There's hope for balding Prince Harry and William and the other 7.4million men

There's hope for balding Prince Harry and William and the other 7.4million men

FOR Prince William, it started in his mid-20s and now, at 28, Prince Harry is showing the first signs of following suit. He is, according to the experts, losing his hair.

By: Julie Carpenter

Published: Tue, May 28, 2013
Source: express.co.uk

Prince William, pictured, and now Prince Harry have both shown evidence of baldness

Pictures of the royal crown taken during his recent trip to the United States have been examined by trichologists and the conclusion is that Harry – who loves to rib his brother about his thinning thatch – is also developing signs of male pattern baldness. Jonny Harris, hair loss expert at the Belgravia Centre, London, believes Harry won’t lose his ginger locks quite as quickly as his brother but: “He may have very thin hair by the time he is 50.”

William and Harry are hardly alone in having male pattern baldness, the most common cause of hair loss in men. The condition affects about half of all men over 50 while one man in four starts losing his hair by the time he is 20 and two-thirds by the age of 65. For some, the effects can be psychologically devastating.

Research is continually being done into the condition but it is known to be caused when enzymes in the body convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT has an adverse affect on hair follicles on the head while often encouraging the growth of body hair. The condition is hereditary but is often more complicated than the old idea that it passes from the maternal grandfather.

So what are the treatments out there?

THE VAMPIRE CURE
This is still in its infancy but research published this month showed that scientists in Italy and Israel could regrow hair on volunteers’ bald patches by injecting them with a solution derived from their own blood. The volunteers’ blood had been processed and a “platelet-rich plasma” extracted. When injected back into the relevant area, the plasma is believed to have stimulated new stem cells below the skin which can aid the regrowth of hair.

The research was carried out on people suffering from alopecia areta, which affects about two per cent of the population, but Dr Fabio Rinaldi believes their method could also lead to regrowth of hair on men who are suffering male pattern baldness. “We believe it is the best treatment available, apart from surgery,” he says. Watch this space.

"...scientists in Italy and Israel could regrow hair on volunteers’ bald patches by injecting them with a solution derived from their own blood"

THE NEW SALON TREATMENT
This month’s other “breakthrough cure” is a cream from L’Oreal called Kerastase Densifique which costs £285 for a three-month treatment and is just starting to be offered by hair salons.

L’Oreal’s scientists have discovered that many of those suffering from hair loss have skin tissue in the scalp that has an oxygen deficiency. They have developed a product that targets this condition by attempting to increase the oxygen levels in the scalp, helping follicles to produce thicker hair and reawakening dormant ones.

How effective is it? One study showed that the cream – used once a day for three months – gave people a four per cent increase in the number of hairs they had, representing an average of 1,700 new ones.

Actor James Nesbitt after his hair transplant

TRANSPLANT
This treatment, recently used by actor James Nesbitt and footballer Wayne Rooney, is considered the most effective way to combat baldness and the only real chance to regain a head of growing hair.

Transplants have also come on in leaps and bounds since the early hairbrush-style plugs that were around when Sir Elton John is rumoured to have undergone such a procedure.

Now, says Lesley Reynolds from the Harley Street Skin Clinic, “new technologies in hair transplant sur- gery mean it is virtually impossible to tell when someone has had the procedure it’s so natural”.

A follicular transplant uses the patient’s own hair, which is replanted on the scalp and continues to grow there. During the 10-hour procedure, the surgeon takes hair follicles from the back of the head, where most men still have some hair growth, and inserts them in the area of baldness, creating a new hairline. The follicles are either taken one by one or in strips.

“Once repositioned, the hair rests for up to 16 weeks and then starts its natural growth cycle,” says Lesley. “Around nine months later there will be a great improvement in the density of hair.”

Costs range from approximately £1,000 to upwards of £10,000 and while the results can be amazing (Nesbitt said it “changed my life”) sometimes several transplants are required. It will also not work on men who have insufficient hair left at the back of their head. Artificial hair cannot be transplanted as the body will reject it like a splinter.

LICENSED DRUGS
Two types of drug are used to help counteract thinning hair. The first, finasteride (sold as Propecia), is an oral tablet available on private prescription and costs around £60 a month. It works by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT and is thought to be effective in around 68 per cent of men. It stops further loss and in some cases helps the growth of new hair. However, up to two per cent of men have reported side-effects including decreased libido.

The other drug is minoxidil (sold as Regaine). Originally a treatment for high blood pressure until it was noticed that those using the product began sprouting excess hair, it is now available over the counter as a foam or lotion.

Believed to work by encouraging blood flow to the scalp, it is best used on men who are just starting to lose hair. “It has a good success rate,” explains Lesley, “but it can take up to a year for any changes to take place.” Both drugs only work for as long as they are used.

Wayne Rooney also had a hair transplant last year

MESOTHERAPY
Lesley Reynolds says: “We are seeing great success for treating thinning hair with a new treatment called Biomimetic Mesotherapy.”

Involving a cocktail of vitamins and minerals injected directly into the scalp, the idea is to stimulate the natural regeneration process.

It works best when there is still hair to work with. Up to seven treatments are usually needed for hair loss, given once a week and costing around £350 per session.

LASER LIGHT TREATMENT
Treatments such as the HairMax Laser Comb (costing between £300 and £400) are believed to utilise the stimulating effects of light therapy to activate growth by encouraging the blood flow to the scalp.

The HairMax website is full of testimonials but the science behind laser light is limited.

SHAMPOOS, CONDITIONERS AND CAMOUFLAGERS
None of these will promote hair growth or reverse the process of going bald. However, many high street brands and salons have “volume” ranges of shampoos and conditioners that plump up the hair and at least make it look thicker.

Products that conceal hair loss include spray-on fibre treatments (such as Nanogen) which add artificial hairs to your thinning locks until washed out.

And if all else fails…

TOUPEES
Yes, hair pieces have a bad reputation and they can go flying off in the wind, but in recent years the quality has improved and they may be the only option for men who have gone completely bald and are self-conscious. The best ones are made of a good microfibre or real hair and are generally attached with double-sided tape.

So-called “hair systems” are also now available where your own hair is cut short and a netting cover (such as a wig) is glued on top. They usually cost upwards of £1,000 each.

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