While losing some hair on a daily basis is normal, shedding more than 100 hairs per day is considered excessive and may indicate a serious problem. Contrary to popular belief, many people who suffer from excessive hair loss are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects every aspect of life — interpersonal relationships as well as professional ones (it is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of hair loss).

Male-pattern hair loss (Fig. 1), also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of balding, affecting roughly 40 million men in the US. Approximately 25 percent of men with male-pattern hair loss will begin to lose their hair by age 30, and up to 66 percent will begin balding by age 60. Male-pattern hair loss is closely linked to androgens — sex steroid hormones synthesized from cholesterol in the testes, ovaries and adrenal glands. The primary androgens — testosterone, pregnenolone, androstenedione and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) — normally regulate male and female sexual development and behavior by binding to receptors on target cells throughout the body.

Another androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), has been identified by researchers as a primary cause of male pattern baldness. DHT is synthesized from testosterone by the enzyme 5alpha-reductase. When DHT binds to receptors in the hair follicle, it causes the hair roots to shrink, or “miniaturize.” DHT has also been shown to shorten the amount of time hair spends in the growing (anagen) phase from as long as five years to as little as two months.

In 1998, researchers discovered that men genetically prone to male pattern baldness have significantly higher numbers of androgen receptors in the hair follicles located across the forehead and scalp — exactly those areas where hair loss first appears in androgenic alopecia. Additional research has shown that these androgen-sensitive follicles also have significantly higher levels of 5alpha-reductase (1.5 to 3 times higher) and DHT than hair follicles from other areas of the scalp.1

Over time, DHT’s miniaturizing effect can shrink large adult hairs, resulting in finer, vellus hairs only 10% as wide as normal and barely an inch long. This leads to the “peach fuzz” common to early stage balding. At this stage if the effects of DHT aren’t reversed or halted in time, the hair follicles will shrink down until they eventually vanish, resulting in complete baldness in the affected area.

Hair loss isn’t exclusively a male problem — approximately 50% of all women over the age of 50 experience a similar condition, referred to as female androgenic alopecia (Fig. 2). Symptoms in women are generally less severe than those experienced by men, appearing as an overall thinning of hairs across the top of the head, and the gradual loss of hairs down the center part-line of the scalp. The reason women experience milder symptoms is due to hormonal differences — women produce significantly lower amounts of testosterone than men (about 95% less on average). Women also produce lower levels — about 60 percent less than men — of the enzyme 5α-reductase that converts testosterone into DHT.

Additionally, women produce higher levels of another enzyme, aromatase (estrogen synthase), that converts testosterone into the female hormone, estradiol. While males also produce small amounts of aromatase, research has shown that aromatase levels in the frontal and rear scalp follicles in women are 4 to 6 times higher than in men, which is why women rarely lose hair in these areas.

Hair follicles are among the most active and fastest growing structures in the body. Human hairs are produced by follicles — specialized organs that cover the entire body, with the exception of the palms and soles of the feet. Follicles are composed of three major structures — the dermal papilla, hair matrix, and hair shaft. (Fig 3).

The dermal papilla, a pear-shaped structure located at the base of the hair follicle, is comprised of connective tissues and a capillary loop containing tiny blood vessels that provide the nutrients required for hair growth.

The papilla is surrounded by the “matrix” — a bulb-shaped collection of specialized epithelial cells that produce a protein, keratin, that actually forms the hair fiber. The matrix also contains melanocytes, specialized pigment cells that infuse the growing hair shaft with melanin, the compound that gives otherwise transparent hair its natural coloring.

Different types of melanin produce different colors — yellow, rust, brown, and black — that combine to produce a wide variety of hair colors, ranging from blond to brown to pitch-black. Red hair is the result of another type of coloring agent, the iron-containing pigment called trichosiderin.

Mature human hair growth occurs in three distinct phases — growth, transition and rest — that are collectively referred to as the hair cycle (Fig. 4).

1. Growth Phase (Anagen):

   Each hair cycle begins with a growth (anagen) phase. This is marked by rapid cell division in the hair matrix that builds up layers of keratin to form a single hair shaft that grows out from the follicle at a rate of up to one inch per month. This growth phase typically lasts two to six years. At any given time, about ninety percent of all scalp hairs are in the active growing phase.

