Dercos - Don’t tear your hair out

Hair loss is one of those highly visible signs of ageing. For many it can be particularly distressing especially if you are unfortunate enough to experience hair loss from an early age. While some people simply resign themselves to their hair loss, many others actively seek to slow, stop or even try to reverse the process. You only have to think about all the adverts for hair loss clinics and hair transplant surgery to realise that hair loss and ways to prevent it is big business.

The upside to this big business approach is that research in to hair loss and ways to treat it is ongoing and active – and this continuing research has lead to the introduction to the market of Dercos by the French L’Oreal laboratories.

What exactly is hair loss?

Hair loss, or to give it its medical name, alopecia, is a very common complaint. It’s estimated that at least 50% of people have hair loss problems, with it being more prevalent in men than women. This bias towards males is probably due to the relationship between testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Whilst DHT is essential for the development and growth of body hair, it may also be responsible for the loss of hair from the scalp.

Hair loss can be either temporary or permanent. Complete scalp baldness is known as alopecia totalis and the more extreme total loss of body hair (including eye brows and lashes) is alopecia universalis.

Although there are several types of alopecia - ranging from thinning hair to complete baldness - most cases of hair loss are due to androgenic alopecia. This type of alopecia is often referred to as male pattern baldness. Confusingly, both men and women can suffer from androgenic alopecia although, as with hair loss in general, men suffer from it more than women. By the age of 50, around 50% of men have some degree of androgenic alopecia compared with 15% of pre-menopausal women. The condition is linked to having excessive amounts of male hormones (androgens) around the hair follicles which appear to block hair growth. This link means that women are more likely to suffer from androgenic alopecia once they gone through the menopause because they then have fewer female hormones.

In men, androgenic alopecia tends to start with thinning of the hair at the crown and/or temples. The hairline then begins to recede. This is less common in women. Although androgenic alopecia can result in some men going completely bald, women don't usually lose all the hair on the crown of the head.

A general thinning of scalp hair is known as diffuse alopecia and is common among both older men and women.

A more unusual form of alopecia is alopecia areata which typically causes a few temporary bald patches on the scalp. It affects around 1% of the general population and has a tendency to run in families. Unfortunately, it can strike in childhood. With this form of alopecia, the hair loss appears to be part of an immune system problem and usually affects those already suffering from other autoimmune diseases. The body's natural defences mistakenly attack its own tissue causing hair loss. Once hair has been lost, new hair growth can be suppressed for weeks or even months.

Alopecia may also occur where there has been scarring as scarred areas will not regrow hair.

While hair loss can be very upsetting, it isn’t actually harmful in itself. However, there is always a chance that it might be a secondary symptom of an underlying problem so if you do suddenly start to lose your hair, you should always discuss it with your doctor. But for most people it is simply a very outward sign of ageing.

What causes alopecia?

Just as there are a number of different types of alopecia so there are a number of different potential causes. A number of factors can trigger hair loss including:

In women, hair loss is particularly associated with stress, tiredness, hormonal and seasonal variations.

In men, hair loss is generally caused by genes or hormones. If you are male and have a family history of androgenic alopecia, you are likely to inherit the condition. If your father went bald, then you probably will too!

Perifollicular fibrosis

In continuing their research in to hair loss, the researchers at the L’Oreal laboratories discovered that regardless of whether the hair loss was caused by stress or genetic/ hormonal changes, a condition called perifollicular fibrosis always occurred at the same time.

Perifollicular fibrosis is characterised by the premature ageing of the hair roots caused by an excessive production of collagen around the root of the hair. This excess of collagen becomes stiff and rigid. As this thick rigid collagen tightens so the blood vessels which nourish and stimulate the hair roots are compressed. This, in turn, causes the roots to weaken and to be pushed to the surface of the scalp. The final result of all of this is premature hair loss. Perifollicular fibrosis may also be responsible for the disappearance of new hair follicles because it appears to prevent hair from forming deep roots in the scalp.

How does Dercos work?

Dercos is the first patented product introduced to the market that is specifically designed to fight and prevent perifollicular fibrosis. It contains aminexil, a relatively new drug developed by the French company Vichy.

Dercos increases the volume of hair in its growth stage by working on the deep structure of the roots. It does this by softening the collagen around the hair roots, directly combating the tightening collagen build up that leads to premature hair loss. By softening the collagen the hair root is helped to stay in the scalp rather than being forced upwards and the volume of hair in its growth period is increased.

What is even more encouraging is that Dercos has been clinically proven to significantly preserve existing hair growth and improve the condition and thickness of the hair. For example, in a major year long study, 350 men and women were enrolled in order to assess the effects of regular Dercos use. After just 6 weeks into the clinical trials, an 8% improvement in condition, thickness and quantity of hair was found in those using Dercos regularly compared with those using a placebo. After 8 weeks, the Dercos users showed 6% more hair growth than they had previously, whereas the placebo users had lost 3% of their growing hair.

Other results involving Dercos use include:

Dercos revitalises hair from root to tip, leaving you with hair that is stronger, thicker and more resistant to damage. Add to this the exceptional cosmetic results, and it’s hardly surprising that Dercos is indeed set to become a best seller for L’Oreal.

How often should I use Dercos?

We would recommend that you use Dercos at least 3 times a week (as 3 ampoules applied to the hair) over a three month period and that you take this course of treatment 2-4 times a year.

Can I use Dercos with any other hair treatments?

It has also become popular to use Dercos in conjunction with other treatments designed to aid and enhance hair growth. In particular, we would recommend a combination of Dercos with Nanothik Conditioner and MinSaw-A Lotion.

Are there any side effects?

Dercos has a hypoallergenic, pH neutral formula which does not contain soap. It has been dermatologically tested and designed to minimise any allergic reaction. It is therefore highly unlikely that you will experience any side effects although in some cases scalp itchiness has been reported.

Contact with the eyes should be avoided. If Dercos should get into your eyes, rinse them immediately with cold water.

Hold on to your hair with Dercos

Dercos increases hair density by preventing perifollicular fibrosis, a major cause of hair loss

Dercos, containing the chemical Aminexil, prevents Perifollicular Fibrosis, a condition that accompanies all alopecia whereby the collagen around the hair root becomes rigid and tightens, pushing the root to the surface and causing premature hair loss.

Regular use of Dercos in a clinical placebo-controlled trial of 350 patients, demonstrated that patients using Dercos, over an 8 week period, had 8% hair re-growth, less hair-loss and experienced an increase in hair density of 6% compared to those who used a placebo.

Use:
Dercos ampoules can be broken and the liquid applied to the scalp, (using the provided applicator) and afterward the hair dried and styled as normal. The manufacturer recommends using a minimum of 3 ampoules a week for a period of at least 3-months a year. We would suggest repeating this course two to four times per year.

Dercos shampoo can be used like any normal shampoo, although we recommend leaving it on a little longer than normal before rinsing out.

We also recommend the synergistic combination of Nanothik Conditioner and MinSaw-A lotion.

What our customers say...

It's been great within a couple of weeks Dercos ® began to work!
P.S., Hawaii.

I like the new Dercos ® ampoules they are the best thing I have used for my hair.
Y.S., Japan