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Ringworm Causing Hair Loss?

When someone hears ringworm of the scalp, they immediately think there’s an actual worm in their head. But have no fear, because that isn’t the case! While ringworm shouldn’t be ignored, it isn’t an actual bug living in your skin. It’s a fungal infection that makes the shape of a circle on your skin. The medical name for ringworm of the scalp is Tinea capitis, and it causes your scalp to become itchy and scaly. 

 

You should never ignore ringworm of the scalp! It’s a highly contagious infection, and, much like lice, is usually spread through using someone elses combs, headgear, pillows, and other things that frequently come in contact with your hair and head. Ringworm is most common in children, but can infect a person of any age.

 

Another cause for ringworm may be a household pet. Because it can be spread so easily, many animals may not show signs of infection before they are already spreading it. 

 

So what happens to your hair if you have ringworm of the scalp? Typically, you’ll get itchy patches on your scalp. The skin will flake, and you’ll see a red ring, with some raising. Closer to your scalp, your hair may break off, leaving bald spots that are irritated. If you leave ringworm of the scalp untreated, these symptoms will continue to grow, spread, and become more irritating. You may also find that your hair is becoming increasingly brittle, your scalp will hurt, and you may even have a fever. 

 

If you think you have ringworm of the scalp, you should consult your doctor immediately. Your physician will perform a visual exam, and they might prescribe a shampoo and oral medication. These medications will kill the fungi, but it doesn’t help the hair regrow. Unfortunately, ringworm of the scalp is a slow healing process, typically around a month or more. 

 

If you aren’t seeing your hair regrow after your ringworm, be patient. While your hair typically will grow back, Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth can help you in your struggles. During our free consultation, we can provide advice on which shampoos to use and not use, certain over-the-counter medication like Rogaine and other minoxidil treatments, and many more options. 

 

If you’re not seeing your hair come back after being diagnosed with ringworm, call us today for your free consultation! Don’t let a fungus ruin your hair. Get rid of that pesky ringworm and get your life back. Get your hair back!

Trichotillomania and Traction Alopecia

Trichotillomania and traction alopecia are disorders involving hair pulling. While these are quite different, they both focus on the strain from tightly pulled hair. 

 

Trichotillomania is an obsessive-compulsive disorder associated with literally pulling on the hair with your hands; essentially pulling out your own hair. This is common in children, but adults have been known to do this as well, usually due to stress. Traction alopecia revolves more around tightly pulled hair due to specific hair styles. This causes hair loss and bald spots due to the strain on your scalp and hair follicles. This is seen quite often in ballerinas or typically a person whose occupation requires they have a tightly pulled back hair do. 

 

While Trichotillomania is a behavioral mental disorder, where the person literally can’t stop pulling on their hair, Traction alopecia is more of a physical disorder caused by the actual physical stress on an overly-tight (and prolonged) hairstyle. 

 

Hair pulling can result in bald spots, which causes significant distress and can interfere with social or occupational functioning, and people with this disorder have been known to go to great lengths to cover up the result of their chronic hair pulling. This disorder can be mild and manageable, but it has also been known to be overwhelming and can ruin lives. 

 

However, there are treatment options that will help reduce pulling or stop it altogether. 

 

Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by tightly pulled hairstyles. If this is discovered early enough, it is fully reversible and the hair can regrow. However, hair follicles can become irreversibly damaged over time and hair may not be able to  regrow. This disorder is typically the result of the tight hairstyle being used over a long period of time and frequently. These hairstyles include a tight ponytail, braids, dreadlocks, or any other style that puts tension on the follicle and scalp. 

 

Repeated strain on the hair follicles can pull out strands of hair and even damage the follicles. This causes redness, itching, and even pus-producing ulcers or infections.

 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call your doctor so you can be properly diagnosed. Alopecia can be treated both by your doctor and by Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth. We specialize in hair regrowth, hair replacement, and helping you cover up bald spots with our state of the art wigs. We have multiple solutions for hair loss due to Trichotillomania and Traction Alopecia. Don’t hesitate to call us for your free consultation! Call us today. Get your hair back. Get your life back!

Ultraviolet Rays and Your Hair

The sun can be your best friend or worst enemy. While being in the sun gives your body Vitamin D, energy, and can stimulate neurological reactions to better your mood, it can also cause skin cancer, wrinkles, faster aging, and damage your hair significantly via ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet? More like Ultraviolent, amiright? 

 

But seriously, while each of these issues from the sun are separate and individually important in their own right, we’re here to discuss the hair damage that the sun can cause. 

 

There are three types of light waves from the sun: UVA, UVB and UVC. While UVC is the most dangerous, the ozone layer protects us from those rays, so we won’t focus on them much. But we will talk about Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays, both of which can cause significant damage to your hair in multiple ways. 