2. Transitional Phase (Catagen):

   At the end of the anagen phase, hair growth ceases and the follicle enters the transition (or catagen) phase. During this phase hair matrix cells begin to die off as the follicle base and bulb begin to shrink. Over time, this shrinkage (miniaturization) pinches off the lower hair bulb, cutting off access to the blood vessels and circulation necessary for hair growth. At any given time, one to two percent of all hair follicles are in this transition phase, which usually lasts for between one to two weeks.

3. Resting Phase (Telogen):

   The final stage of the hair cycle is the resting (or telogen) phase. During this phase, the mature hairs reside in the follicle five to six weeks before falling out. Approximately 10 percent of all hairs are in this transition period at any time, accounting for the normal shedding of thirty and fifty hairs each day.

After shedding the hair shaft, the follicle begins a new cycle of hair growth, marked by the swelling of the dermal papilla and the formation of a new capillary loop. As blood vessels reattach to the papilla, they grow and expand four-fold to provide the hair matrix with the nutrients necessary for growing new hair.The entire process — growth, transition and rest — makes up one complete hair cycle. Each hair follicle is limited to the number of hair cycles that can be completed — estimated to between 20 and 25 cycles — before reverting to vellus hairs (peach fuzz) and eventually disappearing.

In humans, the hair growing (anagen) phase is at its longest — ranging up to 7 years — and the transition/resting phases are at their shortest — lasting only about 4 months — throughout youth and adolescence. As a result of the great amount of time devoted to supporting hair growth in adolescence, hair is at its healthiest and most attractive throughout this phase of life.

Beginning at around age 35, changes in hair cycles begin to affect the density and overall appearance of hair. With each successive cycle, the amount of time spent in the growing phase is reduced, resulting in shorter, thinner hairs. Additionally, the amount of time spent in the resting phase lengthens, extending the period between when a hair falls out and when a new one grows back. The result of these changes is a gradual reduction in overall hair density and appearance.

Changes in hair color also begin to appear at this time. As pigment-producing melanocytes gradually die out, hairs begin to lose their luster and color, slowly turning gray and eventually becoming totally white.

While gradual hair loss is a normal part of human aging, for many people excessive hair loss, or balding, is a significant source of anxiety. Based on several characteristics, hair loss can be roughly divided into two categories — temporary and permanent. Temporary hair loss, which is usually caused by excessive stress, poor diet, hormonal imbalance and endocrine dysfunction, can often be restored within six months to two years after eliminating the underlying cause(s). Permanent hair loss is caused by genetics and is considered irreversible.

An ideal solution for hair loss would be one that 1) promotes new hair growth while extending the anagen (growing) phase, 2) lengthens the catagen (transitional) phase, and 3) shortens the telogen (resting) phase.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), conditions such as hair loss are addressed by balancing both the “surface” and “root” levels of the problem. Now, after 10 years of intensive research, development, and clinical evaluation, a patented, all-natural herbal TCM supplement is available in the United States to aid in halting age-related hair loss while promoting healthy hair growth.* By promoting healthy circulation in the tiniest blood vessels (microcapillaries) that supply nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles, the formula supports thicker, healthier hair, improved skin tone and overall health and vitality.*

The earliest trials involved a group of patients diagnosed with Alopecia areata, or “spot areata.” In early stages, Alopecia areata causes clumps of hair to fall out with a gentle pull, leaving patients with one or more bare spots on the scalp. Alopecia areata occurs in young people at a rate of approximately 17 per 100,000 per year, and while the condition isn’t harmful, the psychological impact is problematic for young patients. Fortunately, the condition is generally temporary, and 80% of the patients eventually self-heal.

In addition to the form seen in younger people, a more pervasive form of Alopecia areata appears in women (and occasionally men) over the age of 35. Also characterized by extensive hair loss, the condition usually clears up within one to two years, but the psychological stress of going bald makes this condition a profitable area for treatments at hair loss centers.

The most common treatment for Alopecia areata involves monthly injections of corticosteroids, and twice-a-day external application of 5% minoxidil. Treatment generally requires 8-12 weeks before hair begins to regrow.

