Stop Hair Loss Now - Hair Loss Treatments - Hair Loss Products

Long-Term Treatment With Propecia (Finasteride) Effective In Preventing Male Pattern Baldness

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 08:19:31 +0100

The longest controlled clinical trial of a hair loss treatment ever reported showed that men who took Propecia® (finasteride 1 mg) compared to men who took a placebo had a considerable difference in their hair counts after five years, according to data presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The new study showed a difference of 277 hairs in a one-inch diameter circle of scalp in favor of men treated with Propecia for five years (n=219) vs. those who received a placebo (n=15). Baseline hair counts of all men at the start of the study averaged 876 hairs in the one-inch diameter circle.

"This study provides new, long-term scientific data that Propecia helped the majority of men with predominantly vertex male pattern hair loss keep the amount of hair they have," said Keith Kaufman, M.D., senior director, Clinical Research, Merck Research Laboratories. "The study also was the first controlled clinical trial to evaluate the course of untreated hair loss over a five-year period and to show the progressive nature of male pattern hair loss."

Made by Merck & Co., Inc., Propecia is indicated for the treatment of certain types of hair loss in men only, based upon two-year studies. Propecia is a once-a-day treatment and is the only pill for male pattern hair loss approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Hair loss affects approximately 30 million men in the United States. Propecia is not indicated for use in women or children.

Eating Well for Hair Health

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 11:17:43 +0100

If you need more reasons to consider eating a balanced diet, add good hair. Nutrition experts say that people with certain nutritional deficiencies tend to have dry, stringy and dull hair, and sometimes experience hair loss.

Fortunately, nutrition-related hair loss can be restored once the deficiency is addressed. While male- and female-pattern baldness is considered a genetic trait, people experiencing any kind of hair loss should take the time to ensure they are getting good nutrition—for their hair health and general health.

"What you eat or do not eat can affect your hair and skin," says Doug Kalman, RD, a nutritionist with Miami Research Associates. This is important for dieters to keep in mind, Kalman says, particularly those who choose diets that severely restrict calories or eliminate groups of food.

At least one study has shown that people on crash diets experience temporary hair loss because such diets result in poor overall nutrition. Thus, people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are at risk of temporary hair loss, as well as many other medical conditions.

According to Wahida Karmally, DrPH, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, zinc deficiencies, which are associated with hair health, may be a problem among people on low-calorie diets, especially young women. Zinc is found in meat, eggs and seafood.

Hair Structure

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 07:53:15 +0100

The hair is composed of a protein called keratin. The hair itself is arranged in three layers, an outer cuticle, middle cortex and central medulla.

If the hair is coloured it is due to the presence of pigments- either melanin (black or brown) or pheomelanin (red or yellow). If these pigments are lacking the hair is white. Canites is the term given to grey hair, it is an illusion created by the mixture of white and coloured hairs. Actual individual "grey" hairs do not really exist.

Hair grows from a follicle. The walls of the follicle form the outer root sheath of the hair. The lower part of the follicle widens out to form the hair bulb that contains the germinal matrix, the source of hair growth.

Dermal tissue projects into the follicle base to form the dermal papilla, and this has a network of capillary blood vessels to supply oxygen, energy and the amino acids needed for growth. Melanocytes are present in the upper part of the papilla, producing pigment granules that are distributed throughout the cortex.

Tricomin for Hair Loss

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:10:27 +0100

About Tricomin: this product was initially intended to be released as a hair-growth compound. The early-stage Phase II clinical study of the product had very positive results on some of the 36 male subjects who, applied the treatment topically twice a day for 24 weeks.

The company has now decided to release the product as a cosmetic, rather than pursue the long and arduous FDA approval process.

Designed for men and women with thinning hair, Follicle Therapy Spray combines the benefits of clinically-tested Triamino Copper Nutritional Complex with an exceptional leave-in conditioner formulation.

Tricomin solution enriches your hair and scalp with a unique blend of essential amino acids, minerals and body-building ingredients.

Bauman Medical Group Hosts Worlds First NeoGraft Hair Transplant Workshop for Doctors

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:10:22 +0100

Bauman Medical Group recently completed the world's first NeoGraft Live Surgery Workshop, an educational event specifically for hair restoration physicians, which successfully demonstrated NeoGraft's potential to enhance minimally-invasive hair transplant procedures.

Hosted by board-certified hair restoration physician, Alan J. Bauman, M.D., the June 26th event was attended by more than 25 physicians and health care professionals from across the country.

"NeoGraft is an exciting device because it dramatically enhances the speed, efficiency and accuracy of follicular-unit extraction - the most minimally-invasive type of hair transplant available today," Dr. Bauman said. "My team and I are extremely proud to be chosen by NeoGraft Resource Group to be able to host the first live surgery workshop in the world to showcase this device."

The one-day event included scientific lectures on the history of minimally-invasive hair transplants, FDA-approved medical treatments for hair loss, hairline design and artistry in hair transplantation, as well as a 'live' hair transplant procedure performed with the NeoGraft™ device.

Genetic Hair Loss Test To Be Introduced In Dominican Republic

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 06:04:29 +0100

Men and women in the Dominican Republic will soon have access to genetic tests for predicting the risk of male or female hair loss thanks to a distribution agreement announced today by pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC. (www.hairdx.com)

The genetic baldness tests will be introduced to the Dominican Republic by Skin and Hair Transplant Institute of Santo Domingo (www.albareyes.com).

The company is lead by Dr. Alba Reyes Sagiv, M.D., the first surgeon in Latin America to be accepted as American Board Certified in the area of hair restoration (ABHRS). She is the Dominican Republic pioneer of the most advanced hair restoration techniques.

We’re striving to offer the most advanced services and treatments to people suffering from alopecia, says Dr. Sagiv.

Prosthetic Cancer Wigs Offered by London Based Hair Loss Solutions Provider

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:45:26 +0100

White Cliffs Hair Studio,an international hair loss solutions provider, showcases their innovative FDA-listed prosthetic Cancer wigs. Custom produced for those with medically caused hair loss, such as

Alopecia or hair loss due to Cancer treatments, these Cancer wigs can be worn long-term and are undetectable in order to help those who are ill to feel better, which helps them to heal faster.

White Cliffs Hair Studio, a London-based hair loss solutions provider, has released their new and innovative line of FDA-listed Cancer wigs for medically caused hair loss, such as hair loss due to Cancer treatments or Alopecia.

These Cancer wigs are an alternative to normal wigs or the use of hats and scarves often used by Cancer patients to conceal their hair loss.

Botox can end baldness True or False

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:43:55 +0100

Local doctors have responded with a mix of scorn and fascination to the new claim that Botox can be a cure for baldness.

It’s not a claim that’s made by Botox-maker Allergan of Irvine. The announcement came from cosmetic surgeon Dr. Simon Ourian of Beverly Hills, who says injections in patients’ scalps have produced hair growth.

It doesn’t make sense that Botox would cure baldness, says Dr. Christopher Zachary, chairman of the UCI Department of Dermatology. I have injected men numerous times high on the [forehead] and have never seen any hair growth.

It simply does not make sense, physiologically. I think he might have the same success if he injected lemonade, says bariatric surgeon Dr. Brian B. Quebbemann of Newport Beach.

Trevor Sorbie reaches out to women with medical hair loss

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:43:04 +0100

Marie Claire is delighted to announce a very special event in collaboration with renowned celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie.

A unique charitable initiative - My New Hair - sees Trevor and a national network of salons helping women affected by medical hair loss - because of cancer, alopecia or any other medical reason - with advice on wig selection, wig customisation, support and aftercare.

Have you, or someone you know, been affected by hair loss from illness and would love a boost?

We are looking for women aged 25 to 38 who would benefit from a pampering session, where they will be advised on choosing a wig, and have it styled by Trevor himself.
Alternatively, if your hair is now growing out and you are hoping to stop using your wig soon and want help with your
new hairstyle, then we'd love to hear from you too.

Coping with Alopecia Areata

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:10:50 +0100

Living with hair loss can be hard, especially in a culture that views hair as a sign of youth and good health. Even so, most people with alopecia areata are well-adjusted, contented people living full lives.

The key to coping is valuing yourself for who you are, not for how much hair you have or don't have.

Many people learning to cope with alopecia areata find it helpful to talk with other people who are dealing with the same problems.

More than four million people nationwide have this disease at some point in their lives, so you are not alone. If you would like to be in touch with others with the disease, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) can help through its pen pal program, message boards, annual conference, and support groups that meet in various locations nationwide.

Baldness calculator promises to predict mens hair loss

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:26:00 +0100

The baldness calculator said to be the world's first reliable tool for predicting hair loss has been a huge hit with men in other countries.

The program calculates the exact age at which someone will go bald or have lost most of their hair or provides reassurance by predicting that they will still have a full head of hair in old age.

Sixty per cent of users of the calculator to date have been young men aged between 15 and 30.

Two thirds of all British men will eventually suffer hair loss, according to recent research.

The program asks users about their age, marital status, occupation, where they live, what their current hairline is, hair loss in their family and their stress levels.

New International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery Survey Finds the Number of Hair Restoration Patients Worldwide Increased 26 Percent in 2008

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:24:35 +0100

Despite the worldwide economic downturn in 2008, more people continued to seek treatment for hair loss, according to statistics released today from a recent member survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) -- the world's leading medical authority on hair loss and hair restoration.

The extrapolated worldwide number of hair restoration patients treated in 2008 was approximately 811,363 (236,468 surgical patients and 574,894 non-surgical patients) -- up 26 percent from 2006.

This significant increase in hair restoration patients coincides with a 12 percent jump in the total number of surgical hair restoration procedures worldwide -- from 225,779 procedures in 2006 to 252,002 procedures in 2008.

"People around the world place an extremely high value on their hair, so it is no surprise that the number of men and women seeking help for hair loss continues to increase each year," said William M. Parsley, MD, president of the ISHRS.

Botox May Cure Baldness

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:37:52 +0100

Botox, the antiwrinkle injection, is being used as a surprise treatment for baldness.

Balding men may be offered a cure for their thinning heads — injections of Botox. The toxic chemicals are generally used to smooth out wrinkles, but doctors have discovered it can regrow hair too.

Dr Simon Ourian, a cosmetic surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, claimed that he stumbled upon its unexpected powers by accident while treating his mother who was suffering from migraines after having chemotherapy which had made her hair fall out.

Familiar with Botox's use as a headache treatment, he injected the chemical – the medical name for a form of Botulinum toxin – into her scalp but was surprised to find that it also appeared to help her hair to grow back.

Hair Loss Shampoo

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:52:49 +0100

Scientists working for McNeil, makers of Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo, presented the findings of a study done on 1% Nizoral shampoo which has good news for hair loss sufferers.

It has long been known that 2% prescription Nizoral has beneficial effects on Androgenic Alopecia (MPB). It however has been unclear whether the same benefits can be obtained by using the non-prescription 1% version.

In the study presented (see below), one hundred male volunteers with mild to moderate dandruff and somewhat oily scalp, were using, in a double-blind fashion, either a 1% Nizoral shampoo or a 1% zinc pyrithione shampoo, 2-3 times a week for 6 months.

Analysis of the different parameters set up in the study shows that the hair diameter gradually increased with Nizoral use (+8.46%) over a 6 month period, whereas the diameter showed a trend to decrease with zinc pyrithione use over the same period (-2.28%).

Grey hair may be protecting us from cancer

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:05:02 +0100

Grey hair may be unwelcome, but the processes that produce it are now better understood and could be protecting us from cancer.

Cells called melanocytes produce the pigments that colour hair and their numbers are kept topped up by stem cells.

Hair goes grey when the number of stem cells in hair follicles declines.

Now Emi Nishimura of Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan and colleagues have found what causes this decline in mice.

When the researchers exposed mice to radiation and chemicals that harm DNA, damaged stem cells transformed permanently into melanocytes.

