Sixty-one-year-old James Campbell, who was formerly an art teacher at Denny High School was mocked and teased by the school’s students, who called him “baldy.”

Campbell asked, “How can I stand in front of a class with confidence to get on with my job when I am getting teased and bullied about baldness, when I think they are laughing at me all the time?”

He also stated that if the students were brave enough to call him “baldy” to his face, they might be so bold as to physically assault him.

The court did not rule in Campbell’s favor and found that baldness is not a physical or mental impairment and therefore is not covered under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Tribunal judge Robert Gall said:

“If baldness was to be regarded as an impairment then perhaps a physical feature such as a big nose, big ears or being smaller than average height might of themselves be regarded as an impairment under the DDA.”

While hair loss is a serious problem that affects sufferers physically, mentally, and emotionally, it did not directly impede Mr. Campbell from performing his work duties. Therefore, hair loss did not render him unable to perform his duties.

In fact, Mr. Campbell was not refused work, did not lose his job, and did not experience discrimination from his peers or superiors. He was being taunted by the children that were in his charge. While the students’ behavior is not acceptable, a greater concern is that a teacher would have so little control over his classroom that he feels justified in claiming disability or discrimination for their taunts.

Schoolchildren are notorious for their taunts and bullying. However, it is teachers and school officials who are responsible for making sure that students do not overstep boundaries in how they treat others.

If Campbell hadn’t been suffering hair loss, the students most likely would have chosen some other weakness to exploit. He missed an opportunity to teach those kids a valuable lesson about hair loss and how to treat others.

Read the full story here.

Just a few years later another Japanese dermatologist, Dr. Tamura, improved upon Okuda’s method by minimizing the size of the grafts down to one to three hairs each. He was working with women to restore hair in the pubic area lost to either genetics or trauma. The surgery that Dr. Tamura developed is quite similar to surgeries that are still performed to this day.

Because these innovative developments in hair transplant surgery occurred around the time of World War II, they did not become accessible in the U.S. until many years later.

During the early 1950s, New York dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich completed the first hair transplant in the United States for a man who had male pattern baldness. Orentreich faced much criticism for the procedure that he’d developed. His technique was similar to Dr. Okuda’s, and did not render attractive or natural looking results. He did, however, establish that hair on the back and sides of a man’s scalp was not prone to the ravages of DHT and male pattern baldness.

Hair transplant procedures became more common by the 1960s, but because of the less than pleasing results of the early punch graft procedures developed and marketed my doctors like Norman Orentiech, hair transplant surgery developed a negative reputation. It took almost three decades for hair transplant surgeons to develop significant improvements to these early methods.

In the 1990s, follicular unit micro grafting was introduced and changed the field of hair transplants forever. Finally, the old stigmas could be dismissed and hair transplantation could become a viable option for hair loss sufferers who were appopraite candidates.

Today, surgeons continue to improve upon methods for performing hair transplant surgery. Today’s state of the art techniques can produce stunning results and are increasingly embraced by hair loss sufferers.

To learn more about what to look for when considering hair transplant surgery, visit the surgical hair restoration section of the American Hair Loss Association’s website.

Also, to find a qualified hair transplant surgeon check with The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons.

According to HairDX, AGA (female baldness) “has been difficult to diagnose because women don’t develop a pattern like men do, they tend to thin diffusely, and there are many causes for thinning.”

By age 50, approximately 50% of women will experience thinning that can lead to hair loss and baldness. JAAPA, a peer-reviewed clinical journal for the American Academy of Physician Assistants states that this estimate is conservative at best. According to The American Hair Loss Association, Androgenetic Alopecia in women is a neglected epidemic that is nearly as common as male pattern hair loss.

The HairDX test is simple and painless. It involves swabbing the inside of the mouth, then sending the swab to the HairDX lab. Results are confidential, anonymous, and sent via a secure web site.

Each woman who participates in testing will be provided with results in the form of a score. Higher scores indicate a lower chance for succumbing to significant hair loss due to heredity. A lower score indicates greater likelihood for future hair loss.

According to Spencer Kobren, Founder of The American Hair Loss Association,
early diagnosis is one of the most critical factors in preventing further hair loss, which is why this test is revolutionary. Preventing hair loss is far more attainable than reversing its effects. While effective treatments to combat female pattern hair loss are available, early intervention is critical successful treatment.

Dr. Sharon Keene, who is the Chief Medical Officer for HairDX says, “Helping women assess their risk for Female Hair Loss early in the course of their hair loss enables them to learn about potential treatment options and how they may prevent further hair loss.”

Visit the HairDX website at www.hairdx.com to learn more about the test and to order a swab kit. The test costs $149.

Linear or Line Grafts

Linear or line grafts should be avoided. If a doctor recommends the use of these type of grafts, you would be well advised to seek another professional immediately.

