwide — is androgenetic alopecia. However, it can be frequently misdiagnosed or mistreated.

Addressing patients’ scalp and hair health has not always been prioritized in the cosmetic dermatology field like skin care has, said Suleima Arruda, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in São Paolo, Brazil, and clinical director of Sadick Research Group in New York City. Dr. Arruda has seen and treated all types of dermatologic diseases, but it’s only in the past several years that she’s witnessed cutting-edge advancements in the treatment of hair and scalp conditions. 

Glynis Ablon, MD, FAAD“I believe that hair care will experience the same type of surge and popularity that happened with skin care,” said Dr. Arruda. “I think we will be able to help even more of our hair loss patients with these exciting, novel treatments now and in the future with several still in development and trial phases.”

Root cause

When it comes down to it, said Dr. Arruda, many patients do not realize that healthy hair starts (and ends) with a healthy scalp. People with hair disorders often experience inflammation, which is a leading contributor to other symptoms such as itching, flaking, sensitivity, and hair shedding.

Treating scalp disorders with the novel procedure known as hydradermabrasion helps to stimulate blood flow, hydrate skin, and deeply cleanse a patient’s scalp.

“This device promotes a healthier microbiome, decreases inflammation, and helps topical medication to better penetrate the scalp,” Dr. Arruda said. “I see us moving from treating scalp disease and extending to cosmetic dermatology and aesthetics as well as educating our patients about hair care based on science and research.”

Applied learning

Dr. Arruda said it is critical that dermatologists continue to investigate, discover, and improve treatments for hair and scalp conditions. These opportunities will lead to new therapeutic techniques and applications with real-life implications for patients.

Before and after photos of a patient with hair loss. Patient received FoLix treatment.For example, dermatologists often prescribe low-dose oral minoxidil for patients with hair disorders, including hair loss. This therapy has produced positive results and gained traction in the consumer marketplace. Even more recently, FoLix — a 1565 nm wavelength device produced by Lumenis — became the first non-ablative fractional laser approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of natural hair growth.

Additionally, trials are underway to assess the benefits of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and exosomal therapy to help regenerate hair growth.

Before and after photos of a patient with scalp psoriasis tread. Patient received four hydradermabrasion treatments, one week apart.“We used to see mainly male patients with hair loss. However, in the last five to 10 years, we are seeing a lot of female patients. More recently, we are seeing a larger number of adolescents worried about hair loss,” Dr. Arruda said. “If we talk about the future of hair loss, I think there is a tendency to have this population in our offices. All drug-free treatments coming to the market (PRP, FoLix) can be very helpful to treat those patients. We are on the path to better understand the role of regenerative medicine in the hair field.”