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What is minoxidil, the anti-balding hair growth treatment? Here’s what the science says

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacinta-l-johnson-1441348">Jacinta L. Johnson</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kirsten-staff-1494356">Kirsten Staff</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p>Hair loss (also known as alopecia) often affects the scalp but can occur anywhere on the body. It’s very common and usually nothing to worry about; about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15525840">half of Australian men</a> show signs of visible baldness at age 50 and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15525840">over a quarter of Australian women</a> report hair thinning by the same age. It’s often genetic.</p> <p>But if you’ve noticed hair loss and are worried by it, see a GP or dermatologist for a diagnosis before trying any treatments. Products claiming to reverse hair loss are everywhere, but few have been scientifically tested for how well they work.</p> <p>One group of products that have actually been scientifically tested, however, are known as topical minoxidil products. These include products such as Regaine®.</p> <p>So, do they work? Here’s what the research evidence says, what you can realistically expect and what you need to know if you’re considering this treatment.</p> <h2>What is minoxidil – and does it work?</h2> <p>Topical minoxidil usually comes as a kind of foam or serum you apply to your scalp.</p> <p>It’s been approved by the <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a>, Australia’s regulatory authority for therapeutic goods, for the treatment of hereditary hair loss in males and females. Minoxidil is also available in tablet form, but this isn’t currently approved for hair loss (more on that later).</p> <p>So, is topical minoxidil effective? In short – yes, but the results vary widely from person to person, and it needs to be used consistently over several months to see results.</p> <p>Scientists don’t know exactly how minoxidil works. It may affect the different phases of the hair life cycle, thereby encouraging growth. It also <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09546634.2021.1945527?casa_token=KhIM_u0u8nwAAAAA:5njp_XE5cHhip454ycvU1p9p_t0VVzpjRu0ozDZ9YqNb04fmhmngWzYeiowZcG5UugLQkTVIzCcj7A">opens up blood vessels</a> near hair follicles.</p> <p>This increases blood flow, which in turn delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the hair.</p> <p>While minoxidil is unlikely to restore a full head of thick, lush, hair, it can slow down hair loss and can <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007628.pub4/full?highlightAbstract=minoxidil">stimulate regrowth</a>.</p> <p>It is the over-the-counter option with the most evidence. Two strengths are available: 5% and 2%.</p> <p>An analysis of randomised controlled trials found minoxidil applied to the scalp twice a day increased the number of hairs per square centimetre by <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28396101/">eight to 15 hairs</a>, with the higher strength treatment having a slightly greater effect.</p> <h2>Can I use it for non-genetic balding?</h2> <p>There are many causes of hair loss. The main cause in both males and females is a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia.</p> <p>Although topical minoxidil is only approved for use in Australia for androgenic alopecia, there is some evidence it can also help in other conditions that cause hair loss.</p> <p>For example, it may hasten hair regrowth in patients who have lost hair due to <a href="https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(96)90500-9/abstract">chemotherapy</a>.</p> <p>Unfortunately, minoxidil is not effective when the hair follicle is gone, like after a burn injury.</p> <p>Although small studies have found promising results using minoxidil to promote hair growth on the face (for <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1346-8138.13312">beard</a> or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24471459/">eyebrow</a> enhancement), topical minoxidil products are not currently approved for this use. More research is required.</p> <h2>What else do I need to know?</h2> <p>Minoxidil won’t work well for everyone. Early in treatment you might notice a temporary increase in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22409453/">hair shedding</a>, as it alters the hair cycle to make way for new growth. Minoxidil needs to be trialled for three to six months to determine if it’s effective.</p> <p>And as it doesn’t cure hair loss, you must <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jdv.14624?casa_token=P-zW7kDNRs8AAAAA%3AaUgUzxU7lbwBpg1BYPajOfXFhpb_mU5g_ounZ6GtjsLLkHO_AdVQ2Kf-8zZkW80ykBj3N_sOsyn392uc">continue</a> to use it each day to maintain the effect. If you stop, you will start losing the new hair growth <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/assets/medicines/1f8127a5-2a98-4013-a7c3-a53300feb0e5-reduced.pdf">within three to four months</a>.</p> <p>Minoxidil products may not be suitable for everyone. If you have any medical conditions or take any medications, you should speak with your doctor or pharmacist before using minoxidil products.