Propecia is the first and only FDA-approved pill demonstrated to treat male pattern hair loss.

Monday, October 30, 2006

HAIR loss can be a sensitive issue for men.

Seeing their hair grow thin and fall out, especially for young men, can lower their self-confidence, make them feel less confident and less attractive to the opposite sex.

But now bosses at High Street store Boots say they have the key to reversing the trend – and all men have to do is pop a pill.

In the Meadowhall branch of Boots, adviser Ganesh Paul says he can understand how men feel about losing their hair.

The instore pharmacist started losing his hair in his 20s.
He said: "I can empathise – I'm OK with my baldness and the people around me like it. I totally empathise with men who are coming into see me. I remember I was unhappy at 20 about losing it.

"I was really down. I shaved it off and everyone around me really likes it."
But he says if the treatment had been around when he started losing his hair he may well have used it.

He said: "When men come into the store they say they feel less attractive to the opposite sex, they feel teased by colleagues or their partner, and it does affect their self-confidence. They can also experience anxiety."

Before taking the medication, men have an assessment to see if they are suitable for the treatment, called Propecia.

The medication is for male pattern baldness – where hair starts to thin and is an inherited condition.

But the medication can help stem the loss as it works by inhibiting a hormone which leads to hair loss.

In some cases, says Ganesh, men have not just seen their hair loss slow, they have experienced some regrowth.

Digital pictures are taken before treatment starts of the man's head and are used to track the effectiveness of the medication.

Tablets cost £90 for a three-month supply and they have to be continued to maintain the hair.

As with all medication there can be side-effects which can loss of libido and erection, although the effects are said to be temporary.

Boots carried out a survey into the effects of hair loss and found it caused a lot of distress.

As many as 20 per cent of men believed that losing their hair would make them less attractive to women.

This was reflected in the results from men with little or no hair, with 17 per cent stating they feel much less attractive without hair than when they had a full head of hair.

Around a third of men had been teased as a result of their fleeing follicles and 14 per cent felt upset, angered and found that it greatly affected their self confidence.

Males aged from 25 to 34 were most affected by teasing as well as males who were divorced, separated or single.

But only a third of women believed that men losing their hair were less attractive.
Dr Martin Tovée, a psychologist from Newcastle University, said: "Hair loss can have a negative effect on men's self-confidence and their perception of their attractiveness to the opposite sex. Looking at treatment options is a good way to take an active and positive approach to the situation."

News Source: http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=1836636

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

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Mesothelioma

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Take action before it's gone

TRYING to prevent hair loss is not a new male obsession. For all we know, cavemen spent time staring into pools arranging their residual tresses into primitive comb-overs.

What is new, however, is that today's remedies actually work — at least to some extent.

If you're already losing your hair and that bugs you, the sooner you start treatment the better. "It's easier to stop losing hair, than to replace hair that's gone," says Dr. Richard Strick, a dermatologist and UCLA clinical professor of dermatology.

Before a hair follicle shuts down, it first gets smaller and produces finer hair. So when you first notice that the hair on the top of your head or at your temples is finer than the neighboring hair, see a doctor. "Once the follicle has shut down it's difficult, sometimes impossible, to re-stimulate," Strick says.

Male-pattern baldness is by far the most common cause of hair loss: By age 30, one-third of men will show some signs of this hereditary condition, which is caused by a shut-down of hair follicles in response to DHT, a byproduct of testosterone.

But there are other, treatable conditions. One is telogen effluvium, a condition in which a person starts losing hair two to four months after a trauma, such as a major operation, high fever or job loss. This condition will reverse, and hair regrow, on its own. Another is alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that triggers hair loss and affects 2% of the population at some point in life. It often responds to cortisone injections.

If your doctor determines your case is male-pattern baldness, there is, of course, the option of a transplant — and these days they offer men a very natural-looking alternative to baldness, says Dr. Craig Ziering, a Beverly Hills dermatologist who specializes in hair loss and restoration. For those who don't want to go the surgical route, two proven products — Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) — can stop or slow balding.

Rogaine, a well-studied topical solution available over the counter that is applied twice a day, is the most popular hair-loss treatment on the market. Research shows that 80% of patients who use it can expect to prevent further loss, and 80% can also expect bulked up hair, Strick says. It won't, however, restore what's gone, and results won't show up for several months.

Those sensitive to Rogaine in its traditional, solution form may find a newer product — Rogaine foam — more tolerable, says Dr. Claire Haycox, a dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the University of Washington in Seattle.