The process of creating a linear or line graft starts with the hair transplant surgeon removing a strip of hair from the side or back of your head. Ideally, the strip would then be divided into follicular unit grafts, but in cases  where the hair transplant surgeon utilizes  linear or line grafts, larger portions of  the  strip are used. In order to use these “cut to size” grafts , the hair transplant surgeon must surgically create large trench-like recipient sites in the balding areas where hair  and tissue is to be replaced.

This almost always  results in an unnatural and manufactured appearance. Cosmetically, the final outcome can look unacceptably fake.

Round or Square Grafts

Originally, round or square grafts were the  standard in hair transplantation . Now with the advent of much more refined techniques, these large cut to size hair grafts are considered obsolete and will always result in the dreaded “dolls head” appearance that screams hair transplant.

The procedure involves the use of a hole-punch device, which is used to remove 3-5 mm areas (about the size of a pencil eraser) of hair bearing  scalp and to create the recipient sites in the balding areas of the head . The shape of the grafts may be either round or square. Either way, they are far too large and do not resemble natural hair growth at all once they are moved  and transplanted to the balding area. In addition, these grafts can impede  blood supply. This often results in further hair loss in the middle area of each graft.

Many of today’s lazier or less than ethical hair transplant surgeons are doing a slightly refined but still unacceptable procedure utilizing cut to size mini grafts which still give the appearance of a man made and unnatural hairline.

Avoid any hair transplant surgeon or large chain clinic that does not employ the use of microscopes to dissect donor tissue into naturally occurring follicular units.
To learn more about state of the art hair transplantation check out the surgical hair restoration section of The American Hair Loss Association site.

To find qualified hair transplant surgeons  in your area contact The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons.

Sheree collected the hair in plastic baggies and brought them to her doctor, but she was told that her hair loss was caused by stress and would cease in a few months’ time. When her hair loss did not abate, Sheree went to see a hair care professional, who sold her a “medicated” hair loss product called Therapro.

Although the lost hair did not grow back, Sheree did stop experiencing any further hair loss. However, it is unclear whether her use of Therapro truly affected Sheree’s hair loss in any way.

Spencer Kobren, founder of the American Hair Loss Association, doubts that Therapro is a valid treatment:

“There is nothing in those products that can stop hair loss or will regrow hair,” said Kobren, whose own hair-loss concerns led him to start the organization. “There is definitely a placebo effect, and it can be coincidental.”

Jennifer Williford, who works as a physician’s assistant at Southwest Michigan Dermatology, supports the notion that Therapro may have had a placebo effect for Sheree. Although Williford wasn’t familiar with Therapro, she explained that patients often mention products that supposedly stop or reverse hair loss. Many such products are based on herbal remedies.
There is a good chance that Sheree Kleinhuizen’s hair loss ceased due to a placebo effect of the product she was sold. It’s also possible that her hair loss was truly stress related and when her stress eased, so did her hair loss.
The only FDA-approved hair loss products for treating hereditary hair loss are Rogaine and Propecia. Rogaine is an external treatment used by both men and women. Propecia, which is a pill, is only approved for use by men.

Spencer Kobren also noted that hair loss is a $3.5 billion industry and that “Ninety-nine percent of products and services that claim to help with hair loss (or) prevention are bogus, questionable at best.”
Read the full article

Alopecia simply means “hair loss.” It is the medical term for hair loss and there are numerous forms of alopecia. Today, we’ll look at three different terms that include the word alopecia:

• Alopecia Totalis
• Alopecia Universalis
• Androgenetic Alopecia

Alopecia Totalis

Alopecia Totalis is thought to be an autoimmune disorder that causes loss of all head hair. Unlike androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), there are no remaining patches or areas with hair on the scalp once alopecia totalis has run its course. It is still questonbly believed that stress is a major contributing factor in causing alopecia totalis, despite the fact that many people who suffer from it report low stress levels.

Alopecia Universalis

Also sometimes called alopecia areata universalis, alopecia universalis is the term used to describe rapid loss of hair all over the body. It includes head hair, eyebrows, and even eyelashes. It is the most severe form of hair loss and is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. While many treatments have been explored, no standard treatments exist for this condition.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It is also referred to as male or female pattern hair loss and is abbreviated as AGA. Heredity and hormones are the two major factors that can cause this type of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia causes more than 95% of hair loss in men. Women are greatly affected by it as well, in part due to the same gentetic factors found in me as well as other contributing facters like ovarian cysts, high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause.

To learn more about alopecia, please visit the home page for The American Hair Loss Association. You can learn about additional types of alopecia, including alopecia areata and scarring alopecia, and find out more about causes, diagnoses, and treatments for hair loss.

Non-surgical hair replacement can be a wonderful alternative for people who want to have a fuller head of hair without surgery. However, most consumers don’t know what to look for or what to watch out for when shopping for a hairpiece. The vast majority of consumers who purchase non-surgical hair replacement are unhappy with the products they’re stuck with. Plus, there’s a lot that the hair clubs won’t tell you.