</p> <p>It has not been tested for safety in <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/assets/medicines/1f8127a5-2a98-4013-a7c3-a53300feb0e5-reduced.pdf">people under 18, over 65, or those who are pregnant</a>.</p> <p>You can read the <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/regaine-for-men-regular-strength-application">consumer medicines information sheet</a> for more information about using over-the-counter minoxidil products.</p> <p>Many people do not like to use minoxidil solution or foams long-term because they need to be applied everyday day, which can be inconvenient. Or they may notice side effects, such as scalp irritation and changes to hair texture.</p> <p>Some people <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jdv.14624?casa_token=P-zW7kDNRs8AAAAA%3AaUgUzxU7lbwBpg1BYPajOfXFhpb_mU5g_ounZ6GtjsLLkHO_AdVQ2Kf-8zZkW80ykBj3N_sOsyn392uc">tolerate the foam products better</a> than the solution, as the solution contains more of a compound called propylene glycol (which can irritate the skin).</p> <h2>What about the oral tablet form of minoxidil?</h2> <p>Minoxidil is also available on prescription as an oral tablet. While traditionally used for high blood pressure, it has also been used as a treatment for hair loss.</p> <p>In 2020, a <a href="https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(20)32109-5/abstract">systematic review</a> identified 17 studies involving 634 patients using oral minoxidil for various hair loss conditions.</p> <p>The authors found oral minoxidil was effective and generally well tolerated in healthy people who were having trouble using the topical products.</p> <p>The review noted oral minoxidil may increase hair growth over the whole body and may cause heart-related side effects in some patients. More research is required.</p> <p>In Australia, oral minoxidil is available under the trade name <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/assets/medicines/df29e16f-6464-4652-ba1f-a53300fed275.pdf">Loniten</a>®. However, it is currently only approved for use in high blood pressure.</p> <p>When people seek a prescription treatment for a non-approved purpose, this is called “off-label” prescribing. Off-label prescribing of oral minoxidil, potentially for use in alopecia, may have contributed to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10170338/">shortages</a> of Loniten® tablets in recent years. This can reduce availability of this medicine for people who need it for high blood pressure.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223736/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacinta-l-johnson-1441348">Jacinta L. Johnson</a>, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kirsten-staff-1494356">Kirsten Staff</a>, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-minoxidil-the-anti-balding-hair-growth-treatment-heres-what-the-science-says-223736">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Big hair? Bald? How much difference your hair really makes to keep you cool or warm

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Th<em>eresa Larkin</em></a><em>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p>We have <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-why-does-womens-hair-thin-out-39126">millions</a> of hair follicles on our body, including around 100,000 on our scalp.</p> <p>This might sound like a lot of hair, yet humans are described as “hairless”. We have evolved to be the only mammals with a relatively hairless body, but still with scalp hair.</p> <p>So how does your hair affect your body temperature when it’s hot or cold?</p> <p>Compared with other animals, our hair does not have as much influence on keeping us warm or cool as you might think.</p> <h2>Essential to our survival</h2> <p>Our brain function and body’s metabolism depend on an optimal temperature of around 37℃. Thermoregulation maintains this body temperature, even when we are exposed to a hotter or colder external temperature.</p> <p>For non-human mammals, body hair or fur plays a role in protecting against environmental cold or heat.</p> <p>For instance, a heavy fur coat helps keep a polar bear <a href="https://polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bears-changing-arctic/polar-bear-facts/adaptions-characteristics/">warm</a> in the cold. But fur also keeps an animal cool in the heat because it can <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25064866">absorb or reflect</a> radiant heat.</p> <p>Scientists think this is why humans have kept hair on our heads. Our heads are exposed to the most heat from the sun, and scalp hair keeps our heads cool.</p> <p>Research published just last week <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301760120">suggests</a> curly hair provides the best heat protection. That’s because curly hair’s thicker layer of insulation reduces the amount of sun that reaches the scalp.</p> <h2>But hair is not the only factor</h2> <p>When humans moved from living in the jungle to the savannah, they needed to walk and run long distances in the sun. This meant they needed a way to handle the increased body temperature that comes with physical activity in the heat.</p> <p>Sweating is the best way to lose heat and cool down, but the presence of hair reduces sweating and heat loss from the skin.