News & Info About Hair Restoration

Eleven, Bald, Brave, and Successful!
Olivia Rusk lost all of her hair at age two, just after she had her childhood vaccines. Although her hair grew back by the time Olivia turned four, she recently lost all her hair again and this time it wasn’t just the hair on her head. Her eyebrows and eyelashes fell out too. Olivia suffers from [...]

The Bald Truth’s New Website
Many of you already know that Spencer Kobren, American Hair Loss Association Founder, also runs a weekly radio program called The Bald Truth. Recently, The Bald Truth’s website got a thorough makeover including plenty of fresh features and a slick new interface design. While the images and color scheme largely remain the same, the new site [...]

The History of Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery originated in Japan. In 1939, Dr. Okuda, a Japanese dermatologist developed a breakthrough process to restore hair loss caused by scalp injuries and for burn victims. He used a punch technique, which involved extracting small sections of hair-bearing skin and implanting these into even smaller holes in the areas where skin had [...]

Money for Nothing Hair Loss Treatments
The idea behind hair loss treatments is that you give money to someone, preferably an ethical, qualified professional, and they help you arrest your hair loss. Ideally, they will help you regrow some of your hair. In the real world, this isn’t what usually happens. Frequently, hair loss sufferers are so desperate to stop the balding [...]

Hair Loss in Children (Part Two) – Additional Causes and Treatments
In a previous article, we looked at the two most common causes of hair loss in children, tinea capitis and alopecia areata. Although those are the most likely causes, they are not the only ones. Trauma and a condition called telogen effluvium can also cause hair loss in the young. Trauma Trauma to the hair shaft [...]

Hair Loss in Children – The Most Common Causes
If you think hair loss in children is extremely rare, you’ll be surprised to learn it’s not that uncommon. Approximately three percent of all pediatric visits in the U.S. are related to children’s hair loss. Hair loss is difficult for most adults. When it comes to children, it’s heartbreaking. The good news is that most children [...]

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) has one thing on its mind: hair loss. The NAAF focuses exclusively on one type of hair loss, alopecia areata, and provides various support for both sufferers of alopecia areata and those who are seeking to cure and treat the disease.What is Alopecia Areata? Alopecia Areata is believed to be [...]

How To Help a Loved One Cope with Hair Loss
Many people think hair loss is a laughing matter but most hair loss sufferers do not agree. The experience is different for everyone. For some, it’s a mild annoyance; for others, it’s traumatic. When someone you love is dealing with hair loss, you can step up and become part of their support system. The worst thing [...]

Birth Control and Hair Loss
Women who use oral contraceptives might be surprised to learn that hair loss is a common side effect of the pill. The pill has been available since the 1960s and is one the most popular forms of birth control on the market. It’s also used by many women to keep menstruation cycles regular, to alleviate acne, [...]

Hairless Man Rallies Medicaid Support to Provide Hair Pieces for Hair Loss Sufferers
If you lose a limb, Medicaid will cover the cost for a prosthetic replacement. However, if you lose your hair, you are out of luck – even if you lose all your hair, including the hair all over your face and body. Three years ago, Redwood City resident Matt Kelley lost every hair on his body [...]

CoolPiece Offers Free Wigs for Children Undergoing Chemotherapy
In a recent press release, top online hairpiece retailer CoolPiece.com shared its offer to provide free custom made wigs to children undergoing chemotherapy. CoolPiece has been providing wigs to children for the past couple of years, making free wigs available to all children in the USA and Canada who are experiencing hair loss as a result [...]

Can Hair Loss Treatment Propecia Prevent Prostate Cancer?
Yahoo News reports that the drug finasteride, which is used in hair loss treatment Propecia, may play a role in preventing prostate cancer. Finasteride was originally sold as Proscar by Merck and Co. and was used to treat prostate enlargement. Finasteride, which affects male hormones, was also found to be an effective treatment for hair loss [...]

The Stars are Bald: Hair loss in Hollywood
Some of Hollywood’s finest shining stars have dealt with hair loss by picking up a pair of clippers and shaving their heads down to a smooth, shiny surface. Bruce Willis, Damon Wayons, and Patrick Stewart come to mind. Others have lopped their locks for a movie role, to make a statement, or simply to be [...]

Hair Loss Radio Hits #1 On Air and Online: Spencer Kobren’s The Bald Truth Educates Millions Every Week
It doesn’t seem likely that a radio program about hair loss would rank in the top ten, but that’s exactly what has happened. Stickam.com is a social networking site that ranks video and audio programs on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. On March 20, 2008, Spencer Kobren’s radio show about hair loss, The Bald Truth, [...]

Hair Transplant Q&A
If you have questions about hair transplants, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are some common questions and answers about the hair transplant procedure. Remember that you should discuss all your questions and concerns with a qualified AHLA recommended hair transplant surgeon before you decide to have a hair transplant. Whose hair [...]