Tips

•    Try the mom and pop salons. They have compassion for their customers and great customer service.
•    Be prepared to buy two units so that you can wear one while the other is being maintained.
•    Do not let a hair replacement company keep your second hairpiece. It’s yours, you get to take it home.
•    Avoid anyone who tries to sell you a maintenance contract. You should be able to take your hairpiece anywhere you want for maintenance.

Facts

•    The stylist will probably shave off a good portion of your hair in order to affix the hairpiece.
•    Bonded systems will not stay firmly attached for 4-6 weeks.
•    These systems need constant maintenance and you will have to learn to do some of the maintenance yourself.
•    Cost of maintenance ranges from $60 to $300 per month.

Get more tips, facts, and information about non-surgical hair replacement systems by visiting the following link:
http://www.americanhairloss.org/hair_replacement/introduction.asp

These and other questions have been brought to light in several recent studies.

At the University of Tucson, little difference was found in heart attack risk for men who were balding and men who were not. It has, however, been suggested that hair loss is related to an increase in androgens. These hormones may also affect the development of coronary atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Another, previous study, did find that vertex baldness (hair loss at the crown) was indeed strongly linked to the risk for heart attack. That study found that greater hair loss directly correlated with a greater risk for heart attack.

Researchers at Tucson decided to look further into the matter. They looked at 5056 men between the ages of 52 and 75 years old. Of those men, 767 had already suffered a heart attack.

The results:

• One third of the men had little or no hair loss.
• Thirteen percent had frontal baldness.
• Fifty-four percent had vertex baldness

The study showed that men who were experiencing hair loss at the front of their heads were 28% more likely to have had a heart attack. Mild vertex baldness only indicated a 2% greater risk. According to a Reuters Health article at Yahoo News, “men with moderate vertex baldness were 40 percent more likely to have had a heart attack, while risk was increased by 18 percent for men with severe vertex baldness.”

The study conducted by the University of Tucson concluded that male pattern baldness does not provide a means to determine risk of heart attacks.

In the end, many questions are still unanswered. While there does appear to be some link between hair loss and heart disease, that link remains unclear. The Tucson researchers noted that “If the types of baldness seen in the current study are indeed due to high androgen levels, it’s likely that the hormone does not increase heart attack or atherosclerosis risk.”

You can read the full Reuters Health article on Yahoo News at the following link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080409/hl_nm/heart_attack_baldness_dc_1

You can find detailed information about the hormonal causes of hair loss and related conditons at the American Hair Loss Association.

Emerging as the first social networking site specifically for women suffering with hair loss, womenshairlossproject.com set new ground when they launched their site in August 2007. Now with scheduled live chats, women have a safe place to congregate each week to discuss their issues, and to share their knowledge, hope and strength with others from around the world.

The Women’s Hair Loss Project remains the only non-commercial site of its kind, and is at the forefront of the field, providing women in need with an inspirational, uplifting environment to learn about their conditions and to meet others who understand.

Learn how to participate here: http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/womens-hair-loss-support-chat/

Stress

Stress affects every aspect of your well being. When you are under stress, you are likely to lose or gain weight, experience physical ailments like headaches, and are more susceptible to illnesses. Stress also affects your ability to focus, think clearly, and deal with problems, including hair loss. Since a poor diet interferes with your ability to deal with stress, it also affects how you deal with hair loss. When are eating a nutritionally balanced diet, you’ll be better equipped to cope with the emotional effects of hair loss.

Eating Disorders and Malnutrition

Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa lead to malnutrition and this is may instigate hair loss. When a body has deficiencies in energy, protein, and micronutrients, such as vitamin A, iodine, and iron, it reacts by presenting physical symptoms. These include dry skin, brittle nails, and hair loss. This is one type of hair loss that has a great likelihood for reversal. When a malnourished person re-establishes a healthy and nutritious diet, hair growth will often resume normally. However, long term eating disorders may cause permanent hair loss.

Sugar, Insulin, and Testosterone

Sugar itself does not have a direct effect on hair loss. However, since sugar does affect the balance of hormones in the human body, it does have significant considerations for hair loss sufferers. The balance of hormones is one of the greatest factors that cause or prevent hair loss. Specifically, dihydrotestosterone, a breakdown or by-product of testosterone, is one of the primary contributors to hair loss.

Because there is a direct link between levels of insulin and testosterone, when you control your insulin, you will affect testosterone levels as well. Insulin levels are directly related to your sugar intake. So, by controlling the amount of sugar you consume, you affect your insulin and therefore control testosterone levels. These, in turn, affect levels of dihydrotestosterone and therefore impact hair loss.

There are many reasons to make sure you are eating a well balanced diet. Minimizing hair loss is just one of them. You can learn more about how nutrition affects hair loss at the following link:
http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/nutrition-hair-loss-hormones/

When your doctor prescribes any type of new medication, you should always check with the pharmacist and read all of the information on the label and in the packaging to find out what potential side effects the drug has. If you believe you are a contender for hair loss, you’ll want to specifically check for hair loss, alopecia, or male or female pattern baldness.

