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- $Unique_ID{BRK00532}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Do Hair Products for Balding Really Help Hair to Grow?}
- $Subject{balding medications medication medications scalp FDA Rogaine
- minoxidil promote hair growth male pattern baldness vellus}
- $Volume{R-20}
- $Log{}
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- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Do Hair Products for Balding Really Help Hair to Grow?
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- QUESTION: I am a young man, and really too young to start balding. But the
- hair loss is now pretty visible, and I am confused by all the advertising for
- hair products that I see on television. Are any of them proven, and do they
- really help hair to grow? I don't want to spend my hard earned bucks for
- nothing.
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- ANSWER: You pose an excellent question, one that applies as well to many
- types of advertising for health products on television. The secret is in the
- listening. The ads I've seen do not claim to promote new growth in so many
- words, but tell of "stopping the loss" of hair through natural means. By this
- they mean that their product is not a medication in the sense that it acts on
- disease process through chemical means, and therefore it is not approved by
- the Food and Drug Administration. "Natural means" could refer to a cleansing
- process that might help the general scalp condition, but these claims are
- never quite clear. The one product that does have scientific evidence to back
- its claims and an FDA approval is Rogaine (minoxidil is the generic name)
- produced by the Upjohn Company. It is an active agent that has been used in
- the control of high blood pressure, and was found to promote the hair growth
- in balding men. It is indicated for male pattern baldness of the top of the
- head (vertex). The medication, obtained with a doctor's prescription, will
- cost you about $2.00 a day, must be used continuously for life, and is most
- effective in younger men, men with balding of less than ten years duration,
- and men whose bald spot area is less than 4 inches. And it doesn't work on
- everyone. About 1/4 of men using the medication over a period of 1 year
- displayed no growth, or growth of only very fine (vellus) hair. You can
- obtain more information directly from the manufacturer by calling the Rogaine
- Hot Line, 1-800-635-0655 from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday through
- Friday. An attentive and polite representative will answer all your
- questions.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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