</p> <p>So humans evolved to <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1113915108">lose body hair</a> to be better adapted to exercising in the heat. Fewer hair follicles in our skin made room for more sweat glands. This made our skin optimal for sweat evaporation – and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-keep-cool-on-hot-summer-days-heres-how-34489">heat loss</a> that goes with it – to keep us cool.</p> <h2>So what’s best in the heat?</h2> <p>You might think removing body hair or having a bald head is best for sweating and keeping cool when exercising in the heat. However, it’s not that simple.</p> <p>Removing head hair would increase the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301760120">amount of sun</a> that reaches your scalp. This means you would need to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20683812/">sweat more</a> during exercise in the sun to reduce an increase in body temperature, but not by much.</p> <p>In fact, it’s the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4667044/#:%7E:text=The%20body%20hair%20is%20advantageous,heat%20removal%20during%20heat%20stress.">least hairy</a> areas of our body that have the highest sweat rates during exercise. These are our forehead, neck, feet and hands.</p> <p>So the best way to keep cool in the heat is to keep these areas uncovered (but still use sunscreen). Removing body hair will not have a large impact on your overall sweat rate.</p> <h2>How about when it’s cold?</h2> <p>Our body hair and head hair theoretically have a role in keeping us warm, but the effects are minimal.</p> <p>When we are cold, the muscles of the hair follicles on the body contract to cause the hairs to stand straight. This is an attempt to trap heat close to the body and we see this as goosebumps. However, because our body hair is so thin, this does not have a big effect in keeping us warm.</p> <p>Our head hair can prevent some heat loss from the head, but again this is limited.</p> <p>When it’s cold, heat can still be lost through the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4667044/#:%7E:text=The%20body%20hair%20is%20advantageous,heat%20removal%20during%20heat%20stress.">skin of the head</a> regardless of your hairstyle.</p> <p>The scalp also has only a very thin layer of fat compared to the rest of our skin, so our head has less insulation to protect against the cold.</p> <p>A warm hat or beanie is the only way to prevent too much heat lost from the head.</p> <h2>In a nutshell</h2> <p>Our head and body hair, or lack of it, does have a small role in how you maintain your body temperature.</p> <p>But overall, your hairstyle does not influence whether you feel warm or cool.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/201380/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, Associate professor of Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/big-hair-bald-how-much-difference-your-hair-really-makes-to-keep-you-cool-or-warm-201380">original article</a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Peter Dutton reveals rare skin condition after "appearance shaming"

<p>Liberal MP Peter Dutton has revealed he suffers from a rare skin condition, following a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/tanya-plibersek-apologises-for-likening-peter-dutton-to-voldemort" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slating</a> from Labor MP Tanya Plibersek, who likened him to Voldemort. </p> <p>Dutton said he is not "bald by choice" and blames his hair loss on an unnamed condition. </p> <p>Responding on Thursday to Plibersek’s comments, Dutton said while he’s “not pretty” he will be an effective Liberal leader.</p> <p>“Look, it’s water off a duck’s back,’’ he told <a href="https://www.2gb.com/peter-dutton-breaks-silence-on-voldemort-jab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Ray Hadley on 2GB.</a></p> <p>“You read all that sort of stuff online ... in the sewer of Twitter all the time, and I think it’s unfortunate."</p> <p>“But, you know, she’s apologised for that. I just don’t think you need to be nasty and mean.”</p> <p>He went on to tell Hadley that he was diagnosed with a mystery condition that caused his hair to fall out. </p> <p>“I’m not bald by choice. OK. And, you know, I was diagnosed with a skin condition a couple of years ago, which is just a reality of getting older as well,” he said.</p> <p>“So, you know, I’m not the prettiest bloke on the block, but I’m going to be pretty effective. And I love this country. We live in the best country in the world.”</p> <p>Tanya Plibersek apologised to Peter Dutton for likening him to the Harry Potter villain in a recent radio interview when asked of her opinion of the Liberal MP. </p> <p>Speaking to Scott Emerson on the 4BC radio station, Ms Plibersek said, "Well I think there will be a lot of children who have watched a lot of Harry Potter films who will be very frightened of what they will see at night, that's for sure." </p> <p> </p> <p>"What, are you saying he looks strange, he looks odd?" Emerson asked.</p> <p>"I am saying he looks a bit like Voldemort and we will see whether he can do what he promised he would do when he was last running for leader, which is smile more," she said. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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John Travolta has shaved his head – bald new look!

