Seeing Peach Fuzz with Proper Lighting

[JamesOrr]

As I've used the laser comb, I've tried to see progress using the bathroom mirror. I assume most users do that as well. However, I couldn't see much of any results—especially the mysterious "peach fuzz" that's supposed to precede the more demonstrative results. I was getting a bit discouraged until I was driving today and stopped at a red light. I just happened to have my visor down with the mirror open and a looked up at my hairline. There was the peach fuzz plain as day.

When I returned home to examine my hairline in the bathroom, I couldn't see it, so apparently lighting has a huge part to do with seeing the initial results. Here's a photo of my hairline featuring a photo snapped from the car during the day and then one at home in the bathroom just a little while ago. The difference is noticeable.

NOTE: I had been to the gym wearing a hat so after sweating, my hairline is much more disheveled than the earlier shot.

I hope this encourages someone to not give up.

James

[LAS]

Hi James -

Thank you for your post.

It is gratifying to see the early results you are experiencing and we are sure that your experience will be very motivating to users of the HairMax. Those 'peach fuzz' hair you are seeing are the vellus or telogen hairs which will be shed to make way for the thicker terminal hairs.

We would be interested to know at what point in treatment you are seeing these results.

Your post and pictures do reinforce the need to use the HairMax as directed and for AT LEAST 20 weeks to judge results.

We hope that you will keep us informed as you progress through treatment.

Thanks again, and we wish you success in your further treatment with the HairMax LaserComb.

LAS

Visit the website: http://www.hairmax.com
Follow us: http://www.facebook.com/hairmax
Access the HairMax Blog: http://hairmaxlasercomb.blogspot.com
Online ordering of the HairMax LaserComb: http://www.hairmaxestore.com

[JamesOrr]

Hi James -

Thank you for your post.

It is gratifying to see the early results you are experiencing and we are sure that your experience will be very motivating to users of the HairMax. Those 'peach fuzz' hair you are seeing are the vellus or telogen hairs which will be shed to make way for the thicker terminal hairs.

We would be interested to know at what point in treatment you are seeing these results.

Your post and pictures do reinforce the need to use the HairMax as directed and for AT LEAST 20 weeks to judge results.

We hope that you will keep us informed as you progress through treatment.

Thanks again, and we wish you success in your further treatment with the HairMax LaserComb.

LAS

Visit the website: http://www.hairmax.com
Follow us: http://www.facebook.com/hairmax
Access the HairMax Blog: http://hairmaxlasercomb.blogspot.com
Online ordering of the HairMax LaserComb: http://www.hairmaxestore.com

I was not aware that the vellus hairs will also shed. That's good to know. Is there any information about that on your site that I can read up on?

As for the length of my treatment, this is where it gets interesting. I actually started in October of last year, and I've kept it up faithfully using the laser comb 3 times per week. The only results I'd seen over this length of time was that my hair appeared darker in some places. Other than that, the regular shedding of my hair—the hair loss that motivated me to get the laser comb—continued. That's why I thought it was not working for me.

However, since I hadn't looked at my scalp in the daylight as I did in the photo above, I really can't say what was transpiring earlier. Having said that, about a month and a half ago I did order the shampoo, conditioner, scalp treatment, vitamins, package and started to use those as directed. I guess there's the possibility that the scalp treatment in particular was cleansing me in such a way that made the laser treatment more effective, and maybe that's why I'm seeing these vellus hairs. I really can't say. Only time will tell.

As it stands, other than my hair appearing darker, seeing a few thicker hairs (which I can't confirm if they are the result of using the laser comb), and the peach fuzz, I can't say I've seen anything else. My hair continues to shed at the volume it always has, and my overall scalp is much more visible than even 8-9 months ago.

The laser comb was recommended to me after a free consultation with a hair restoration specialist back in October of 2011. They also prescribed Finasteride (half dosage daily), but I immediately experienced ***ual side effects, so I stopped taking it after a couple weeks. My hope was that the laser comb would be enough.

I'm 46 years-old, and I can't say my thinning is typical male patterned baldness. Standing in a room without bright overhead lighting, you wouldn't initially notice the hair loss, but if you got up close, it's very noticeable. In the bathroom, it's quite noticeable. In fact, I'm basically at the critical stage to where if I can continue shedding at this rate, I'll probably have to shave my head by the end of the year. I won't do transplants since they require heavy maintenance that includes more medication.

Anyway, I'd like to learn more about the vellus stage, if you have that information. My hope is that the appearance of the vellus hairs is a positive indication that something is happening. If the use of scalp treatments, etc., had purged me of such things as maybe a sebum build up, and thereby made the laser comb more effective at stimulating the follicles, then that may put me on a different timeline going back about six weeks. I really don't know. It's all trial and error.

Any advice or information would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[LAS]

Hi James Orr -

Thank you for your post.

This reference, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1070167-is a excellent overview of hair loss, authored by a noted dermatologist from Columbia University and should tell you everything you need to know from an academic point of view (that is - not based on actual experience of those treating their hair loss). (The terms telogen hairs and vellus hairs are interchangable terms to describe fine, wispy hairs).

It is important to realize that the HairMax not only promotes hair growth, but also prevents further hair loss. In your case, since you say that you hair loss is not noticeable to others, it may very well be that the HairMax is helping you retain the hair you have. Also, you do continue to go through the normal hair cycles when on the HairMax which can also cause hair loss. You might want to add minoxidil to your regimen as that drug has a difference mechanism of action than the HairMax and results should be synergized by using both. It is also important to keep your scalp very clean as excess oiliness can harbor bacteria that can contribute to hair loss. Use of specific hair health vitamins such as the HairMax Healthy Hair Vitamins can be a big help, too.