Gray Hair Caused by Stress

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:16:18 +0100

Work or personal stress may make you want to pull your hair out, but it's cellular stress that actually turns it gray, a new study has found.

That's because DNA is "under constant attack" by damaging agents, such as chemicals, ultraviolet light, and ionizing radiation, according to study lead author Emi Nishimura of Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

A single mammal cell can encounter up to 100,000 events a day that damage DNA, Nishimura added in a statement.

The stem cells within hair follicles responsible for color are the most impacted by this irreparable DNA weathering.

Stem cells are cells in the body that can reproduce indefinitely and that have the potential to "mature" into other, more specialized cells. The stem cells in hair follicles mature into melanocytes, or cells that produce the pigment melanin.

Laser Hair Treatment Clinic to offer DNA Hair Loss Testing

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:47:59 +0100

Hair Loss Control Clinic (HLCC), a worldwide leader in providing laser hair treatment solutions to hair loss, is pleased to introduce to their services a new and effective tool in the prevention and treatment of genetic hair loss.

HLCC now offers Genetic DNA hair testing to both men and women.

The testing will determine whether the individual is susceptible to Androgenetic Alopecia - male or female pattern hair loss - long before the symptoms begin showing.

If the DNA tests indicate the individual is susceptible to hair loss, a laser hair treatment regimen can be started early to prevent hair loss before it happens.

HairDX Launches European Subsidiary To Expand Global Availability Of Genetic Baldness Test For Men And Women

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:45:39 +0100

Pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC, pioneers of genetic tests for predicting the risk of male and female hair loss, today announced the launch of its European subsidiary, HairDX Europe.

HairDX Europe expands the company’s leadership in hair dermatology, and global availability of the genetic tests for Androgenetic Alopecia. This follows the recent announcement of distribution agreements with Biodue in Italy, and Aderans in Japan. HairDX’s revolutionary genetic tests in Italy, and further expands the company’s leadership in the dermatology of hair.

Dirk Segers will serve as President of HairDX Europe. He has worked and managed European subsidiaries for U.S. based medical device start-up companies, and brings 18 years of experience in clinical, sales and marketing management.

Nourkrin Man for Hair Loss

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 07:22:03 +0100

Following the success of the original Nourkrin product in successfully treating the thinning hair problem (mainly amongst women), Nourkrin Man has been developed to strengthen the effect and target the formulation specifically for men.

Two new key ingredients have been added - Omega 3 Fatty Acid and the natural herb, Fenugreek, to reduce the miniaturisation of the hair follicles and to reduce the natural transformation of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which prevents nutrients reaching the hair follicle and inhibits hair growth.

Fenugreek is proven to reduce the DHT inhibitors, increase the dilation of blood vessels to the scalp and improve circulation and nutrient supply.

Nourkrin Man works in 4 stages over a 6 month period. In the first two months it slows down and reduces thinning hair.

Cancer Drug That Won’t Cause Hair Loss

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 07:02:53 +0100

A group of researchers led by Queensland University in Australia developed a cancer drug that avoids the usual sickness and hair loss by just using a fat-rich coating.

The new treatment specifically closedown genes in tumour cells that causes cancer while sparing normal healthy tissues.

Thus far, the cancer has been treated with the help of surgical operation, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Radiation and chemotherapy result in side effects such as hair loss.

Medicines offer hope for hair regrowth

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 06:04:12 +0100

First the forehead gets higher, then a spot at the back of the head clears - hair loss is for many men the worst thing they could possibly suffer as they get older.

While balding men used to place their hopes in all kinds of remedies or attempt to conceal the areas with hair pieces, effective hair growth medications have been available for years. But they can't guarantee the return of a full head of hair.

There are good reasons for the anxiety men feel when their hair starts to fall out.

"Studies show that to other people, bald men appear to be an average of three to four years older than they actually are," said Ronald Henss of Saarbruecken.

Hair loss and Hair Care

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 07:41:06 +0100

Clean shiny hair is seen as a sign of good health, but this is not strictly true as hair is actually dead matter. It is very much more likely a sign of someone who has looked after their hair with proper care and attention to detail.

It is important to choose a shampoo and conditioner that is right for you, hair gets dirty when sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skins sebaceous glands, coats the shaft. Dead skin cells and air bourne dirt stick to the sebum.

It goes without saying that a well-balanced diet is essential to healthy hair growth. Poor diet can be reflected in hair quality to quite an amazing degree, dandruff, dry hair and even hair loss can result.

Stress can also cause a problem in both hair loss and dandruff. Both of which can be detrimental to a lovely shiny head of hair.

The type of shampoo that you use is a purely personal choice, the cosmetic companies that produce them have spent millions of pounds on research over the years so you can usually be sure that the shampoo will clean your hair.

Stress and Hair Loss

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 05:57:50 +0100

Your hair has a way of telling you if your body is in balance.

If you are healthy - physically as well as emotionally - your hair will be radiant and shining and your scalp pliant and moist.

If you are not well physically, or if you are upset emotionally, your hair becomes dull and lifeless - it will begin to fall out, and your hair will become waxy with the overproduction of your traumatised sebaceous glands.

Truly, any major change in our lives can be reflected in the condition of our hair, scalp and skin. If we are well and happy, we reflect this health and well-being in the condition of our hair and scalp. If we are in a slump, that slump is often manifested in the appearance of our hair and scalp.

Celebrity Hairstylist Thom Priano Named Official Stylist for the Rogaine Brand

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 05:30:23 +0100

Rogaine -- the first and only topical brand FDA-approved to regrow hair is proud to announce that Celebrity Hairstylist Thom Priano of the Garren New York Salon will partner as a spokesperson for the brand.

Rogaine has joined forces with Priano to help educate consumers, stylists and media on how to treat and style thinning hair.

A fixture in the men's grooming movement and an equally talented women's stylist, Priano has worked with the world's top photographers to create the most stylish looks for male and female celebrities from the worlds of Hollywood, sports, music and fashion.

HairSoReal The Non-Toxic Hair Substitute Fiber

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 06:39:59 +0100

HairSoReal is an extraordinary new solution to thinning and balding problems. It is uniquely formulated from artificial hair fibers.

HairSoReal is not a paint or a cream that attempts to cover your scalp. It is a finely textured fiber substance that binds to your existing hair and forms a complete layer of hair above your scalp where real hair is. It is not glossy or shiny.

It looks like hair and comes in black, dark brown, medium brown, light brown and blonde colors to match your own natural hair color perfectly.

HairSoReal is the new, Doctor tested, non-toxic alternative to expensive surgical procedures and drug treatments.

Hair Loss Confidential

Sun, 31 May 2009 06:41:54 +0100

An inspirational new reality TV series is helping people cope with hair loss and a Boston area company helped launch the series with a Boston-based makeover.

Needham's PK Walsh, Hair Solution for Women and New England's leading hair replacement salon exclusively for women, provided a hair replacement solution for a 38 year-old Boston woman named Kristal.

Nominated by her sister, Kristal has suffered for years with hair loss, battled numerous health issues including cancer, and lost a lot of the hair on the top of her head.

Hair Transplant

Sat, 30 May 2009 07:14:55 +0100

Hair transplantation is the medical process of relocating permanent hair from the lower back and sides of the head.

These hairs are transplanted into areas of thinning and balding along the top and towards the front of the head, where after a short resting period they grow and will continue to grow for a lifetime.

The entire reason why hair transplants are permanent, and not just a temporary cosmetic procedure, lies in a simple physiological fact that every man has a horseshoe-shaped area of hair around the back and sides of the head. Often referred to as the monk's fringe, this area contains hair, which is genetically programmed before birth to last a lifetime.

That's why even the most severely bald men you ever see will still have this area of permanent, lifetime growing hair at the back of their head.

Hair Loss Solution Growing Despite Economy

Fri, 29 May 2009 07:33:38 +0100

In a sharp contrast to the rest of the country, according to owner Jeff Stanifer, Lasermax is expanding its business. "We're booming," he said recently, "Despite the economy, or maybe because of it, more men and women are looking for help to fight hair loss."

Lasermax is a four year old company that manufactures the first overhead hair laser marketed for home use.

Laser hair restoration is a relatively new technology that has, until recently, only been available in two flavors: professional laser clinics and laser brushes for home use; both of which have their downsides.

Dandruff - The Symptoms

Thu, 28 May 2009 06:32:33 +0100

The flakes of skin are greyish white and are very often visible on the hair and shoulders. There is sometimes itching or soreness and the scalp can feel tight.

Dandruff scales usually occur as small, round, white-to-gray patches on top of the head.

Scaling can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, the beard and can often spread to the neck and shoulders.

Dandruff is often known as "dry scalp", but people with oily scalps tend to suffer the most. An oily scalp also supports the growth of P. ovale.

Mouse study finds hair loss gene

Wed, 27 May 2009 06:20:20 +0100

Experiments on mice have revealed a gene that is linked to early hair loss, a Japanese researcher says, sparking hopes for a treatment to prevent thinning and baldness in humans.

The research team found that the absence of a gene known as Sox21 - which it said is shared by humans and mice - can lead to early hair loss.

The scientists biologically engineered mice by blocking the gene and found that the rodents started losing hair on their heads about 15 days after birth and became completely naked a week later.

"Normally, new hair appears right after old hair falls out," said Yumiko Saga, a mammalian development professor at the National Institute of Genetics.

Rogaine Seeks Place in the Morning Routine

Tue, 26 May 2009 06:41:41 +0100

Since its introduction in 1988, Rogaine has always been a bit of a punch line, not only for what it does (help grow hair) but also for its sales results, which never quite (insert bad hair-growth pun here).

But 2007 was a breakout year for Rogaine. A mousse-like version was introduced in 2006 and proved far more popular than the traditional liquid formulation, which comes in a bottle with an eyedropper. The foam version is dispensed by pressing a nozzle, a convenient feature for a product meant to be used twice a day.

Now comes a new marketing campaign for Rogaine that tries to reposition it as an everyday bathroom essential like deodorant or toothpaste rather than a medication. Your daily grooming routine probably already includes brushing, shaving, maybe more, reads a promotion on the Rogaine Web site. Take a look at what adding just a few minutes more with Men’s Rogaine Foam can do.

The Truth about Unproven Hair Loss Remedies

Mon, 25 May 2009 06:38:27 +0100

Only two products: minoxidil (Rogaine®) and finasteride (Propecia®) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hair loss.

But it seems like hundreds of products, including shampoos, hair sprays and vitamins, are said to play a role in preventing hair loss and/or re-growing hair.

People eager for an easy hair loss solution are often willing to give these products a try, and others may want to supplement their use of minoxidil or finasteride.

Regardless, people are likely to wonder whether there is any research to support the claims of these other products, or if they're just quackery.

Choosing a Hair Loss Expert

Sun, 24 May 2009 07:34:09 +0100

If you are experiencing hair loss, you may have considered seeking expert help for your problem. But who should you turn to? And how do you know you're getting the best care?

Below, hair loss experts explain how you can find professional help that is reliable, and right for you.

What's the most common cause of hair loss in men and women?

NEIL SADICK, MD: The three most common causes of hair loss are genetic. The state of your parents

Hair Cloning May Offer Hope To People With Hair Loss

Sat, 23 May 2009 06:37:08 +0100

The hair follicle cloning, or multiplication, process is not yet possible, but is an idea based on scientific theory. Cells from the hair follicle that are able to induce the growth of another hair would be replicated in the laboratory and then injected into the scalp to create new hair. This procedure would make it possible to generate multiple, virtually unlimited numbers, of hair follicles, which is why the procedure is also called hair multiplication.

Hair follicle cloning is actually a misleading term, explained Jerry Cooley, MD, of the Hair Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cloning involves making an identical genetic copy of a living organism such as Dolly the lamb or a cell or gene.

