Interview : Amy Forman Taub, MD, FAAD and James Bartholomeusz, Founders of KeraFactor
Written by Complexion-Me
Amy Forman Taub, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist who founded Advanced Dermatology and skinfo® Specialty Skincare Boutique in Lincolnshire, Illinois in February of 2003 and Glencoe, Illinois in September of 2013. Dr. Taub’s practice philosophy is one of active collaboration with her patients. While she likes being on the cutting edge of technological and medical innovations, Dr. Taub carefully evaluates the scientific principles and safety of new treatments and procedures she makes available to her patients.As a consultant to leading laser and drug companies, Dr. Taub also educates and trains physicians from all over the country to provide cosmetic and laser procedures. Dr. Taub is a member (Fellow) of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), the American Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine (ASLMS), the Chicago Dermatologic Society, the Dermatologic & Aesthetic Surgery International League (DASIL), and the Illinois State Dermatologic Society. Dr. Taub is also a member of the Leaders Society, Dermatology Foundation, on the Advisory Council, Skin Cancer Foundation, on the industry advisory council (ASDS), and an Allergan Medical Facial Aesthetic Speaker and Trainer. In 2003, Dr. Taub was inducted into Amonette Circle and the Robins Fund for the Advancement of Mohs Micrographic Surgery for The Skin Cancer Foundation.
James Bartholomeusz is a native of Brisbane, Australia and has worked in the medical aesthetic industry for the last 20 years. James moved to Los Angeles, California to lead new product development for Syneron Inc. During this time James was promoted to Global VP of Product Development and has over seen the creation and development of all of Syneron-Candela new products including various body contouring technologies and skin treatment applications including the world’s first fractional RF device and many other industry leading energy based devices. Post his run as head of product development at Candela, James has consulted for some of the largest aesthetic device manufactures including Cutera and Lutronic. In 2013, due to his own issues with scalp health leading to hair loss, James starting working on a specific scalp stimulating formula using unique biomimetic growth factors for hair and scalp heath. In 2015, he founded SkinQRI with Dr. Amy Taub to commercialize the product under the brand name KeraFactor. In 2019 James became the CTO of Lutronic Aesthetics. James serves as the CEO of SkinQRI, he continues to invest time and resources in optimizing clinical outcomes and new product development.
1) Could you tell us a bit more how why you both decided to create your product line?
James Bartholomeusz: I had experience very bad hair loss in 2012 and looked at all the options and tried most of them and wasn’t satisfised with the lack of scientific approach to hair loss and more importantly improving the scalp to foster thicker and fuller looking hair
Dr. Amy Taub: I was frustrated with the choices for hair loss when so many patients truly suffer with it. My greatest satisfaction as a physician is to make people better and the available treatments were not working well enough. Also, a targeted scientific approach was important to me in an arena where there have been overly hyped products going back more than a century!
2) How do you think Kerafactor compares to other hair loss products in the market?
James Bartholomeusz: Very unique as it is the only approach the uses 7 bio-synthetic and identical growth factor that are designed to address the specific deficiencies in a poor un healthy scalp. Most other products are drugs like minoxidil or are herbal and plant extracts.
Dr. Amy Taub: Kerafactor is a very sophisticated one of a kind product. It utilizes a combination of synthetic growth factors that were only recently available due to the complexity of manufacturing. Some products contain one or a couple of these elements but none contain all elements needed for hair growth.
3) What are the top hair loss concerns and how can Kerafactor help?
James Bartholomeusz: Generally thinning, lack of volume and strength. And it can help mostly anyone as long as the reason for the thinning and hair loss is under control. For example hormonal loss must be under control and once the loss is slowed, KeraFactor can help rebuild.
Dr. Amy Taub: Hair loss, lack of hair manageability due to thin hairs are the number one complaints. Hair loss is a complex medical condition ;some causes are autoimmune ( such as alopecia areata and lichen planopilaris ) and these would not be helped. The most common causes of hair loss such as stress or pregnancy induced (telegenic effluvium) and aging associated hair loss ( androgenetic alopecia) can be targeted. Also just hair that is kind of lifeless or damaged could be improved with the products.
4) Has the way you think about hair concerns changed during the pandemic? How so?
James Bartholomeusz: We just see a lot more people presenting with poor scalp and hair health both men and women.
Dr. Amy Taub: Hair loss has become a huge reasons for visits in the dermatology office, although I think it started before the pandemic. People looking at themselves on zoom and stress induced hair loss could explain the increased interest. Also work from home has allowed more people to visit the doctor during the day
5) For someone who’s new to Kerafactor, what’s the one product you’d want them to try?
James Bartholomeusz: The best starting point is the combo kit, since it includes everything you need to get started. Scalp circulation is one of the most if not the most important aspect to improve for scalp and hair health. The combo kit allows you to easily be exposed to all our proprietary GF’s with shampoo& conditioner, daily high concentration solution anf most important the scalp stimulating brush.
Dr. Amy Taub: I would say for men the shampoo/conditioner and for women the solution. Many men like easy and women often have favorite shampoos and might be less amenable to switching, although the key is to use it into the scalp for a minute so you could use your own shampoo after it. I use it as the conditioner step as I have found it really works as both and I have been traditionally picky about hair products.
6) For someone already on medical treatment (Minoxidil and/or oral finasteride) how would you recommend adding this into their routine?
James Bartholomeusz: As stated before, the way to get the most from KeraFactor products is to already have a stable scalp condition. KeraFactor does not directly stop hair from falling out, provides a ability to be combined with any hair loss product for maximum results.
Dr. Amy Taub: Hair loss is difficult to treat- the more the merrier! There is no reason to have to discontinue any other product for hair that one already has.
7) Lastly, what are your top tips for healthy hair?
James Bartholomeusz: Ensure you are eating or taking the correct vitamins to assist with strong and healthy production of keratin. As said before scalp circulation is key, so massage, hot water and scalp stimulating brushing are imperative.
Dr. Amy Taub: Make sure to get enough iron in your diet. So many people have abandoned meat for health concerns, but it is one of the best ways to get iron. Our bodies need iron to make hair every single day. If you are having a problem, see a dermatologist!
