Health Articles

A drug-free hair loss product, from a surprising source, may be the new answer to thinning hair, alopecia, and male pattern baldness.

“You have no idea what it’s like,” says Joe Rice, a 60-year-old professional from Fort Wayne, Indiana. “I started losing my hair in my twenties. It’s miserable. It has a way of shaping your whole life.”

Joe’s worn a toupee for years. No one sees him without it, not even his closest friends. He’s tried “just about everything” to stop hair loss, including Rogaine and Propecia, without success. But deep down, he still holds out hope.

“I know the drugs work for some people, but they didn’t work for me,” he sighs. “Just show me one new hair, and I’m a customer for life.”

A Serious Problem

Joe is not alone. Millions of men and women suffer in silence from alopecia, baldness and thinning hair. And while hair loss isn’t fatal, it is a serious condition with profound psychological effects. For many, hair loss brings feelings of shame, despair, and crippled self-esteem.

New Hope from the Orient

Since 1999, a group of scientists in Japan, led by researcher T. Takahashi, has been studying botanical extracts looking for a safe, effective solution for hair growth. After testing over a thousand different extracts, they found three promising natural chemicals. One was from barley. One from Chardonnay grapes. And one- by far the most potent- was an extract from ordinary apples.

Move Over Minoxidil

One year later, the scientists announced even more striking findings to the international community. They compared the apple extract, known as procyanidin B-2, to the proven hair growth drug minoxidil in cell cultures.

Their results seemed almost impossible: in head-to-head tests, the apple chemical proved to be twice as effective as minoxidil in stimulating new hair growth.

In further experiments on mice, the apple procyanidins, as well as minoxidil, repeatedly produced “extensive hair growth.”

Proven in Double-Blind Clinical Trials

In clinical trials on humans, the results were even more exciting. The procyanidins from apples consistently grew new hair in men with male pattern baldness, the most stubborn form of unwanted hair loss- and without any of the side effects of hair loss drugs.

Scientists are normally conservative when it comes to conclusions. But the statements from the Takahashi group were unequivocal. “Procyanidin B-2 therapy,” they wrote, “shows potential as a promising cure for male pattern baldness.”

For Joe, and 60 million other men and women, this research means new hope. “Of course I’ll try it,” he says. “Just show me one new hair…”

For nearly 10 years now, medical lasers have been used for such things as tattoo removal, clearing up acne scars and other blemishes, and removing dark spots on the skin. Now they are increasing being approved by the FDA and used for such things as wrinkle removal, tooth whitening, and hair removal.

Is it really permanent? Many laser hair removal providers tout their processes as “painless” or “permanent.” The FDA says there must be enough evidence to support those claims and it is actually giving some manufacturers authorization to state “permanent hair reduction” but not “removal.” Be careful if you select a provider who says their process is permanent and painless. If you have the manufacturer and model number of the laser, you can directly call or write the FDA to see if they have approval for medical use.

Still, laser hair removal can be a great option for anyone wanting to remove unwanted hair from anywhere on their bodies. It works for both men and women, and is more effective if the hair is noticeably darker than the skin.

How does it work? As laser light passes through the skin, it is converted to heat and is absorbed by the pigment melanin in the hair follicle, effectively disabling the follicle itself and thus preventing further growth. Some clinical trials have been successful in preventing hair re-growth for up to two years, making laser hair removal one of the longest-lasting hair removal methods.

There are a number of advantages of laser hair removal over other forms of hair removal such as waxing, sugaring, depilatory creams, tweezing, etc. For one, the procedure is non-invasive, and does not require creams or needles. Another benefit is that the light beams can move quickly, and effectively treat larger areas in a small amount of time. And don’t forget the long-term results.

Although most insurance policies will not cover laser hair removal procedures, it pays to shop for price as well as methodology. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported an average single treatment cost around $388. Many areas require multiple treatments to gain the maximum benefit, so the cost can add up. That should be weighed against the cost of alternative methods of hair removal which would have to be done more frequently.

If you suffer from unwanted hair, that hair is dark, and your skin is at least a few shades lighter than your hair, you should look into this long-lasting hair removal method.