 

The rays with the longest wavelengths are UVA rays. They penetrate the hairs deep, all the way to the cortex, or center of the hair. This is a problem, and can cause color changes and damage to the outer layer. These rays can also penetrate past the hair and damage/burn your scalp. Sunburns on your scalp can cause hair loss and even skin cancer!

 

UVB rays can penetrate hair just as deep as UVAs, but UVBs dry your hair out, making you lose natural oils that keep your hair healthy, and causing damage to the hair cuticle. 

 

So what can you do to protect your beautiful locks from these harmful rays? Well, you can do a few different things. 

 

There are so many products out there that act like sunscreen for your hair. With high SPF ratings and other filters that are included in misting sprays or lotions that help specifically protect your hair from UVA and UVB rays, you have so many options! Also, hats and bandanas are a good deterrent from the sun and its harmful rays. 

 

The sun is necessary, but sometimes too much sun can be harmful. Just be wary of how often you’re subjecting your body and hair to the sun and its harmful rays, and be mindful of how you can protect yourself from those rays. 

 

Is your hair damaged, thinning, or shedding excessively? Call Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth today for your free consultation on what we can do for your hair! Get your healthy hair back. Get your life back!

Your Hair Growth Cycle

Your hair, just like all living things, grows in a cycle. Understanding the cycle helps you keep your hair healthy and allows you to prevent issues with growth, such as thinning and even balding. There are three stages in the hair growth cycle: anagen, catagen, and telogen. 

 

We lose hair every day, but our hair also grows about six inches per year. If you’re seeing hair in your shower or comb, that normal, but know that excessive shedding is a warning sign and you should consult your doctor. Here’s a blog about excessive hair shedding for you to read! But even though our hair sheds and that’s part of the cycle, your individual hairs aren’t in sync with each, and they can be in different stages of the cycle at any given time. 

 

Anagen

At six inches of growth per year, that’s an average of half an inch per month. However, due to the weather, your hair actually grows fast in warm conditions rather than the cold. Crippling wind and freezing temperatures cause much more damage than summer, much like with plants. Anagen is the growth phase in the hair growth cycle, which typically lasts 3-5 years. 

 

Catagen

The catagen phase is a 10-day phase at the end of the anagen cycle. It’s a transitional part of the cycle, and roughly 3% of all hairs on your head are in this stage at any given moment. Hair growth stops and is no longer considered active when reaching this stage! 

 

Telogen

This phase is the last stage of the hair growth cycle. In the telogen phase, your hair falls out! Your hair follicle then rests for three months, then the cycle repeats. Again, keep in mind that your individual hairs will be at different phases in the cycle at all times, so that’s why some hairs fall out and some are growing! 

 

If your experiencing excessive shedding or want to learn more about this process, Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth offers free consultations to figure out what’s going on with your hair and how you can keep it healthy! 

 

Contact Apollo today to get your hair and your life back!

 

 

image from pintrest 

Hair Loss and the Keto Diet

Still carrying some holiday weight? It’s almost July! It’s summertime and you’ve gotta get that body in check. And if you’re just now starting, well, you’re a bit late. But it’s never too late to start a good diet! However, many people don’t know that certain popular diets do more than just shed LBs. They can cause you to shed hair as well. It’s crazy to think about, and again, not a lot of people know that little fact. Sure, your body’s looking good for Sun’s Out Guns Out pool time, but you’re scalp is showing too! So let’s talk about the Keto Diet and what you can do to prevent hair loss while working on those not-so-washboard abs. 

 

The most popular diet fad right now… Keto! The Keto Diet is, in a nutshell, the process of cutting all carbs and sugars, and the intake of high-fat foods.. It’s similar to Atkins and involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. This diet was originally designed to help with seizures in people who have Epilepsy, and was quickly discovered to benefit those with diabetes, cancer, and other medical conditions. Oh, it also drastically reduces weight. 

 

While you don’t necessarily have to cut a bunch of calories on Keto, if you do, you may see some thinner hair. Cutting calories drastically causes vitamin and mineral deficiency, which is key to having strong, healthy hair. 

 

During Keto, you may have a protein deficiency that impacts the skin, hair, and nails. You need a certain amount of protein every single day to prevent hair loss. Lack of healthy protein in your diet can cause easily broken hair that is harder to grow. Adding a variety of healthy proteins to your diet can help improve the assimilation of amino acids needed to produce keratin. So make sure you’re getting enough protein if you’re in ketosis, and avoid losing hair with this easy solution! 

 

So what can you eat a lot of to help prevent hair loss on keto? Well, quite a bit! Here’s a list of food you should make sure you’re eating if you’re in ketosis! However, watch how much of the sugary fruits you eat if you want to follow the diet correctly. 

