BACK TO SCHOOL WITH BFRB & TRICHOTILLOMANIA

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First and foremost, we’d like to thank our friends at The TLC Foundation for a great amount of information, tips, & tricks for our body focused repetitive behavior clients! Their newsletters, webinars, and resource lists are so very helpful for us and our trichotillomania community, and we’re grateful to have them as an outlet to better ourselves as well as our clients!

You may be wondering what BFRB is, and that is a body focused repetitive behavior. In our world, we deal with trichotillomania patients daily. Trichotillomania is a disorder that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out body hair. People who have trich have the urge to pull out their hair, usually from their scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Trichotillomania is a type of impulse control disorder. People with these disorders know that they can do damage by acting on the impulses, but they cannot stop themselves.

As you can imagine, having BFRBs can really be impacted by changes or certain activities that can trigger extra stress. Heading back to school certainly falls into the category of stress-related triggers!

“Most children with BFRBs experience some resumption of the behavior during the first quarter of the school year,” says TLC Scientific Advisory Board members.

Teens, college students, and adults with BFRBs may also experience increases in these behaviors as their schedules get busier & continues to fill up and add to the amount of pressure or stressors. TLC has come up with some great ways to cope with the anxieties of starting off a new school year on the right foot!

There are some great tools and resources for coping with BFRB, plus books, finger fidgets, and educational materials to help smooth the transition to a more hectic time of the year. Check out The TLC Foundation website for more information.

There is also a store at their website that you can purchase helpful tools such as Sensory-stimulating pencil grips, pens, and pencils to help kids in class by serving as school-friendly finger fiddles. There are toolkits offered with these items, along with soft and squeezable stress balls, snake bracelets, & spinner rings for the college level or adult level while at work.

We hope that this information will help you or someone you know with BFRBs to tackle the anxieties of back to school & enter this school year with calmness & confidence!

“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” ~Tom Bodett

Look Fresh with a New Summer Style

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You promised yourself in January this was the year you were finally going to do something about your thinning or shedding hair. Now it’s summer, we’re half way through the year, and you’ve still not made good on that resolution! What are you waiting for? Summer is still an ideal time for a renewed you, and what better place to start than at the top with your hair!

Remember what it was like to anticipate the freedom offered by warmer days? You can feel that free again when you ditch the inconvenience of trying to camouflage your thinning hair. Seek out an experienced hair replacement specialist in your area. It’s a hard first step, but many, like HPIHair in Nashville, offer free consultations and you’ll be better informed about the best options for your individual situation.

If you’re not inspired yet, take a look at some of 2017’s new hair styles. If you’re considering a bold color move, check out a deep & rich shade of brunette or red. Or, if you’re lacking moisture from the summer heat, try our new Milbon professional line to restore your dry locks! I bet there’s at least one style that would look fantastic on you and you’re only a phone call away from finding a specialist, like our staff at HPIHair, to help you make it happen!

It’s usually the unknown factors that we fear about a process such as hair replacement, but once that hurdle is cleared you are well on your way to enjoying the rest of the year, much less your entire life! You deserve the freedom to be confidently dancing amongst the summer sands at any moment!

“Let your hair down, let your heart out, and let the light in!”- Bob Schneider
www.hpihair.com
615.662.8722
4535 Harding Pike Suite 302 Nashville, TN 37205

A woman with her arms outstretched at sunset, showcasing a fresh new summer style.

Look Fresh with a New Summer Style

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You promised yourself in January this was the year you were finally going to do something about your thinning or shedding hair. Now it’s Summer, we’re half way through the year, and you’ve still not made good on that resolution! What are you waiting for? Summer is still an ideal time for a renewed you, and what better place to start than at the top with your hair!

Remember what it was like to anticipate the freedom offered by warmer days? You can feel that free again when you ditch the inconvenience of trying to camouflage your thinning hair. Seek out an experienced hair replacement specialist in your area. It’s a hard first step, but many, like HPIHair in Nashville, offer free consultations and you’ll be better informed about the best options for your individual situation.