We also recommend that you look through the postings on this site to see results that other have achieved. You will notice that there is no predictable time frame to see maximal results with some reporting results after 2 years or more of continuous use.

We wish you success in your further use of the HairMax LaserComb.

LAS

Visit the website: http://www.hairmax.com
Follow us: http://www.facebook.com/hairmax
Access the HairMax Blog: http://hairmaxlasercomb.blogspot.com
Online ordering of the HairMax LaserComb: http://www.hairmaxestore.com

[JamesOrr]

Hi James Orr -

Thank you for your post.

This reference, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1070167-is a excellent overview of hair loss, authored by a noted dermatologist from Columbia University and should tell you everything you need to know from an academic point of view (that is - not based on actual experience of those treating their hair loss). (The terms telogen hairs and vellus hairs are interchangable terms to describe fine, wispy hairs).

It is important to realize that the HairMax not only promotes hair growth, but also prevents further hair loss. In your case, since you say that you hair loss is not noticeable to others, it may very well be that the HairMax is helping you retain the hair you have. Also, you do continue to go through the normal hair cycles when on the HairMax which can also cause hair loss. You might want to add minoxidil to your regimen as that drug has a difference mechanism of action than the HairMax and results should be synergized by using both. It is also important to keep your scalp very clean as excess oiliness can harbor bacteria that can contribute to hair loss. Use of specific hair health vitamins such as the HairMax Healthy Hair Vitamins can be a big help, too.


We also recommend that you look through the postings on this site to see results that other have achieved. You will notice that there is no predictable time frame to see maximal results with some reporting results after 2 years or more of continuous use.

We wish you success in your further use of the HairMax LaserComb.

LAS

Visit the website: http://www.hairmax.com
Follow us: http://www.facebook.com/hairmax
Access the HairMax Blog: http://hairmaxlasercomb.blogspot.com
Online ordering of the HairMax LaserComb: http://www.hairmaxestore.com

I was confused by your statement that the "peach fuzz" was actually vellus hairs on their way to falling out because that seems to contradict what your web site says are typical results for "Weeks 8-12":

Consistent with our clinical data, many of users start seeing noticeable hair growth in a few weeks. It may start with small “peach fuzz” like hairs sprouting from the scalp, and may also include a general thickening of the hair you have.

That quote seems to say that the potential new hair growth starts with the vellus hairs, but it's not clear that it actually means—according to what you wrote me—those fine hairs are not new growth, but hair on its way out. You guys might consider rewording that, because I think most people will assume that the vellus hairs ARE new growth, i.e., actual new baby hairs.

[LAS]

Hi James Orr -

Thank you for your post.

I will try to clarify what I said before about "peach fuzz". Many, many times the hair follicles are dormant and there are no hairs growing form the hair follicles. The HairMax can 'wake up' these dormant follicles and stimulate regrowth. However, when the follicles 'wake up' and before they start to produce thicker terminal hair, you will notice hairs that are in the follicle deep with the skin coming out of your scalp initially as vellus hair and they will be followed by thickened hair. You may not notice the shedding of these hairs because the shedding may occur at different time points, or if many are in the same time point then you will notice the shedding.

That is why we have the statement: "Consistent with our clinical data, many of users start seeing noticeable hair growth in a few weeks. It may start with small “peach fuzz” like hairs sprouting from the scalp, and may also include a general thickening of the hair you have." Notice that in this statement if you see fine wispy or 'peach fuzz" hairs, that these are the vellus hairs that will be followed by the thicker hairs grow which results in "general thickening of the hair you have."

The term 'peach fuzz' always refers to the fine, miniaturized hairs of androgenetic alopecia, whether you start to see them when the HairMax initially begins to work in the dormant follicles, or when they are visible on the scalp before treatment.

I hope this clarifies the statement and we wish you success in your use of the HairMax LaserComb.

LAS

Visit the website: http://www.hairmax.com
Follow us: http://www.facebook.com/hairmax
Access the HairMax Blog: http://hairmaxlasercomb.blogspot.com
Online ordering of the HairMax LaserComb: http://www.hairmaxestore.com

[roy]

I have been using Laser comb now for almost 4 months. A month later after using it , I added Hair Care bundle to my regimen. In order to boost the result, last month I started using minoxidile. But now I am having a itchy scalp with dandruff and extreme scalp irritation. Should I keep using all three together?

[LAS]

Hi Roy -

Thank you for your post.

It seems that by using the HairMax and minoxidil together, you are probably increasing the blood supply to your scalp and this might be the cause of the resulting itching. This is a good sign that the HairMax is beginning to exert its effect. Also, now that the new hairs are probably growing, they are helping to clean out the hair duct, so you may be experiencing more dandruff from the oil in the gland. We suggest that you continue to use both the HairMax, minoxidil, and the hair care products, but that you also include an anti-dandruff/ anti-itch product such as Nizoril Shampoo a few times a week after you use the HairMax. This should help control the dandruff and also help relieve the itching.

If you are using the HairMax like a comb you could be irritating your scalp. We suggest that you part the hair and apply the laser to one area, then when you hear the beep, you pick up the device and put it on the next area rather than gliding the teeth over your scalp.

We wish you success in your use of the HairMax LaserComb.

LAS

Visit the website: http://www.hairmax.com
Follow us: http://www.facebook.com/hairmax
Access the HairMax Blog: http://hairmaxlasercomb.blogspot.com
Online ordering of the HairMax LaserComb: http://www.hairmaxestore.com