What does the promise of hair regrowth mean to a male or female with pattern baldness, thinning hair and/or Alopecia? The answer is simple restored confidence and self-esteem issues start to fade. Hope is defined as a likelihood of success; a chance that something desirable will happen or be possible.
The effects of hair loss on self-image and esteem have been well documented. In one study, significantly diminished quality of life among adult men and women with various forms of hair loss was significantly correlated with symptoms of clinical depression.(2)
As a CIT Pen provider, you can give these clients an opportunity to regrow their hair. In many cases significant regrowth can be achieved. Seeing the glimmer of grateful hope in your clients’ eyes may be the utmost reason of why you are so passionate about this industry. It feels good to help ones well-being and make others feels good. On the other hand as a practicing CIT provider disappointment and the time it takes to treat these clients’ is the far opposite on the spectrum; and the feelings you want to be farthest from. That is why it is so important to be a realist and honest with your clients’.
Catherine Pulsifer says "To be without hope is like being without goals, what are you working towards?" In one breath I can agree with that statement and in another I think it may be best to have no expectations than to have the possibility of shattered hopes.
With that being said, I’m sure you are beginning to understand that this treatment can go either way. You can use the same protocol on two different people. It can be extremely successful for one and completely ineffective for another.
Working in proper protocol is all you can do mechanically. The rest of the results depend on your client’s upkeep with in-between treatment care. Encouraging and checking up on your client to make sure they stay on the path to hair regrowth with the recommended internal and topical supplements will aid the journey.
On your behalf for your reading pleasure, throughout this article we will refer to Collagen Induction Therapy/ Micro-Needling as “CIT”.
CIT is effective in hair regrowth the same way it is effective for skin rejuvenation, by the stimulation of stem cells while promoting activation of growth factors.
Blind studies have proven CIT to be far more effective when combined with the only FDA approved topical treatments for hair regrowth, Finasteride and Minoxidil.(1). That being said, I have personally seen and experienced great results with the natural alternative of hair growth promoting shampoo and conditioner made by the brand, Surface. Licensed Estheticians can purchase it for client's at Salon Centric or CosmoProf wholesale beauty supplies stores.
To be effective the needle cartridge depth must not exceed 1.5mm in order to reach the growth-associated regions of the follicles without damaging the follicle. I have personally seen best results when using the 12-tipped needle cartridge using the AnteAge hair regrowth specific Micro-Needling solution.
Giving all of the necessary support for hair follicles to have a fighting chance at regrowth is vital. This is why nutritional supplements are also recommended. Oral supplements containing natural ingredients including marine-derived protein (shark cartilage) and fish oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) significantly reduced hair loss in women; however, it did not promote hair growth. Other natural products, such as Biotin and Zinc, have also been advocated for the treatment of hair loss. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin and an essential coenzyme for several important enzymes. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that is responsible for the normal functioning of hundreds of enzymes. The use of these agents for hair loss is based on the observation that Alopecia is one of many consequences associated with Biotin and Zinc deficiencies.(3) Find pharmaceutical lab-grade Biotin supplements at Herbal Skin Solutions.
With the above information you have the best course of treatment. By combining proper topical and internal active ingredients that can be paired with CIT can aid in helping your clients achieve real visible results. Treatment duration is also a key in fitting the pieces of the puzzle together correctly. If done too often, Collagen and Elastin can be broken down, damaging the hair follicle and ending all chances of hair regrowth. If timed properly, 3 - 4 weeks apart, hair regrowth can be seen as early as 3 months!
With that being said, I have given heathy clients with thinning hair fantastic results. Do you see what I did there? I underlined healthy because it is the optimal cell function makes the world of difference in CIT. A normal and healthy cell function starts with diet. That means alkaline foods and water. Alkaline water to neutralize acidity in the bloodstream. Leafy greens rich in water and fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C aid cell function and promote repair. Half the client’s body weight in ounces of water each day is key to cellular renewal. Active clients receiving this treatment needs to be educated and committed to this every day. I don’t want to give anyone unrealistic expectations. That is why in my consultations, I will only give hope to healthy clients that are willing to commit to the full treatment protocol plan listed above. Reality check, this is not an overnight and or one treatment possibility. If you, (the CIT Pen provider) and the client can make the commitment for the proper treatment plan, you will most likely have a successful outcome. This treatment does take time. It may take 8-12 months before hair growth goals can be seen by you and most importantly your client. It is important to document treatments with proper charting and photos with each session in order for progress to be seen and tracked. This also helps your client to truly see that results are being achieved. There is hope! Remember you are dealing with clients’ that have been self-conscious and even depressed so keeping them uplifted during your combined treatment plan will be appreciated.
(1) Dhurat, Rachita, MS Sukesh, Ganesh Avhad, Ameet Dandale, Anjali Pal, and Poonam Pund. "A Randomized Evaluator Blinded Study of Effect of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study." International Journal of Trichology. Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.
(2) Williamson D, Gonzalez M, Finlay AY. The effect of hair loss on quality of life. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Web. 22 Apr.2017
(3) Glynis, Ablon. "A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of an Oral Supplement in Women with Self-perceived Thinning Hair." The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Matrix Medical Communications, Nov. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.