Hair Loss Treatment Center: December 2005

Thursday, December 08, 2005

A cheap pill that reduces hair loss

Want more hair for less? Get a pill cutter

By Stephanie Cooperman
   Columbia News Service

   When Adam Kolom noticed his hair accumulating around the shower drain, he vowed not to let his hard-earned money follow it down the drain.
   "I was very concerned when I saw my own hair beginning to thin," he said. "I looked at Rogaine, hair grafting. It was so expensive."
   Kolom, a 23-year-old business consultant in New York, also didn't want to spend the $55 a month for the hair-loss drug Propecia. His insurance company – like most – wouldn't cover the cost of the pill, which contains 1 milligram of the testosterone-blocker finasteride. Then he heard about Proscar, which turns out to be the identical drug, but dispensed in 5-milligram pills. Doctors routinely prescribe Proscar to treat an enlarged prostate, and Kolom's prescription drug plan would help pay for it. The difference is striking: A month's supply of Proscar would cost Kolom only $5, less than one-tenth the cost of Propecia.
   So Kolom persuaded his primary care physician to give him a Proscar prescription. Every month he cuts the neon-blue pills in half, taking 2.5 milligrams daily. As he runs his hands through his thick dark brown hair, it's hard to imagine that just 18 months ago he was worried about hair loss.
   Some call what Kolom is doing insurance fraud. He calls it common sense.
   "Everyone I know is on Proscar," he said. "No one is paying for Propecia."

Hair loss treatment article

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

How to deal with male hair loss

Searching for the bald truth

Few things concern men quite as much as losing their hair. Lucie Hoe looks at the treatments available

His personal life might be stressful, but Jude Law now has another worry on his plate: the Alfie star is said to be losing his golden hair. Law is reported to be so worried about his receding hairline that he has consulted Dr Michael May, a Harley Street expert, in a quest to save his locks.

He is not alone. Research from the University of Wales found that the prospect of baldness causes at least as much anguish in men as a serious skin condition causes at least as much anguish in men as a serious skin condition, such as psoriasis. "Baldness causes men far more suffering than I had ever imagined," says Elizabeth Steel, founder of Hairline International, a support network. "It does not hurt physically, but it does cause so much suffering across the board: people lose confidence, marriages break down, careers are ruined, and it can lead to suicide attempts."

Law's ex-wife, Sadie Frost, is apparently encouraging him to seek advice from experts in Chinese medicine, homoeopathy and acupuncture. But is she wasting her time?

Here, we review what can and cannot save your crowning glory.

Vitamins and minerals

Hair health requires good nutrition, with enough iron, vitamin C, B vitamins and essential fatty acids. "These nutrients can help to reduce hair loss and promote healthy growth," says trichologist Andrew Bernie. Supplements of zinc and silica can also help, as can the amino acid lysine, which helps promote good circulation. Iron deficiency causes a drop in serum ferritin levels, which can slow down the rate of hair growth, and research has shown that redressing this imbalance with iron supplements can help.

"Red meat is an important source of iron, a nutrient that is vital for hair growth," says Bernie. "Anyone who cuts it from their diet could be at risk of deficiency."

Hair loss article

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

A cheaper version of hair loss drug Propecia now available

A pill cutter helps produce a cheaper alternative to hair-loss drug Propecia

By Stephanie Cooperman
COLUMBIA NEWS SERVICE

NEW YORK — When Adam Kolom noticed his hair accumulating around the shower drain, he vowed not to let his hard-earned money follow it down the drain.

"I was very concerned when I saw my own hair beginning to thin," he said. "I looked at Rogaine, hair grafting. It was so expensive."

Kolom, a 23-year-old business consultant in New York, also didn't want to spend the $55 a month for the hair-loss drug Propecia. His insurance company — like most — wouldn't cover the cost of the pill, which contains 1 milligram of the testosterone-blocker finasteride. Then he heard about Proscar, which turns out to be the identical drug, but dispensed in 5-milligram pills. Doctors routinely prescribe Proscar to treat an enlarged prostate, and Kolom's prescription drug plan would help pay for it. The difference is striking: A month's supply of Proscar would cost Kolom only $5, less than one-tenth the cost of Propecia.

So Kolom persuaded his primary care physician to give him a Proscar prescription. Every month he cuts the neon-blue pills in half, taking 2.5 milligrams daily. As he runs his hands through his thick dark brown hair, it's hard to imagine that just 18 months ago he was worried about hair loss.

Some call what Kolom is doing insurance fraud. He calls it common sense.

"Everyone I know is on Proscar," he said. "No one is paying for Propecia."

Hair loss article

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