If a drug you’ve been prescribed does include hair loss as a possibility, you might want to ask the doctor or the pharmacist if there is an alternative medication that you can use. Sometimes this won’t be an option, so ask about undergoing treatment for hair loss simultaneously, keeping in mind that hair loss treatments have the most successful results when started as early as possible. Preventing hair loss is much easier than reversing it.

You will want to check with all doctors and specialists who you are seeing if you feel that undergoing hair loss treatment is the right option for you. Make sure the doctor who is prescribing medications and other treatments knows about all the drugs you are taking, including any for hair loss. You can read about clinically proven treatments for hair loss on The American Hair Loss Association blog.

The American Hair Loss Association also features a list of prescription drugs that are known to cause hair loss. This is a comprehensive and accessible resource. The medications are grouped together by conditions and for many brand medications, the generic names are included as well. Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list. You should still check your labels and talk with your pharmacist about side effects of any medications that are prescribed to you.

Have you ever observed an attractive celebrity but then wondered, where’s the attraction? That celeb isn’t especially good looking – on the outside. Sure, a lot of stars are boaster outer beauty, but there are many that upon scrutiny don’t quite hold up to the supermodel images we see on billboards and in magazine ads. Conversely, you may have noticed that some very pretty faces come with a negative vibe. Good looks can’t cover up a mean spirit, a bad attitude, or absence of self-confidence.

With all the pressures that society lays on us to look beautiful, hair loss sufferers often find that those pressures take on a whole new meaning. There are extra difficulties because hair loss is rarely discussed in the media whereas other issues such as weight are talked about with great frequency. This means that individuals who are dealing with hair loss must work a little harder to maintain self-confidence, which is the great secret to feeling and looking fabulous.

Whether you wear a hairpiece, a wig, or have gone through hair transplant surgery, or even if you choose to go about bald, bold, and beautiful, your true beauty is not going to come from your face or how much hair you have on your head. It’s going to come from your heart, your inner glow. So spend as much time knowing yourself inside as you do scrutinizing the way you look on the outside, because looking great starts with feeling good.

Consultation with the Hair Transplant Surgeon

If the doctor who will be performing the procedure can’t or won’t speak with you before the transplantation, then look for someone else. One of the most important steps in any surgery is speaking with the same surgeon who will be doing the procedure beforehand. It will provide you with an opportunity to ask specific questions and also help your comfort level knowing that you’ve met the person who will perform the operation.

Questions about the Procedure

Before your consultation with the surgeon, make sure you prepare a list of questions. You may get nervous or overwhelmed once you’re in the doctor’s office, and having a written list on hand will be extremely helpful. Your doctor will also know that you take your health and the procedure seriously because you’re approaching it with a level of forethought that resembles professionalism.

Formulate Questions Through Careful Research

You’ll have plenty of questions about your surgery. Make sure you understand every aspect of the procedure. One of the most valuable resources in conducting research is The American Hair Loss Association, where you’ll find plenty of articles about hair loss and transplant surgeries. Visit The American Hair Loss Association at americanhairloss.org.

Another invaluable resource is The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons web site. The site features a blog at the IAHRS Information Center, which is packed with news, information, and other details about hair restoration surgery and hair loss.

A Few Final Tips

When you do meet with your doctor for a consultation prior to having your transplant procedure, ask for the following:

• Ask to see at least 10 before and after photos of other hair restoration surgeries the doctor has performed and make sure that the before and after shots are taken at the same angle, with the same lighting, and feature the same subject.
• Ask for references. The doctor should be able to provide you with several contacts, patients that the doctor has treated in the past.
• Ask if hair transplant surgery is an area in which the doctor specializes. Is that the focus of the doctor’s practice? If not, then what percentage of procedures involve hair loss and restoration?

Find out more about what you should look for in hair restoration surgery at the following link:
http://www.americanhairloss.org/surgical_hair_restoration/what_to_look_for.asp

Every day the pressure for women to look fabulous increases. TV commercials, magazine ads, and billboards show airbrushed women who look gorgeous. They are thin, have flawless skin, and lush locks. Articles and entire magazines as well as television shows are dedicated to the art of looking beautiful. The message from American media is that women must look absolutely stunning every minute of the day. This sets most women up for failure, and leaves hair loss sufferers feeling lost and alone.

Psychological Damage

The psychological damage that hair loss can wreak on women is astounding. In a world where there is plenty of information on weight loss and coping with skin problems and aging, hair loss often goes unrecognized as a major issue for women and women who suffer from it are left to fend for themselves. Feeling unattractive can lead to a sense of inadequacy and loneliness. Worst of all, the damaging effects on the psyche can take a physical toll, leading to eating problems, high levels of stress, and other mental and emotional issues.