Hair follicle cloning is really cell therapy or tissue engineering, a process that would involve taking some tissue from the scalp using a circular punch about 2 millimeters in diameter that contains hair follicle cells, and then finding a way to let these cells multiply in the laboratory using cell culture, Dr. Cooley said.

Dandruff Treatment

Fri, 22 May 2009 06:55:49 +0100

Sometimes dandruff can be treated and prevented by using a good quality shampoo such as those sold by hair salons.

If dandruff does not disappear after a few weeks using a good shampoo, an anti-dandruff shampoo may solve the problem.

Shampoos normally contain one of five active ingredients: salicylic acid, coal-tar, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide and sulphur. These shampoos are non-prescription and the ingredients are approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Well known over-the-counter brands include Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue, Tegrin, Sebutone or Neutrogena T/Gel or T/Sal.

Eating Well for Healthy Hair

Thu, 21 May 2009 05:57:13 +0100

Hair Loss Confidential Seeking Nominations Across U.S.

Wed, 20 May 2009 07:40:57 +0100

An inspirational new reality TV series is changing the lives of people suffering with the debilitating effects of hair loss.

Many people might think that hair loss is no big deal – and some even find it funny - but once viewers see these heart wrenching stories; they’ll understand the pain and heartache of these individuals and their families.

Millions of American men, women and children experience hair loss every year.

Fifty percent of people experience a hair loss problem sometime during their lives. Broken down: two-thirds of men by the age of 60 and forty percent of women.

Nanogen: Good News for Troubled Biotechs

Tue, 19 May 2009 05:41:18 +0100

Over the last few months, many Biotechs have been reporting financial difficulties, including several prominent US firms, one of which filed for Chapter 11 protection, commonly known as filing for bankruptcy, on the 14th May amid a storm of publicity.

This has raised concerns about the future of many Biotech companies worldwide, with both investors and loyal customers becoming nervous about long standing companies.

However it isn’t all bad news for Biotech companies, a privately owned UK biotech called Nanogen, specialising in hair loss treatments and hair camouflage products, have reported significant growth in the last 2 quarters compared to last year, and by all reports are weathering the recession well.

Wayne Rooney talks baldness cure

Mon, 18 May 2009 07:02:34 +0100

ON me 'ead, son! England star Wayne Rooney is to be treated with a controversial drug to cure his baldness.

The £100,000-a-week Man United striker will take a daily tablet of Finasteride plus scalp lotion to block hormones causing his hair to fall out. Until this year the drug was BANNED in sport as it could mask steroids.

Now it's legal and Rooney, 23 - who shaves his head to avoid the Bobby Charlton look - has already had a consultation.

After years of "slaphead" jibes from team-mates he plans to kick off the £100-a-month treatment as soon as the football season is over.

What Causes Hair Loss

Sat, 16 May 2009 07:11:59 +0100

There are two different types of hair loss, medically known as anagen effluvium and Telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium is generally due to internally administered medications, such as chemotherapy agents, that poison the growing hair follicle Telogen effluvium, is due to an increased number of hair follicles entering the resting stage.

The typical pattern of female-pattern baldness is different than that of male pattern baldness. The hair thins all over the head, but the frontal hairline is maintained.

There may be a moderate loss of hair on the crown, but this rarely progresses to total or near baldness as it may in men.

First Ever Hair Transplant Social Network Launched

Fri, 15 May 2009 08:11:27 +0100

Spencer Kobren, host of The Bald Truth Radio show, today announced the official launch of Hair Transplant Community, the first and only social network fully dedicated to surgical hair restoration.

HairTransplantCommunity.com is a safe and supportive social network designed to empower and unite hair transplant veterans, physicians and individuals contemplating the procedure.

Recommended by the American Hair Loss Association, HairTransplantCommunity.com is free to join and open to anyone seeking hair restoration, anyone who has gone through the procedure or anyone supporting a friend or loved one considering hair transplant surgery.

Follica Gears Up for More Hair Growth

Thu, 14 May 2009 06:39:55 +0100

Follica, the Boston-area startup out to bring a scientific approach to helping hair-loss sufferers re-grow their locks, is preparing for some new growth of its own.

What, exactly, Follica’s next step is—and when it will occur—is of intense interest to many of Xconomy’s readers, who struck up an often-spirited conversation on the site after we reported Follica’s $5.5 million Series A round in January 2008 and continued the discussion after the startup’s $11 million Series B funding last August.

A lot of the talk in these comments has been centered on a 15 to 20 patient proof of concept study that Follica launched to put its follicle-generating approach to the test.

Hair Loss a History

Tue, 12 May 2009 07:39:07 +0100

Although hair loss is regarded as a modern day problem nothing could be further from the truth.

The ancient Egyptians were searching for a cure over four thousand years ago. The bible also has a few mentions of hair loss within its pages.

Hair loss. it’s problems and the search for a cure is not anything new. For thousands of years, men and women of all countries and races have shared the tragedy of premature hair loss and the hope of discovering a cure.

There is indeed a vast fortune just waiting to be collected for anyone finding the elusive cure.

Nanogen Launches TV Campaign

Mon, 11 May 2009 06:23:18 +0100

Hair Loss is still largely unrecognised by the public as a serious condition, and information, especially in terms of the options available to sufferers, isn't widely available.

Nanogen, manufacturers of Hair Loss treatment & Camouflage products, have launched a television campaign to encourage sufferers to address their problem.

Thinning hair is a problem affecting millions of people all over the world, from all walks of life.

Hair loss is more common and widespread than is publicly acknowledged, amazingly, a recent estimation showed that more than 30% of women will have thinning hair to the point that it is noticeable by the age of 50 and 50% of men by the age of 40.

Dads can pass on baldness genes

Sat, 9 May 2009 05:39:01 +0100

Balding men used to be able to blame their mothers for the genes that led to their hair loss, but new research published overnight points the finger at their fathers.
The finding could lead to new treatments, not only for baldness, but for the other serious health conditions that come with hair loss.

Despite billions of dollars being spent trying to counter its effects, baldness continues to defy the best efforts of scientists around the world.

Three years ago the first hair loss gene was identified on the X chromosome - suggesting baldness was passed down through the mother's side of the family.

But now a team of Queensland and German researchers has discovered a new gene that can be inherited from both the mother and the father.

Three-hundred balding men were part of the study. The discovery could lead to new treatments.

Hair today, gone tomorrow: Tracking hair loss and growth

Fri, 8 May 2009 05:45:27 +0100

New software is able to analyse exactly how many hairs there are in a patch of skin and could help in testing the effectiveness of baldness treatments and depilatory creams, say Australian researchers.

Researchers from CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences in Sydney report their findings in the November issue of the journal Skin Research and Technology.

The software, developed in partnership with a UK company, will make it easier for researchers developing hair removal creams to accurately assess how well they work, says image analyst Dr Pascal Vallotton.

"Up to now they were counting the number of hairs that survived after treatment manually," he said.

One in four British men suffering from hair loss would favour a 'Robert Peston' hairstyle over that of Hollywood actor Daniel Craig, according to new research out today.

Thu, 7 May 2009 05:50:45 +0100

One in four British men suffering from hair loss would favour a 'Robert Peston' hairstyle over that of Hollywood actor Daniel Craig, according to new research out today.

In a poll of 1,200 men, over a quarter admired the BBC journalist's mop compared to 20% who preferred the James Bond star's do, while George Clooney and Brad Pitt were a close third.

Men are realising that they don't have to look like Brad Pitt or George Clooney to be attractive and that a lot of women find brains sexier than brawn alone.

The Heartache of Hair Loss

Wed, 6 May 2009 07:43:34 +0100

Being bald or balding sometimes drives people to desperate measures; unproven hair loss products and the comb-over technique are just two.

Given the prevalence of pattern baldness, you might think our society would more readily accept hair loss, but, in fact, hair loss can have serious psychological ramifications.

Studies have linked pattern baldness not only to dissatisfaction with one's appearance, but also to lowered self-esteem and other measures of self-worth.

A 1992 study from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that most men regard hair loss as an "an unwanted distressing experience that diminishes their body image." Likewise, a 1999 study published in the Journal of Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine found that hair loss in women was associated with self-consciousness, jealousy and a feeling of powerlessness about hair loss.

Medical Treatments for Hair Loss in Women

Tue, 5 May 2009 06:07:17 +0100

We've all seen the commercials for the Hair Club for Men, ads for prescription medications for male hair loss, and even men's spray-on hair.

But rarely do we see advertisements addressing women's hair loss issues.

Surprisingly, hair loss in women is a common occurrence. It affects more than 30 million women in the United States alone.

Although hair loss can seem a permanent condition, and devastating to many women, there is hope, and there are treatments out there for women, even if you never do see the ads. Here to discuss some of those solutions for women's hair loss are two experts in the field.

More support urged over hair loss

Sat, 2 May 2009 05:59:08 +0100

Experts have called for more understanding of the psychological problems faced by men and women affected by hair loss.

A report commissioned by hair loss supplement company Viscera found that almost a third of people in the UK suffered from hair loss or had experienced it in the past.

While the majority of people were affected by male pattern baldness or hair thinning, around 2% of people suffered from alopecia.

Many of those with hair loss reported no emotional problems, but a "significant minority" of people were found to be at risk of serious psychosocial consequences, including depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem and identity change, according to the report's author, health psychologist Dr Nigel Hunt.

He said: "While hair loss affects a quarter of the population, the psychosocial consequences are relatively unknown. This report looks beneath the surface to reveal the fundamental reasons why hair loss has such an impact on those who suffer and the extent to which it holds a negative perception in society."

Next-Generation Hair Loss Treatment Genetic Testing

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:20:37 +0100

SeqWright Inc., a CLIA certified and GLP compliant provider of custom genomic and molecular biology services, announced today its entry into the genetically-targeted therapy field through its partnership with PharmaGenoma.

SeqWright will be the exclusive genetic testing provider for PharmaGenoma's HairDX test which evaluates patient responsiveness to the common hair loss treatment, Finasteride.

Finasteride is a commonly prescribed medication for the treatment of Androgenic Alopecia (AGA) or common hair loss.

The treatment works by blocking the production of dihydrotesterone (DHT), which is responsible for the loss of hair.

However, due to potential Finasteride side effects, along with variations in responsiveness, many patients are reluctant to begin or continue treatment.

The World First Mobile Hair Clinic System

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:13:31 +0100

The World First Mobile Hair Clinic System

Protect your hair for your confident life with HAIR CLINIC : for man and woman!

HAIR CLINIC helps you protect your hair easily :

Most of hair problems such as alopecia and hair loss result from insufficient nutrition of hair roots that is caused by the circulation disorder of the blood around hair roots.

For the reason, all the medical cures for alopecia or hair treatment products include the medical ingredients or chemical methods to promote blood circulation for hair roots to take nutrition normally.

Aderans Research Launches Second Phase of Hair Loss Study

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:03:25 +0100

Aderans Research Institute Inc. (ARI) announced today it has launched Phase 2 of its clinical study on cell-based hair regeneration for men and women.

Structured around the findings of the recently completed Phase 1 of the study, this second phase will continue to evaluate the impact of its novel cell treatment process on pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia.

Phase 2 of the study is being conducted in six U.S. cities: Atlanta, Boston, New York, Raleigh, Houston, and Washington DC. Phase 1 was conducted exclusively in the United Kingdom.

"The second phase of this study is another step in our efforts to truly understand the impact of regenerative cell therapy on pattern hair loss. It's a tremendous opportunity," says Kurt Stenn, MD, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer.

Innovation Award Nomination for Nanofibres Hair Camouflage

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:33:55 +0100

Imagine if you never had to worry about the appearance of thinning hair again? Imagine if you didn’t have to worry about your scalp being visible through your hair?

How would that change your life?