An increasingly popular treatment is Propecia, a pill available by prescription that can sometimes kick sleeping hair follicles back into production. It works by suppressing DHT. Studies show that 90% of men who take Propecia stop losing hair and grow more hair. Results usually show up in three to 12 months. Younger men do best: In a study of 253 18- to 41-year-olds, about half had significant restoration of hair follicles.

A rare but notable side effect: One in 200 men who use Propecia experiences a loss of sex drive that ranges from disinterest to impotence. Sex drive returns to normal when they stop the medication.

For both drugs, there's a caveat. Once you stop using them, you will lose all the hair you would have lost if you'd never used the product at all. "It's as if your body kept a clock and knew how much you were supposed to have lost by now," says Strick, who himself started using Rogaine when he was 46, then switched to Propecia when it became available.

As for other rays of hope, some are banking on laser devices — hand-held combs or brushes that emit low-level light. Makers of the combs claim the devices promote hair growth. Most dermatologists say this is nonsense, but Ziering thinks there may be something to it. He offers an eight-month laser treatment package in which patients sit under a hood, akin to a hairdryer, several times weekly and use a hand-held device at home in-between. "It seems to give the clinical appearance of more hair," Ziering says.

A few other over-the-counter products may help. Volumizing shampoos and conditioners can fluff up what's there. Shampoos containing zinc, such as Head & Shoulders, were found in one study to promote minimal hair growth, Haycox says. Then there's Toppik, a hair fattening product available online. Guys can spray this protein powder — which comes in eight different colors — on their hair to make it look fuller. Like mascara sticking to eyelashes, the powder binds to existing hair, holding fast until your next shampoo.

As for other so-called remedies — herbal concoctions, salves or special diets — avoid them. "Don't forgo two legitimate treatments to try something unproven, useless and possibly even damaging," Strick says. "You waste your money. But worse, you never regain the time, or the hair, you lost trying."

There's always another option: accepting your baldness. If you go that route, avoid long, compensatory ponytails or bushy beards. They don't make you look more virile. And don't drape long strands over your bald spot: There's no woman on Earth it will fool. "Be nice to us, have a good sense of humor, buy us a piece of jewelry now and then, and we'll embrace your baldness," says dermatologist Dr. Mary Lupo, medical director for the Lupo Center for Aesthetic & General Dermatology in New Orleans. "But whatever you do, don't comb over."

For herbal medication visit: http://patternbaldness.blog.co.uk/

For more info on other drugs visit: Rx Online Pharmacy

News Source: http://www.latimes.com/..

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Causes and treatments for female hair loss

Patterns of hair loss

One of the commonest forms of hair loss in women (and men) is a condition called telogen effluvium, in which there is a diffuse (or widely spread out) shedding of hairs around the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This is usually a reaction to intense stress on the body's physical or hormonal systems, or as a reaction to medication.

The condition, which can occur at any age, generally begins fairly suddenly and gets better on its own within about six months, although for a few people it can become a chronic problem. Because telogen effluvium develops a while after its trigger, and causes generalised thinning of hair density rather than a bald patch, women with the condition can easily be diagnosed as overanxious or neurotic.

Fortunately, it often gets better with time. Telogen effluvium is a phenomenon related to the growth cycles of hair. Hair growth cycles alternate between a growth phase (called anagen, it lasts about three years) and a resting phase (telogen, which lasts about three months). During telogen, the hair remains in the follicle until it is pushed out by the growth of a new hair in the anagen phase.

At any one time, up to about 15 per cent of hairs are in telogen. But a sudden stress on the body can trigger large numbers of hairs to enter the telogen phase at the same time. Then, about three months later, this large number of hairs will be shed. However, as the new hairs start to grow out, so the density of hair may thicken again. Many adults have had an episode of telogen effluvium at some point in their lives, reflecting episodes of illness or stress.

Another common type of hair loss in women is androgenetic alopecia, which is related to hormone levels in the body. There's a large genetic predisposition, which may be inherited from the father or mother. Androgenetic alopecia affects roughly 50 per cent of men (this is the main cause of the usual pattern of balding seen as men age) and perhaps as many women over the age of 40. Research shows that up to 13 per cent of women have some degree of this sort of hair loss before the menopause, and afterwards it becomes far more common - one piece of research suggests that over the age of 65 as many as 75 per cent of women are affected.

The cause of hair loss in this condition is a chemical called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is made from androgens (male hormones that all men and women produce) by the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. People with a lot of this enzyme make more DHT, which in excess can cause the hair follicles to make thinner and thinner hair until eventually they pack up completely.