 

  • Blackberries

  • Avocados

  • Spinach

  • Fatty fish like salmon

  • Almonds, almonds, almonds! 

  • Red meat, chicken, and pork

  • Eggs

 

There are so many foods you can eat on Keto, but these are essential in keeping your hair healthy. The mixture of essential vitamins and proteins is crucial in shedding pounds, not hair! 

 

Not on Keto and losing hair? Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas offers free consultations to diagnose exactly what the problem it! Call us today for your free consultation! Get your hair back. Get your life back!

Thin Hairstyles for the Office

If you have thin hair and an office job, you’ve probably stressed out a time or two about how to wear your hair in the office. Men and women can often become self conscious with thin hair and having to work in a setting around people in close quarters, although there’s no reason to be! However, since you most likely can’t wear hats to your office job, what can you do to make the most out of your thin hair at work? There are multiple hairstyles for men and women that can really look great in the office, even if you hair is super thin!

 

Women

 

The Classic Shoulder-Length Cut is a great hairstyle that you can let fall naturally for a wavy look, curl, or straighten. You can also put it up in a ponytail. This cut and style is the most versatile of all the cuts due to seemingly endless opportunities in both the office and for those relaxing after work happy hours!

 

The Bob is also a versatile hairstyle. No matter your hair color, this can look stunning. There are so many different types of Bobs, but the most popular office Bob is the crisp cut. With flat, clean edges, you can let it fall, trimming out your jawline and framing your face. This hair can be parted on either side or down the middle, and feel free to throw a braid or two in there to show your creative side at the office.

 

The Ombre Ponytail is another hairstyle that looks super professional while keeping is sexy. The brown to blonde fade, if done correctly, in a tight ponytail shows contrast of color and a slick, elegant look exposing your facial features and bone structure. This style works with all types of hair lengths, as long as it’s long enough to put in a ponytail!

 

Men

 

For men, thinning hairstyles tend to be a bit more difficult to come across. Men’s hair thins quicker and more significantly than women’s hair, but there are still dozens of styles for the office!

 

The High Fade Sweep Back is a perfect example of a clean, sharp cut for the office. While there isn’t much versatility with it, it’s an all around American boy cut. Take a #1 or #2 clipper to high and tight on the sides, while leaving the top at your desired length. Sweep the front back with a comb, add some product, and BOOM, you’ve got yourself a professional, sharp looking style for the office on any day!


The Messy Look is a more relaxed hairstyle, but can still be pulled off in the office. With offsetting attire, such as a chinos and a button up, your messy look hair can actually look like a modern professional. There are tons of products out there specifically for The Messy Look. In most cases, you’ll get a dab of product, spread it around your hands, and rub it through your dry hair. Give your hair a “towel rub” but with your hands, and your hair should come out looking messy, but fantastic! Continue shaping specific sections for the exact look your gong for!

Shedding Excessive Hair?

Shedding hair is normal. It happens to all of us, because “resting hair” needs to fall out to make room for new, growing hair. You see it on your pillows, in the shower drain, in your brush, and many more places. But you may be noticing an excess amount of hair shedding lately, and that’s cause for concern. So what causes excess hair shedding? There are multiple factors to consider when losing more hair than usual.

 

Stress

 

Got a big project due at work? Is your home life disrupted? Did you just have triplets?! So many things can cause stress, and stress is a huge factor in excessive hair loss. Chilling out a bit, finding your zen, and just taking some time to be alone for 10 minutes a day can greatly reduce stress and help your hair become healthy again.

 

Hair strain

 

Maybe it’s time to look at your routine when you’re getting ready. Showering and washing your hair multiple times a day can actually cause damage to your hair, causing it to fall out in a more irregular pattern. Look at your products you’re using, and look at how you’re using them. See this previous blog for things to avoid in your hair products! You may also want to look at how you’re styling your hair. Hairdos like tight braids or ponytails can cause massive tension on your hair, literally removing it from your scalp if left in too long. Use those styles sparingly and for short amounts of time!

 

What are you eating?

 

Your diet is also a big factor in your hair health. Vegetables, protein, and essential vitamins such as D, E, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioton play a large role in not only your hair staying on your head, but the shine and strength of it! Keep eating those greens, and make sure you’re getting enough protein!

 

Rest up

 

A good night’s sleep is essential in hair health! The body rejuvenates, heals, and recovers from hardships during your sleep cycle. It’s recommended we get 6-9 hours of sleep tonight, with the ideal time frame being 7-8 hours. This lets your body cycle through REM sleep for an appropriate amount of time to not only keep you from being groggy in the morning, but to help your body, and your hair, be as healthy as possible!