Nanogen presents Nanofibres, a cosmetic microfibre hair camouflage product which instantly disguises the appearance of thinning hair. Nanofibres has just been nominated for the Estetica Beauty Innovation Award 2009 as Most Innovative Product of the year.

Elliot Isaacs, founder of Nanogen commented, We’ve worked hard for years to deliver the best hair loss treatments in Europe, and it’s fantastic to be recognised in this way, it’s what I always hoped we’d achieve.

For 10 years, Nanogen has provided products and services to people with hair loss, a British Biotech start-up, Nanogen has always aimed to bring the findings of its hair loss research to the public through its innovative range.

Drug trial to end bad hair days for bald women

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 07:23:23 +0100

For men coping with baldness, the solution can be as simple as shaving their head. But for women the effects can be devastating.

Losing their hair often means a loss of femininity and sense of self-esteem. With rates of anxiety and depression high among sufferers, some even resort to tattooing their heads to hide thinning patches on their scalps.

But a world-first trial at a Melbourne hospital is offering hope to the estimated 700,000 Australian women affected by severe hair loss.

Doctors at St Vincent's aim to prove that a drug used to reduce excessive facial and body hair can stop hair loss on the scalp of women, as well as stimulate partial hair growth in up to a third of sufferers.

They hope that this evidence will encourage doctors — many of whom tell women there is no treatment for hair loss — to prescribe the tablets more widely.

Propecia for Hair Loss

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:37:42 +0100

PROPECIA is the first and only FDA-approved pill proven to treat male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of the head) and anterior mid-scalp area in men.

The fact is, for most men, PROPECIA works. The results of 2 years of testing speak for themselves.

5 out of 6 men kept the amount of hair they had (vs. 28% with a sugar pill).

2 out of 3 men grew back some of their lost hair (vs. 7% with a sugar pill).

Most men reported an increase in the amount of hair, a decrease in hair loss, and improvement in appearance.

And the vast majority of men on PROPECIA were rated by doctors as improved (80% vs. 47% with a sugar pill).

Hair loss in women

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:13:06 +0100

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a clinical problem that is becoming more common in women.

Female alopecia with androgen increase is called female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) and without androgen increase is called female pattern hair loss.

The clinical picture of typical FAGA begins with a specific "diffuse loss of hair from the parietal or frontovertical areas with an intact frontal hairline."

Ludwig called this process "rarefaction." In Ludwig's classification of hair loss in women, progressive type ofFAGA, 3 patterns were described: grade I or minimal, grade II or moderate, and grade III or severe.

Clinical Data Published for the Only Laser Phototherapy Device Cleared by the FDA for Hair Growth

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:23:02 +0100

Findings of the pivotal clinical trial of the HairMax LaserComb that provided clear evidence of efficacy and safety to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be published in the prestigious peer review journal, Clinical Drug Investigation in May 2009.

Results of the clinical trial were a key factor in the clearance of the device for marketing in January 2007 for the promotion of hair growth in males with Androgenetic Alopecia.

The six-month study, titled, "HairMax LaserComb(R) Laser Phototherapy Device in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia," demonstrates that the device should be considered as first line therapy for all appropriate men with this condition.

Embryonic stem cells used to regenerate hair on mice

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:35:08 +0100

A university lecturer has succeeded in regenerating hair on mice using embryonic stem cells, an achievement that could pave the way for the development of treatments for conditions including hair loss, it has been learned.

Details of the breakthrough, by Mariko Yamaki of Matsumoto Dental University, will be published in the May edition of The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine magazine.

The work involved taking skin cells and combining them with mesenchymal stem cells--multipotent stem cells that develop into various organs of the body--to regenerate hair.

Head & Shoulders launches Hair Endurance, protecting men from the root cause of hair loss

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:36:17 +0100

Head & Shoulders, the leading anti-dandruff hair care brandrealises that the quality of men’s hair contributes significantly to men’s overall appearance and attractiveness; with thick, resilient, good quality, full hair symbolising male health and vigour.

But when men start losing their hair, or it starts showing signs of damage for whatever reason, this can negatively affect their self esteem and make them less confident about their appearance.

Head & Shoulders recently agreed during a forum made up of leading hair care experts that dandruff can lead to hair loss.

As such, Head & Shoulders sought to address the issue of damaged hair and hair loss by creating Head & Shoulders “Hair Endurance”; a brand new product to give men impactful, healthy looking hair with the ease and convenient use of a daily shampoo.

New hope in hair loss treatment

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:10:35 +0100

In its endeavour to highlight new technologies, The Times of India organized a trichology symposium, in association with the Chandigarh Dermatology Society and Sunetics International, on Wednesday.

The symposium, which was aimed at spreading awareness on latest advances in hair-loss treatment, highlighted the techniques of low level laser therapy (LLLT) clinical system.

In a first for India, Canada-based Medicom Lasers International is about to launch LLLT clinical laser system in the country, while manufacturing operations will be carried out by Sunetics International.

Study Shows More Hair Is Still a Hot Commodity During Recession

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:14:37 +0100

While lately most people are skeptical about their return on investment from stocks, some seem more inclined to invest in their locks.

According to a new online survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), 59.8 percent of people who were asked whether they would rather have more hair, more money or more friends chose more hair.

By comparison, only 26.2 percent of respondents chose more money and 13.9 percent said they would rather have more friends.

Of the 1,407 people polled, slightly more women (64.2 percent) than men (59.1 percent) indicated they wanted more hair than more money or more friends.

Compulsive habit of biting one's own hair

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:14:19 +0100

A 17-year-old male presented with patches of hair loss on both forearms with comorbid depression and anxiety disorders.

He had irresistible urges to bite his hair on easily approachable sites and endorsed biting his hair during periods of severe anxiety and boredom, resulting in noticeable patches of hair loss.

There was no evidence of trichotillomanic behavior or any other skin pathology resulting in loss of hair at those sites.

Microscopy of the bitten end of hairs showed smooth, sharply demarcated, blunted shafts.

Trichodaganomania (biting one's own hair) should not be confused with trichotillomania, trichotemnomania, or trichoteiromania.

Scientists link baldness to weight-lifting

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:47:48 +0000

British scientists say lifting weights can cause baldness.

That's because weight training increases testosterone levels immediately after a session, rising 25 percent after 45 minutes, The Sun reported. About 30 minutes later, testosterone levels drop as the hormone is converted to dihydrotestosterone or DHT, which shrinks hair follicles and roots.

"We have seen an increase in men in their 20s and 30s who regularly circuit train," Rogers Medical Group, a practice specializing in hair transplants, said in a statement. "There's no doubt it is often a factor in hair loss."

While inheriting genes for baldness is still the biggest single cause of hair loss, scientists say training with weights is No. 2. Women who lift weights are also likely to end up with thinner hair.

Soy and Hair Loss

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:02:21 +0000

French researchers compared the effects of a soyextract vs. genistein and daidzein (isoflavones devoid of their carbohydrate conjugates) and daidzin and puerarin (carbohydrate conjugated isoflavones; puerarin is present in abundance within kudzu [Pueraria lobata]) on different hormone elements and isolated human hair follicles.

'Activation' of the gene coding for an enzyme implicated in androgenetic hair loss (5alpha-reductase; the target of the drug finasteride, for androgenetic alopecia) was inhibited by both genistein and puerarin. Genetic activation of an enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone into estrogens (aromatase) was increased by genistein and, to a lesser extent, daidzein.

The soy extract stimulated one of the estrogen receptors (b receptor) greater than genistein and daidzein, although the latter two were stimulatory themselves. Receptors for testosterone-like molecules (androgens) were decreased by genistein, and half as much by daidzein.

New tools helping women fight hair loss

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:56:11 +0000

Full, glorious hair -- it is a big part of what defines beauty. But baldness doesn't just happen to men. It happens to millions of women, too.

"Hair loss is quite common in women," said Dr. Brad Limmer, a hair transplant specialist. "I think a lot of women feel they're suffering alone. But the reality is that 40% of women will suffer from androgenetic alopecia."

That's hereditary hair loss, and it comes from both sides of the family. While men start showing signs of losing their hair in their 20s, it is often difficult to diagnosis women at an earlier age.

But now there's a way to know if a woman or a man is at risk for losing their hair; a simple DNA test can tell if a person carries the gene for baldness. The test takes generally three weeks for results.
"I think hair loss in women is often borne in silence," said dermatologist Shelley Sekula. "I think women don't realize that there are things that can be done."

A & G Skin Solutions Inc. Releases New Hair Growth Product

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:02:37 +0000

Drs. Ahmed Al-Qahtani and Greg Maguire, founders of A & G Skin Solutions, Inc., a privately owned stem cell therapeutics corporation headquartered in Irvine, CA, USA, announced today the release of A & G Hair Complex, a topically applied serum for the scalp that enhances hair growth and helps prevent hair loss.

A & G Skin Solutions' clinical studies of its Hair Complex demonstrated that hair growth in male pattern baldness (Alopecia) could begin to be restored in a matter of days following the topical application of Hair Complex.

According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Qahtani, President and Chief Scientific Officer of A & G, "A & G's Hair Complex restores the biochemical properties of the dormant hair follicules to a youthful, healthy state so that hair growth can be renewed."

Diary of a Hair Transplant

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:06:56 +0000

Diary of A Hair Transplant is a witty but practical guide for the millions of bald, bothered and bewildered men out there searching for the holy grail of new hair - without a map.

Fifty-something entertainment journalist Brian Beacom started losing his lovingly blow-dried locks in the early seventies and so began the long, long search for some way of getting them back – and with them some semblance of the David Cassidy style of his hair heyday.

Diary of a Hair Transplant begins with the writer undergoing treatment at the Farjo Medical Centre in Manchester, but he flashes back through a personal thirty-year journey in search of a hair solution.

He talks about all the lotions and potions, the devices and weird advice he tried before taking the step, in 2008, to have the transplant.

He takes the reader through the range of the surgery on the market and cites many celebrity examples of the good and bad choices.

Skillfully combining just enough medical facts with big dollops of humour and self deprecation, this easily-read book is perfect for every receding reader.

Capsaicin and Hair Loss

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:10:10 +0000

A proportion of sensory C-fibres is characterized by sensitivity to the pungent agent in hot peppers, capsaicin.

Upon stimulation by capsaicin, co-stored peptides including calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), are released from the peripheral terminals of these fibres.

In addition to capsaicin other noxious/painful stimuli and conditions such as low pH, ischaemia, nicotine and bradykinin can cause release of CGRP from capsaicin - sensitive afferent nerves. CGRP - immuno-reactive nerve fibres occur throughout the cardiovascular system, including the heart where the highest amounts of CGRP have been detected along the coronary arteries and in the atria.

HairDX Introduces Genetic Test For Finasteride Response

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:23:47 +0000

Molecular dermatology research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC ( www.hairdx.com), pioneers of genetic tests for predicting the risk of male and female hair loss, today introduced The HairDX (RxR) Genetic Test for Finasteride - a breakthrough genetic test for predicting Finasteride response for the treatment of common hair loss (Androgenetic Alopecia).

The announcement was made at the annual meeting of The American Academy of Dermatology.

The HairDX (RxR) Genetic Test for Finasteride is available now and carries a suggested retail price of $199.

Aderans and HairDX Introduce Genetic Hair Loss Test To Japan

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:26:43 +0000

Pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC ( www.hairdx.com), pioneers genetic tests for predicting the risk of male and female hair loss, today announced an exclusive agreement with Aderans Company Limited of Tokyo to introduce the breakthrough tests in Japan starting on March 1, 2009.

The HairDX test collection kit is listed with Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) as a Class I medical device.

The agreement makes Aderans the sole Japanese distributor of HairDX's revolutionary genetic tests, and further expands Aderans' leadership in the hair care and medical fields.

Experts promote baldness drug for prostate cancer

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:23:06 +0000

Millions of healthy men 55 and older should consider taking finasteride, a drug used to treat prostate enlargement symptoms and baldness, to prevent prostate cancer, two top U.S. medical groups said on Tuesday.

