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Hair Loss News Archives
October 2010
Hair loss victims turn to caps, not doctors
Hair loss is a common physiological problem and the men should not be embarrassed
Oct 2010
While most men say hair loss erodes self-confidence, few would seek
treatment. That's one of the findings of a survey carried out among
300 men aged 25 to 49 who suffer from mild to serious hair loss.
Furthermore, 68 percent said hair loss reduces their attractiveness
and self-confidence, with half saying it reduces their chances of
finding a girlfriend and that they will wear a cap to hide their
problem when meeting new friends.
More than 40 percent said hair loss hinders their competitiveness in
the job market and 32 percent fear they may not be assigned
frontline jobs.
A dermatologist, Lam Pang, said only a minority of respondents have
visited doctors, while many use shampoos, seek advice from
hairdressers or the internet for their hair loss.
"They should consult doctors as soon as possible instead of using
the unreliable methods, which may worsen hair loss problems, and
waste their time and money," Lam said.
There was no radical treatment for hair loss, but taking medicines
could help control it.
Another dermatologist, Joseph Fung Wai-kit, said male pattern
baldness is common among Hong Kong men, because it is usually
hereditary.
Other factors include smoking, alcohol, stress and pollution.
"Hair loss is a common physiological problem and the men should not
be embarrassed," Fung said. "They should be patient during the
treatment and avoid stopping the medication. The problem can be
lessened if they seek help from doctors in the early stage."
The most common treatment is an oral medicine called finasteride.
"From our clinical observation, patients can start to see
improvement after taking the medicines for three months, and some
new hair will start to grow too." Fung said.
The survey was carried out by the Hong Kong Primary Care Foundation.
SERINAH HO
Source