Archive for the ‘Psychology’ Category

What to Do For Hair Loss That Occurs Before the Age of 25

Friday, December 21st, 2007

While hair loss is generally associated with middle-aged men, younger men can also experience the first signs of hair loss.  This is often difficult to accept for young men. 

A man who suffered from hair loss at the age of 21 said that the first advice his doctor provided was not to panic; male pattern baldness is a very common condition that is programmed into our genes. 

At times, a physician will request that a parent or a guardian become involved, first-hand, in the decision making process - especially if the patient is a minor. A minor that suffers from hair loss needs to discuss their concerns with both their parent and their physician. One of the keys to success, for a minor, is that there is close parental support in choosing a hair loss regime, such as Propecia.

If you are under the age of 25 and are suffering from hair loss, it is crucial that you talk with you physician and determine if Propecia is right for you. Hair loss is a medical condition that must be treated in order to prevent further hair loss. People consider their hair to be a big part of their image and who they are. Take action before it is too late, and more damage is done to your hairline.

Many physicians will recommend a hair treatment program. Oftentimes, this type of program is extremely aggressive and uses a combination of effective hair treatments. A physician may recommend injections to stimulate the growth of hair, hair restoration, a DHT inhibitor, and other topical solutions.

Propecia works well with other hair loss treatments. When you talk with your doctor, ask him or her if Propecia is right for you. Propecia has helped thousands of men, young and old, re-grow new hair and regain their confidence.

The Impacts of Hair Loss on Women

Monday, December 10th, 2007

There was recently a study conducted that evaluated the quality of life in a woman that suffers from hair loss. There have been studies conducted that evaluate men and hair loss, but not many that seek to understand women.

Propecia, an effective hair loss treatment for men, has not yet been approved for women. There has been one study conducted thus far that determined Propecia was an effective way to curb hair loss in postmenopausal women.

It is not clear whether Propecia will also be approved for women. Only time can answer this question for us.  Nonetheless, it is important to note that both men and women are affected negatively by hair loss.

There were a total of 58 women suffering from hair loss that were interviewed by the Department of Dermatology. It was revealed that the majority of women suffering from hair loss said that the hair loss had a very negative impact on their quality of life.

88% of the women reported that hair loss affected their daily life in negative ways. For example, they were more self-conscious, therefore limiting how much they socialized and performed other outdoor activities.

75% of the women reported that hair loss had created and manifested a loss in self esteem.  50% reported that they experienced social problems because of hair loss. There was a psychosocial maladjustment that was related to the loss of hair in a third of the women.

Hair loss affects both men and women in negative ways. This is why it is so important for a hair loss treatment to treat not only hair loss, but the root cause. Propecia is an effective way to treat hair loss, but it is currently only prescribed for men.  In the future, Propecia may be approved for both men and women.

Propecia: The Psychological Effects of Baldness

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

A recent study released by Business Wire earlier this year found that individuals who experience hair loss believe their appearance impacts virtually every part of their lives. The four-year study, examining men experiencing androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness), describes high levels of depression and dysfunction. This was true across all age and ethnic groups, as well as socio-economic strata. Hair-loss sufferers collectively agree that there is a link between hair loss and loss of self-confidence.

Dr. Stanley Teitelbaum, a New York psychologist who correlated the study – and whose clinical focus is male pattern baldness – described his patients’ attitudes as “a feeling of losing it.”  92% were obsessed with their hair loss, and 82% agreed that “hair loss prevents me from being who I really am.”  86% faced frequent, unwelcome, questions about – or observations on – their hair loss, while 88% said they felt uncomfortable at social events (particularly ones that might result in a toupee or wig accidentally being removed). A full 6% acknowledged thoughts of suicide.   

Dr. Jordana Gilman, a Manhattan dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, observed similar behavior patterns among her patients. She added, however, that once a treatment program results in hair restoration, the patient’s psyche improves.  This is why it is so important to start a regimen with Propecia today, instead of waiting until hair loss damages your psychological equilibrium.