Healthy men who are screened regularly and have no symptoms of prostate cancer should discuss with a doctor the possibility of taking a finasteride pill daily to try to ward off the disease, the groups recommended.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Urological Association recommendations said medical studies show the risk of prostate cancer drops by about 25 percent among men taking the drug.

Bon Jovi Fears That Hair Loss May Render Him Bald

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:21:56 +0000

Bon Jovi rocker Jon Bon Jovi fears he may be starting to lose his hair - and is already devising treatments to help save his prized locks.

The 46-year-old singer has long been known for his long, flowing tresses but has opted for a shorter style in recent years.

And he puts the change down to his receding hairline, which is starting to make him paranoi
about ending up bald.

Bon Jovi says, "Oh, let me tell you, I am so worried (about my hair). I look at guys like Sting and think, 'Well, he's cool about it,' but I'm already losing it a bit and I'm so aware of it.

Someone told me that you have to regularly massage your scalp, so I do that all the time.

You look like a jerk, but it's got to be worth a shot, right?"

Histogen to Present Preliminary Hair Regrowth Clinical Results at Stem Cell Summit

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:21:50 +0000

Dr. Gail Naughton, CEO of Histogen, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing solutions based on the products of newborn fibroblasts grown under embryonic conditions, will address attendees at the 4th Annual Stem Cell Summit in New York, February 17, 2009.

Dr. Naughton will be presenting preliminary mid-trial results from Histogen's first human clinical evaluation of ReGenicaTM for hair regrowth.

The primary objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study is to evaluate safety in the clinical application of the ReGenica product for hair regrowth.

Histogen is also examining product efficancy as a secondary objective, specifically looking at the same end-points the Company has seen in the animal model - new hair growth, and the thickness of new
and existing hair.

Compensation should be made for hair loss in army

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:14:25 +0000

An appellate court yesterday upheld a district court's ruling that the state should offer compensation to a man who started losing his hair during mandatory military service.

A 27-year-old man, identified only as "K," filed a complaint against the Suwon branch of the Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs, saying he should be compensated since he started losing hair due during intense 10-day training in July 2004.

He filed the complaint after the ministry rejected his request.

K, who started his military service in December 2002, said he could not receive treatment on time because of the training, and as a result the symptom worsened.

Bonus Footage From The Ground-breaking New Reality Show Hair Loss Confidential

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:24:26 +0000

In November 2008, Hair Loss Confidential launched their first full webisode on their website Hair Loss Confidential.

The webisode, featuring 16 year-old Myranda, was shot in October in St. Louis, MO. The show ended with a cliffhanging surprise.

The surprise is revealed to viewers now at Hair Loss Confidential website. Hair Loss Confidential surprised Myranda's dad Rob, who has extensive hair loss, with a life-changing hair transformation the same day as Myranda - and just feet away from his daughter.

Myranda learned of her Dad's transformation just minutes after her own hair restoration reveal. Her first words to her Dad: "You have hair!!" Dad's response: "So do you!!"

Cloning: The Future's Answer to Hair Loss

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:38:53 +0000

The theory of hair follicle cloning involves taking a few hair follicle cells from your own scalp -- usually in the back -- or a donor area, and growing or cultivating large populations of your own cells in a laboratory, and then surgically reimplanting those cells into the scalp at the front of the head.

We're not talking about trying to recreate a whole person from a single hair follicle, so the challenge isn't nearly as great as it was to make an entire organism from one cell. What we want to be able to do is use your body's own cells to regenerate structures that have begun to atrophy or die. The technology is being widely applied in many areas of medicine, and involves trying to get your body to do what it knows how to do, but for some reason cannot anymore.

New Hair Loss Treatment with BOTOX

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:00:26 +0000

Preliminary findings have shown that BOTOX® injections into the scalp may effectively delay hair loss and even prevent baldness. Dr. Simon Ourian, Medical Director of Epione, an internationally recognized Aesthetic

Dermatology destination in Beverly Hills, has tested and refined the treatment over a period of three years with volunteer patients. Dr. Ourian is now confident in the effectiveness of the treatment and offering it to his patients.

It is important to realize that baldness is not a medical disorder; it is a condition by which hair follicles under the scalp shrink to the point where they no longer generate replacement follicles.

Since each follicle typically regenerates every 2-6 years, baldness is a slow but continual physiological process that results in patches of baldness on the scalp connecting with other patches to form a hairline.

Hair Transplant Surgeon to Hold Informative Webinar on Hair Loss

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:55 +0000

Hair loss webinar aims to discuss how hair transplants have changed in the past 15 years and explain various hair restoration options that are now available.

Recent advancements in medicine and research have given those who suffer from hair loss an abundance of new and affordable treatment options. Robert M. Bernstein M.D., F.A.A.D. will be hosting an informative webinar on the topic of hair loss on February 10th.

He will discuss the latest trends in hair transplant surgery and other options available to those who wish to do something about their hair loss. Dr. Bernstein is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia

University in New York and is a co-author of the definitive layman's book on hair restoration: Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies.

The entire landscape for hair transplants was revolutionized in 1995 when Dr. Bernstein first conceived the concept of Follicular Unit Transplantation.

Dandruff Prevention

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:35:50 +0000

Tips on getting rid of dandruff

If your dandruff is mild, try shampooing your hair twice a week using any shampoo labelled 'frequent use, for dry hair' (not an ordinary 'anti-dandruff' shampoo). This will remove the flakes that are being shed, and the moisturizer in the shampoo will protect the scalp.

Avoid dyeing your hair (unless you absolutely must). We all have bacteria on our scalp, some of which are beneficial. These 'good' bacteria prevent dandruff yeast, and hair dyes reduce their numbers.

If you want to try a natural remedy, boil four heaped tablespoons of dried thyme in half a litre of water for 10 minutes. Let it cool and strain it through a sieve into a jar. Massage some of the liquid onto your scalp three times a week. Don't rinse it out.

Alopecia Areata - The Future

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:17:50 +0000

Is Research Close to Finding Better Treatments or a Cure?

While a cure is not imminent, researchers are making headway toward a better understanding of the disease.

This increased understanding will likely lead the way to better treatments for alopecia areata and eventually a way to prevent or even cure it.

Alopecia research ranges from the most basic studies of the mechanisms of hair growth and hair loss in mice to testing medications and ways to apply medications to help regrow hair in people.

Both the National Institutes of Health and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation support research into the disease and its treatment. Here are some areas of research that hold promise.

How Propecia Works

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:44:33 +0000

PROPECIA specifically inhibits the enzyme type II 5 alpha-reductase to decrease serum and scalp DHT. (The relative contributions of these reductions to the treatment effect of PROPECIA have not been defined.)

PROPECIA lowers DHT. Lowering DHT appears to:

Inhibit the further miniaturization of affected hair follicles.

Help restore miniaturized hair follicles to regrow visible hair

In a clinical study, PROPECIA did not appear to affect hair growth on other parts of the body.

New evidence suggests alternatives for treating cicatricial alopecia

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:52:41 +0000

Treatment options for hair loss disorders have changed little in recent years, but at least for cicatricial alopecia, recent evidence is suggesting some possible new alternatives, said Vera H. Price, M.D., at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference.

Dr. Price, professor of clinical dermatology, provided an update on the management of androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata and cicatricial alopecia.

In patients who present with hair thinning and a presumed diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, it is important to identify the age of onset of thinning because that history has implications for diagnosis and treatment selection.

Dr. Price said that individuals who show signs of thinning in their teens, 20s, 30s and 40s have hormonally mediated disease in contrast to hair loss that starts later in life, which represents so-called senescent alopecia.

The idea that these are two distinct conditions is supported by recent evidence showing very different gene expression profiles in groups identified as having androgenetic versus senescent alopecia.

Full head of hair can help job search

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:43:17 +0000

Plug-In For Success: Looking for a job? Don that suit — and be hirsute.

One expert says the balding are at a distinct disadvantage, especially in today's tight job market.

"If you're looking for a job right now, if you match up a person with hair to a non-hairy person, the competitive marketplace tends to favour the people with hair," said Dr. William Rassman, a hair restoration surgeon and author of "Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies."

Increasing the hairs on one's head, he said, can boost self-confidence and even a career.

Rassman, who has been transplanting hair for 18 years, said his patients, especially those in the performing arts, have benefited from the surgeries, which are usually done in several sessions over the course of about a year.

Hair Loss & Replacement For Dummies

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 06:25:58 +0000

John Wiley & Sons – creators of the hugely-popular For Dummies series of books – has published the definitive book on hair restoration: Hair Loss & Replacement For Dummies, written by internationally-respected hair transplant surgeon Dr. William R. Rassman.

Hair Loss & Replacement For Dummies is replete with important information for men and women of virtually all ages anxious to preserve their full head of hair, put the brakes on balding, or explore the safest and most reliable hair replacement techniques currently available.

Gene linked to rare cause of baldness

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 06:30:56 +0000

A team from Peking Union Medical College led by Xue Zhang have uncovered a DNA mechanism which results in Maria Unna hereditary hypotrichosis (MUHH), a baldness that strikes before adulthood.
MUHH is a rare inherited condition characterized by hair loss that starts during childhood and it affects both men and women - children born with the condition have very little or no hair at birth and have wiry or coarse hair in childhood which they progressively lose at puberty.

Victims often have no eyebrows or eyelashes, very little armpit and pubic hair and poor nails and women often have normal thickness hair which does not grow very long and loss of hair on other parts of the body.

The culprit in MUHH are flaws in the gene U2HR located on Chromosome 8, which acts as a key switch in the process as it controls a small peptide that in turn affects a protein called the human hairless monolog, or HR, which is crucial for the regeneration of hair follicles.

The discovery was made by trawling through the genome of 19 Chinese families with a history of MUHH, which is how the team found that mutations of U2HR led to increased levels of HR.

The researchers say the death of the hair follicles increases the likelihood of this kind of baldness and they suggest their research may offer the potential for a new drug to block this pathway and treat baldness.

The Chinese team say that fine-tuning HR protein levels is important in control of hair growth, and they have found a potential mechanism for preventing hair loss or promoting hair removal.

HairDX Genetic Test Collection Kit Now Listed With Japanese PMDA and U.S. FDA

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:32:11 +0000

Pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC (www.hairdx.com), today announced that the HairDX genetic test collection kit for baldness is now listed with Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Class I medical device.

The PMDA operates under the Japanese Ministry Of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), and is the Japanese equivalent of the U.S. FDA, and is amongst the world’s most stringent expectations of quality.

HairDX reports a growth in international business despite the current economic climate, and plans to begin shipments to Japan in January, 2009.

The company continues an aggressive expansion of its international efforts and footprint in the genetic research and development in the hair loss and dermatology industry.

Undercover Investigation Identifies UK's Leading Hair Loss Clinic

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:42:50 +0000

Following an investigation carried out by a number of independent agents who visited some of the most well-known hair loss clinics in the UK, one clinic came out on top.

Thinning hair is a worry for more than 50% of men and nearly as many women in the UK.

But with so many options out there it's difficult to find an effective solution without emptying your pockets time and time again.

Hair loss affects most men at some point... but it's difficult to find a worthy solution.

A number of 'hair loss agents' were sent to well-known hair centres around London to obtain accurate information on the treatment programmes being offered by each and how much they cost.

Each of the agents were experiencing the early stages of Male Pattern Hair Loss. The information was then comprised into a table describing exactly what was offered by each hair clinic and the price quoted during the consultation.

Most importantly, details of the efficacy of every treatment and service offered by each of the hair loss centres was also recorded.

Survey reveals hair is the mane attraction

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:37:09 +0000

Forget cellulite and sagging skin, a new survey has revealed that British women’s ‘mane’ obsession is hair.