If you’re not inspired yet, take a look at some of 2017’s new hair styles. If you’re considering a bold color move, check out a deep & rich shade of brunette or red. Or, if you’re lacking moisture from the summer heat, try our new Milbon professional line to restore your dry locks! I bet there’s at least one style that would look fantastic on you and you’re only a phone call away from finding a specialist, like our staff at HPIHair, to help you make it happen.

It’s usually the unknown factors that we fear about a process such as hair replacement, but once that hurdle is cleared you are well on your way to enjoying the rest of the year, much less your entire life! You deserve the freedom to be confidently dancing amongst the summer sands at any moment!

“Let your hair down, let your heart out, and let the light in!”- Bob Schneider

You promised yourself in January this was the year you were finally going to do something about your thinning or shedding hair. Now it’s Summer, we’re half way through the year, and you’ve still not made good on that resolution! What are you waiting for? Summer is still an ideal time for a renewed you, and what better place to start than at the top with your hair!

Remember what it was like to anticipate the freedom offered by warmer days? You can feel that free again when you ditch the inconvenience of trying to camouflage your thinning hair. Seek out an experienced hair replacement specialist in your area. It’s a hard first step, but many, like HPIHair in Nashville, offer free consultations and you’ll be better informed about the best options for your individual situation.

If you’re not inspired yet, take a look at some of 2017’s new hair styles. If you’re considering a bold color move, check out a deep & rich shade of brunette or red. Or, if you’re lacking moisture from the summer heat, try our new Milbon professional line to restore your dry locks! I bet there’s at least one style that would look fantastic on you and you’re only a phone call away from finding a specialist, like our staff at HPIHair, to help you make it happen.

It’s usually the unknown factors that we fear about a process such as hair replacement, but once that hurdle is cleared you are well on your way to enjoying the rest of the year, much less your entire life! You deserve the freedom to be confidently dancing amongst the summer sands at any moment!

“Let your hair down, let your heart out, and let the light in!”- Bob Schneider

A man and woman in a red car smiling under the sunshine.

Sunshine is not always the best medicine!

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Most of us anticipate summer all year round! Between the sun, the golden tans, the outdoor activities, & the upbeat attitudes, what’s not to love about summer!? They often say, “Sunshine is the best medicine.” While there is some truth to that, we have to make sure we’re protected from the dangers that come along with the excitement of the sunshine! While sunscreen is the primary tool to protect your skin from harmful rays, other elements can play a huge role keeping your skin safe in the summer sun we all love so much!
SUNSCREEN & HAT or VISOR: Make sure your beach bag is loaded with sun-protection next time you’re headed to the pool or beach. It’s especially important to protect your scalp if you have thinning hair. The harmful rays that cause sunburn can penetrate thin hair and burn your scalp, thus increasing your odds of developing melanoma in that area. Make sure to put sunscreen on your scalp or wear a hat. Don’t forget your ears – make sure they get a coating of sunscreen or are protected under the wide brim of a hat.
SUNGLASSES: You should be just as concerned about the type of lenses in your sunglasses as you are about how they look on you in the mirror. The darker the lens doesn’t necessarily mean they are better. Sunglasses should provide 100% UV protection, blocking all UVA, UVB & UVC rays. The best way to check is to take them to your optician. Most LensCrafter stores will check them for free. Those with light-colored eyes are more susceptible to sun damage because they have less melanin, which is a protective factor in the back of their eyes.
LIP BALM: It shouldn’t be difficult to find a lip balm to your liking with a minimum SPF 15, preferably SPF 30. Make sure it’s a staple in your bag! You can choose a colorless or any one of the wide variety of colors that are available.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: The sun is most damaging between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so plan your outdoor activities accordingly for maximum benefit!
HAIR PROTECTION PRODUCT: Hair can use an extra layer of sun protection. There are products in spray-on or leave-in form that protect the hair from drying out quickly and color fading from sun damage.
MILBON: Products are SUCH a great way to preserve your hair! Summer hair calls for more attention to moisturizing and repair products to keep the hydration in that the heat & sun removes. Although we should be using a thermal protectant and often times moisturizing mist or leave-in conditioner year-round to preserve our hair from any heat damage, this is a styling secret that comes especially handy in the summertime!
HPI is the ONLY salon in the Nashville area that carries a full line of Milbon professional products that are formulated specifically for processed or damaged hair!
There’s no reason to put your life on hold just because the sun is shining! We want you to go out & enjoy your summer! However, we want to make sure everyone has some good tips & tricks on how to be safe while doing so! The time for “Hairapy” is now! Let us here at HPI Nashville help educate & nurture your locks back to great health!
“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine, it’s Summertime!”- Kenny Chesney