About Propecia

Propecia, from Merck & Co., is the first, clinically proven, pharmaceutical treatment to reduce hair loss and even re-grow hair in men. In studies in both the U.S. and abroad, Propecia was shown to restore some or all of the hair in 82% - 90% of men who used it for more than two years, and five-year users achieved excellent results with minimal side effects.

Propecia is one of only two FDA-approved treatments for hair loss (the other is Minoxidil). Unlike Minoxidil, a topical preparation with a 50% efficacy rating, Propecia is taken as a tablet, once a day. Dosages do not need to be adjusted for age or illness, further revealing Propecia’s remarkable safety record, which in clinical trials over a 5-year period showed only a .03% ratio of side effects.

Comments From Users

Comments from Propecia users confirm Propecia’s effectiveness. One man, who has been using finasteride (Propecia) for about 10 years, said that within six months his thinning had stopped. In another six months, he noticed “frontal” regrowth, and credits the drug with “maintaining my hairline.”  Another male user, who noticed slowed thinning and regrowth in three months, describes Propecia as, “the best treatment I ever did.”

Instead of being depressed by hair loss, give Propecia a try. You have nothing to lose, and only your hairline to gain.  Propecia only costs about $50 a month, and you will gain a great amount of your self-esteem back:  your hair, your self-esteem, your natural right to feel good about yourself in any social situation.  See your doctor today, and see if Propecia is the answer for which your hairline has been seeking.

Propecia: The Psychology of Hair Loss

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is a type of disfigurement that can affect a person’s sense self-identity. It gives rise to serious psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression. Propecia, a non-topical prescription treatment for alopecia, can restore hair, but the psychological effects may linger well beyond the cure.

To determine the psychological consequences of alopecia, a clinical review was carried out in late 2006. The review excluded any references that did not focus on the psychological impacts of alopecia. The review also excluded formerly bald patients who were using Propecia.

Baldness and Psychological Makeup

Most studies showed that people with alopecia have lower self-esteem, poorer quality of life, higher levels of both anxiety and depression, and poorer body image than the control groups. An effective deterrent to these might be support groups, and physicians should recognize the psychological impact of alopecia as a mandate for some sort of therapy. Prescribing Propecia is a good first step, but since the ultimate benefits of Propecia are not seen for several years, therapy is also in order.

Baldness and Predispositions to Disease

Androgenetic alopecia (hereditary baldness) has been associated with a higher risk of serious cardiovascular disorders (including high blood pressure and fatal ischemic heart disease), a tendency toward diabetes (hyperinsulinemia and dislipidemia, or high cholesterol, and obesity), as well as a link with hypothyroidism.

Too little is known about genes to associate these disorders in any conclusive way. It is known that men with pattern baldness exhibit a greater tendency toward all these disorders. Additionally, all these disorders exhibit varying degrees of depression and anxiety. Harvey Cushing (20th century American neurosurgeon), for whom Cushing’s Syndrome is named, underscored the role of psychoses in pituitary disease, specifically thyroid disorders. Others have documented the ‘Type A’ personality and its attendant anxiety with regard to heart disease. The prevalence of both depression and anxiety are well documented in association with diabetes.

In time, gene therapy may ameliorate a whole host of symptoms (whose root may lie in the endocrine system), relieving us of heart disease, diabetes, thyroid malfunction, and hair loss. In the meantime, there is Propecia to alleviate the psychological stress of hair loss.

Propecia Defined

Propecia is the first, non-topical prescription treatment developed to retard hair loss in men, as well as reverse hair loss over time in males whose scalp follicles remain active. Propecia is not recommended for women. In a 5-year study, Propecia was shown to significantly (65%) increase hair count in men of all ages. In a recent Japanese study, hair re-growth or retention was demonstrated in 90% of users.