The study, conducted by The Alopecia Clinic, showed that women are more concerned about losing their hair or managing unwanted hair than they are about gaining weight or getting wrinkles.

Women across the country aged 18-70 were asked which common embarrassing body issues they thought were least attractive to the opposite sex.

Hair loss or thinning hair came out tops with 46 per cent and unwanted hair was next on the list with 24 per cent.

Other problem areas included sagging skin (12 per cent), cellulite or weight gain (10 per cent) followed by wrinkles (two per cent).

When asked which age-related body issues they were most afraid of developing, the majority (52 per cent) said getting wrinkles was their biggest worry.

Bald head offers no vitamin D advantage

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:48:38 +0000

A bald head is no advantage when it comes to absorbing vitamin D from the sun, say scientists seeking an explanation for why men lose their hair.

The study, which researchers warned could be skewed by "undisclosed use of hair pieces or 'comb over' techniques", saw 296 middle-aged or older men recruited and rated according to their hair.

Skin type and how often they wore a hat or applied sunblock to their scalp were also taken into account in a bid to explain why older men commonly have higher levels of vitamin D than older women.

Almost half of the study group (48 per cent) had a full head of hair or only "mild" recession, while 15 per cent had "predominant" hair loss and 37 per cent were bald or had "significant" hair loss.

Hair Loss Sufferers Spend Up To £20,000 To Look Like Johnny Depp And Jennifer Aniston

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 05:54:11 +0000

Following recent revelations that John Cleese and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here's Joe Swash have undergone hair transplant surgery, a survey has revealed that 47 per cent of hair loss sufferers would spend their life savings to regain a full head of hair.

Those polled stated that the likes of Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston were their hair inspirations for spending up to £20,000 on medication, specialist shampoos and infra-red treatments.

15 per cent of sufferers have already followed in the fancy footsteps of Strictly Come Dancing's Austin Healey by spending between £5000 and £10,000. Five per cent have spent up to £20,000 to date on hair loss solutions.

Drug trial to end bad hair days for bald women

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 08:16:16 +0000

Hair Transplant Surgeons to Release Authoritative Book on Hair Restoration

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 06:07:16 +0000

Robert M. Bernstein, M.D., F.A.A.D., and fellow hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Rassman, have co-authored the first authoritative, but user-friendly guide, to help both men and women understand more about their hair loss, its prevention, and treatment options.

The book, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., is set for a December 3 publication date. Titled Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies, the book follows in the tradition of the other informative books in the popular For Dummies series. Dr. Bernstein is also the author of numerous other medical publications, which can be found at www.bernsteinmedical.com.

Those who follow the current trends in hair restoration and hair transplant procedures will know Dr. Bernstein for his pioneering work in the development of the Follicular Unit Transplantation procedure which has revolutionized the treatment of hair loss.

Spencer Forrest's X5 Web Site Gets a Facelift - Aims to Educate Consumers About Beating Hair Loss

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 07:10:02 +0000

The site, which aims to educate men on the "hair raising" science of Laser Light Therapy, is now more than educational, it's also embellished with charts and graphs to help further depict the benefits of the X5 while comparing it to other similar products.

Among the additions to the site are a full list of frequently asked questions and a complete safety profile.

There is also expanded information on how the X5 is believed to help drastically improve the appearance of thinning hair and easier to use navigation buttons on the site's home page.

To keep up with the many other similar products in the hair loss industry, graphic interpretations of the X5's numerous scientific and user friendly features have been added.

Cosmo Oil to Diversify Into Selling Bald Cure in Aging Japan

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:39:02 +0000

Cosmo Oil Co., a Japanese crude oil refiner partly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, said it will branch out into selling a baldness remedy to profit from the country’s aging population as demand for fuel sags.

The company has teamed up with Osaka-based Milbon Co., a hair-treatment maker and marketer, on joint production and sales of the tonic, the Tokyo-based refiner said in a statement on its Web site.

The two companies will seek approval from the health ministry to sell the product, Cosmo Oil spokesman Tatsuya Yano said by telephone from Tokyo.

The move is part of Cosmo Oil’s efforts to diversify as Japan’s demand for gasoline and other refined oil products declines, in part because people drive less as the population ages, Yano said.

By contrast, the demographic trend has spurred sales of hair-growth tonics, which total about 40 billion yen ($414 million) a year and are forecast to rise, he said.

New research finds way to restore colour to white hair following illness

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:38:44 +0000

A number of skin disorders cause the hair to fall out, and when it re-grows, it is often white. For many patients, this is almost as distressing as the initial hair loss.
Melanin, the pigment in skin and hair, is stimulated by a group of peptide hormones collectively known as ‘melanocyte stimulating hormone’ or MSH.

Researchers at The University of Manchester and in Germany therefore examined whether a peptide called K(D)PT, which can be synthetically produced in the laboratory and is related to MSH, might have the same pigmentation stimulating effects as the naturally occurring MSH, and whether this could be used to restore colour to white hair after illness.

The team treated normal, isolated hair follicles from six women aged between 46 and 65 with different concentrations of K(D)PT. The research was carried out in the laboratory as it is not yet ready for direct use on patients.

In some of the test groups, the follicles were first treated with ‘Interferon type II’, commonly known as IFN-y, a proinflammatory stimulus that is linked to certain autoimmune disorders.

Fawlty follicles: John Cleese admits to hair transplant

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:53:44 +0000

Throughout his career, John Cleese has been ahead of the game - and yesterday, the star of Fawlty Towers gave hope to many follicularly-challenged males when he told Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan that he'd not only had a hip transplant but a hair transplant.

The explanation he gave was typical Cleese: "Because I've got a very strange shaped skull, very pointy and I don't like wearing wigs."

Treatments for male pattern baldness have come a long way from Hippocrates' times - he applied a mixture of pigeon droppings, horse-radish, cumin and beetroot to his head.

Cow saliva, bats milk, deer marrow, spiders' webs, horses teeth and coffee are other remedies that men throughout the ages have turned to in an increasingly desperate attempt to turn the tide of hairlessness (the term 'snake oil' originally comes from a tonic hawked in 19th century America as a baldness therapy).

Bald Tales - The Bald Old Man

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:32:33 +0000

Long, long ago an old man had a young mistress, though he kept the affair secret.

He let her pull out all his white hair, so that he might not look so old.

His wife noticed that he had less white hair, and guessed that he must be keeping a mistress. So she abused him roundly for deceiving her.

Her husband feigned ignorance and protested, "Certainly not! I would never do a thing like that.

" Then to prove his innocence he let his wife pull out his black hair.

In her jealousy she pulled it all out, so that he might no longer be attractive to his mistress. And so the old man became completely bald.

Hair loss book Hair Savers for Women : A Complete Guide..

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:56:16 +0000

A Complete Guide to Preventing and Treating Hair Loss is the first and only book to address this important cosmetic health issue.

It covers the very latest solutions and advances in treating female hair loss, from medicine to natural remedies, and introduces women to a whole new world of safe, clinically proven baldness remedies.

For women whose hair loss persists, the book discusses surgical alternatives such as hair transplants and scalp reductions, as well as the pros and cons of hair weaves and wigs.

New Reality Show Hair Loss Confidential Launches First Webisode

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:26:27 +0000

Hair Loss Confidential has launched their first full webisode on their website HairLossConfidential.tv. The webisode, featuring 16 year-old Myranda, was shot last month in St. Louis, MO.

Show creator and Executive Producer, Lisa Zimmerman, was ecstatic at the launch of the webisode on Monday morning.

"We finally made my vision come true. The show turned out better that I ever dreamed possible," said Ms. Zimmerman. "And to know that we are fulfilling the dreams of such worthy people like Myranda makes it mean so much more."

Myranda has suffered from alopecia areata since she was 13 and has been the victim of verbal and physical bullying at school. The emotional turmoil has taken a serious toll on both Myranda and all members of her family.

Diet and Hair Loss

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:11:39 +0000

Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth.

Hair problems that are caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet.

Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, protein, and water.

Adequate intake of vitamin A is vital in helping to promote the growth and health of cells and tissues throughout the body, including the hair and scalp.

Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can lead to hair loss and dandruff caused by the buildup of cellular debris in the hair follicles.

Choosing a Hair Loss Expert

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 08:19:46 +0000

If you are experiencing hair loss, you may have considered seeking expert help for your problem.

But who should you turn to?

And how do you know you're getting the best care?

Hair loss experts explain how you can find professional help that is reliable, and right for you.

Regaine Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 08:26:25 +0000

Regaine® is the first and only topical solution which is medically proven to stop hereditary hair loss. Over 5 million people worldwide have used Regaine®.

Clinical trials show it can Slow down or stop hair loss in 4 out of 5 men, while nearly 2 out of 5 will actually regrow hair.

The active ingredient in Regaine® is minoxidil, which has been researched extensively for its effectiveness in treating hair loss.

Scientists believe that it works by helping the blood flow to the cells in your scalp which grow hair, or that it might increase the number of actively growing cells.

Regaine® Extra and Regular Strengths are available, without a prescription, from pharmacies nationwide.

Saw Palmetto and Hair Loss

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 06:47:18 +0000

Serenoa repens is the medical name for the herb saw palmetto. The deep red fruit of this small palm grows wild in warm climates such as those found in the Southeastern United States.

The liposerolic extract of the fruit of Saw Palmetto is the most popular herbal supplement for the promotion of prostate health in Europe.

Research has shown that the herb Saw Palmetto has the same effects as finasteride in treating patients with benign prostate enlargement. In fact, the herb is very popular and common in Germany and is available as an over-the-counter medication.
There are many research and studies in Germany that confirm the effectiveness of Saw Palmetto in treating patients with prostatic disease.

Studies have shown that saw palmetto is an effective anti-androgen. It acts in a similar way that propecia does. Firstly it lowers levels of DHT in the body by Blocking 5 alpha-reductase. Secondly Saw Palmetto block receptor sites on cell membranes required for cells to absorb DHT

Alopecia Areata - Treatment

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 07:42:15 +0000

Alopecia Areata - Treatment

How Is It Treated?

While there is neither a cure for alopecia areata nor drugs approved for its treatment, some people find that medications approved for other purposes can help hair grow back, at least temporarily.

Keep in mind that while these treatments may promote hair growth, none of them prevent new patches or actually cure the underlying disease.

Consult your health care professional about the best option for you.

Corticosteroids--Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs similar to a hormone called cortisol produced in the body.

Because these drugs suppress the immune system if given orally, they are often used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, including alopecia areata.

Myths about Dandruff

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 07:34:29 +0000

Dandruff is due to dryness of the skin.

False. Dandruff is caused by a rapid turnover of cells, so more dead cells are shed from the surface. In fact, dandruff occurs in areas where the grease glands of the skin are most active, and the skin is not usually dry.

Dandruff is more common in males than in females

True. Probably because the grease glands are affected by hormones.

Dandruff is affected by the weather

Probably true. Sunlight inhibits the growth of the Pityrosporum ovale yeast.

Dandruff results from poor hygiene

False. Dandruff is caused by rapid turnover of skin cells, probably as a reaction to the Pityrosporum ovale yeast. However, dandruff sufferers do not have more of the yeast than other people - they are just more sensitive to it.

Next Generation of Genetic Test For Baldness Unveiled By HairDX

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:49:48 +0000

Pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC, today unveiled the next generation of its genetic screening test for male pattern baldness. The HairDX test is available immediately thru qualified physicians' offices.

Using the HairDX test, a physician can tell a man who tests positive for the high risk genetic variant that he has approximately a 70% chance of going bald.
Similarly, a physician can tell a man who tests negative for the high risk genetic variant that he has approximately a 70% chance of not going bald.

"The next generation test report is based on a pooled data model from multiple peer reviewed studies of over 2,000 Caucasian men.
The studies demonstrated the association between the genetic variants measured by the HairDX genetic screening test and the development of Androgenetic Alopecia in men," says Andy Goren, HairDX Chairman and Co-Founder.