The Medical Community

The medical community does not treat hair loss as a serious disease because it’s not seen as life threatening. Women’s hair loss, compared to men’s, is practically nonexistent in the health care industry. Until the effects of hair loss have had a detrimental effect on a woman’s psychological health, it’s unlikely that her health care professional will offer much help or support.

Women’s Hair Loss Project

The Women’s Hair Loss Project is a web site where women can gather, share their stories, and support each other through the trying effects of hair loss. There are also plenty of resources for female hair loss sufferers to explore. Please visit at www.womenshairlossproject.com

The test, called HairDX, looks for a genetic variant found in most bald men. Men who test positive for the variant have a 60 percent chance of going bald by age 40, according to the company that offers it, also called HairDX, which says the test also identifies a less-common variant of the same gene that, if present, means a man has an 85 percent chance of not going bald.

While science is still in the early stages of understanding hair loss genes, HairDX is offering the first test that identifies a gene called the androgen receptor. This gene has been closely associated with hair loss and may be a predetermining factor in assessing the likelihood for hair loss.

Even though the test is not 100 percent conclusive, it can be helpful in terms of prevention. One of the key components in minimizing hair loss is early treatment. Individuals who are concerned about possible hair loss can use the test results to start making decisions and working with a certified physician to determine an effective course of treatment. Because prevention is proven to be more successful that trying to regrow hair, early detection is significant and beneficial for treating hair loss.

HairDx’s genetic test is approved by The American Hair Loss Association. Spencer Kobren, Founder of The American Hair Loss Association says, “HairDX’s genetic test for the onset of early male pattern baldness is an important breakthrough in the fight against hair loss.”

The test, which is available online at www.hairdx.com, costs $149. Individuals who sign up for the test will take a swab from inside the cheek and send to the HairDX lab. Results will be returned in just three to four weeks.

You can read the full Chicago Sun-Times article at the following URL: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/870638,CST-NWS-bald01.article

A Multibillion Dollar Industry

Although most health insurance providers don’t reimburse policy holders for hair loss treatments, many individuals are willing to pay out of pocket. Over one billion dollars are spent every years on hair loss drugs and transplants, making it a lucrative industry. The good news for hair loss sufferers is that this kind of revenue motivates pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers to search for more effective treatments.

They’re throwing an arsenal of high-tech tools at the condition: genome studies, stem cell stimulation, gene therapy, a type of tissue engineering often called “hair cloning” and even robotics.

Currently there are only two drugs for hair loss that are approved by both the Food and Drug Administration and The American Hair Loss Association. Those are Merck’s Propecia and Johnson & Johnson’s Rogaine (generic name minoxidil). However, several companies are looking to expand on the number of effective drug treatments for hair loss. They are also looking beyond drugs, to improving transplants and cultivating hair follicles to increase hair growth.

Drugs Under Development

• Pfizer, Inc is developing a drug that works the same way as Rogaine for topical use.
• Pfizer is also working on another drug treatment, which will mimic the effect of thyroid hormones.
• AndroScience Corp. is working on a drug that degrades cell receptors for dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that stops hair follicles from producing new hairs.

Transplant Improvements

• Restoration Robotics is developing surgical equipment that would allow surgeons to perform faster and cheaper transplants.

Follicle Cultivation

• Follica Inc. is working on methods for generating new hair follicles, which is currently seen as high risk and is in extremely early stages of development.
• Aderans Research Institute is looking at ways to multiply key cells from the scalp, which would then be injected or seeded into the scalp to generate new follicles.

The promise for better solutions to hair loss has many hair loss sufferers feeling hopeful that in the near future there will be more choices and better treatments.

You can read the entire SFGate article at the following link:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/06/BU4IVBIV2.DTL&type=tech

With the advent of these two treatments, there is new hope for men who are facing hair loss. With early intervention, it’s possible for hair loss progression to be stopped. In order for treatment to be successful, it must begin as soon as possible.

Finasteride (brand names Proscar and Propecia)

Originally, finasteride was developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck and approved by the FDA to treat enlarged prostrate glands but during trials some men noticed a side effect of considerable hair growth. Merck decided to continue development of finasteride as a treatment for androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) and it was approved for that purpose by the FDA in 1997.

Lowering dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels is currently the only medically effective way to stop hair loss. A daily 1 mg dose of Finasteride can lower DHT levels by as much as 60 percent and it was proven effective for stopping the progression of hair loss in 86% of the men who took it during clinical trials.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil has a similar story to finasteride. It was originally used to treat high blood pressure. Eventually it was discovered that one of its side effects was growth of hair in unexpected places like on the cheeks, the backs of hands, and even on foreheads.

Some researchers experimented with applying minoxidil topically in areas where hair growth was desired. There were varying degrees of success with this application, which depended on the extent of the hair loss. However, minoxidil was the first drug that the FDA approved specifically for treatment of male pattern baldness and to this day, The American Hair Loss Association still recommends it for individuals who haven’t had success with finasteride. However, because it doesn’t affect the hormonal process, the effects of minoxidil are temporary and it is not seen as a long term solution.

