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A 47 year old caucasian male seeking  mens hair loss treatment presented with a receded hairline and thinning hair. He had been noticing hairloss for over five years and was tired of waiting to do something about it. He advised of excessive fallout and complained about being able to see through to his scalp in front of the mirror. He went on to say it wasn’t just about appearance, but also was affecting his confidence. He had no pre-existing medical conditions, however had a family history of male pattern baldness.

A scalp exam revealed thinning hair from his hairline to the back of his crown, the most excessive area being in the frontal region. The client commenced mens hair loss treatment including the medical RealGROWTH^® Program, where he was prescribed the unique RealGrowth formula in combination with tablets and laser treatments. Regular checkups were scheduled. He also had a moneyback guarantee included.

Within four months, the client had his second set of photos taken. He noted he had seen an “amazing” change and was looking forward to seeing his photos. Once taken, the photos confirmed that the client had experienced a big increase in density. Client stated he was very happy with his mens hair loss treatment. He also noted that he wished he had come in even earlier.

He is currently on Ashley and Martin’s “maintenance” program, a simple preventative treatment to maintain his new hair.

Propolis is a mixture made from various tree buds, sap flows and botanical sources from honey bees. Used by bees as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the beehive, Propolis has been tried for medicinal purposes dating back to 350 B.C – the Greeks for abscesses; Assyrians for healing wounds and tumours; and Egyptians have used Propolis for mummification. Even now, it still has many uses for medicinal purposes – including when treating hair loss.

How it was discovered

It was a study first conducted in Japan that found the properties in Propolis could be used to aid hair growth and treat hair loss effectively. In 2014, scientists from Hokkaido University in Japan led by Dr. Ken Kobayashi tested the sealant on mice. Results then concluded those mice that were given Propolis grew back their fur faster than those that did not receive the application. The scientists also noticed that after the treatment of Propolis on the mice, “the number of special cells involved in the process of growing hair increased”.

How Propolis works in treating hair loss

As observed by the scientists, growth occurred without any detectable abnormalities in the shape of the follicles. Propolis works in treating hair loss through stimulating growth by inducing hair keratinocyte proliferation. The application increased the keratinocyte production and migration into the hair shaft – Keratinocytes are cells that are a major component in hair shaft and follicle production. Propolis also includes anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used to combat the inflammatory component that is linked to hair loss.

Questions of Efficacy

The research and experimental process of Propolis is fairly new. Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos, a board certified dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology has spoken about her doubts on the mixture, stating it might not do as much as the experiment results show. “The reason people start to go bald is because…the testosterone that is released in puberty shuts down some of the hair follicles on the top of the scalp,” she told Fox News. “It has nothing to do with the inflammatory properties. Though inflammation does cause hair loss in some cases, they only occur in specific medical conditions and are not common. Those conditions are diseases like alopecia areata. Dr. Draelos also commented that the most effective thing to treat pattern hair loss right now is not Propolis but other supplements.

Whether or not Propolis is effective against conditions induced by inflammation remains to be seen once scientists carry out more research – Dr Kobayashi and his team are currently in the process of studying the effect of Propolis on human hair follicles in vitro. However, he does have hopes that Propolis can eventually be placed as a topical treatment alongside minoxidil, the main ingredient used in hair growth medication, stating that a combination of both products may prove to be very effective.

Ashley and Martin currently do not advocate the use of Propolis, however our doctors constantly stay in touch and monitor the latest research and developments in hair loss treatment.

Anyone who’s ever experience an Aussie summer knows that something funny seems to happen to just about everyone in those months. Our heads fill up with the beach, with mangos, with cricket and, generally, getting outdoors. It’s only a matter of weeks until summer arrives, and the warmer weather is already here, promising a scorching few months.

Taking care of yourself in this time is important, and that includes protecting your hair. In this blog, we’re run through both styling tips for the summertime, as well as how you can protect yourself, and guard against hair loss.

Styling: Go Short

When it comes to styling in the warmer months, most men favour shorter haircuts, and for good reason! Longer hair can leave you feeling a little overheated on days when the mercury rises, but a shorter cut makes it easier to cool off. Shorter hair also means a more ‘hands off’ approach to styling, which has a few nice benefits:

1. You don’t need to spend much time styling hair
2. Styles won’t flag in the heat
3. Wet hair, emerging from the beach or pool, still looks great

For anyone dealing with thinning hair, a shorter style is great. The shortness of hair reduces the look of thinning, so the impact doesn’t seem so severe.

Protect Your Scalp

The well-worn message of slip-slop-slap is one that has been drummed into most people during the summertime, which is a good thing. When you’re out and about this summer, be sure to apply sunscreen to all exposed skin. For anyone already experiencing, this will include parts of the head.

Don’t forget the ‘slap’ part of the mantra, either – that’s ‘slap’ on a hat, to protect skin from the sun. This also protects your hair; like any part of the body, too much sun exposure is not recommended. Keeping your scalp and hair protected is essential, especially if you’re pursuing a hair loss treatment!

Keep up the Routine

Shampooing and conditioning hair remains important in the summertime, due to a number of factors. First, there’s the issue of sweat, and the fact that you’re probably sweating a lot more than usual in the heat, including on your scalp. Regular washing of hair will clean this away, and leave your scalp refreshed.

Then, there are the activities most people will be participating in throughout the months: swimming. Pool chemicals and saltwater both have a habit of remaining in the hair, making it feel less than its best. Shampoo and conditioner will help keep hair in the best shape possible, which doesn’t include the feel or smell of chlorine!

Visit our Blog for more interesting articles on Hair Loss related issues.