In addition to the improved clinical validity and utility, the HairDX genetic test now includes genetic markers on the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene as well as on Chromosome 20.

"A recent study demonstrated that Propecia©, the only FDA approved oral prescription medication for the treatment of male pattern baldness, is effective at preventing hair loss over a period of several years.

Mysterious Disfiguring Disorder Responsible For Hair Loss in Over 11 Million American Women

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:07:26 +0000

New approach to stop compulsive hair pulling breaks new ground in battle against Trichotillomania.

One day Tina, a 36 year-old mother of three noticed a quarter-sized bald spot just above her daughter's right ear. A few days later she saw her child pull out a number of eyelashes.

Their pediatrician assured Tina that children often do things that seem strange to adults but Tina felt tremendous despair. It turned out that Tina has been doing the same thing to herself since the age of nine.
Tina joined a new online trichotillomania program to learn how to stop her own hair pulling and help her child.

Up to 17 million Americans struggle with Trichotillomania, a great majority of whom are female. Many are compulsively driven to pull their hair out for hours each day.

As a result, a great number of hair pulling women suffer in silent shame, living a painful lie and hiding their torment even from loved ones.

To date, there is neither a medical cure to stop hair pulling, nor a clear scientific understanding of its causes.

However, Abby Rohrer has discovered practical answers to why so many begin to pull their hair out and go on to become long-term, even life-long hair pullers. Trichotillomania is a one of the top reasons for hair loss in women.

Hair Loss Myths

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:08:45 +0000

You might be surprised to learn that many people are unable to untangle fact from fiction when it comes to hair loss.

Some of the blame lies with the many companies and individuals exploiting hair loss myths in order to sell bogus hair products.

Other myths may linger because people with hair loss, particularly women, are reluctant to talk about an issue that remains sensitive and sometimes emotional.

The following are some popular myths about hair loss to watch out for:

Myth: Pattern Baldness Comes From Your Mother's Side Only

For those of you secretly blaming your mother's grandfather for your male- or female- pattern baldness, it's time to let go.

The hair loss gene does not get passed down from your mother, nor does it skip a generation.
If fact, there isn't even a single hair loss gene; researchers think pattern baldness is probably due to the interaction of several genes inherited from both parents.

Bald Heads Wanted

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:40:05 +0000

Air New Zealand invites Southern California residents to be considered for a 10-day gig as one of its 30 cranial billboards.

Air New Zealand will hold a casting call to select 30 adults (18+) to serve as walking billboards for 10 days.
The selected billboards will have their heads shaved and branded with a temporary henna tattoo.

The tattoo will be visible for approximately 10 days (with one reapplication after five days) and read "Need a change? Head down to New Zealand. www.airnewzealand.com."

The message reflects Air New Zealand's current "Depart a Californian. Return a Kiwi." advertising campaign communicating the potential for a life-change.

Each selected applicant will be eligible for a cash prize of $777 or an economy roundtrip ticket to New Zealand. The cash prize will be paid in two installments.

The first half will be given after the selection and tattoo application and the second half will be given at the October 30 reapplication. For those who select a ticket in Pacific Economy class to New Zealand instead, the ticket will be given at the second application on October 30.

Genetics and Hair Loss

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:27:18 +0000

You've probably heard people say that hair loss is passed down to men through their mother's side, or to women from their father's side, or you've heard other such genetic theories about how hair loss is inherited.

But how much real science is there behind these claims?

With advances in genetic research, scientists have gained new tools with which to learn about the genetics of hair loss.

What have they discovered so far and what are the possible benefits of this research for hair loss patients?

Biology of Hair Loss

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:24:41 +0100

The average human scalp is covered by 100,000 hair follicles.

If you've got all your hair, that may seem like a big number but when you start to lose it, the fate of each follicle becomes more important.

What makes hair fall out?

The average human scalp is covered by 100,000 hair follicles.

Now, if you've got all your hair, that may seem like a big number, but when you start to lose it, the fate of each follicle becomes more important.

What decides that fate and what makes hair grow or fall out?

Hair Loss: Know the Facts

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:31:02 +0100

For some people hair loss is a fact of life, for others it's a cosmetic tragedy.

Whatever your opinion, the fact remains that 40 percent of all women and half of all men will experience hair loss in their lifetimes.

Why does it happen? And what are the treatment options?

Learn about the causes of hair loss and how you can stop it.

Is It Dandruff or Dermatitis?

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:38:05 +0100

Severe dandruff is actually a disease known as seborrheic dermatitis, which requires prescription medications.

See a doctor if you have:

Scalp irritation

Thick scale deposits despite regular use of dandruff shampoos

Yellowish crusting

Red patches, especially along the neckline

Severe cases of dandruff are caused by a disease called seborrhoeic eczema or seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis causes greasy, bran-like scale. The seborrhoeic area - the scalp, the skin around the nose, the lines on the cheeks, the eyebrows, the ears and the torso - may also be red and itchy.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis becomes worse during the winter and tends to improve during the summer when sunlight relieves the symptoms.

It can vary from mild cases, which are only a problem in winter, to more severe cases where flaking occurs in places other than just the scalp.

Hair Loss News - Korean FDA Approval of the HairMax LaserComb

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:16:31 +0100

Lexington International, LLC, manufacturer and distributor of the HairMax LaserComb®, the only clinically proven medical device alternative to stop thinning and regrow hair, has obtained Korean FDA approval.

Lexington submitted clinical data from both male and female studies, along with ISO and GMP accreditations to achieve this approval.

The size of the Korean hair loss market cannot be understated. On July 31, 2008 a survey was published entitled World Hair Loss Survey Among Men.

The survey results indicate the estimated Korean hair loss population to be 4.04 million (up 670,000 from the same survey result in 1999) with a men's hair loss ratio in South Korea of 22.41%.

Additionally, the idea of hair loss is not as readily accepted among Koreans as compared to Western Society.

Furthermore, the Korean FDA Approval of the HairMax LaserComb® adds to an already large portfolio of medical device approvals and patents held by Lexington worldwide. Lexington International, LLC has invested substantial resources in conducting clinical studies to gain its international acceptance from governments, medical experts, and consumers.

Seung Hwan Chung, President Hanbul Pharm.Co.,Ltd., stated, "there is a social stigma associated with excessive hair loss, and in extreme cases the psychological affect can be severe. We feel that the HairMax LaserComb is a breakthrough product in the hair care industry.

Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss?

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:13:26 +0100

Standing in the shower shampooing, you notice clumps of hair washing down the drain. At first, you're confused and worried, but a visit to the dermatologist reveals that the very feeling you are likely experiencing as a result of your suddenly-thinning scalp could also be its cause: stress.

That's right, stress may make you want to pull out your hair, but extreme stress may cut out the middle man.

Usually, it's not mild job or life stress that triggers hair loss, more likely it is extremely serious stress to the body that causes hair to stop growing and fall out.

These types of stress can be initiated by some types of medications, diabetes, thyroid disorders and even extreme emotional stress, but also can be caused by commonplace life events like childbirth, miscarriage and surgery.

Untangling the Genetics of Hair Loss

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:37:27 +0100

If you have male pattern baldness, you've probably heard that either your mother's father or your father's father is to blame.

But before you start resenting one of your dear grandfathers, you should know that this piece of misinformation is derived from a study that is almost 100 years old. New studies and a more through understanding of the human genome confirm that male and female pattern baldness is a complex genetic trait.

"There is evidence that [male and female pattern baldness] is genetically based, but we don't know the inheritance pattern," says Animesh A. Sinha, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City who studies the genetics and immunology of complex skin disease. "We do know that it's not likely to be due to one gene or one gene mutation: it's likely to be due to multiple genes."

Dads can pass on bald genes

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:26:46 +0100

Balding men used to be able to blame their mothers for the genes that led to their hair loss, but new research published overnight points the finger at their fathers.

The finding could lead to new treatments, not only for baldness, but for the other serious health conditions that come with hair loss.

Despite billions of dollars being spent trying to counter its effects, baldness continues to defy the best efforts of scientists around the world.

Three years ago the first hair loss gene was identified on the X chromosome - suggesting baldness was passed down through the mother's side of the family.

But now a team of Queensland and German researchers has discovered a new gene that can be inherited from both the mother and the father.

Three-hundred balding men were part of the study. The discovery could lead to new treatments.

Dr Roland Kruse from the University of Dusseldorf told the BBC it's not just about vanity.

Discovery Of Baldness Gene: 1 In 7 Men At Risk

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:16:44 +0100

Researchers at McGill University, King's College London and GlaxoSmithKline Inc. have identified two genetic variants in caucasians that together produce an astounding sevenfold increase in the risk of male pattern baldness.

Their results were published Oct. 12 in the journal Nature Genetics.

About a third of all men are affected by male pattern baldness by age 45. The condition's social and economic impact is considerable: expenditures for hair transplantation in the United States alone exceeded $115 million (U.S.) in 2007, while global revenues for medical therapy for male-pattern baldness recently surpassed $405 million.

Male pattern baldness is the most common form of baldness, where hair is lost in a well-defined pattern beginning above both temples, and results in a distinctive M-shaped hairline. Estimates suggest more than 80 per cent of cases are hereditary.

This study was conducted by Dr. Vincent Mooser of GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Brent Richards of McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and the affiliated Jewish General Hospital (and formerly of King's College), and Dr. Tim Spector of King's College.

Nutreve International Launches Comprehensive Hair Loss Solution Products

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:54:49 +0100

Nutreve International announces the product launch of their comprehensive hair loss treatment system. The Nutreve Hair Therapy System is a complete hair loss product set for men and women designed specifically for preventative hair loss and treating existing hair loss.

After three years of research and product development, Nutreve International announced the launch of their revolutionary hair loss treatment solution for men and women, the Nutreve Hair Therapy System.

The company's hair loss product set is the first comprehensive, all natural hair loss solution available for individuals seeking a way to prevent, treat and potentially stop hair loss.

Nutreve's product concept was initially conceived nearly three years ago with a vision of developing a safe, non-invasive, all natural, complete system that can be used in the privacy of home.

"We were originally involved in one of the very first Food and Drug Administration's trial and testing of an emerging hair loss technology called, Low Level Laser Therapy, so we felt our expertise would be valuable in developing a hair loss treatment system with the laser technology as part of our product set," says Craig Froley, Nutreve's CEO.

Clinical Trial Of A Genetically Tailored Therapy For Female Baldness To Start

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:47:28 +0100

Pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC, today announced that it has received institutional review board (IRB) approval to begin a clinical trial of a genetically tailored therapy for female baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia).

"Our goal is to revolutionize the field of dermatology by innovating genetically tailored treatments to common skin disorders," said Andy Goren, Chairman and Chief Strategist of PharmaGenoma, Inc and HairDX, LLC.

HairDX will soon begin recruiting post menopausal women as patients for the study. Women who qualify for the study will undergo genetic screening. If they exhibit a particular genetic variation in their Androgen Receptor gene, they will receive a drug that may potentially re-grow their hair. The trial is expected to start in the early Fall.

Hair drug ban lifted

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:38:41 +0100

The drug which was responsible for Brazilian soccer star Romario's doping ban is being removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list.

The substance - sold as finasteride - was the same drug which saw former Socceroo Stan Lazaridis been banned from playing soccer for 12 months after testing positive in November 2006.

Lazaridis' positive test resulted from treatment he was receiving for alopecia - a condition he disclosed and was accepted by football authorities on his arrival back in Australia from playing in England for West Ham.

Brazilian star Romario tested positive in 2007. Finasteride is not only an ingredient in a popular hair-restoration pill, but was also believed to be capable of masking steroid usage. It was prohibited in 2005.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year, who had used a prescription hair loss product that contained finasteride, was banned for four months.
The 42-year-old's last appearance for Vasco da Gama was against Internacional in November 2007 and he announced his retirement from the sport in March.

