The FINANCIAL — Hair loss, split ends and hair breakage are the most common problems that people in Georgia encounter with their hair. Doctors say that none of these problems are curable by using any shampoos, hair masks or hair lotions.
The FINANCIAL — Hair loss, split ends and hair breakage are the most common problems that people in Georgia encounter with their hair. Doctors say that none of these problems are curable by using any shampoos, hair masks or hair lotions. The promising slogans on hair care products are just a marketing trick for selling these products successfully, doctors warn.
“No shampoo, hair mask or lotion is effective when a patient has hair loss or other similar problem,” said Akaki Tsilosani, Doctor, Director of the Clinic Talizi. “These products do not hurt the hair but do not cure it either. It is also impossible to accelerate hair growth, so do not let the producers of different hair care products fool you. This is the same as a patient trying to cure cancer by taking vitamins instead of undergoing chemotherapy,” said Tsilosani.
Despite this however, tons of hair care products are being imported in Georgia every year. This year about two tons of shampoo were imported, to a value of USD 7.4 million, according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia. This data has remained almost the same for the last five years. 45.8 tons of hair spray were imported in 2012, while 52.5 tons were imported in 2011 and 62.2 tons – in 2010. The average value of imported hairsprays for the last five years consists of USD 350,000. 1.2 tons of hair lotions and other products were imported this year consisting of USD 8.5 million.
As for the top companies whose products sell the best in Georgia, here are the following LTDs: Diplomat Georgia, Sarm Trading, Labote, Oriflame Georgia, PSP Pharma, Global trade, Kalina Georgia, Avon Cosmetics Georgia, GPC, Alisance-Georgia, Sps Sarm-trading.
Baldness treatment is a USD 1 billion per year industry in the United States. Past the early 20s, the incidence of balding or pattern hair loss in males is roughly equivalent to chronological age. Thus, by age 50, roughly half of men experience male pattern baldness (MPB).
Genetics and testosterone are the main reasons for hair loss, doctors say. They explain that in such a situation, it is better to transplant new hair then try to cure existing hair, because this is a disease that is impossible to be treated.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only two medications for the treatment of male pattern baldness; these are minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Both agents are recommended as first-line treatment for male pattern baldness. They may also be used simultaneously when hair loss is progressive or further regrowth is desired after twelve months. Both medicines have side effects including allergy, unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body, sexual dysfunction.
“Internal problems reflect on one’s hair. So before starting to cure the hair it is better to explore the internal problems and cure them,” said Mari Sinauridze, Doctor, Derma-Cosmetologist at Hairline International clinic. “There is no result from shampoos and other hair care products. They are just used for hygiene and cleanliness. Plasma Lifting is one of the newest ways to cure damaged hair roots. In this case we take the patient’s blood, add the needed elements and inject it in to the hair roots. To make the hair healthier laser combs are also very useful. Brushing the hair with laser combs is good for blood circulation. The prices of this comb start from GEL 800 and are available at pharmacies in Georgia. Folk medicine treatments are widely unsuccessful as well,” she added.
“More than 95 percent of men have androgenetic alopecia, which is the most frequent reason for hair loss. This means when a man is genetically predisposed to baldness, but hair loss begins when the male hormone testosterone reaches a certain level in the blood. Other reasons are skin diseases, infectious diseases, stress and vitamin A deficiency. In such cases, when hair loss is not caused by genetic reasons, the lost hair will recover. Stopping or preventing genetic hair loss is largely impossible,” said Tsilosani.
“If the cause of the hair loss is androgenetic alopecia then it is incurable and a patient should try hair implants. If there is another reason, hair care products can still not cure hair loss. The patient should first find out the reason for the hair loss, cure that problem, and then the hair will recover by itself. Also, sometimes environmental factors such as bright sun in the summer and freezing cold in the winter can damage the hair. Again, no hair care products can actually cure unhealthy or damaged hair. When the negative environmental factors are over, then the hair will return to its natural state of healthiness,” he added.
“Besides genetic reasons, hair loss may be caused by hormonal imbalance and lack of zinc, manganese or selenium,” said Lela Pateishvili, hair transplant surgeon at Hairline International clinic. “Hair loss caused by endocrinological problems is frequent in women. Nowadays hair transplantation is considered as ‘must’ operation for combating baldness. Whereas people were shy before and would hide that they had had hair implants, nowadays it is the contrary. Whereas some time ago advertisements were bringing patients to the clinics, today patients are following their friends’ advice. Most patients use the micro grafting method in hair transplantation,” she added.
Hair loss generally starts from the age of eighteen. Hair transplantation is possible at every age. Mostly people from the age group 25-40 undergo hair transplants. Georgian hair transplanting clinics are visited by foreigners as well. Doctors say that if a man is not bald by the age of 30-35 then he will not go bald when he is older either; he will maintain the hair condition he has at that age. 800-10,000 grafts are transplanted in one operation. On average four operations are conducted per day in Georgian hair transplanting clinics. One operation lasts about three to four hours. Leasing is available for hair transplantation but insurance companies do not cover this service.
Discussion about this post