To learn more about hair loss treatment for men check out The American Hair Loss Association men’s hair loss treatment section.

Reactions occurred seven to ten days after the products were consumed and included muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, and significant hair loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting an ongoing investigation working with the Florida Department of Health.

Consumers are advised not to purchase or use Total Body Formula in Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar flavors and Total Body Mega Formula in Orange/Tangerine flavor. These products are available in 32-ounce plastic bottles and are distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition of Atlanta. Use of these products should cease immediately and they should be discarded in a trash receptacle outside of the home.

The products have been distributed in the following states: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

According to FOXNews.com:

The FDA is analyzing the product and said the reactions may have stemmed from excessive amounts of selenium, which is known to cause symptoms such as those described in the adverse events reported to the agency. Selenium, a trace mineral, is needed only in small amounts for good health, the FDA said.

Individuals who have taken these products and who have experienced adverse reactions should contact a medical professional immediately. The FDA asks that consumers and health care professionals report such reactions to the FDA’s MedWatch program by calling 800-FDA-1088.

Read the whole story at FOXNews: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,342612,00.html

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

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

The researchers gathered data by studying DNA samples from 11 members of a Saudi Arabian family afflicted with the condition. They believe that their findings will lead to the creation of effective treatments for many different types of hair loss. The findings were reported in the journal Nature Genetics.

Click here to read the article in its entirety. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23334554/

The truth is that hair loss in woman is on the rise, and it’s striking earlier in life than ever before in our history.

There are approximately 40 million women in the US who suffer with some form of hair loss with the vast majority suffering with androgenetic alopecia ( female pattern hair loss).

Under normal conditions even women with the genetic predisposition for female pattern hair loss, will usually be affected later in life. However, any change in a woman’s delicate hormonal balance can trigger the early onset of this devastating genetic condition.

There is no doubt that the early onset of female pattern hair loss coincides with the use of oral contraceptives, and for those women with a strong genetic predisposition the consequences of taking the Pill can be devastating

A landmark poll of 517 woman suffering with hair loss, conducted by The Women’s Hair Loss Project, reaffirms the scientific studies linking hair loss to the use of birth control pills.

Before you consider taking the pill read this article: Women’s Hair Loss Survey Debunks Myths

Now researchers believe that infections of the teeth may be the culprit for localized Alopecia Areata of the beard.

Read: Developing A Bald Patch? It Could Be A Hidden Tooth Infection

Not only are unscrupulous hair loss treatment marketers taking advantage of these women in an attempt to sell their bogus products, the large chain hair transplant clinics are now heavily marketing surgical hair restoration to women as well.

It’s important for all women to understand that most of you are NOT candidates for a hair transplant. As a matter of fact, less than 5% of all woman who suffer with common forms of hair loss like, female pattern hair loss or traction alopecia make suitable candidates.

Recently, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons’ accepted member Dr. Robert Bernstein answered a far too common question from a female hair transplant recipient.

If you’re a woman considering having a hair transplant you can’t afford not to read this article.

View Article: Women’s Hair Transplant - Shock Loss

Thanks
Ivan

The makers of the HairMax Laser Comb have done a fantastic job of marketing their product.

The idea of a hand held devise that emits hair revitalizing laser beams is sexy to both the media as well as to desperate consumers in search of “cutting edge” treatments for hair loss.

The truth is the HairMax laser Comb still remains on the questionable product list here at The American Hair Loss Association.

So to Answer your question more directly, until valid clinical trials can substantiate the hair-raising claims of the HairMax Laser Comb’s manufacturers, The American Hair Loss Association can not endorse the use of The HairMax Laser Comb for the treatment of any form hair loss .

An interesting article was recently written by International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons accepted member Dr. Alan Feller discussing the validity of low level laser light therapy for the treatment of hair loss.

View article: Move Over Magnet Therapy, Here Comes Low Level Laser Light Therapy

You also might want to listen to a recent broadcast of AHLA’s founder Spencer Kobren’s weekly syndaicated radio show The Bald Truth, where Dr. Alan Bauman and Dr. Alan Feller discuss the efficacy of products like the HairMax Laser Comb in the battle against hair loss.

Listen to show :Laser Hair Loss Therapy -Does it work?

Recently International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons accepted member Dr. James Harris tackled a far too common question posed by a teenage hair loss sufferer considering having a hair transplant.

Veiw article: 17 Years Old and Losing Hair Rapidly - Should I Have a Hair Transplant?

The hair loss industry is a treacherous place . The vast majority of products being sold that claim to prevent or treat hair loss do not work. Besides the fact that these products are garbage in our collective opinion, they all have something else in common, a money back guarantee.

Hair loss consumers are drawn into these guarantees and are willing to try a product that claims to be “risk free.” Unfortunately, the ill-informed and vulnerable hair loss sufferers who purchase these questionable products only rob themselves of precious time in the battle to treat their hair loss. The key to the effective treatment of hair loss is early intervention with products proven to work.

