​COVID-19

While people across the country are adapting to the "new normal," many are wondering which activities are safe to do. Though leaving the comfort of your home at any time poses a small risk, there are a number of activities that are considered riskier than others.

In an article on businessinsider.com, Dr. Susan Hassig, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, talked about the risks of going out to eat, gathering with friends and opening mail. According to Dr. Hassig, here's what you should consider as restrictions start to lift across the country.

High risk: Gatherings of family or friends
"If you haven't been living with them, then there's a potential risk," Dr. Hassig told Business Insider. The article went on to say that if you do decide to get together with family or friends, you should consider the age and underlying conditions of the people there and those you live with. Because family and friends are less likely to wear masks when they're with each other, it's possible that asymptomatic people could transmit the virus in this type of setting.

High risk: Bars
Bars "should not be allowed to open," Hassig said. According to the article, mingling, crowded areas and the inability to wear masks while drinking make them a high-risk place for getting infected.

Medium to high risk: Gyms
While it's easier to social distance in a gym than a bar, it doesn't mean the gym is totally safe. Dr. Hassig considers going to the gym a medium-risk activity and recommends equipment be sanitized before and after each use.

Medium risk: Indoor restaurants
Many states have allowed restaurants with outdoor seating to resume business, but indoor restaurants pose a greater risk. "Indoor dining at restaurants is risky because of airflow and people being in an enclosed space for hours at a time," the article says.

Medium risk: Hair and nail salons
Hair and nail salons, which have opened in several states, have a medium risk of infection, Hassig told Business Insider. Like other interactive activities, wearing masks is critical, as it helps block particles from spreading easily when you're speaking or coughing. It also discourages employees and customers from touching their faces.

Low to medium risk: Beaches
Though being outdoors sounds like a low-risk activity, Hassig says beaches can be somewhat dangerous because of their capacity. "They usually have many points of entry, so it would be difficult to limit capacity," Hassig said.

Low risk: Touching mail/groceries
When the virus first began some news outlets cautioned against touching mail and groceries without wiping it down first, but Hassig considers it a low-risk activity. According to Hassig, there's a low risk of catching the coronavirus from touching your mail or other items like groceries. 

From American Salon

The risk levels of everyday activities:

High risk: Gatherings of family or friends
High risk: Bars
High risk: Religious functions
High risk: Movie theaters and sporting events
Medium to high risk: Gyms
Medium risk: Restaurants (indoors)
Medium risk: Hair and nail salons
Medium risk: Dates or gatherings with a couple of friends
Low to medium risk: Beaches
Low risk: Outdoor dining
Low risk: Outdoor activities
Low risk: Shopping
Low risk: Touching mail or groceries

Hello Everyone,

Health officials in San Francisco on Monday announced the next phase of COVID-19 business re-openings set for June 29th that will include hair salons, barbers, museums, zoos, tattoo parlors and more. 

As you can imagine it has been a rollercoaster ride for several months now not knowing exactly when hair salons would be allowed to reopen.   While this June 29th date is exciting, and I'm sure you cannot wait to get in for an appointment, it was dropped rather suddenly and unexpectedly this morning.  Imagine if you will planning for your business to reopen on July 13th and just like that the target date is changed on you once again.

As much as I would love to see you next week, I do not feel I could responsibly see clients until the following week.   So, my schedule will be available to you for appointments starting July 6th. 

Many of you already have appointment scheduled in July.  If you would like to schedule something sooner, please feel free to do so.  Remember times will be limited and I am now only working 4 days a week, Sundays thru Wednesday.   If you are in dire need of a haircut or color before July 6th, please contact me directly and I'm sure we can figure something out.

I want to thank you again for standing by me and all the support you've given these last several months.  

I will see you soon.

- Brian ✂️ 

The coronavirus pandemic has brought an onslaught of stress that manifests itself in different ways.

For some, it’s hair loss.

Dermatologists across the country have noticed upticks in appointments made by nervous individuals who report seeing clumps of hair on their pillow and even admit fear of taking a shower due to excessive amounts of hair loss as a result.

“This is distressing for patients; whether it’s because of some significant physical or emotional stress, the nutrients and energy put into hair production and growth is shifted to other parts of your body,” Dr. Sara Hogan, a health sciences clinical instructor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, told McClatchy News.

To ease some worry, Hogan shares the same advice to all her patients: “Hair is not necessary for survival.”

On an average day, Hogan will see about five patients with hair loss a week, but “now I’m seeing two to three a day. Just yesterday I had four hair loss patients,” she said.

Most of these patients have existing disorders that have reportedly gotten worse, while others are new to the stress that is hair loss.

But the reasons aren’t so black and white.

There’s a phenomenon known as seasonal shedding, where predisposed people tend to lose their hair between March and May, Hogan said; there is a lag between exposure to stress and hair loss that can take about three to five months.

Some studies suggest the seasonal shedding is tied to the sometimes stressful holidays, Hogan added.

But around this time is when pandemic-related stress can start to show itself in the body as hair loss, with many patients “who have been in lockdown, social distancing and dealing with job uncertainty,” said Hogan, who works at the UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.

“I definitely think this is a thing we might see more of in the coming months because it is a delayed process,” Hogan said, “and it’ll be interesting to see if we still see this through summer,” because hair grows more during the season.

The majority of patients Hogan sees — mostly via telehealth due to the pandemic — are showing telogen effluvium: a condition where the amount of follicles growing hair drops during a “resting phase,” resulting in shedding or hair loss, according to WebMD.

On any given day, about 100 to 150 hairs can be lost, “but when you have stress-related shed, people start to notice they are losing a lot more,” Hogan said.

Another dermatologist in New York has also noticed more patients searching for hair loss help and advice.