Dear Stress, Let’s Break Up!

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Stress can come from anywhere- at any time, the older we get, the more susceptible we seem to be to this imaginary bully and its destructive ways on our well-being. It seems to creep in at the most inconvenient moments and wreak havoc. Impacting our social life, eating habits, sleep, exercise plans, confidence, and overall demeanor, stress is something no one is a fan of!

A 2017 study shows that more millennials & people as young as 18 are experiencing increasing hair loss from too much stress

While adults are the most likely to report these feelings and would be the obvious age group that is impacted, adulthood isn’t always where it starts. For most teens, there’s something in their environment that’s causing them stress-related issues as well. The majority of their issues start at school with the mixture of intense courses, expectations for performance within sports and arts, and the pressure of obtaining acceptance into a reputable college. During the school year, teens report their stress level being nearly twice as much as it is during the summer and holiday breaks.

How do you deal with stress? Do you lose sleep, stop working out, over eat or indulge in some other sort of comfort? Do you pick or pull out your eyelashes, eyebrows, and/or hair? If you are a young person and you pull out your hair or pick your skin, you are not alone. You and MILLIONS of other people share these problems. Learning proper stress management skills is the key to overcoming many obstacles. Additionally, the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors knows how to help those experiencing pulling and picking. http://www.bfrb.org/

HPIHair Hair Loss Image

HPIHair

Here are a few tips that we recommend for those who often find themselves paralyzed by the pressure of stress in their life.

  • Identify the source — Knowing what’s causing your problem is the first step to properly combating the issue. Keeping a journal in order to track triggers and effects of certain factors in your world that cause these feelings has been shown to help many individuals.
  • Learn how to deal or seek help — This step really encompasses a number of steps, once you’ve identified the issue comes the real need to hone in and get to work. Discovering what eases you in the moment, learning to manage your emotions instead of bottling or exploding, setting yourself up for overall success—it’s a process, and it’ll take time, but ultimately you’ll be grateful for the process that leads to a newfound sense of freedom.
  • Coping with stress is something we must all do at some point in our lives, regardless of who we are, where we come from or where we’re going. The choice is up to us whether or not we will allow this nuisance to deter us from moving forward and experiencing all that life has for us. At HPIHair we understand that it’s easy to give in, but we also know that it can lead to long-lasting effects like hair loss. We encourage you to take the appropriate steps to either gain coping mechanisms on your own or seek the help of medical professionals.Don’t stress. Do your BEST. Forget the rest! www.hpihair.com

    615-662-8722


    “A quiet mind is able to hear intuition over fear.”