Propecia is one product that actually works and it works well for most men who use it, so why not offer the consumer a legitimate money back guarantee? Yes this is a bit unorthodox for a pharmaceutical company, but the hair loss industry has been built on phony before and after pictures, fake testimonials, and questionable money back guarantees, so competing with the bad guys on their own terms by offering the hair loss consumer the opportunity to try an FDA approved medication for a year risk free seems like a pretty good idea to us.

We here at the American Hair Loss Association applaud this effort and hope this new program opens the eyes of those that need it most…men suffering with the early stages of male pattern hair loss.

Remember, there are only two products approved by the FDA and recommended by The American Hair Loss Association. Anything else being advertised to treat hair loss is questionable at best. Be careful!

Propecia is recommended by the AHLA and The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, the worlds foremost consumer hair transplant organization, as the first line of attack in the prevention and treatment of male pattern hair loss.

See program basics from Merck’s website

The promise is simple. Use PROPECIA for 12 months. If you don’t at least maintain the hair you had when you began treatment, we’ll give you a full refund of your purchase price, less any rebates you received.

Program basics:

This program is for new male patients aged 18 or older with male pattern hair loss who continue to use PROPECIA for 12 months.

If you take PROPECIA for 12 months and you do not maintain your hair on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp (middle front of head), you will be eligible for a full refund of your purchase price, less any rebates you received.

Refunds will be given only if you complete 12 months of therapy (defined as the purchase of 360 tablets of PROPECIA) within a 12-month period.

Your doctor’s signature is required to verify your results and qualify you for your refund.

Recently IAHRS Member and IAHRS Info Center Contributing Editor, Dr Jerry Cooley, responded to a question from the mother of a 17 year old girl who suffered with hair loss caused by a car accident.

Veiw Article: Hair Los Cause By Car Accident

READ MY LIPS…Hair transplantation is real cosmetic surgery, and with all surgery comes real risk! Complications can occur and unfortunately most physicians promoting themselves as hair transplant specialists are not good at what they do. Even good candidates for hair transplant surgery will have disappointing results if they choose the wrong surgeon. Be smart, learn about the procedure and never underestimate the importance of choosing the right hair transplant surgeon.

Recently IAHRS Member and contributing editor, Dr Gregory Pistone, responded to a question regarding the repair of botched hair transplant surgery

View Article: Botched Hair Transplant Please Help

With this said, if you do your homework and choose wisely a good candidate for surgical hair restoration can have a wonderful outcome.

I’ve been hearing a lot of about eyelash hair transplants in the news but I never hear about people having an eyebrow hair transplant. My eyebrows are very sparse from years of plucking. I am forced to basically draw them on now but would love to have an eyebrow transplant if possible. Do all hair transplant doctors do this type of procedure or do I have to find someone who specializes in it? And where do I look? Also can I send digital pictures to your organization for an evaluation?
Thank you for your help.

Answer:

Having an eyebrow transplant is a very good option for those interested in restoring lost eyebrow hair, but remember, the patient has to be very careful when choosing a hair transplant surgeon for this very specialized procedure.

The absence of eyebrow hair is not uncommon and can be due to many factors including, genetics, over plucking, trauma from an accident or surgery, thyroid and hormonal conditions as well as burns.

Like a conventional hair transplant the donor hair is removed from the back of the scalp to be transplanted into the area that needs to be restored. Since the hair that is being transplanted comes form the scalp, it is genetically programmed to grow like scalp hair and will need to be trimmed on a regular basis.

An eyebrow hair transplant is an extremely delicate procedure that takes a significant amount of skill and experience to perform properly. To provide a completely natural appearance the hair transplant surgeon has to place each individual hair with painstaking precision in order mimic the exact angle and direction of naturally occurring eyebrow growth.

Between 50 to as many as 325 individual hairs are painstakingly placed in each eyebrow depending on the level of restoration needed. In most cases the desired result can be achieved after only one procedure.

An eyebrow transplant is usually performed using a mild oral sedative and can take around 2 hours to complete. Most patents report that the procedure is virtually painless and the recovery period is relatively short.

During the first week of recovery the patient will experience the formation of tiny crusts around each transplanted hair. During this period the crusts will fall leaving a slightly pinkish appearance to the eyebrow which usually fades by the end of the first week leaving the patient with a completely normal appearance. The sutures that were placed in the donor area on the back of the scalp are removed at the end of the first week as well.

After about two weeks the transplanted hair falls out and begins to regrow within three months. Once the newly transplanted hairs begin to grow they should continue to grow for a lifetime.

Again, when considering this procedure only consult with a hair transplant surgeon that has extensive experience with eyebrow hair transplantation. Avoid the large chain hair transplant clinics that advertise on TV since experts agree that quality control in these clinics is usually below acceptable standards.

