Anthony Pearce Trichology - Female + General Hair Loss Authority

07/08/2025

Two continually emerging factors that potentially and adversely influence you the client-consumer and myself the qualified specialist practitioner are:

1. Online mailed-to-your-door treatment products: topical lotions, supplements, ‘one-pill-suits-all medication such as ‘hairy pills/hair more’ drugs.

2. The AI explosion which now allows operators with NO qualifications in Trichology to generate websites and AI articles to create a veneer of expertise and ‘cash-in’ on unsuspecting, desperate people they might lure in.

Why these issues are generally not in the consumer’s interest are:
1. Mail-order treatments cannot and are not prescribed to the person’s individual needs. Most pre-suppose all hair loss conditions are genetic or stress-induced, whereas the nuances to the cause/s behind each woman’s thinning scalp hair (or scalp) concerns are as varied as the treatment offerings themselves.

As a small business operator with 30 years’ experience in the hair loss industry, I am always interested in assessing any new treatments or innovations I might offer my clients – but only if they have proven efficacy and are appropriate to my client’s needs.

We see almost every social media treatment usually presented by some persuasive, glamorous or medical influencer with a ‘sketchy’ personal back-story guaranteeing money-back success within a short timeframe.

Influencer explanations for hair loss tend to alter over time – currently it seems to be a ‘pre-maturely ageing scalp’ – a hypothesis I don’t subscribe to. The active ingredients in their ‘revolutionary’ new formulas tend to be a re-mix aromatherapy/essential oils, or some impressively named scientific additive that non-one has heard of.

2. Detecting an AI generated website, authorative interest articles, false facilities, offered services and even staff numbers would be extremely difficult for the average consumer anxious to find answers … but the clues are there if you diligently search the given address, reviews, and even peruse posted articles.

I have seen up to fifty articles ‘written’ and posted with the same date stamp – just not possible if the writer is researching and composing their own material.

The consumer may also suspect the consultant is ‘parroting’ a presentation with seemingly little knowledge outside of this. Disappointingly not even some doctors hide their reliance on AI diagnoses, seeking ‘answers’ while the client looks on.

Why mail-order treatments and AI are ‘at odds’ with experienced, qualified practitioners:
• Apart from the obvious: clients don’t need to consult an experienced practitioner if they feel they can ‘mail order’ treatments to their door. My experience is clients RARELY EVER feel they’ve resolved their hair, or scalp worries through mail order treatments.

They ARE, however, often disillusioned and frustrated with unfulfilled product promises, time and money wasted. This frequently leads to an understandable cynicism that the practitioner is able to help them.

• Passionate, researchers and topic writers like myself are increasingly vulnerable to having our copyright material harvested and regurgitated through AI to either become ‘another’s’ subject matter, or the AI platforms use one’s work to ‘educate’ algorithms without permission or credit for the original article.

Online sales and the emerging AI ‘revolution’ is an ever-increasingly part of society’s psyche today – for good or ill. I simply ask readers to appreciate that the complex workings of our body require more than some elementary scalp lotion or single pill.

Copyright – Anthony Pearce 2025.

24/07/2025

DS Laboratories Revita Shampoo & Conditioner

Is an advanced hair thickening + strengthening shampoo & conditioner, containing caffeine, DHT blockers + biotin to support scalp hair growth. Revita HP range is SLS/SLES sulfate & paraben-free. We sell the Revita Shampoo & Conditioner, if you wish to purchase them or other DS Lab products, please contact Anthony Pearce Trichology www.hairlossclinic.com.au, mobile 0416141886 or we can help you find out what's driving your hair loss.

30/06/2025

If you've been prescribed a PPI for reflux or other stomach issues you should read this:

26/05/2025

DYI topical 'home' treatment:

Caffeine as an additive to topical hair treatment products has increasingly become vogue. Caffeine is mostly touted as a DHT inhibitor in scalp pattern thinning conditions, but it can be solely used as a topical hair follicle stimulant which also promotes a more rapid ‘turnover’ of skin cells in much the same way as an exfoliant.

Do-it-yourself topical caffeine treatment:
1. Use ground coffee beans dissolved to a double, triple or even quadruple expresso ‘short black’ strength in a shot cup (1).
2. Apply mixture at room temperature (2) to pre-washed, clean hair, pouring small amounts to the scalp and massage in; vigorous or prolonged massaging not needed.
3. Once all the shot glass contents have been applied across the top of the scalp and/or to other areas of concern, wrap or ‘towel-up’ hair and leave on for a number of hours or overnight. If you are leaving caffeine mixture overnight, sleep on an old pillowcase in the event the caffeine coffee stains your bedding.
4. Rinse, shampoo and condition your hair in the morning as per your usual routine.
5. A once-weekly caffeine coffee application is sufficient, improved follicle hair growth should be evident within 90 days (3).

1. Commence as double or triple shot strength if you feel you have a sensitive scalp. Wash out immediately if any irritation experienced.
2. As with any female scalp hair loss situation, underlying pathology should always be assessed for nutritional-metabolic-hormonal deficiency or disturbance.
3. Topical caffeine mixture should be applied at room or tepid temperate only, NEVER as a ‘hot coffee’ you would drink otherwise you risk burning your scalp and/or face.
4. Please note: this DIY home topical treatment is only for those experiencing modest thinning of their scalp hair density or for excess hair fall, it is NOT intended for those with overt balding or baldness.

Copyright Anthony Pearce 2025.

09/05/2025

The (off-label) injections for weight loss: Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro do come with manufacturer listed side-effects, but they deny hair loss is caused directly by the drug use. Some patients however believe differently ... to read more:
https://hairlossclinic.com.au/glp-1-agonists-weight-loss-injections-and-hair-loss/

30/12/2024

Depo-provera (aka: medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a synthetic hormone injection administered quarterly for female contraception and the treatment of endometriosis. Long-term administration of Depo-provera has now been linked to an increased risk of brain tumours; a five times greater risk in a French study of female participants.