<p>In a move that has surprised fans, John Travolta, 64, has debuted a new hairstyle in an Instagram shot.</p> <p>The snap featured him and his daughter, 18-year-old Ella Bleu.</p> <p>The caption reads, “I hope everyone had a great New Year!” whilst showing off his new hair (or lack thereof!)</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsT51kOAp7o/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsT51kOAp7o/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">I hope everyone had a great New Year!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/johntravolta/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> John Travolta</a> (@johntravolta) on Jan 6, 2019 at 3:08pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Many fans are excited about the star's new look, with one fan commenting, “Looking good!” and another suggesting that he keeps the new style.</p> <p>“So so handsome! Keep the look!” one fan pleaded.</p> <p>His daughter Ella Bleu is the only daughter that Travolta shares with his wife, actress and former model Kelly Preston.</p> <p>The couple are also parents to Benjamin, aged 8.</p> <p>What do you think about his new hair? Love it or hate it? Let us know in the comments. </p>

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Men, here’s how to go bald gracefully and care for your new dome

<p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2018/01/prince-william-debuts-surprising-new-look/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Prince William's short-crop</span></strong></a> is a cop-out that only extends his hair loss odyssey, and that's from a bald man's perspective. </p> <p>Like many men, I faced this prince's whispy-haired fate and only came to terms with it late last year. I wish, in retrospect, I had done it far earlier and would encourage men to do the same. </p> <p>The 35-year-old royal's hair patterns have been closely followed for a long time, but he has fallen short of the mark with his recently-revealed new do. He's old enough to be able to embrace his inevitably bald future fully, rather than sheepishly trimming it millimetre at a time. </p> <p>Not many have the audacity to face balding with confidence or know how to do it gracefully. The most graceful way, I contend, is just cutting it all off. </p> <p><strong>The big shave</strong></p> <p>Following three months of pondering, one friend got sick of me talking about it and told me he'd do it. He sat me down and shaved my head into a chess board, so I finished the job. </p> <p>It's not trivial though, it was a matter of going through the five stages of grieving for me. I'm sure it's like that for many men. </p> <p>It began with denial, ignoring the increasing amount of hair on the pillow each morning, which was followed by anger: cursing my double helix for lacking luscious hair follicles, and then the purgatory of bargaining. </p> <p>Prince William is still bargaining, and it's a spot too many men have lingered in. Back in the day people had toupees, then came plugs, weaves, tinctures and elixirs, Chevy Chase comb-overs, and more recently, awful tattoos.</p> <p>I used hair regrowth treatment and, spoiler alert, it did not work. I went short on the sides, long on the top, and that didn't work. I went short, like William, and that lasted a little too long. Questions over the shape of my head, like if it was an alien-like dome or ridged like the Grand Canyon, swam through my head.</p> <p>It's how one accepts, the final stage, their bald head that separates the likes of Jason Statham and Bruce Willis from Homer Simpson and Donald Trump.</p> <p>My barber, Sherman York, from The Stylish Man in Auckland, says there's only one way to find out what your head's going to look like. Shave it off, or go to your local and ask the barber what he thinks. </p> <p>York says lads do lose confidence as they lose their hair, despite the fact they would find themselves in the company of The Rock, Sir Ben Kingsley and Patrick Stewart.</p> <p>He tells me his firm belief is men shouldn't worry about going bald, they should shave it short and not try to make their hair into something it's not: long.</p> <p>When it comes to seeing how it looks underneath, there's nothing to worry about. "The thing about hair is that it grows back," he says.</p> <p><strong>Lids and accessories</strong></p> <p>Off with my hair, I donned a lid as I sheepishly returned to work, hoping people don't notice. </p> <p>Thanks to all the money saved on expensive haircuts, you can invest in a proper classy hat. Beards are a great accessory too. </p> <p>Like shoes, or clothing, if you invest in good hats they should last a lifetime. Trilby, newsboy, cheese cutter, pork pie, 10-gallon, Panama or bowler, the list is long.  </p> <p>Truckers and flat-peak caps are good too, be prepared for serious irritation on the back of your head if you get a cheapie.</p> <p>Glasses are great, they'll accentuate your facial features and distract, slightly, from your shiny new head. </p> <p>Many of the aforementioned hunks and celebrities have adopted the upside-down face too, so don't be afraid to get hairy. </p> <p>I have a neat beard that covers a couple of weak chins and makes my face look a little slimmer, thanks to York's handy work every couple of months. </p> <p>A wee bit of facial fuzz can complement a shaved head, so grow at your own discretion, but make sure it doesn't look out of place and you treat it with the care you'd treat your non-existant hair with. </p> <p>Maybe, just maybe, if Prince Will were to grow some facial hair, he might look a little less like the love child of Voldemort and Squidward, from SpongeBob SquarePants and more like a princely DJ Forbes. </p> <p><strong>Caring for the new dome</strong></p> <p>Following my initial shave, the leathery skin on my head was uncharted and felt foreign. It had never seen the light of day.</p> <p>Exposed to the weather and sun, moisturiser and sunblock are a bald man's best mate. Applying everyday helps avoid dandruff and more complicated, and scary issues, later in life. </p> <p>On a recent visit to the doctor I was urged to use a sunblock with the highest SPF possible everyday. We live in New Zealand, so it's easy to understand why.</p> <p>If you're not a fan of your shiny head and want to dull it down a little, ask to borrow a powder compact from a make-up wearing friend. Try it, you just might like it. </p> <p><strong>Regrowth and upkeep</strong></p> <p>Despite the fact you can throw your comb out with your Dax Wax, you still need to look after your head and the few hairs that will continue to sprout. </p> <p>Some shave everyday, others every couple of days or once a week, and this does affect your head like your face. It comes down to how your hair grows. </p> <p>Being bald means you can give yourself haircuts on the regular and, for free. I purchased some clippers that have paid for themselves. I have a Mach 3 for the short shave. </p> <p>Some people use oils and soothing gels after shaving, which helps with ingrown hairs and the burn of a bad razor.</p> <p>For me, the legendary bald men mentioned all have one thing in common: confidence. So, whatever you do, embrace your lack of hair and rock it.</p> <p><em>Written by Thomas Heaton. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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What it is like to date as a bald woman

<p>A 42-year-old woman with alopecia has revealed the harsh reality of dating when bald.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/author/bianca-young/">Bianca Young</a></span></strong>, a fashion designer, ambassador for Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation and mentor for Urban Heart, wrote a heartfelt piece for <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/bianca-young/what-its-like-to-be-a-bald-woman-in-the-dating-world_a_23260066/">Huffington Post</a></span></strong> to raise awareness about what life is like for people with alopecia – especially the difficulties in finding love in a sometimes shallow dating world.</p> <p>The piece starts: “I first got Alopecia Areata 10 years ago after having viral meningitis. It was a huge shock.</p> <p>My hair grew back but, unfortunately, Alopecia made a return a year later and left me with a patchy bald head. Soon after, I shaved my head and started living my life as a bald woman with Alopecia Areata.</p> <p>The grieving that followed was indescribable.</p> <p>I looked in the mirror and was mortified at what I saw looking back at me. I no longer knew who I was. The image I had known as 'me' for as long as I remember was gone. Something very different, something very confronting was staring back at me.</p> <p>Every time I left the house, people stared at me. It crushed my soul.”</p> <p>Bianca then speaks about how incredibly difficult it is to be a bald woman dating.</p> <p>“As a single woman, I started to tell myself that I was doomed to be alone forever. Who could wake up beside a bald woman and think she was a catch? I didn't have any hair. My femininity had left the building. And just like that I was no longer soft. I felt flawed and undesirable.</p> <p>After much misery, I realised I had two choices. I could crumble and never leave the house, become a mere shadow of who I once was. My other choice was to saddle up, after all this was who I was now and not a lot was going to change.