Author Archive for Spencer Kobren
Spencer Kobren is the Founder and President of The American Hair Loss Association and is referred to as the "Father" of consumer hair loss education. Kobren is known the nation’s most prominent and effective hair loss consumer/patient advocate. He's the author of the ground breaking International Best Seller, The Bald Truth; The First Complete Guide to Preventing and Treating Hair Loss (Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster), which has become the most widely read consumer hair loss guide of all time. He is also the author of The Truth About Woman’s Loss; What Really Works for Treating and Preventing Thinning Hair (Contemporary Books/McGraw-Hill). Kobren is the host of the critically acclaimed national weekly radio program "The Bald Truth” which airs live from CBS studios in Los Angeles, and is in its tenth year of national syndication. Mr. Kobren is a contributing editor for Consumer's Digest Magazine, content provider for WebMD ,and is the Founder and Director of Consumer/Patient affairs for The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Kobren and his work have been featured in articles in many publications, including GQ, The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, Men's Health, Men's Journal, Newsday, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Washington Post . Kobren has been interviewed by local and national affiliates of ABC News including 20/20 and Good morning America, NBC News,CNN, The Fox News Organization, CBS News and the CBC. Mr. Kobren has had a chapter dedicated to his work in New York Post columnist Gersh Kuntzman's Book, Hair! Mankind's Historic Quest to End Baldness . "Spencer Kobren is the world's leading expert in hair loss and its treatment." --Dr. Mehmet Oz Oprah & Friends, XM Satellite Radio " Kobren has a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge about baldness." --The Washington Post " Until the day comes when we can retire alopecia, due to the success of modern genetic medicine, Spencer David Kobren is our voice of truth in the madness of hair loss and the hair loss industry." -Angela M. Christiano, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Dermatology and Genetics and Development Columbia University
I’m 25 And Losing My Hair, Looking For An Inexpensive Hair Loss Treatment
Written by Spencer Kobren on March 21, 2008
Hello, my name is J.Freeman. I am 25 years old and have been noticing hair loss for approximately a year. I do not have insurance and cannot afford Propecia treatments. I am also concerned about the side affect that come along with it. I was hoping to get information on a inexpensive hair growth regimen.
Dear J,
The truth is, if you are contending with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) your first line of attack should always be to take the hormonal route. Propecia is an extremely effective drug that stops or slows the progression of hair loss in the vast majority of men who use it. There is also a relatively large percetage of men who receive significant cosmetically appreciable regrowth. By not using this incredibly effective treatment, it is my opinion that you are doing yourself a great disservice. Just so you know, insurance does not cover Propecia, so even if you had good health coverage you would still be responsible for paying for it out of pocket.
With that said, in most parts of the country, Propecia will cost approximately $55 / month. If your hair loss concerns you to the point where you seeking treatment, it would be my suggestion to perhaps forgo a dinner out once a month so that you can afford this relatively inexpensive treatment.
If this is absolutely out of the question then you could aways give generic minoxidil a try. Generic minoxidil cost approximately $20 / month. Whatever you do, do not waste your hard earned money on any of the countless, questionable hair loss products you see being advertised on the internet, late night television infomercials, or on the radio.
As far as your concern for the side effects of Propecia, any reported side effects occurred in less than 2% of those patients taking the drug during clinical trials. If for some reason you were to experience any adverse side effects you could always stop taking the medication. It is also important to note that approximately 60% of those that did experience side effects only experienced them temporarily, and were able to continue taking the medication.
I wish there were more hair loss treatment options available, unfortunately the above mentioned are the only two FDA approved hair loss treatments. If you haven’t already consulted with a physician, it is imperative to receive a professional medical diagnosis before considering either of the two treatments I suggested.
Hope this helps.
Spencer Kobren
Founder, American Hair Loss Association
Spencer Kobren Speaks Candidly About Hair Loss And The Hair Loss Industry
Written by Spencer Kobren on March 14, 2008
The American Hair Loss Association blog was created to help further empower hair loss sufferers with up to the minute hair loss information, commentary, and critique of everything and anything hair loss. As the founder of the AHLA I also think it’s important that I share my personal thoughts with everyone seeking help from our organization. This is why I’ve decided to begin making personal entries on the AHLA blog.
What I will provide is the truth about this neglected epidemic, and about an industry that, in my opinion, has mislead, taken advantage of , and in many cases disfigured vulnerable hair loss sufferers for decades.
The American Hair Loss Association has effected real change over the years but the truth is that we have only scratched the surface. We are competing with a $3.5 billion industry that thrives on the ignorance and naiveté of desperate people in need. The lack of control we experience as hair loss sufferers only fuels our desperation to find a “solution” to our problem. We are anxious to feel whole again so we will try anything, buy anything, or subscribe to anything if presented as a real solution that might end our pain.
There are some hair loss sufferers who are better equipped to deal with their hair loss than many of us are..I wish I was one of them. For me beginning my hair loss journey at the age of 22 took a major toll. However what I have leaned over the years as a result of my early onset Male Pattern Baldness has made me a better and stronger person and has given me the opportunity to touch many lives, and for this I am thankful.
I just want all of you to know that you are not alone in this. The AHLA was founded to provide a safe place for hair loss sufferers to find completely objective and accurate information about all things hair loss and the hair loss industry.
I’ll be posting an a regular basis so stay tuned…
Spencer Kobren
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