• AA Case 1:

  Mr. W. was a 50-year-old sales manager who had lost a large amount of hair in the occipital region. He came to the research center after being treated with steroid medications for one month. The steroids had not alleviated his alopecia areata, and the area of hair loss was continuing to spread. After one month of taking PriaPlex, Mr. W. reported significant improvement in his condition, and within two months all of his hair was restored.

• AA Case 2:

  C. was a 15-year-old student with several bald spots across the back of her head. By the time C. came to the center, she had already completed a month of conventional drug treatment without any improvement and was emotionally stressed from additional hair loss. After taking PriaPlex for one month, her hair loss stopped and new hair started to grow back. Within several months all of her hair was restored.

• AA Case 3:

  A family brought in a 10-year-old student who had begun to lose her hair. Her family had her treated by both Chinese and Western doctors, but there was no improvement and her hair loss was increasing. After 50 days of treatment with PriaPlex, her condition had improved significantly, with older bald spots filling in, and hair loss at newer spots significantly slowed.

Pleased with the results of the Alopecia areata trial, the lab next began testing subjects with male pattern baldness. The results revealed that almost all men with stage 3 or 4 hair loss reacted within six months, regrowing fine hairs on the top of the scalp that grew thicker and longer over time. Subjects with stage 4 to 5 hair loss were more likely to experience significant regrowth; however, improvements in stage 7 male-pattern baldness were only noticeable close up, with thinner hairs becoming thicker and longer, but with little change on the forehead.

The following images (Figures 5 – 8) document the results of four cases of male pattern baldness after treatment with PriaPlex.

Following the positive outcome of the male pattern baldness trials, the researchers began to test the new formula on several women diagnosed with Alopecia totalis, a condition that causes lymphocytes to attack hair follicles during the growth phase of the hair cycle. In extreme cases, Alopecia totalis can result in the total loss of hair on the head, face, eyebrows and eyelashes within six months. Full recovery is rare, and even with effective treatment, new hair growth in patients with alopecia totalis is often incomplete.

AT Case 1:

Ms. Y., 26-years-old, was diagnosed with Alopecia totalis in July, 2006. Early signs of hair loss were attributed to stress from work and school, but within two months all of the hair on her head, eyebrows included, had dropped out. Conventional treatment at two Western hospitals failed to address the problem, and by the time Ms. Y. entered the PriaPlex trial all that remained of her hair were a few black strands in the occipital region (Fig. 9).

After taking PriaPlex for six months, new hair began to appear (Fig. 10). After two years of treatment, Ms. Y. fully regrew her hair. (Fig. 11) Two years after the completion of her initial treatment, Ms. Y. reports that her hair is still full and strong, with good volume and no further loss.

AT Case 2:

Ms. L. had previously tried every other available treatment to reverse her hair loss, but all failed. She had been completely bald for eight years by the time she enrolled in the trial. After taking the formula for six months, there was no improvement in her condition and Ms. L. decided to discontinue treatment.

AT Case 3:

Ms. H., 28-years-old, experienced serious, unexplained hair loss in the summer of 2007, and within two months had lost all of her hair, including eyebrows (Fig. 12). Ms. H. began to experience new hair growth within one month of taking PriaPlex (Fig. 13). Significantly, Ms. H. reported that her previously white hair was growing back in her natural color, black (Fig. 14). The researchers expected that newly grown hair would not regain its original color for at least 2 or 3 full hair cycles, so her case was especially interesting. Ms. H. reached a near-full recovery in six months (Fig. 15).

Unfortunately, Ms. H. stopped taking PriaPlex after her initial treatment and experienced a relapse after six months

Note:

Each of these three cases had completely different results: the first successful, the second ineffective, and the third a relapse. Note that in the second case, researchers had previously predicted that newly grown hair would not regain its original color for at least 2 or 3 full hair cycles, so her case was especially interesting. From these three cases, the scientists concluded that the longer one waits before beginning treatment with PriaPlex, the greater the chances for permanent and unrecoverable damage to hair follicles. The scientists also concluded that early treatment at the first signs of hair loss improves the probability of total recovery. Additionally, treatments have to be continued until the underlying condition is eliminated to prevent a future recurrence of hair loss.