“Hair loss usually occurs within three months of a stressful event, in this case the pandemic, so we are right around the time where you may start to notice increased hair loss,” Dr. Michelle Henry, a clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said in a press email.
​
“Of course, we need to check for other potential triggers before making a diagnosis, but I’ve seen more and more patients looking for solutions for hair loss right now.”
Both Hogan and Henry agree that stress reduction through activities like with yoga and healthy eating can help those suffering from hair loss.

But then there’s the obsessive hair pulling and skin picking that can also be triggered by worry, Hogan added.

One of her patients experiencing hair loss said she started to pull her hair so much her scalp started bleeding.

“They are caught in a vicious cycle that trips them into chronic patterns of stressors that cause shedding, then they’re stressed about that which causes more shedding,” Hogan said.

Hair pulling, skin picking and nail and cheek biting are examples of body-focused repetitive behaviors that can cause embarrassment, stress and infection in some cases, according to the TLC Foundation for BFRBs.

“In terms of face touching, it can definitely cause anxiety,” Daniela W., who has a skin-picking disorder, told SELF. “I’ve wondered, am I more susceptible to getting the virus because I have open wounds on my face and I touch them quite regularly?”

Keeping logs of when hair loss, skin picking or any other stress-related behavior occurs can help doctors determine the best course of action.

“Hair loss is ongoing, and it’s very important patients realize that it will take upwards of six months to know when something has fully recovered,” Hogan said.

​Brought to you from The News&Observer

Saw palmetto is a popular herbal remedy. Some people use it to reverse or prevent hair loss, but there is not yet enough scientific evidence to confirm that it is effective.

Serenoa repens, or saw palmetto, is a small palm tree that grows in the United States. Saw palmetto is native to the West Indies, and Native Americans have used it as a healing plant for some time.

In this article, we examine the research into saw palmetto and hair loss. We also explain how to use saw palmetto and discuss other possible remedies for hair loss.

Does it Work?

To date, scientific research on saw palmetto for hair loss remains limited. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there is not enough scientific evidence to support people using saw palmetto for any health condition.

However, some researchers have looked into saw palmetto and hair loss.

According to a 2012 study, saw palmetto might inhibit an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. A medication called finasteride (Proscar) uses this mechanism to treat hair loss in males. By inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is the hormone responsible for male pattern hair loss.

Saw palmetto may also have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, which could offer protection from some causes of hair loss.

In a small 2002 study, researchers gave 10 males with androgenetic alopecia a supplement that contained both saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol. The researchers noted improvements in 6 of the 10 males. As this study was very small, additional research is necessary to support these findings.

In a 2012 study, researchers enrolled 100 males with mild-to-moderate androgenetic alopecia. Over 2 years, one group took 320 milligrams (mg) of saw palmetto each day, while the other group received 1 mg of finasteride daily.

In the end, 38% of those who took saw palmetto had an improvement in their hair loss, compared with 68% of those who took finasteride. This finding suggests that both treatments had an effect but that finasteride was more effective. The researchers also noted that the more severe the hair loss, the less likely saw palmetto was to work.

While smaller studies have shown that saw palmetto might have promise as a treatment for hair loss, there is a need for additional, larger scale studies.

How to use saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is available in a variety of preparations, including oral supplements and hair care products, such as shampoos and conditioners. As researchers have not proven that saw palmetto prevents or treats hair loss, there is no official recommended dosage.

An article in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery cites a recommended dosage of 160 mg twice daily in the form of tablets. Researchers have also used this dosage in a clinical trial setting.

There is no extra guidance on how to use saw palmetto, such as whether to take it with or without food.

Side effectsSaw palmetto does not usually cause significant side effects. The most common side effects are headaches and stomach upset.

According to the NCCIH, research has not shown that saw palmetto interacts with any medications. However, it is still a good idea for people to talk to their doctor before taking saw palmetto in case new information about interactions becomes available.

Another concern for males taking saw palmetto is that the supplement can reduce levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). One article notes that levels of PSA may decrease by 50% after 6–12 months of taking saw palmetto. Doctors test PSA levels during prostate cancer screening, so saw palmetto could make these tests less accurate.

Other remedies for hair loss

A person’s diet can have an important effect on keeping the skin and hair healthy. Specific foods can help promote the growth of the hair and improve its strength and volume. These foods include eggs, Brazil nuts, and fatty fish.

The American Academy of Dermatology advise people to ensure that they get enough of certain nutrients in their diet. These include protein and iron, which the body uses to build strong, healthy hair. Eating too few calories may also affect the growth and health of the hair.

Learn about the best foods for hair growth here.

Few studies have looked into other home remedies for hair loss. However, there is some evidence to suggest that scalp massage and aromatherapy may help.

Like saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. A 2014 study found that males who took 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil daily for 24 weeks had an average hair count increase of 40%. However, more research is necessary before researchers can determine the effectiveness of this supplement.

Many doctors will recommend making lifestyle changes relating to hair care. In some people, these steps may help prevent further hair loss:

• washing and conditioning the hair using gentle and moisturizing products
• refraining from using hot oil treatments, chemical straighteners, chemical relaxers, and heat styling products, such as flat irons, hot combs, and curling irons
• limiting the use of a hair dryer and only using the lowest setting possible
• avoiding adopting hairstyles that pull the hair back tightly — including buns, pigtails, cornrows, or braids — because the twisting and pulling can lead to hair loss
• brushing the hair as gently as possible

Summary

Saw palmetto is a supplement that may help the hair grow. However, the current evidence to support the use of this treatment is limited, and official bodies do not recommend it.

Saw palmetto has few side effects, so some people may wish to try taking it despite the lack of evidence. People can buy saw palmetto supplements online.

This supplement can affect PSA levels, so people should always tell their doctor when they take this supplement.
 
From MedicalNewsToday