Helping Hair Loss: Which Method Is Best?

HEATHROW, Fla. -- About 80 million men and women are affected by hair loss in the United States, but only 3 percent try to find a solution.

Stewart Bloom has been jogging all his life. But at one point, he stopped.

"You say, 'Oh well, what's the use? No matter what I do, I'm still not going to have my hair,'" he said.

Bloom was devastated when he began losing hair in his late teens. He's tried countless remedies.

"They would put static electrical charges through my scalp in order to stimulate my hair follicles," he said. "I also bought bottles of different-colored liquids that were shampoos and scalp conditioners."

Hair loss expert and dermatologist Matt Leavitt said only three methods have been medically proven to restore hair loss. Two of them can prevent loss before it starts. One is minoxidil -- a solution known as Rogaine.

"What minoxidil does is it causes the hair to stay in the growing cycle longer," said Leavitt, of Medical Hair Restoration in Heathrow, Fla.

The other is finasteride, known as Propecia. The pill blocks DHT, which causes shrinkage of hair follicles.

"Ninety percent of the people that actually take Propecia have improvement," Leavitt said.

The third method worked for Bloom and Leavitt -- hair transplantation.

"The hair transplants are permanent because we're taking hair that has no genetic program ever to be lost," Leavitt said. He recommends all three methods for the best outcome.

"Once I saw it growing, it changed everything," Bloom said. "I felt I was now in control of my life, and there was something that I could do about it."

He now faces the day with full confidence -- and a full head of hair.

Rogaine costs about $10 to $15 a bottle, but generic brands may be less expensive. Propecia costs from $50 to $75 a month. Transplantation can go from $3,000 to $10,000. If your hair loss is a result of an illness, some insurance companies may cover transplant costs.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Tim Harmon
Director of Public Relations
Leavitt Management Group, Inc.
(407) 875-2080 ext. 1155

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