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Hair Loss News Archives
April 2010
53% of Men Say Baldness Treatments Are Overhyped
The product that worked for the most people was the prescription drug Propecia
April 2010
Snake-oil treatments for baldness have been around since the days of Hippocrates
says Consumer Reports Health, and those empty promises continue to this day.
While late-night TV and pharmacy shelves are filled with products touted to restore hair, most of the tactics tried by thousands of balding men and women simply don't work very well, according to a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.
The product that worked for the most people was the
prescription drug Propecia (finasteride), deemed very effective by 27 percent of
men.
The Baldness Remedies survey is one of three reports on the market for
anti-aging products that promise to turn back the clock. Consumer Reports Health
reports on do-it-yourself hair dyes, over-the-counter anti-wrinkle serums, and
baldness treatments. The reports are available online at
www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
"The market for baldness remedies plays to a particularly vulnerable segment of
society," said Tod Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports. "It's a deeply
personal, devastating issue to many who desperately want to believe that there's
a panacea out there. Sadly, there is no magic bullet. At the end of the day, the
best remedy may actually be acceptance.
Those surveyed told us that masking hair
loss was one of the more effective options. And they pointed out actual benefits
of being bald: you won't get hat head; you won't waste time grooming your hair;
and you'll save lots of money on shampoo, conditioner, gels, mouse, hair dryers,
and other hair care products."
Of survey respondents who sought treatment for hair loss, 65 percent said they
had nothing to lose from trying. Â Consumer Reports Health notes that there are
plenty of downsides to several remedies:
Finasteride, available as Propecia and as a generic, worked for some. Patients
should commit to it for at least three months and any gains it may have will be
lost once the patient stops taking it. While side effects are infrequent, they
can include depression and impotence. It can be used by men only.
Minoxodil, sold under the brand name Rogaine or generically, works best on
patients whose hair loss is recent. Survey respondents said it was largely
ineffective.
As is the case with finasteride, any benefits are lost when you
stop taking it. Side effects include dry, itchy, or irritated scalp and
increased facial hair. Women can use Rogaine in the 2 percent strength if
they're willing to live with the possibility of facial hair. Men can use 2 or 5
percent solutions.
Surgery, which typically involves a basic transplant of hair from the back of
the head to the top or front of the head, costs on average $5 for each graft.
The average transplant can take 2,000 grafts, bringing the total cost to
approximately $10,000.
In many cases, the procedure must be repeated, doubling
the cost. Not everyone is a successful candidate and there's a possibility of
infection, a long recovery period, scarring, or patchy hair growth. And finding
a skilled surgeon can be a challenge.
The Consumer Reports Health survey found that women were especially bothered by
hair loss. Fifty-five percent of women who had hair loss, compared to 24% of men
surveyed, said they worried a lot about losing more hair in the future. Women
who had lost hair were more likely than men to pay attention to other people's
hair or lack of it, stare in the mirror, and feel self-conscious about their
appearance.
The survey found that masking baldness might very well be the ideal option.
Sixty-five percent said that they found wearing a wig or toupee was very or
somewhat effective, while 46 percent of men liked shaving their head, and 46
percent of people said that simply dressing better was an effective technique at
hiding hair loss.
Most men and some women blamed genetic makeup or age; other women said their
hair loss was due to a health condition (such as thyroid disease) or stress.
Respondents whose hair loss was related to chronic illness or chemotherapy were
excluded.
Survey Methodology
In December 2009, a random sample of online subscribers received an email asking
them to complete a survey focused on hair loss. Findings from this Consumer
Reports National Research Center survey focused on the 8,042 men and women who
reported they had indeed experienced hair loss or balding. Respondents whose
hair loss was related to chronic illness or chemotherapy were excluded.
Covering Up the Grays
For those consumers who still have their hair but are looking to cover grays, a
new test of Hair Loss hair dyes found that Clairol Textures and Tones, L'Oreal Paris
Superior Preference, Clairol Natural Instincts, and Clairol Natural Instincts
For Men work best.
Consumer Reports Health tested 13 Hair Loss hair dyes consumers would use to dye gray
hairs brown and rated them on how well they covered grays, how easy they were to
use, and whether the color was blotchy or streaky. The top products scored high
marks across the board when tested on tresses of grey hair. The results show
that for less than $13 -- well below salon prices -- consumers can easily and
effectively cover their grays.
"More than ever, consumers are searching for ways to look and feel their best
without breaking the bank, so we were pleased to find there are high quality,
low-cost options for covering grays," said Consumer Reports Health associate
editor Jamie Hirsh.
For maximum success with at-Hair Loss hair coloring, Consumer Reports Health advises
first performing a spot test for allergic reactions, then testing the dye on a
single piece of hair to determine how the color will turn out and how long to
leave the dye in your hair.
Refer to the more detailed color charts on the sides
or back of the box rather than the picture on the front to see how a color will
work with your hair. And it's best to determine how much gray coverage you need
before you select a product. Some products aren't made for hair that is more
than 50 percent gray.