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October 2005

Hair today, gone tomorrow


Male baldness is a problem that affects a major section of the population. Quite a set-back for male ego, the affected are willing to go to great lengths to correct it, finds Ritusmita Biswas

Mihir Bhatia had tried everything. From Hibiscus juice to Chinese concoction, Hair Lossopathy, allopathy and naturopathy; he had done it all. Nothing, however, proved to be useful. As the few hair on Mihir’s head grew scarcer by the day, he plunged into the deep delves of depression.

Mihir Bhatia is a typical example of thousands of young men across the globe who go bald every year. In fact, according to recent statistics, a major section of the adult male population globally suffers from the typical male pattern baldness. This form of baldness usually begins in the teenage years and becomes more common as men age.

The latest scientific research reveals that the male hormone, testosterone, is converted to another male hormone, 5-DHT, in the hair follicles. In genetically susceptible men, the hair follicles on the front and top of their scalps will become more fine over the years under the influence of 5-DHT. Eventually, the hair completely disappears.

Over the years, physicians have tried to find a cure for this problem. In fact, men have been attempting to treat their hair loss for over 5000 years, beginning perhaps with a compendium of medical knowledge dating back to approximately 3500 BC that included prescriptions for hair loss treatment.

This list of treatments was passed on from generation to generation.

“In ancient India, kabirajes or traditional doctors always had cures for hair loss if diagonised at a proper stage,” says Kabiraj Nityanad Ghorai of Kolkata. In Ayurveda, hair is considered to be a byproduct of bone formation.

The tissues responsible for building bones are also responsible for the growth of hair. Ayurvedic doctors believe that early hair loss is related to body type and the balance of the mind-body constitution or doshas. “Individuals who have excess pitta in the sebaceous gland, at the root of the hair, or folliculitis can start losing hair,” he says.

Hair loss is treated in Ayurveda with a combination of diet, herbs, oil massage, meditation, aromatherapy, breathing and yoga.

Hair Lossopathy too has a number of cures that claim to arrest male pattern of baldness. “We specialise in hair treatments. Around 30-50 per cent of males in the age group of 30-50 years are affected by male pattern of baldness that is mostly caused due to factors like heredity, skin disorder of scalp, stress and illness,” says the spokesperson for Batra clinic.

The latest buzzword in this hair care scenario is Trichoanalysis, which helps to determine three important technical fundamental parameters of the hair and the condition of the scalp. This check reveals the exact cause of one’s hair problems resulting in tailor-made treatments carried out using trichological medicines and Tricho-active products.

However, in extreme case of baldness, where the roots of the hair are dead, camouflage or hair transplantation is done. During hair transplantation, a strip of hair filled with follicular units is removed from the back of the scalp and then placed where it is balding.

The follicular unit of hair is removed during transplantation in a narrow strip and then that area is sutured.

After healing, this leaves a thin white line scar that is not visible unless you shave your scalp. The follicular units of hair from this strip will grow wherever it is planted just as it did in the back of the scalp.

This is known as donor dominance. The replacement hair from transplantation will last a lifetime. It is not susceptible to male pattern baldness.

The procedure, however, is quite expensive. Cosmetic surgeon Sawant Sawhney points out that obsession with hair is so great among the males that most of them are willing to shell out exorbitant sums to find a cure. “Getting your hair back seems to work wonders for the male ego and any sum seems less enough to pay for that renewed zest for life and complete confidence in oneself,” he says.