Baldness

Herbs for Hair

Saw palmetto berries are widely recognized for their potential to diminish an enlarged prostate gland, say studies at major medical institutions such as the University of Chicago. But saw palmetto may also help prevent baldness by blocking the body's production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a substance that deadens hair follicles.

Adding licorice extract (which also redces the body's amount of DHT) to your shampoo helps do the same thing. For additional benefits, regular scalp massage can increase blood circulation to the head.

Three Drugs May Do the Trick

In the 1980s, doctors and patients found out that the drug minoxidil does help grow-and regrow-hair. It just didn't work predictably well for many of those who tried it. Ten years and countless trials later, some dermatologists think that a three-drug regimen may be more successful in battling baldness.

This less common regimen involves mixing Rogaine (minoxidil), now available over the counter, with Proscar (finasteride), originally a medication for prostate enlargement, and thyroid hormone. The application method is similar to what is suggested on the packages of minoxidil: Rub it into the scalp every day. Of course, this combination treatment will cost more-but early results are promising.

Note: Finasteride should be avoided by men contemplating fatherhood. (Women should also avoid it before and during pregnancy.)

Sunny-Side Up

"Male pattern baldness" is a form of hormone-related hair loss. But of more concern to many men and women afflicted with hair loss is alopecia areata, a lesser-known disorder that causes hair loss in nearly 4 million Americans.

Typically, hair grows in cycles of two to six years, after which hair lies dormant, and then falls out. On a normal head, some hair is at the beginning of the cycle while some is further along in the growth cycle. With alopecia areata, some or all of the hair follicles stop growing at the same time, leaving tiny bald spots or complete baldness. Normally, hair will grow back in anywhere from six months to a year. But for those afflicted, the wait can be devastating.

However, research shows that alopecia areata may be an autoimmune disease, and this information has opened the door for a new treatment. Many doctors use ultraviolet light to prevent the body's immune system from attacking hair follicles. In what may be one of the few cases when a slight sunburn is a good thing, psoralen, a medicine that increases sun sensitivity, is rubbed onto the affected area. Then, the doctor shines a UV light on the scalp until the bald area shows some redness or irritation.

Figuratively speaking, the body's immune cells start worrying about the irritation caused by the sunburn, and stop worrying about the hair follicle, which really never meant the body any harm in the first place!