My observations over 25 years are EVERY female I have seen who has been prescribed this drug have experienced significant loss of hair density and quality of their hair.

Simply put: because our hair is a barometer of inner health and body balance, any drug that 'trashes' hair growth and hair quality cannot be a positive thing for the body.

16/09/2024

How one’ s Faith may influence scalp hair density – an ‘interest article.'
Just as one’s ethnicity can predispose an individual to particular health conditions, so might one’s faith/religious beliefs.
Women of Islamic devotions who veil (1) will usually reveal Vitamin D deficiency; culturally -Muslim families are inclined to have larger families – so the woman’s iron stores, B12 and other nutrients often tend to be depleted.
I am unaware if any population studies have shown Ramadan to adversely affect devotees’ nutrient or hair status, but as fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam any temporary discomfort would be considered of little consequence to a practicing Muslim.
Practicing Hindu women and men are lacto-vegetarian and believed to have the lowest per capita levels of Vitamin D of any ethnic group (Goswami et al: 2009). Depleted iron stores, B12, Vitamin D with increased incidence of thyroid gland dysfunction are regularly seen in this racial group.
Vitamin D, iron, iodine and zinc are four of the most important nutrients for optimal metabolic functioning, and females are inclined to deficient in these elements more so than males.
Hormonal changes during the stages of menopause increases a woman’s risk of insulin resistance and autoimmune issues such as thyroiditis and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) (3).
Dietary or cultural mores in other faiths may also negatively impact on an individual’s nutrient stores or hair density but I am not familiar enough with them to comment.
Copyright Anthony Pearce 2024.
1. Wearing the Hijab or Burka.
2. See article: Thinning scalp hair in Indian + sub-continent women https://hairlossclinic.com.au/thinning-scalp-hair-in-indian-and-sub/
3. Usually seen in women 70 years plus. https://hairlossclinic.com.au/understanding-fibrosing-alopecia/

Frontal fibrosing alopecia can be a devastating diagnosis for post-menopausal women because it's a potentially permanent hair loss condition, and treatment options are limited.

28/06/2024

Isotretinoin (aka: Roaccutane) is a commonly prescribed oral treatment for teenage acne - but what are the risks:

Isotretinoin is a commonly prescribed medical treatment for cystic acne in young people, but what are the risks?

13/06/2024

Activance Rhodanide has proven itself to be a reliable, effective and versatile topical treatment for thinning scalp hair for the past 20 years. Anthony Pearce Trichology is a select practitioner stockist for Clinician Formula - the most intense treatment of the range. For further information please contact us https://hairlossclinic.com.au/

What is Rhodanide?Naturally produced by our bodies, Rhodanide is vital to the biology of all living cells and fluids of micro-organisms in both plants and an...

05/06/2024

Cortisol and Melatonin are two of the body's most important hormones but are rarely assessed (or assessed correctly). Here is an overview of what they are, what they do, and their critical roles in body functioning:

Overviewing Cortisol, Melatonin and DHEA-s - what they are and their function within the body. Imbalances of any will reflect in the hair.

28/02/2024

I was recently interviewed by the Daily Mail (Australia) for my professional opinion on children's hair care. Here is the link to the published article:

Do you know how often you should be washing your child's hair?

12/01/2024

FODMAP – diet or FAD ..?

FODMAP is an acronym for FERMENTABLE OLIGOSACCARIDES DIASACCARIDES MONOSACCARIDES and POLYOLS.

Fructans (FOS), Galactans (GOS), Lactose, Fructose, and Polyol containing foods are all examples of FODMAP(s). Only Dietitians, Nutritionists or those working in the health sciences are likely to be familiar with the above terminologies and know the foods associated with them.

In practical terms FODMAP(s) are short chain carbohydrates poorly absorbed in pre-disposed individuals and instead ‘fermented’ by gas-producing bacteria -which then causes the Gut to be in a fermentative dysbiotic state.

Abdominal discomfort or pain, post-prandial bloating (1), frequent passing of wind, oesophageal reflux, or diarrhoea and/or constipation are signs of FODMAP sensitivity. As a syndrome these symptoms are often diagnosed as IBS (2).

• Fructans foods – all wheat-based foods where wheat is the main ingredient (3), inulin (onions and garlic), and FOS artificial fibre additives (chicory root fibre).
• Galactans – legumes (chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans), pistachios and cashews.
• Lactose – cow’s milk or products made from cow’s milk (4). If Lactose intolerance is suspected, trial A2 milk, hard cheeses, goat and/or sheep milk products.
• Fructose foods – honey, fruit juices, apples, certain melons, asparagus, green beans: pears and stone fruits are both Fructose and Sorbitol foods.
• Polyols (sorbitol/ mannitol):
o Sorbitol – stone fruits, apples, pears, or Sorbitol-derived artificial sweeteners.
o Mannitol – certain cruciferous vegetables (5) and mushrooms.

As with a gluten-free diet, the FODMAP diet also restricts food groups and may compromise optimal nutrition long-term. An experienced dietitian (6) should be consulted before attempting to be ‘FODMAP-free’. A FODMAP diet should be strictly followed for about 4-6 weeks before being reassessed by your health science professional.

(1) After eating.
(2) Irritable bowel syndrome.
(3) wheat or rye breads, cereal, pasta, beer. Sourdough and oats can be consumed in small amounts.
(4) Ice cream, yogurt, soft cheeses.
(5) Cabbages, brussels sprouts, cauliflower.
(6) Lyndal Schnabel Dietitian – 0410 151 250.

Copyright – Anthony Pearce 2024.