Researchers discover that balding, gray hair are controlled by skin cells

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Although it was not their original intent, researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, have discovered that skin cells are directly responsible not only for turning hair gray but for balding as well. They published their study results in the journal Genes & Development.  Researchers have discovered that skin cells control balding as well as the graying of hair.
“Although this project was started in an effort to understand how certain kinds of tumors form, we ended up learning why hair turns gray and discovering the identity of the cell that directly gives rise to hair,” said Lu Q. Le, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology with the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern. “With this knowledge, we hope in the future to create a topical compound or to safely deliver the necessary gene to hair follicles to correct these cosmetic problems.”
Dr. Le holds the Thomas L. Shields, MD Professorship in Dermatology, and is a member of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, also in Dallas, TX. He and colleagues were studying neurofibromatosis type 1, a rare genetic disease that causes tumors to grow on nerves. KROX20 is a protein associated with nerve development and is activated in the skin cells that become the hair shaft. These hair progenitor cells also produce stem cell factor (SCF), another protein that is essential for hair pigmentation.
In their murine model, these researchers found that deletion of the SCF gene in the hair progenitor cells turned the animals’ hair white. In addition, when KROX20-producing cells were deleted, no hair grew and the mice became bald.
Hair production was already known to involve the stem cells in hair follicles, and SCF was known to be vital for pigmented cell formation. What was not known was what happens after these stem cells move down to the base of the hair follicles and which cells produced SCF.
These researchers discovered that the cells involved in making the hair shaft also produce the KROX20 protein and that the cells that contain functioning KROX20 and SCF move up from the base of hair follicles to interact with melanocyte cells (which produce pigment), and then grow into pigmented hairs.
In the mouse models, hair was gray without SCF, turning white with age, and without KROX20, no hair grew at all. Dr. Le and fellow researchers are now studying whether the KROX20 in cells and the SCF gene stop working with age, which leads to the gray and thinning hair seen in older adults. They are also researching whether this dysfunction can also lead to male pattern baldness.
The research was supported by the National Cancer Institute, Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant, National Institutes of Health, the Dermatology Foundation, the Children’s Tumor Foundation, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

A female doctor holding a heart with a stethoscope while discussing seasonal hair loss.

Breast Cancer diagnosis on the rise!

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It seems that every time we turn around these days, we’re hearing of someone new being diagnosed with breast cancer. Whether a family member, close friend, co-worker, or celebrity, the numbers have been on the rise and seem to show no indication of slowing down.
Take a moment to wrap your head around these statistics…

  • About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
  • In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non–invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
  • About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.

Although, we can see that the numbers are on the rise there are a couple of things we can do to be proactive:

Get your Screenings! Plain and simple, folks (men are included in this):

This is not only dangerous, but a clear indication that either one feels that they can escape the reach of cancer or they don’t fully realize the power cancer can have on one’s life. It is vital that every woman (and man) get yearly screenings, making sure to do self-checks on a monthly basis.

Lifestyle:

While there’s been an influx in those adopting healthy habits (diet, exercise, holistic health approaches, etc.), there still remains to be a rather large indication that one’s lifestyle can lead to a cancer diagnosis. This is particularly true of those that participate in smoking, excessive alcohol usage and recreational drug use. Predisposition to cancer due to your lineage is unavoidable. The manner in which you live your life, however, can easily change the trajectory of your future health.

Age:

Life expectancy is expanding, and while that’s generally a positive thing, it also brings about an increase in chances of being diagnosed with cancer, for women this generally means breast cancer.
Environmental Factors: Stress, exhaustion, and unhealthy relationships—all these and much more make for unwelcome components in one’s direct surroundings.
The battle against cancer will eventually be won, while we don’t know when that is and may never see the day, it’s still a cause worthy of our time, efforts and support.
“Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, ‘I have fallen, but I will get up!’”- Maya Angelou

Four seasons in a photo. Seasonal hair loss, also known as telogen effluvium.

Seasonal Hair Loss: Fact or Myth?

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Our four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. For most of the world, these seasons bring about change outside, whether it in the temperature or other elements in nature. At times these transformations are welcome, while at other times we wish they’d never take place. Hair loss is the latter of those two emotions, similar to the ten inches of rain, constant icing of the roads, or scorching temperatures. What is it about certain seasons, specifically Spring & Autumn that brings about hair loss and what can you do about it?

Seasonal Hair Loss: Fact or Myth?

Seasonal Hair Loss: Fact or Myth?