Women's pattern of hair loss is different to the typical receding hairline and crown loss in men. Instead, androgenetic alopecia causes a general thinning of women's hair, with loss predominantly over the top and sides of the head.

Another important cause of hair loss in women is a condition called alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that affects more than two per cent of the population. In this, the hair follicles are attacked by white blood cells. The follicles then become very small and hair production slows down dramatically, so there may be no visible hair growth for months and years. After some time, hair may regrow as before, come back in patchy areas, or not regrow at all. The good news is that in every case the hair follicles remain alive and can be switched on again; the bad news is that we don't yet know how to do this.

Beware miracle cures

Scan the internet and you'll see all sorts of miracle cures for baldness on offer, from strange herbal lotions to mechanical devices. Perhaps the most useful first step you can take is to avoid the myths.

After this there are several options. You can find some way to accept the change and live with it (let's face it, this is a tall order - most men struggle to come to terms with their baldness and for them at least society equates it with maturity and power). You can try cosmetic treatments such as wigs or hair thickeners, or you can try medical therapies. The last option is hair-replacement surgery.

Medical treatments

The drug minoxidil was first developed for treating high blood pressure, which was found to have the side effect of thickening hair growth in some people. It's now available as a lotion to apply directly to the scalp. No one really knows how it works, however, and it's not effective for everyone. Studies show that only about 20 per cent of women between 18 and 45 have moderate regrowth using the drug, while another 40 per cent experience minimal regrowth. It works best on younger people with early hair loss. A big disadvantage is that you have to carry on using minoxidil indefinitely or the new hair will fall out.

Another drug, finasteride, which was developed for treating prostate cancer, has also been found to be effective but is only available for men.

For more info on herbal treatment for hair loss visit: http://patternbaldness.blog.co.uk/

News Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_health/body_hairloss.shtml

Thursday, October 05, 2006

LATEST NEWS! Propecia May Help Women Too

Finasteride -- known by its brand name Propecia -- a medication approved to treat hair loss in men, may also improve the condition in women when combined with oral contraceptives, according to an article in the March issue of Archives of Dermatology. Find out more about this breaking news now.
As many as half of all women experience female pattern hair loss during their lifetimes, according to background information in the article. Women who are affected often report feelings of embarrassment and social anxiety and the condition often worsens if left untreated. Current treatment generally involves minoxidil (Rogaine), a medication typically applied to the scalp to encourage hair regrowth, which is effective but not always well accepted by patients, the authors report.

Matilde Iorizzo, M.D., and colleagues at the University of Bologna, Italy, evaluated the effectiveness of 2.5 milligrams of finasteride taken by mouth daily and combined with an oral contraceptive in 37 women aged 19 to 50 years who consulted a physician about their hair loss. The contraceptive was necessary to prevent pregnancy in women in the study, because finasteride is known to cause birth defects. The researchers selected a type of contraceptive that reduces levels of male hormones, because that effect may also contribute to the treatment of hair loss. They took photographs of the patients' heads and assessed their hair density with a technique known as computerized light videodermoscopy at the beginning of the study and after they had taken the two medications for 12 months.

At the one-year mark, 23 (62 percent) patients were rated as improved using comparisons of the photographs. Thirteen patients did not improve, and one patient's condition worsened. Hair density scores increased in 12 patients. On a questionnaire, 29 patients reported that their condition improved after 12 months, eight said that it had stabilized and none reported that it had worsened. None of the participants had adverse reactions to the treatment.

"This treatment was well accepted by the patients, who judged the results to be even better than did the investigators," the authors write. "The clinical results using global photography, hair density scores and patient self-assessment provide a basis for future work. Further studies are needed to establish the optimal dosage and mode of administration of finasteride in premenopausal women and to definitively assess the efficacy of this drug compared with oral antiandrogens."

For info on herbal medication for male pattern hair loss visit: http://paternbaldness.blog.co.uk/

Source: Arch Dermatol. 2006; 142:298-302.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Women Hair Loss: Causes and Prevention

No one dreams of getting bold. For women who are very vain, hair loss is one thing that will totally freak them out. Hair loss does not choose a specific gender or age. It may come during the early phase of one’s life or could also be a little later. But then hair loss on men is more common than it is with women. Only that women recognize hair loss at once because of their routinely regimens.

Women hair loss is a big problem. Generally, women treat their hair as their crowning glory. What will happen if they suffer from hair loss? The hair will obviously lose its radiance and striking effect. And this fact makes women terribly worried. Will it ever grow back? Will my hair be the same again? Is there a treatment for women hair loss? Now these are just among the millions of questions asked by women who go through the agony of hair loss.

