Hair Loss

Excessive hair loss is defined as daily hair loss of more than 100 strands of hair. Dr Wong will need to diagnose accurately the type of hair loss during consultation before he can offer any treatment plan.

Other causes of Hair Loss

Medical problems like infections of the scalp, thyroid disorders, lupus disorder, lichen planus and iron deficiency can cause hair loss too. Some medications are also known to trigger hair loss.

    What is Alopecia Areata (balding patches)?

    In this disorder, your own immune system, while protecting your body against foreign elements such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks your own hair follicles and leads to patchy hair loss on the scalp. This can sometimes occur even on eyebrow, beard and other hair bearing areas.

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      A 7 year old child with alopecia areata

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      A female adult with severe alopecia areata

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      Alopecia totalis with loss of brow hair too

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      Regrowth with white hair

    What is Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss?

    Male and female pattern hair loss is the most common hair loss disorder in adult men and women respectively. They are gradually progressive and follow a recognizable pattern. In the male, there is usually receding hairline with baldness on the top of the scalp. In the female, the hair becomes thin and fine over the crown and with reduction of hair volume.

    What is Telogen Effluvium?

    There are 3 types of hairs on the scalp:

    • Anagen (growing hair)
    • Telogen (resting hair)
    • Catagen (dead hair)

    In Telogen Effluvium, there is acute shedding of resting hairs (telogen hair) typically occurring three months after a stressful trigger. Severe physical or mental stress like childbirth, high fever, severe illness, depression or divorce can trigger this type of hair loss. General stress does not cause this type of hair loss. Otherwise, no one in Singapore will have any hair left! Patients typically complain of excess shedding of hairs during washing, on brushes, and even on pillows and clothes.

    Treatment Options Available

    Topical treatment

    Involves applying medication to the balding patch to counter the hair loss. In some patients, significant regrowth and increase in hair thickness can happen, but it takes patience, discipline and commitment to see the result only after 1-2 years’ time. Some luckier one may even see improvement in 6 months.

    Oral treatment e.g. finasteride, anti-androgen

    An easier treatment for one to follow. It has better results than topical treatment because their effect is more potent.

    Injection treatment

    Often the first line of treatment for Alopecia Areata. Bio-stimulatory injection is also beginning to gain attention.

    Hair transplant

    A commonly accepted surgical solution to hair loss. Essentially, it is a reallocation or re-balancing of “your portfolio or asset”. It involves taking one’s own hair from the back of the scalp that is thought to be permanently hair bearing and transplant these hair grafts to the balding area. The procedure does not stop the underlying problem of ongoing hair loss and hence patients still need to be on concurrent topical and oral medication.

    Please note: we do not provide the hair transplant service at Assurance Skin. If you are interested in this procedure, please contact a dedicated hair transplant specialist.

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      Assurance Skin, Laser & Aesthetics

      Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
      #10-22/23, 38 Irrawaddy Road ,
      Singapore 329563

      Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 9.00am-5.00pm;
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      Dr. Wong Soon Tee

      Consultant Dermatologist
      doctor_img

      Dr. Wong Soon Tee

      Consultant Dermatologist

      Care and Professionalism Refined by
      Over 30 Years of Dermatology Experience

      • MBBS, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore
      • MRCP. Member of Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom
      • FAMS, Fellow of Academy of Medicine, Singapore
      • Adjunct Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore
      • Visiting Consultant, University Dermatology Division, National University Hospital
      • Visiting Consultant, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Centre, National University Hospital

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