</p> <p>So, I decided to throw myself out into the online dating world and begin my journey as a woman with Alopecia Areata. It was uncomfortable and I risked a lot of painful rejection and judgment. I felt the fear but did it regardless.</p> <p>I was honest and positive, and as I said the words over and over again, "I have Alopecia Areata", it started feeling like it was a part of me -- no longer foreign and surreal. In fact, my Tinder profile reads: "All photos are recent. I shave my head, I don't have cancer, I have Alopecia. I am at peace with who I am if you aren't that's ok, keep swiping, thanks for stopping by."</p> <p>It sparked lots of questions, but also took an interesting turn and taught me a lesson or two in self-love and expression.</p> <p>Some men were completely turned off by me not having hair. Some were shallow, even rude and hurtful. But I was also complimented for my courage and bravery. Many people were empowered and inspired to talk to me, just to say hello. I ended up with friends and kind people to chat to and people who were genuinely interested in me in as a person. The rest just kept swiping by.</p> <p>I am still single, so although my 'dating experiment' did not result in finding 'the one', I learnt to love myself again. It gave me the space to experiment being the new me and helped me come to peace with my Alopecia.</p> <p>I hope that by sharing my story I can get people to appreciate what it is like living with Alopecia Areata. I don't think there is a woman alive who doesn't like to feel feminine and beautiful. When you take away a part of your gender make up that plays a huge part of who you are as a woman, it's heartbreaking.</p> <p>I want people living with Alopecia to be classed as normal and to be accepted. People's reactions, comments and stares were one of the hardest things to deal with during the early part of my Alopecia journey. It was hard enough leaving the house each day without being the target for stares and disgust.</p> <p>But most of all, I hope that my story will empower people in situations similar to me.</p> <p>Today, I am proud to say that on pretty much a daily basis, I can wake up and look in the mirror and feel happy to be me. It is crazy to think I am at this stage, after all that I have been through. It has taken lots of mental strength and resilience but I couldn't be happier.</p> <p>When life throws you lemons, you make lemonade, right?”</p>

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Can hair loss products stop you from going bald?

<p>Scientific studies claiming "a cure to baldness is close to reality" frequently make the news.</p> <p>Many people who have used Rogaine, Propecia, and similar hair loss treatments report success, but how effective are currently-available products and prevention methods, really?</p> <p>It's estimated that some 70 per cent of men (and surprisingly, 40 per cent of women), experience some form of hair thinning on the scalp in their lives.</p> <p>Balding usually is the result of male or female pattern baldness, known scientifically as androgenic alopecia. This type of balding results from the testosterone derivative Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which shrinks hair follicles making it difficult for them to survive. This can happen to both men and, though to a much lesser extent, women too.</p> <p>Like so many things, androgenic alopecia is genetic. There is limited evidence to suggest that some foods can increase or speed up hair loss, however. Research from India has shown that fried foods can increase oil and gland activity, which speeds up the development of testosterone to DHT. The insulin spike experienced from sugar consumption may also have the same effect.</p> <p>University of British Columbia research has shown that changing your shampoo can be beneficial in slowing hair-loss. Anti-dandruff shampoos containing the antifungal ingredient Ketoconazole which can reduce conversion from testosterone to DHT. A separate study from Belgium confirmed this DHT reduction resulted in 17 per cent less hair loss over six months with a Ketoconazole-containing shampoo.</p> <p>In Eastern medicine, head massage (either administered professionally or by yourself whilst applying shampoo in the shower) is a popular technique to stimulate blood flow to the scalp's surface, but no Western studies have looked at its effectiveness.</p> <p><strong>Hair loss drugs</strong></p> <p>Now let's look at the two most popular drugs for hair loss treatment and prevention: Rogaine and Propecia.</p> <p>Rogaine, which is a branded product containing the active ingredient Minoxidil, started out as a drug for high blood pressure. Loniten, as it was then called, had an unexpected side effect: The thickening of hairs (and the increase of hair growth) after several months of use, owing to increased blood flow and nutrition to follicles.