Women hair loss particularly affects the psychological well-being of women. Reports prove how women moving around the corporate world have to quit their jobs because they discovered that they are getting bald for no apparent reason. The socialization process of women also gets affected. Women hair loss prompts them to withdraw from the usual activities which they typically take part in. In more ways than one, their interaction with other people gets limited.

The Main Causes of Hair Loss

Why does women hair loss come into the picture? What causes women hair loss? No matter what drives women hair loss to spread its lunacy, the matter is nonetheless a major concern to all. There are various factors that lead to hair loss but the thing that must be borne in mind is that there is always a solution to it if only the right medication will be applied.

The recorded factors that cause hair loss are skin disorders, recommended drugs and therapies, stress, pregnancy, chemotherapy, hereditary predisposition, bacterial infection, radiation, and extreme androgen production. In most cases, only one of these factors cause the hair loss but there is also the possibility that these factors are combined that hence bring about a greater effect of hair loss.

As in the case of women hair loss, specialists emphasize that menopause is also another factor to be looked into. It is in this phase that women experience a decrease in hormonal production so the body goes through a sudden change.

The Prevention of Women Hair Loss

Can women hair loss be prevented? Specialists have answers to this dilemma. Since the women are very much particular with how they look, they are expected to attend more to the prevention of women hair loss. Experts say that a healthy diet is likely to increase the possibility of preventing women hair loss especially by taking in foods filled with proteins. Do not use unnecessary drugs. Ensure proper hygiene. Do away with hormonal drug therapies. A good exercise will help eliminate too much stress too. Another effective medium is the use of natural therapy. It points to the use of the therapeutic herbs like the sage which is a good medication for feeble hair, the rosemary which can boost dark hair, the chamomile that is able to promote a healthy growth for the hair, and the burdock root which aids in stopping falling hair. An important advice though is to make use of the natural cure only as a supplement. The specialists’ prescribed medication is still the most effective.

For more info on herbal cure for pattern baldness visit: http://paternbaldness.blog.co.uk/

Source: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Women-Hair-Loss:-Causes-and-Prevention&id=315603

Monday, October 02, 2006

The Only Real Proven Cure for Baldness Today

There are many medications that can deal with male hair loss. The best known and proven medication is known as Propecia. This medication is designed to help men who are experiencing male pattern hair loss. In clinical studies, hair count increased during the first twelve months and maintained in those that took Propecia for 24 months.

Propecia, in generic terms is known as Finasteride. It is known to help men that are dealing with male pattern hair loss, also known as DHT. This particular pattern of baldness and hair loss is known to affect men because of genetics that are inherited from both their mother and fathers side of the family. Our genes cause the hormone DHT to react with the enzymes that are located in the scalp and hair region. When this happens, hair begins to thin and eventually causes for it to fall out completely.

Propocia is comes in liquid form and is applied to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. It is recommended that the lotion be applied atleast twice a day, in my experience once after showering when the hair has been washed and dried and applied once again last thing at night. By applying Propecia at these times of the day will give the medication the bast chance to work its way into the affected scalp regions without being washed out.

Propecia is a prescription medication that has proven to be more effective in men than in women. Propecia will work with male pattern baldness by adding an androgen hormone.This will then balance out with the enzymes that are causing your hair loss. Women must not use Propecia when they are pregnant or hoping to get pregnant. Propecia can potentially cause abnormalities of the male baby's sex organs.

Propecia is FDA approved. Despite this, there are side effects to taking Propecia. Because of the added hormone, a small percentage of men have reported less desire for sex and difficulty in achieving an erection.

There may also be some allergic reactions that may occur during usage, which can be anything from rashes, itching that takes place. If you should suffer from any of these, it is recommended to stop taking the medication immediately and enquire with your GP before you continue with the prescription.

Propecia is one of several medications that are available for those dealing with male pattern hair loss. Speak to your GP to find out more about Propecia, If you are interested in using Propecia as a medication to help you in your treatment and cure of thinning hair.

Propecia can come in various different forms and brand names currently on the market and can come in different strengths,if you do not want to vist your GP about your baldness or falling hair,remember Propecia can be purchased on the internet through reputable hair loss companys.

Are you suffering from thinning hair or baldness, treat & cure baldness Alopecia today!

For info on herbal medication for male pattern hair loss visit: http://patternbaldness.blog.co.uk/

Source: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?The-Only-Real-Proven-Cure-for-Baldness-Today&id=292069

 
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