Naiem Issa, MD, PhD, FAAD, Discusses Holistic Hair Loss Treatments at SBS 2025

At the 2025 South Beach Symposium in Miami Beach, Naiem Issa, MD, PhD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology in Vienna, Virginia, discussed the holistic approach to treating hair loss. In an interview with Dermatology Times, Issa, who also serves as the director of clinical trials for Forefront and holds academic positions at the University of Miami, George Washington University, and West Virginia University, emphasized the importance of combining medical and interventional therapies in managing hair loss.

Issa stated, "Medical and interventional therapies don't have to be mutually exclusive. I always look at them as in tandem, because certain people want certain things." He explained that the approach should focus on both stimulating hair growth and maintaining scalp health. According to Issa, every patient’s needs and preferences vary, and treatment plans should be personalized to accommodate those differences. Options range from medical therapies to procedural interventions such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy, and hair transplants.

Discussing PRP therapy, Issa described it as "quite an effective approach." However, he acknowledged the variations in its preparation, noting that "there are different ways of preparing PRP depending on how you centrifuge it, what is activating the platelet component." While numerous studies highlight the benefits of PRP, inconsistencies exist in determining the best protocols. Despite this, Issa reported that he utilizes PRP therapy for approximately 95% of his hair loss patients, provided they are suitable candidates. He cautioned that PRP should not be used for individuals with contraindications such as hemophilia or metastatic malignancies.

Regarding scarring alopecia, Issa categorized it as a challenging condition due to its inflammatory nature. He explained that treatment should address 2 primary factors: reducing inflammation and promoting hair regeneration. "Think of them as 2 buckets," he said. Treatment often involves topical or oral anti-inflammatory medications, alongside regenerative techniques such as PRP or microneedling. However, he warned of the potential risk of "kebnerization," where certain interventions paradoxically exacerbate the disease.

Issa also highlighted emerging treatments for scarring alopecia, including laser and light therapies such as narrow-band UVB, as well as implant pylars. He expressed optimism about newer techniques involving mesenchymal stem cells derived from hair follicles. "There's some data out there, but there's more to come in the future," he noted, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to refine and optimize these treatment strategies.

Overall, Issa underscored the necessity of a patient-centered, evidence-based approach to hair loss treatment. By integrating various therapeutic options, clinicians can better tailor interventions to meet individual patient needs while advancing the field of dermatology through continued research.

Dermatology Times staff are onsite at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel for South Beach Symposium 2025. Subscribe to our eNewsletter for the latest in expert insights, exclusive interviews, and late-breaking data.

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