Romario also played a handful of games for A-League club Adelaide United two seasons ago.

WADA said today finasteride would be removed from its banned list on January 1 after further study showed athletes gained no tangible advantage from the drug.

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:42:35 +0100

Why UK Women Are Turning To Wigs In The Battle Against Breast Cancer

October 2008 and the majority of women in the UK’s thoughts will turn toward breast cancer.  If we are lucky enough not to have been touched by cancer, to have escaped a scare - or even treatment - we worry for the welfare of our friends, mothers and sisters.

Perhaps we wonder how we would cope ourselves or indeed help, should someone close be diagnosed?  Staying positive and regaining confidence is paramount.  Yet losing your hair as a result of chemotherapy can have quite the opposite effect.

Jennifer Brown, the Manager of the Hairware salon at Selfridges says more and more women are turning to wigs as a way of coping with cancer in a positive way.  And yet even though wigs have come a long way in the realism stakes, some still approach the idea of making such a purchase with immense hesitation.

Hairpieces and extensions are now big fashion statements - I regularly have people coming in wanting to create Victoria Beckham’s latest look and we often see celebrities looking to try something new without making a long-term commitment.

Yet the idea of going one step further and purchasing an entire wig still seems, to some, a step too far,” she says.  That’s a shame because today’s wigs look so natural that it’s impossible to see that someone is wearing one!

Soy May Help Men Protect Against Baldness

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 08:14:50 +0100

Soy may provide men protection against prostate cancer, heart disease, and even baldness, according to Suzanne Dixon MPH, MS, RD, an internationally recognized expert in chronic disease prevention, public health, nutrition and epidemiology.

Writing in the October "To Your Health," Vitasoy's health professionals quarterly, Dixon said that soy appears to protect against prostate cancer and may provide protection against hair loss, too.

She said, "Male pattern baldness is associated with higher risk of prostate cancer and there may be a 'common pathway' through which soy protects against both prostate cancer and hair loss in men."

Soy consumption and reduced risk of prostate cancer are linked, noted Dixon. "Men who live in countries with higher soy consumption have lower risk of prostate cancer.

This tells us that soy is a possible dietary component that may protect the prostate against cancer development."

Research in men with prostate cancer has shown that soy can reduce the rate at which prostate specific antigen (PSA) increases.

Going bald? Then just slip your top off & I'll massage your breasts

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:04:30 +0100

A mum has told how she was groped by a sleazy hair doctor who was this week found guilty of massaging women's breasts.

Pervert Praminder Mankoo conned women into stripping off to avoid getting oil on their clothes.

One victim who shut her eyes during a session at 47-year-old Mankoo's clinic opened them to find him wearing only his boxer shorts.

Another woman was asked by the twisted trichologist if she would like to meet his "little friend". Others said he invited them to "moan".

But as the father-of-four was convicted of a string of offences, mum Rayne Franklin relived her FIVE-HOUR ordeal - for which Mankoo escaped with a police caution.

Rayne, 48, visited his clinic in Thame, Oxfordshire, in 1998 for reassurance that hair loss did not run in her family.

Waiving her right to anonymity, she recalled: "He began to massage my shoulders and slowly his hand crept down until he had a full hold of my breast. Then he ripped off his coat and stripped naked. He pushed my face into his genitals and made a disgusting comment about seeking satisfaction.

Hair Genesis Paying for Print Advertising in a New Way via MediaBids

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:03:00 +0100

Hair Genesis, a national direct-response company providing hair-loss solutions to both men and women, is paying for print advertising on a per-sale basis thanks to MediaBids’ Per-Inquiry Print Advertising Program.

Hair Genesis, announced today that it will be paying for its print advertising in newspapers and magazines nationwide based on a percentage of sales the print ads generate in each publication, courtesy of MediaBids’ Per-Inquiry (PI) Advertising Program.

MediaBids will provide the Hair Genesis ad, which can be seen here - to newspapers and magazines nationwide that sign up to participate in MediaBids’ PI Print Advertising program. Hair Genesis will pay newspapers and magazines 20% of the sale price generated by each customer’s order.

To date, over 1,500 newspapers and magazines nationwide have signed up for MediaBids PI program and have placed other national direct response advertisers including Vonage, DirecTV and Liflock in their publications.

Wayne Rooney dubbed Bobby Charlton by team-mates because he's going bald

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:29:21 +0100

Wayne Rooney’s team-mates have dubbed the striker Bobby Charlton because he’s going bald just like the Manchester United legend.

Rooney is furious fellow players are mocking him because he is paranoid about losing his hair at only 22.

The striker’s tormentor-in-chief is handsome Cristiano Ronaldo, 23, who came up with the nickname.

Rooney’s other close friends Rio Ferdinand, 29, and Wes Brown, 28, have joined in the mickey-taking pointing out they have full heads of hair despite being much older.

Rooney has been likened to United and England legend Charlton, who was famous for his comb-over hairstyle in the Sixties and Seventies.

Speedwinds Nutrition Acquires Female Hair Loss Product Line Sephren

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:21:54 +0100

Speedwinds Nutrition purchased the Sephren brand and formula from Melliora Nutraceuticals.

Company officials for Speedwinds Nutrition announced that an agreement has been reached to purchase the Sephren brand line from its parent company, Melliora Nutraceuticals.

Sephren, one of the most popular products for female hair loss in the United States, was acquired in an all cash deal from the founders, who will stay on during the transition.

"The acquisition of one of the top female hair loss supplements gives us an opportunity to expand our product line in the hair loss product industry, and provides synergies with Procerin, our male hair loss treatment," said Louis Dobbs, a Speedwinds Nutrition spokesperson,

Baldness Pattern: A New Cold War Analysis

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:13:27 +0100

For much of the 20th century, Russian (and Soviet) leaders with full heads of hair shared the country's top political spot with bald men.

In fact, they very nearly went back and forth — something their American rivals did not come close to doing.

For that insight, we credit Steve Jones, head of the Biology Department at University College, London. He was wasting time one day, presumably staring at photos of Russian leaders (don't ask) and he noticed a pattern.

When the Communists took over in Russia in 1917, the first leader, Vladimir Lenin, was bald. His successor, Joseph Stalin, was hairy.
Stalin's successor (we're skipping an interim leader, Georgy Malenkov, who never got to be chairman), Nikita Khrushchev, was bald. Next up: Leonid Brezhnev (hairy).

Athlete kicked out of Paralympics for Using Finasteride

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:34:07 +0100

German wheelchair basketball player Ahmet Coskun has failed a doping test ahead of the Paralympics and has been sent back to Germany, though he says he was fighting baldness.

A statement from the German National Paralympic Committee said that a urine sample taken from Coskun on Aug. 23 showed the presence of Finasteride.

Finasteride is on a list of banned substances because, according to the statement, although it does not enhance performance itself, it can be used to conceal drugs that do.

The substance is, however, also found in anti-hair loss treatments, which is what Coskun claimed he was using it for according to the statement.

"I was thinking about my hair and had no idea that the drug, which is against hair loss, contained a banned substance. I'm very upset. I never intended to do doping," the statement quoted 33-year-old Coskun as saying.

September Is Alopecia Awareness Month

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 06:54:22 +0100

Alopecia is a poorly understood and under reported autoimmune condition which causes hair loss. It occurs in men and women of all ages but onset usually occurs during childhood, affecting 2% of the population.

This condition begins as Alopecia Areata with small, round, bald patches on the scalp. The disease may progress to Alopecia Totalis (bald head) or Alopecia Universalis (total body hair loss). The cause is unknown and there is no cure. Alopecia is highly unpredictable, as hair loss and growth can occur at any time.

Susan Beausang, President of 4women.com and fashion head scarf designer, has lived with AU (Alopecia Universalis) for the last seven years. She comes from three generations of breast cancer survivors, and carries the BRCA2 breast cancer gene. After having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy (pre-vivor), she developed AU and lost her hair.

Frustrated by the lack of fashionable and feminine options available to women and girls who are experiencing medical hair loss, Susan began designing a scarf known as 'The beaubeau(TM) -- Beautiful Scarves for Beautiful Heads.'

Spencer Forrest Begins Clinical Trials on the X5 Hair Laser, Sets Sights on Beating Genetic Hair Loss

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 06:43:44 +0100

Spencer Forrest Inc. has begun clinical trials aimed at assessing the efficacy of the X5 Hair Laser in men with hair loss. The X5 is the only laser product to enter trials with 15 individual lasers and an array of design improvements on earlier laser therapy products.

In yet another milestone for its line of products aimed at countering hair loss, Spencer Forrest Inc. has officially entered clinical trials with its X5 Hair Laser.

Featuring 15 individual lasers that interact directly with the scalp, the X5 is the most powerful Laser Therapy device on the market. It is also the first device to enter clinical trials utilizing individual lasers to ensure maximum user benefits.

The trials will determine the efficacy of the X5 in stimulating the re-growth of hair in men who are balding. If proven effective, the X5 will become only the fourth product ever to gain recognition by the FDA for treating male pattern baldness.

The multi-centered, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials are taking place at three sites throughout the United States, including one major University.

The trials will last for six months and will include a significant number of male subjects. A female study is also in the works and will begin pending the outcome of the male trials.

In the weeks and months leading up to the milestone clinical trials, Laser Therapy quickly became one of the most talked about new treatments for thinning hair gaining the endorsement of medical professionals worldwide.

David Beckham Scared Of Going Bald And Fat

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 06:38:40 +0100

David Beckham is terrified of turning into a "fat, bald old man." The soccer star - who has three sons with wife Victoria Beckham - is concerned he is losing his superstar looks and is doing everything in his power to maintain his youthful appearance.

A source said: "David has turned crazy insecure. He is constantly telling Victoria he is scared of going bald, or if he spots a hint of a paunch on his midsection then he hits the gym for an hour."

"David is so vain - he can't stand the thought of growing into a fat, bald old man."

However, former Spice Girls star Victoria is less than worried about her husband's aging, and even finds it amusing he is so paranoid.

The source added to the National Enquirer magazine: "Victoria tells him she found some hair in the shower, and asks - was that his? She loves teasing him about his future as a schlumpy old man because it gives her the upper hand - a button to push."

Procter & Gamble buys Georgia-based scalp care products maker Nioxin Research Laboratories

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 08:59:25 +0100

Procter & Gamble Co. has acquired Nioxin Research Laboratories Inc., a manufacturer of professional scalp care products for thinning hair.

P&G did not release financial terms of the agreement announced Wednesday.

Cincinnati-based P&G says Nioxin products are sold in salons and salon stores in more than 40 countries.

The consumer products giant says the Lithia Springs, Ga.-based company fits P&G's strategy of focusing on faster growing, higher margin and more asset-efficient businesses in its beauty segment.

"This acquisition is a great strategic fit given P&G's leadership and proven strength in its retail scalp care business," said Robert Jongstra, president of P&G Professional Care.

P&G's retail haircare brands include Head & Shoulders and Herbal Essences.

Hair Loss During Pregnancy

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 07:44:52 +0100

Pregnant women experience a range of potentially embarrassing health concerns, including increased body hair, sweating and constipation, according to a poll.

Some are also confused about what food to eat and whether it is safe to have sex, drink alcohol or get on a plane during pregnancy.

The survey of 1,303 mothers and pregnant women found that almost half (42%) had experienced memory loss while 41% had suffered bladder weakness.

Four in 10 (40%) had experienced mood swings, 34% constipation, 32% pregnancy-related wind, 25% random breast leakage, 21% increased body hair and 14% excessive sweating.

A total of 13% had developed acne during pregnancy, 12% had had stronger body odour than normal and 9% had suffered hair loss.

The survey, for the charity Tommy's and Johnson's Baby, also found that 45% of women had received conflicting advice about pregnancy.