Modifying hair follicle growth cycles is a complicated and delicate matter. Current scientific research has managed to identify only a handful of the numerous growth factors and hormones believed to be involved in hair proliferation and growth. For example, Fibroblast Growth Factor 3 (FGF-3) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 (FGF-5) are both known to contribute to shifting follicles from hair growth to follicle degradation. Conversely, Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 (FGF-7) have been shown to support hair growth by lengthening the telogen (growth) phase of hair follicles. Additionally, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and Endothelial Cell Growth Factor (EGF) have also been shown to aid in extending hair growth period.

Currently these growth factors and hormones are useful for filtering hair growth regulators and interpreting their mechanism of action. However, given the gap between the basic research (in vitro) and clinical applications (oral), most current treatments are limited to topical hair growth products. Saw palmetto extract, for example, can inhibit 5α-reductase in vivo, but has no effect when taken orally, which is why it is commonly used in topical hair products. Adenosine, which has been shown to enhance FGF-7 levels in hair follicles, is another popular ingredient for topical hair tonics. Last but not least, numerous plant extracts are added to hair creams to block the effects of FGF-5. Nevertheless, these topical treatments are all restricted to addressing the “surface” issues involved in hair loss, instead of the “root” causes.

According to animal studies the formula was found to enhance levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Fig. 16) and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (Fig. 17) in hair follicles. PriaPlex was also shown to increase the number of active hair follicles (Fig. 18 while promoting faster growth and increased length of individual hairs (Fig. 19).

Coupled with the inclusion of botanical ingredients known to effectively enhance skin blood circulation, these findings suggest that PriaPlex’s mechanism of action is superior to that of currently available treatments. Human case studies indicate that PriaPlex can prevent hair loss in 85% of subjects within six weeks while promoting hair growth, improving skin texture, and boosting energy levels. Each of these effects were listed in the patent applications that were subsequently approved in both Taiwan and the United States. And because PriaPlex is comprised of essence herbs traditionally used to support healthy endocrine and hormone levels, the formula may also aid in supporting healthy cardiac function.

Numerous clinical cases have shown the US patented formula, if used uninterruptedly with sufficient amount, can stop abnormal hair loss within four to eight weeks. New hair generally begins to appear on the scalp in three to six months time. Additionally, original hair color is likely to emerge amongst white hairs six months later.

It turns out stress does turn hair gray, and now researchers know how.

Stress triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, which in turn causes pigment-producing cells that give hair its color to go into a frenzy and dwindle in number, researchers report online January 22 in Nature. As these pigment cells disappear, so does the color.

Gray hair has been linked to stress for centuries — think of U.S. presidents before and after holding office. But scientists didn’t understand how stress makes hair go gray.

“It was satisfying to question a popular assumption … [and] to identify the mechanisms that now open up new areas of work,” says Ya-Chieh Hsu, a stem cell biologist at Harvard University.

Hsu and her colleagues stressed mice by injecting them with a compound closely related to capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers. Within five days, the rodents’ hair turned white. After eliminating the immune system and the stress hormone cortisol as causes of the color change, the team discovered that part of the animals’ nervous system was depleting pigment cells from hair.

In hair follicles, cells called melanocyte stem cells color hair by converting into pigment-producing cells. The body can’t replenish the stem cells, so as these cells are used up, color vanishes. Sensory stress triggered a mouse’s sympathetic nervous system — which controls the body’s fight-or-flight response to stress — to release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, the team found. That compound over activates the reservoir of stem cells, setting off a flurry of conversion into pigment-producing cells. That, in turn, rapidly uses up the stem cells supply.

It’s unclear why stress makes hair gray — an event also typically tied to getting older. But the work raises questions about whether stress-related graying is the same as aging, and lays the foundation for exploring other ways that stress affects the body.

Researchers recently completed a six-month, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy of PriaPlex® for male pattern baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia, or AA). Researchers enrolled 40 patients (31 male, 9 female) diagnosed with male pattern baldness. At the end of six months, 32 patients had completed the full trial, and 8 had dropped out due to non-compliance issues (5 in the placebo group and 3 in the treatment group).