 

If you’re still shedding hair excessively, you may want to consider giving Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth a call! We offer free consultations and multiple treatments to help figure out your issue and a solution! Get your life and your hair back! Call Apollo today!

Cancer Survivor Month

First and foremost, congratulations to all the women and men who have been diagnosed with and beaten cancer. Any time someone hears that diagnosis, it’s terrifying and can take a huge toll on someone’s mental health. A total of 1,762,450 new cancer cases and 606,880 deaths from cancer are expected to occur in the US in 2019 (https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/facts-and-figures-2019.html). While cancer is a relentless killer, there is still good news. Over the last 25 years, deaths from cancer have dropped 27%. There are multiple reasons why, including reduced smoking, early diagnosis due to better imaging and technology, and better treatment due to the same.

 

Scary stuff. But Cancer Survivor Month exists for a reason! So, instead of writing a blog with witty advice, puns, and humor. I’ll provide you with links to very important information on cancer and cancer awareness.

 

The American Association for Cancer Research provides a fantastic write up on breast cancer and the month of June being Cancer Survivor Month. This link provides everything from contacting Congress to making the most out of your attempts at breast cancer awareness. It also has a link to donate to research and joining the community. It’s truly a one stop shop for all things Cancer Survivor Month.

 

The Jimmy V Foundation is a prolific non-profit in honor of Jimmy Valvano, a college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster. This page contains testimonies from survivors in honor of this month. Bring the kleenex. Also, if you haven’t seen Jimmy V’s ESPY speech, I highly recommend it. It’s one of the greatest and most famous acceptance speeches of all time.

 

New Hope Medical Center has a really good write up on National Cancer Survivor Month. It discusses who the survivors are, and keeps it optimistic with news of hope and living after cancer. I recommend the read if you’re feeling down.

 

And of course, we take part in this celebratory month as well. While we don’t actually treat cancer, we can definitely help you with confidence. If you’ve been through chemotherapy and your having symptoms of thinning hair and baldness due to the chemo, Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth offers fantastic wigs of all kinds. These wigs can help your self confidence and look beautiful on everyone. Don’t get down about thinning hair and balding due to chemotherapy. There are always solutions, and we’re here for you!

 

Huge congratulations again to those who have beaten any type of cancer. That’s a huge feat in life, and there isn’t a soul that isn’t proud of you. For those who are still diagnosed, keep fighting, and lean on friends and family for support. We have faith in your condition and know that battle can be won! Good luck to everyone who is suffering from this terrible disease, and we look forward to your win!

Tips to Prevent Hair Breakage

Your hair is going to break. There’s no completely stopping it. Whether your hair is breaking from brushing/combing it, applying too much heat, or using chemicals on it, it’s going to happen. But there’s good news.. you can reduce how much breakage you’re seeing in your hair!

 

So why is your hair breaking? There could be a thousands answers to this question, but the main ones are the reasons I already mentioned. Overbrushing or aggressive brushing can cause your hair to break, and so can using too much heat. Using flat irons and curling irons, and even hair dryers, can dry your hair out and damage it, causing it to break over time, especially in people with longer hair. And finally, using certain types of shampoo can be damaging to your hair. Multiple chemicals can be found in different shampoos, such as sulfates and isopropyl alcohols. These chemicals can dry your hair out, strip all oils (even the natural ones), and really do some serious damage. Read more about that on this previous blog! But how can you prevent hair breakage?

 

Be gentle when you brush or comb your hair. Brushing your hair is basically the process of detangling it after (or before) a long day of your hair enduring the elements. Aggressively brushing can rip hair in half, or even out. So be mindful when you’re detangling, and be sure not to force or rip at your hair!

 

Use a microfiber towel! Regular bath towels can grab hold of your hair like velcro and break it. It’s basically giving your hair a beating, and you can prevent that by switching to a microfiber towel and pat it dry! Or you could go the natural drying method if you have the time!

 

Moisturize! Just as our skin needs moisturizing, so does your hair. There are thousands of moisturizing hair masks and creams you can use to help give your hair that beautiful, healthy shine and look. Or you can whip up some DIY hair moisturizers if you’re feeling up to it!

 

Do a bi-weekly deep condition! Give your hair the nurtients and nourishment it needs with a deep condition. It moisturizes your hair, and is arguably the best way to prevent breakage!

 

There are so many other ways to prevent breakage, but overall, it’s a matter of just taking care of your hair, not being too rough with it, and treating it as something special. Not everyone has hair to take care of, so don’t take yours for granted!

 

Are you someone who’s dealing with thinning, breaking, or balding? Contact Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth today for your free consultation on how to prevent these issues and get your hair and life back!