To find an experienced hair transplant surgeon who specializes in eyebrow transplants consult with The American Hair loss Association or contact The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Once you decide on who you would like to consult with you can always forward on digital images of yourself to be evaluated prior to a face to face consultation.

In his blog “Balding Tony” writes that he has tried just about every hair loss product available including the ONLY two FDA approved products Minoxidil and Propecia. Tony complains about Propecia’s sexual side effects, which actually occur in less than 2% of those who used the drug during clinical trials. He also claimed that Minoxidi was too difficult and messy to use…it just didn’t fit into his lifestyle he writes. We found that funny since the only clinically proven ingredient in Provillus is minoxidil and in order for the Provillus product to work it has to be applied to the scalp exactly like all minoxidil based products.

Balding Tony might be fooling some of the more vulnerable, unsuspecting hair loss consumers online, but he’s certainly not fooling us. Provillus is nothing more than an overpriced dietary supplement along with repackaged generic minoxidil and azelaic acid.

Remember this rule of thumb, no matter what “Balding Tony” says, there are only two products proven to stop the progression of hair loss and to regrow hair, minoxidil and propecia. If an advertised product is not approved by the FDA or does not carry the AHLA certification seal, do not waist your time or money on it…sorry Tony.

Did you ever ask yourself where this information came from or if it’s even accurate?

Well if you’re researching surgical hair restoration you should. Just like any other industry selling a product or service, the hair transplant field is a fiercely competitive business. It is a field of cosmetic surgery that is almost completely unregulated. Any doctor who has a valid medical license can claim that they are an expert hair transplant surgeon and market themselves to the unsuspecting public as a “leader” in the field.

For many years large hair transplant chains have been buying the public’s opinion through advertising on late night television. Now a much less expensive, yet more sophisticated marketing vehicle has been created…the online message forum.

Before we go on, it’s important to note that the internet can be a wonderful source of empowering hair transplant information. Information that just a few years ago was unavailable to the general public. Message forums were originally created to foster the free exchange of information among forum users without the confusion of marketing hype. Perspective hair transplant patients were encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussion about anything and everything concerning hair restoration. However there was one problem: Where and from whom was this information coming from? (more…)

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the more than 40 million women in this country who suffer with hair loss.

Hair loss effects one out of every four women by the age of thirty-five and more than fifty percent of women by the age of fifty. Forty percent our nation’s hair hair loss sufferers are women, yet this silent epidemic is all but ignored by mainstream medicine, the media and by society as a whole.

Women dealing with the emotional devastation of hair loss are forced to suffer in silence, due in part to the uncomfortable nature of this misunderstood condition. Female hair loss sufferers often feel isolated, and their fear of being exposed often keeps them from seeking effective treatment.

The Women’s Hair Loss Project was the creation of one courageous young woman. Her idea was simple…to chronicle her life as a hair loss sufferer and to provide women from around the world with a safe place to share, to vent, to learn an to inspire others dealing with this neglected epidemic.

Womenshairlossproject.com is the most powerful, inspirational and informative women’s hair loss website on the world wide web and the only women’s hair loss site endorsed by The American Hair Loss Association.

The American Hair Loss Association strongly encourages women suffering with hair loss to empower themselves with the incredible wealth of knowledge strength and hope that The Women’s’ Hair Loss Project provides.

The term “shock loss” refers to the synchronized shedding of one’s existing hair due the the trauma of the surgical procedure itself. Those with a significant amount of hair who undergo hair transplant surgery are at greatest risk. Women who undergo hair transplant surgery will almost always suffer with some degree of shock loss which can be extremely distressing.

The good news is that for many patients shock loss is a temporary issue that will eventually resolve itself within a few months.

Patients who undergo a hair transplant procedure must be fully informed of the possibility of looking worse before looking better. Proper patient selection also plays a role in determining the possible extent of shock loss as well. While shock loss is a very real concern, it’s important to note that for the right candidate who finds the right surgeon, a hair transplant can be a wonderful life changing experience.

This neglected topic was recently discussed by the Medical adviser to the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, Bradley R. Wolf, MD.

Click here to view the article, Recent Hair Transplant, Losing A Lot of Hair | Shock Loss

Thyroid symptoms tend to be what doctors call “non-specific,” meaning they aren’t necessarily focused in on a particular disease. You get sharp pain in the abdomen near your appendix — that’s a “specific symptom.” But you get fatigue, depression, anxiety, weight changes, and hair loss, and you could be stressed, depressed, hormonal, or have any one of a number of conditions, including thyroid disease. But figuring out what’s going on with you takes time, and costs money, and so if you go to the doctor complaining of these kind of non-specific symptoms, your doctor — guided by HMO and insurance company policy — may send you off not to get your thyroid tested, but instead, with a prescription for an antidepressant, or a recommendation to take up yoga, or the warning that you need to “stop eating so much.” (more…)

Those who have lost lashes to trauma, trichotillomania, overuse of false eyel