Hair Treatment: Personalized Hair Loss Treatment with the Genetic Test TrichoTest
Rubenhair Hair Transplantation and Skin Health Clinic is a leading clinic in Latvia and the Baltics, known for its innovative solutions over 11 years. It has started a strategic partnership with the genetic testing laboratory Fagron Genomics, one of the world’s leading companies.
Hair is an essential part of our identity, shaping our self-perception and affecting our psychological well-being. The complex hair growth cycle consists of growth (anagen), transition (catagen), and rest (telogen) phases, after which hair falls out, and the cycle restarts at the anagen phase. Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs daily due to this natural process. Alopecia, characterized by hair loss, disrupts this finely balanced cycle. The main types of scalp alopecia are androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium.
Alopecia treatment includes a wide range of options, and it is valuable to conduct genetic testing before starting therapy to predict the patient’s response to alopecia treatment medications. Alopecia type and stage, current medications, pathologies, intolerance, allergies, and physiological and emotional stress are considered using the Fagron TrichoTest™ hair health test.
What is Fagron TrichoTest™ and how does it work?
Fagron TrichoTest™ is a revolutionary approach to personalized hair loss treatment, developed with the latest genetics and pharmaceutical care solutions. But what exactly is this hair health test and how does it work?
TrichoTest™ is an innovative genetic test designed to understand the complex dynamics of hair loss. Its primary goal is to tailor alopecia treatment to each patient individually, eliminating the drawbacks of a one-size-fits-all approach and moving towards personalized treatment.
TrichoTest™ explores genetic information containing human DNA, specifically analyzing 26 genetic variations in 23 genes known to affect hair growth and hair loss. These genes act as biomarkers, providing valuable insights into the patient’s potential response to different alopecia treatment methods.
However, when conducting TrichoTest™, it is understood that genetics is not the only determinant of hair health. Many external factors such as lifestyle, diet, stress levels, medications, and other health factors significantly influence hair growth and loss. A detailed questionnaire must be filled out, which includes these important aspects of the patient’s history and current circumstances.
The TrichoTest™ report forms the basis for a personalized treatment plan, recommending the most suitable active pharmaceutical substances and treatment methods that, based on the patient’s unique genetic profile and personal history, are likely to be effective.
What types of alopecia does the test address?
TrichoTest™ is specifically designed to treat androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium with the help of its information.
Androgenic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness, is a common progressive hair loss condition affecting both men and women. Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, causes patchy hair loss on the scalp or even the entire body. Finally, telogen effluvium is a temporary hair loss form typically triggered by stress, traumatic events, or hormonal changes, often after childbirth.
TrichoTest™ provides information to assess each of these conditions, identifying the unique genetic and lifestyle factors that may contribute to hair loss, and recommends the best treatment methods for hair loss professionals.
How can genetics affect patient treatment and quality of life?
The human genome is a rich source of information containing genetic details about the organism’s structure, life processes, and response to the environment. It influences how our bodies react to various substances, including medications. In the context of hair loss, understanding genetic factors can significantly improve treatment outcomes, and this is where the value of Fagron TrichoTest™ becomes evident.
Genetics plays a crucial role in determining our unique biological responses. By understanding an individual’s genetic composition, healthcare professionals can adjust the treatment course to meet the specific needs and potential reactions of this individual. This process, known as personalized medicine, can optimize treatment effectiveness, reduce the risk of possible side effects, and is now applied in the field of alopecia treatment using Fagron TrichoTest™.
TrichoTest™ analyzes key genes scientifically linked to hair loss and hair health. The test information can provide predictions about how the patient might respond to different treatment options. For example, if a person’s genetic profile indicates increased sensitivity to a particular medication, healthcare professionals can adjust the dosage or choose an alternative treatment that may be more effective or cause fewer side effects. This way, healthcare professionals can make the best treatment decisions based on data, which are specifically tailored to the patient’s genetic profile, increasing the likelihood of successful treatment.
Alopecia treatment effectiveness is not absolute, and medication must be used for at least 4 to 6 months to observe improvements, and it should be used long-term to maintain the response. Hair loss medications such as Minoxidil and Finasteride are widely used. The effectiveness of Minoxidil in the general population is still relatively low, at around 30-40%. While Finasteride stops hair loss in about 87% of men, only 11% achieve significant hair regrowth.
Due to the significant time and financial investment in treatment and the potential low response level, initial biomarker analysis for hair loss helps precisely determine the patient’s response before starting treatment. Many polymorphisms that determine the potential response to alopecia treatments have been defined, but none are used individually in clinical practice. For example, the Sulfotransferase enzyme (SULT1A1) precisely determines the patient’s response and effectiveness to Minoxidil use.
Each country aims to foster a well-informed community of healthcare professionals who can implement personalized medicine for optimal patient care. Essentially, by incorporating genetics and medication effectiveness testing into patient treatment, healthcare professionals can precisely identify the medications that will provide the best treatment results, improving quality of life and prolonging life for people overall.
Contacts:
Hair Treatment Clinic Rubenhair
Republikas laukums 3, LV-1010 Riga
Tel / WhatsApp: +371 26777776
