“I wish someone had told me this earlier.”
One of the most common comments we hear from patients with alopecia is that they wish they had known about our approach years ago. Many have been told there is little or nothing that can be done. While that may be true in some situations, many patients still have healthy or partially functioning hair follicles that can respond to the right treatment approach. The key is determining whether viable hair follicles are still present.
Understanding Alopecia
Alopecia simply means hair loss. It is not one disease. There are several different causes, each with different treatment considerations. The two forms we most commonly see include:
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. The follicles often remain alive, but they become inactive and stop producing hair. When viable follicles are still present, many patients have the potential for regrowth.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)
CCCA is a condition that usually begins at the crown of the scalp and slowly spreads outward. Some areas may eventually develop scar tissue where hair follicles have been permanently destroyed.
However, an important fact that surprises many patients is this:
Most of the Thinning Area Is Often Not Completely Scarred
Although scar tissue cannot produce new hair because the follicles have been destroyed, much of the surrounding area frequently still contains viable follicles. Those follicles may still have the potential to produce hair.
Why This Matters
Many people assume that if they have any scar tissue, nothing can be done. That simply isn’t true.
While hair cannot grow from areas where follicles have been permanently replaced by scar tissue, those scarred areas often represent only a relatively small portion of the total thinning region.
If healthy follicles remain around the scarred areas and begin producing thicker, healthier hair, that new growth can often blend with the surrounding hair and significantly improve the overall appearance.
This is why every patient deserves a thorough scalp evaluation rather than assuming treatment is impossible.
The Hair Follicle: Three Conditions
1. Healthy Hair Follicle
- The follicle is active and producing healthy hair.
- Blood supply is strong.
- This is the goal: healthy, growing hair.
2. Dormant (Inactive) Hair Follicle
- The follicle is still present but inactive.
- Hair is thin or not growing.
- With the right stimulation, it may become active again.
3. Scar Tissue (No Follicle)
- The follicle has been destroyed and replaced by scar tissue.
- Hair cannot grow in this area.
- Scar tissue is the only area where hair cannot return.
Our Comprehensive Approach
At Regen Therapeutics, we do not rely on just one treatment. Instead, we combine several therapies designed to create the healthiest possible environment for hair follicles.
Our protocol may include:
- Multiple treatments using amniotic mesenchymal stem cells
- Exosome therapy to support cellular communication and healing
- Natural DHT blockers when appropriate
- Vitamin D supplementation when indicated
- Zinc supplementation when appropriate
- Omega-3 fish oil to support overall scalp health
- 650-nanometer red light therapy to stimulate hair follicles
- Individualized recommendations based on each patient’s scalp condition
For many alopecia patients, we typically recommend a minimum of three stem cell treatments, although some patients may benefit from additional sessions depending on their condition.
There Is Hope
Perhaps the biggest misconception about alopecia is that once hair loss begins, nothing can be done. In reality, many patients still have living hair follicles that simply need the proper environment and stimulation to begin producing healthier hair. If viable follicles remain, treatment may help improve hair density and overall scalp coverage.
Don’t assume your hair cannot be helped until you’ve had your scalp properly evaluated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical Director: Keith Kantor, PhD, ND, Trichologist