</p> <p>Many clinical trials later, Rogaine was launched as numerous studies have proven its effectiveness – in some studies around 50 per cent of men have seen positive results, in others up to 85 per cent have.</p> <p>However, there's a big caveat in the majority of Minoxidil studies. Most are done on younger men who have only been experiencing hair loss for up to five years. It appears not to be very effective for older men who have been losing their hair for decades, as it does not work on permanently damaged follicles or large areas of lost hair.</p> <p>Rogaine, or the similar brand Regaine, must be applied topically every day, and anecdotally the active ingredient seems to stop working eventually for some people. Users must also budget $50-60 per month for the drug; a fee that is indefinite as hair loss will continue if treatment stops.</p> <p><strong>First treatment on market</strong></p> <p>Propecia, the branded product containing Finasteride, was the first hair loss treatment product on the market and is still recommended as a first-line treatment (that is, you should try it before a Minoxidil product).</p> <p>Rather than stimulating blood flow, it inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Finasteride decreases DHT concentrations by up to 60 per cent, and is proven useful at actually stopping hair loss, giving hair a better chance to grow in its place.</p> <p>Taken orally, Finasteride products have produced similarly positive results as Minoxidil (around 50-80 per cent success rate), though no long-term studies have been done on men over 41.</p> <p>While Minoxidil products are available without a prescription at pharmacies, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/80110426/Can-hair-loss-products-stop-you-from-going-bald">Finasteride</a></strong></span> products are prescription-only. The former is scientifically proven to regrow hair, the latter is best used to prevent hair loss in the first place. Though the expense can be prohibitive, both drugs can be taken together if your doctor believes that is your best course of action.</p> <p>Also, both men and women can use Minoxidil products, but only men can be prescribed Finasteride drugs. It will take four to six months to see results, and if no change is seen by then, other courses of action – such as "hair transplants", i.e. follicular unit transplantation or follicular unit extraction – can be considered.</p> <p><em>Written by Lee Suckling. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Little girl’s plea to Mattel to bring "bald Barbie" to Australia

<p>Jordyn Miller was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five and had to go through chemotherapy. When she lost her hair, Jordyn was sadly bullied at school because she looked “different”.</p> <p>Now the brave, strong eight-year-old is petitioning Mattel to bring “bald Barbie” down under.</p> <p>Last week the world saw the introduction of a new collection of dolls set to include a range of Barbies with different body shapes, heights and skin colours to reflect a more modern society.</p> <p>There was an introduction to an “Ella” doll, this limited-edition bald Barbie was distributed to kids with cancer in the United States last year. But the brave young cancer survivor thinks it shouldn’t just stop there. Jordyn wants the doll to stick around and make her more widely available.</p> <p>Her petition has more than 7,000 signatures and it details Jordyn’s feelings about feeling excluded and how there was no doll she could relate to as they all had long hair.</p> <p>Jordyn has now been cancer-free for three years and strives to make a difference for all sick girls out there, who want to be able to relate to something and not made out to feel “isolated” and “different.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/profound-advice-from-centurions/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/books/2015/12/great-opening-lines-in-literature/">15 great opening lines in literature</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/profound-advice-from-centurions/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/books/2015/12/best-coffee-table-books/">Gift idea: 6 Coffee table books for every personality</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/profound-advice-from-centurions/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/favourite-quotes-from-childrens-book/">20 quotes from children’s books you’ll love</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/caring/2015/12/profound-advice-from-centurions/"> </a></em></strong></span></p>

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