The sudden struggle of hair loss during spring & autumn has plagued many women for years. Studies have shown that these 2 seasons, more than the others, is a time where even the healthiest of individuals will face the pain of hair loss. This is due to the life cycle of the hair follicles. The typical cycle runs between 2-6 years, throughout there is a large portion that is constantly growing, while a small amount is considered to be ‘resting’, preparing to fall out. For most women, the resting stage takes place in July, and then just a few months later proceeds to fall out. Although this shedding is noticeable to you, there’s no cause for concern. Seasonal hair loss is common amongst all mammals, including humans.

How do you avoid this unique seasonal change? Great question! We highly recommend that you take the proper precautions to treat your hair. This is only possible if you know your hair and it’s unique needs well. If you’re not sure where to get started, make an appointment to meet with one of our professionals at HPIHair and learn more about your individual hair needs. Visit us at https://hpihair.com or call 615.622.8722 for more information!

A doctor presenting a woman with an orange, promoting healthy hair loss solutions.

Does my Health really affect my Hair Loss?

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There seems to be an endless stream of sources in our society that place a heavy emphasis on health, whether presenting a new, revolutionary diet, introducing a high-calorie burning workout or suggesting another approach to medical treatment—the options are endless. But does it really all matter? And who can we actually trust for our medical advice or any advice for that matter? The answer is YES, of course health is important and is your hair and how you look effects how you feel!

35.7% of the United States is considered obese. That’s a number that has been shockingly high for a number of years, yet there doesn’t seem to be a decrease. Obesity isn’t the only prevalent disease within our culture; heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and arthritis are also on the rise. What each of these has in common is the fact that they could all be easily avoided with the taking of preventative measures. Studies show that these, along with several other chronic illnesses that lead to the decrease in quality of life can be connected to factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, and tobacco/alcohol use. Each of these issues can easily be adjusted by an individual with a choice of whether or not to engage in the activity. We each have the opportunity, regardless of our background or genetic makeup to pave the way for ourselves to a long, healthy life.

“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” -Socrates

Making life style changes likely won’t happen over night, no matter how great your intentions are. What’s important to remember is that everything’s a process, and it’ll take some time to see results. There are a number of blogs, TV shows, magazines and self-help books out there, so many that it can be incredibly overwhelming, almost putting an automatic halt to many folks’ journey towards health from the very beginning.  Our advice would be to first seek the wisdom of your family doctor or Endocrinologist or seek advice from HPIHair regarding your options and solutions —they’ll not only have access to knowledge of your medical history, but also be no which test to run to get to the “root” (there are more roots than one).

Christian writer, Joyce Meyer once said, “I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.” Those around you deserve to have you around for as long as possible and vice versa. So won’t you take the steps today and choose to be healthy AND get back your hair?

Contact HPIHair for a hair and scalp analysis and learn about solutions for your hair loss.

Losing Hair Through the Seasons – HPIHair Can Help!

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Four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. For most of the world, these four seasons bring about change outside, whether it in the temperature or other elements in nature. At times these transformations are welcome, while at other times we wish they’d never take place. Hair loss is the latter of those two emotions, similar to the ten inches of rain, constant icing of the roads, or scorching temperatures. What is it about certain seasons, specifically autumn, that brings about hair loss and what can HPIHair do to help?

Seasons change the sun rising over a lake with red leaves, casting a warm glow on the scenery.

The sun is rising over a lake with red leaves, casting a warm glow on the scenery.

The sudden struggle of hair loss during autumn has plagued many women for years and years. It comes on swiftly and all to similar to the drop in temperatures, hair starts falling out. Studies have shown that this season, more than the others, is a time where even the healthiest of individuals will face the pain of hair loss. This is due the life cycle of the hair follicles. The typical cycle runs between two and six years, throughout there is a large portion that is constantly growing, while a small amount is considered to be ‘resting’, preparing to fall out. For most women, the resting stage takes place in July, and then just a few months later proceeds to fall out.

How do you avoid this unique seasonal change? Great question! We highly recommend that you take the proper precautions to treat your hair. This is only possible if you know your hair and it’s unique needs well. If you’re not sure where to get started, make an appointment to meet with one of our professionals at HPIHair Partners and learn more about your individual hair needs. Contact us for more information.