The study found that 9 of the 17 treatment subjects taking PriaPlex (52.9%) experienced significant hair growth, as measured by dermatoscopy and clinical photographs independently scored by dermatologists blind to the treatment conditions (Fig. 1). By comparison, only 2 of the 15 subjects (13%) receiving the placebo showed any signs of hair growth.

The primary goal of this short, six-month study was to determine the efficacy of the formula in the intention-to-treat population — i.e., men and women with androgenetic alopecia. The significance of these results, after only six-months of treatment, become especially apparent when compared to similar measurements after treatment with Finasteride for 1 year (44%), 2 years (61%) and 5 years (48%) of use (Fig. 2).

One of the most interesting outcomes of the study was that each of the subjects receiving PriaPlex reported that their previous abnormal hair loss halted during the trial. In other words, PriaPlex completely stopped age-related hair loss in 100% of the cases.

Summary:

By age 35, two-thirds of American men will have some degree of appreciable hair loss and by age 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. About 25% of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach 21. Contrary to societal belief, most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. And hair loss isn’t an exclusively male issue — approximately 50% of all women over the age of 50 experience a similar condition referred to as female androgenetic alopecia. In this short six-month trial, 100% of both male and female subjects taking PriaPlex for androgenetic alopecia experienced a total cessation of abnormal hair loss, and 53% experienced significant new hair growth. In addition to stopping the progression of age-related hair loss, PriaPlex was shown to support restoration of healthier, thicker hair in existing follicles. Additional studies are underway to determine a fuller clinical picture of longer periods of continuous use of PriaPlex.

Clinical Protocols

Patients between 20 to 45 years old of both sexes with androgenetic alopecia were enrolled in the clinical trial. Exclusion criteria included hormone imbalances, metabolic diseases, cancers, unknown etiology of alopecia, infection, irritation or pain in the scalp. The pilot study, lasting 6 months, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 40 patients. 20 patients in the treatment group received 6 caplets of PriaPlex® daily (3 grams), and 20 patients received placebo. Male patients were diagnosed with alopecia based on the Norwood-Hamilton scale, and female patients were diagnosed with alopecia based on the Ludwig scale. Dermatoscopy and clinical macrophotographs were recorded monthly and independently scored by three dermatologists blind to treatment condition. Each patient was monitored with full lab clinical tests to measure TSH, DHEAs, testosterone, estrogen, kidney and liver function tests, and complete blood count. Clinical endpoints include Norwood-Hamilton and Ludwig scale, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, self-reporting hair loss, and color of hair. Adverse events were also monitored (none reported). Chi-square test was 0.01 < 0.025 which showed statistical significant difference between the treatment and placebo group. Statistical data analysis includes use of student t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, along with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (K–S test) for the testing for normality of the distribution.

After years of study, PriaPlex was successfully released as a new food-based formulation for reducing shedding. In 2010, a patent for PriaPlex was approved in both the United States (Patent Number: U.S. 7,838,048 subject: Medical herb composition for inhibiting shedding of a mammal’s hair and method for preparing the same).

In addition to halting hair loss and increasing hair growth, the proprietary blend of nourishing herbs in PriaPlex have also been shown to support and benefit general health. Case studies have shown that those taking PriaPlex report experiencing increased levels of vitality and energy after 1 to 2 weeks, and improved skin tone and texture after 6 to 8 weeks.

Animal tests have also shown that the formula exerts anti-fatigue and liver-protective functions, and in vitro trials have identified significant antioxidant effects. Animal studies have also revealed significant anti-aging benefits.

Age-related hair loss is caused by two major factors: hereditary-pattern baldness and microcirculatory dysfunction from the lack of nutrition to the hair follicles. Many current medical solutions have serious side effects. In recent years, there have been studies that indicate certain food material herbs can alleviate shedding; however, the treatments rendered are limited to external use.

After 10 years of intensive research, development, and clinical evaluation, PriaPlex herbal hair support formula for men and women is now available. PriaPlex addresses hair health from the inside out by combining essence herbs traditionally used to reduce excessive hair loss with a unique blend of botanicals shown to help support circulation to nourish the skin and follicles.* The result is a unique, patented, all-natural herbal supplement for addressing age-related hair loss, promoting healthy hair growth and improving skin tone, energy and vitality.*

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.