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Hair Loss News Archives
May 2010
Losing Your Hair? Your Genes are Only Partly to Blame
Other Culprits Run the Gamut from Menopause to Weight Loss Supplements and Steroids
May 2010
In a recent study, Dr. Larry Shapiro shows that men
and women have been losing their hair from using popular weight loss
and work out products that contain whey protein isolate- and it's
not just their genes that are to blame.
Shapiro, who has spent 20 years treating over 11,000 men and women
for hair thinning and loss, said, "My clinical practice shows a
definite trend among people suffering from hair loss ... they're
increasingly battling the effects of thyroid problems, anesthesia,
cosmetic surgery, dietary deficiencies, prescription medications,
male pattern baldness, use of growth hormone-based supplements
during weight training, use of steroids for weight training, and use
of weight-loss products and fat burners.
Years of clinical practice have shown that these
factors play a far greater role than we thought before than just
personal genetic characteristics alone and can accelerate hair loss
in people who may not see this until later in life."
Shapiro noted that natural or self-induced hormonal changes are
common causes among both women and men experiencing hair loss. "Estrogen
levels drop during menopause and after pregnancy, and this can
result in hair loss," said Shapiro.
"In addition, men and women who
take growth hormones and testosterone for weight training and weight
reduction programs frequently come into my office complaining of
hair loss. I have to explain to them that the growth hormones
they're taking to strengthen their bodies are actually causing their
hair to fall out."
According to Shapiro, popular nutritional supplements such as
Creatine and anabolic steroids can cause hair loss because they
quickly increase testosterone levels in the body. Weight-loss
products that change the metabolism of the thyroid can also cause
people to lose their hair.
And people who undergo rapid weight loss
-- such as those who undergo gastric bypass surgery or have a
gastric ring implanted -- are also hair loss candidates.
Shapiro noted, however, that not all nutritional supplements are bad
for your hair. "The recent surge in genetic premature loss
encouraged me to find out what specific ingredient in certain
supplements was having such a negative impact on hair." Shapiro's
study will conclude that whey protein isolates in many nutritional
supplements are the problem behind what's causing users to lose
their hair.
The study will show that 80% or more did better on
the Help Hair formula with categories of improvement in fuller,
thicker, healthier hair compared to regular whey protein isolate,
which resulted in a majority of participants reporting poor quality
hair growth and even hair loss.
In response to this finding, Shapiro formulated a hormone-free
powder that does not cause hair loss and supports hair growth
naturally by providing all the nutrients hair needs to grow. The
Help Hair formula is fortified with amino acids, and B vitamins,
niacin, PABA, Chinese herbs and roots to support the structure and
function of hair. Shapiro's study will show that the formula has
helped the hair of users look thicker, stronger and fuller.
About Dr. Shapiro
Dr. Larry J. Shapiro is a world renowned hair transplant surgeon and one of the world's leading experts on hair loss. With offices in Delray Beach and Hollywood, Shapiro has practiced in South Florida since 1989. He began specializing solely in hair transplants in 2003. Dr. Shapiro was the first doctor in the U.S. to do the strip incision and micro/mini graft, follicular unit technique.
He has performed more than 11,000 procedures and has written numerous articles on hair transplantation. He has also treated more than 35,000 dermatology patients. Shapiro was an active member of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology for 15 years, and he was a charter member of the International Society of Hair Restoration.