Propecia was released in Japan in December of 2005. Sales for 2006 approached $11 million U.S. dollars, which is an amazing record in a country where baldness was uncommon before the 1940s. Some speculate the increasing baldness of Japanese males and the soaring sales of Propecia reflect a more Americanized lifestyle, with increasing levels of stress and greater reliance on animal protein. Diet may play a significant role in male pattern baldness. For those American males whose diet and lifestyle have led to irreversibly barer heads, there is Propecia, which over time retards hair loss and actually does grow more hair.

Cutting back on red meat and eating more vegetables would also be beneficial, but given the American men I know, that would be like expecting snow in July. Thankfully, they can have their Propecia, and eat red meat too.

Propecia Hair Loss Treatment

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Psychological effects of Hair Loss

Psychological studies have shown that hair loss is associated with lessened self-esteem, bouts of depression, increasing introversion, nonspecific neuroses like avoidance or aversion, and a general loss of well-being. Though men of from all age groups experienced these symptoms, they were strongest among the 18-30 age groups.  

Hair is one of the first features we notice, both in ourselves and in others. A full head of hair sends a message to the pre-optic area of the Hypothalamus (the area of the brain associated with mating) telling us the individual in question has good genetic material. This, in turn, triggers hormones that inspire us to engage in conversation, display interest, or even flirt to attract the individual’s attention. Love is a modern convention; the instinct to reproduce ourselves is as old as time.

No one has ever reported a bad teeth day, or even a bad eye day, but a bad hair day can send us into a spiral of depression, even when we have ‘good’ hair (that is, full, thick, healthy hair). To have thin hair, or worse, almost no hair, is as emotionally devastating as the loss of a limb, or the loss of hearing, smell or taste.

Help from Propecia

Propecia, from Merck & Co., is the first, clinically proven, pharmaceutical treatment to reduce hair loss and even re-grow hair in men. In studies in both the U.S. and abroad, Propecia was shown to restore some or all of the hair in 82-90% of men who used it for more than two years, and achieved excellent results with minimal side effects among five-year users.

Propecia is a secondary discovery of Proscar (Finasteride), which was originally developed by Merck & Co. to treat benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH.  Merck’s primary objective has always been the discovery, development, and manufacture of pharmaceuticals that both treat and prevent illness in humans and animals. Occasionally, as in the case of Proscar, results are noticed in the laboratory, which suggest other uses for the same chemical.

Drugs Discovery Methods

Drug discovery is a time-consuming, expensive, high-risk proposition. Beginning with basic research into the way chemical compounds are taken into the body, and the path of disease, the drug then moves to development, where researches test its safety and efficacy. It takes about 12 years, and roughly $800 million dollars, to bring a medicine from the discovery phase to market-readiness. For every single medicine that reaches the public, between 4,000 and 10,000 compounds must be screened for safety, viability, dosage requirements, and efficacy. Many (in fact most of them) fail; they don’t work in animal trials, they can’t be safely manufactured, or they have side-effects in both animal and human trials that severely outweigh their benefits. In fact, of 10,000 compounds, only five will enter clinical testing, and just one will make it to the market.

Costs Involved in Propecia Use

Surprisingly, Propecia is not that expensive. The monthly cost for 30 tablets of Propecia (one tablet being the standard, daily dose) is about $50. Dosages of Propecia do not have to be adjusted for age; they are the same for a 60-year old as for a man 40 years younger, testifying to the overall safety of Propecia. The side effects are minimal: 2% of men report problems, primarily allergic reactions, or rashes, but also sexual side effects like loss of libido, reduced secretions, and – rarely - breast or testicle tenderness. The incidence of these effects declined to .03% by the fifth year of use.

Rated for both safety and effectiveness, Propecia stands at the top of the list of remedies for male pattern baldness (Androgenic Alopecia). It has more than earned its place in the medicine cabinet as a superior weapon against that one sign of aging most men fear (and a majority of men experience); the loss of their hair.