Balding Teacher Claims Hair Loss Discrimination
In a recent story, the BBC reported that a teacher in Stirlingshire took his employer to tribunal over claims that he was a victim of disability discrimination due to his hair loss. Sixty-one-year-old James Campbell, who was formerly an art teacher at Denny High School was mocked and teased by the school’s students, who called him [...]

The History of Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery originated in Japan. In 1939, Dr. Okuda, a Japanese dermatologist developed a breakthrough process to restore hair to those who suffered with scalp injuries and for burn victims. He used a punch technique, which involved extracting small sections of hair-bearing skin and implanting these into small holes in the areas where skin [...]

Genetic Test for Women’s Hair Loss
On April 23, 2008, HairDX, LLC issued a press release announcing the launch of commercial testing for female hair loss. Their breakthrough test uses genetic markers associated with Female Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) to determine the chances of whether a woman is likely to suffer with future hair loss. According to HairDX, AGA (female baldness) “has been [...]

Considering a Hair Transplant? Avoid Linear (Line) and Round or Square Grafts
Surgical hair restoration is a serious matter. If you’re considering surgery as an option to treat your hair loss, first get up to speed on the many different types of procedures being promoted as legitimate options. The hair loss industry can be difficult to navigate. Most products are little more than snake oils and many [...]

Women’s Hair Loss: From Stress to Placebo Treatment
In a recent article, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported the story of Sheree Kleinhuizen, who was experiencing significant hair loss and growing concerned over the amount of hair that she was losing on a daily basis. Sheree collected the hair in plastic baggies and brought them to her doctor, but she was told that her hair loss [...]

Three Types of Alopecia: Areata, Totalis, Universalis
What is Alopecia? Alopecia simply means “hair loss.” It is the medical term for hair loss and there are numerous forms of alopecia. Today, we’ll look at three different terms that include the word alopecia: • Alopecia Totalis • Alopecia Universalis • Androgenetic Alopecia Alopecia Totalis Alopecia Totalis is thought to be [...]

The Truth About Non-Surgical Hair Replacement Techniques: Tips and Facts
We’ve all heard horror stories about bad hairpieces and worse toupees. In comedy, these have been the butt of many jokes, but hair loss sufferers are not laughing. Non-surgical hair replacement is a serious matter, especially for people who are considering it. People who are dealing with alopecia must be careful because the hair loss [...]

Heart Disease Tied to Hair Loss?
Is it possible that there is a direct link between hair loss and heart disease? Could one of these diseases be causing the other or is there one source causing both? These and other questions have been brought to light in several recent studies. At the University of Tucson, little difference was found in heart attack risk [...]

Women’s Hair Loss Support Chat Thursday April 10th 6:30 - 7:30pm PST
The Women’s Hair Loss Project, is conducting the first ever live chat for female hair loss sufferers on the worldwide web tonight, Thursday April 10th at 6:30-7:30pm PST. Emerging as the first social networking site specifically for women suffering with hair loss, womenshairlossproject.com set new ground when they launched their site in August 2007. Now with [...]

Nutrition and Hair Loss
It is well known that nutrition has a profound impact on health. What we eat can cause us to gain or lose weight, have allergic reactions, or even experience exhaustion or high levels of energy. It stands to reason that nutrition would also impact hair growth and hair loss. There may not be a magical [...]

Prescription: Hair Loss - Why You Should Always Read the Labels
Did you know that many prescription drugs can contribute to hair loss? Some medications will even trigger early male and female pattern baldness. While this is well-known side effect of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, it’s not commonly understood that there are many other prescription drugs that will induce hair loss. When your doctor [...]

Acceptance and Attitude of the Bald, Bold, and Beautiful - Find Your Inner Glow
You’ve heard the old adage that beauty comes from within. With all the images being thrown at us by the media, and the many products on the market designed to make us look and feel more beautiful than ever, there is a growing and constant pressure to look great all the time. However, it’s almost [...]

Surgical Hair Restoration: What to Look for in Treatment and Hair Transplant Surgeons
If you’re thinking about having surgical hair restoration, you’ll want to get to know your doctor and learn everything you can about the type of treatment you’ve chosen. The procedure is a serious one and if not performed properly it can have damaging effects both physically and psychologically. Consultation with the Hair Transplant Surgeon If the doctor [...]

Women and Hair Loss - Finding Support Online
Hair loss is usually seen as an condition particular to men despite the fact that forty percent of hair loss sufferers in America are women. While men struggle with the effects of hair loss, women find it devastating and experience greater psychological damage due to the pressures on women to maintain their youth and beauty. [...]

Medical Breakthrough: DNA Testing for Hair Loss
A new DNA test can help determine the likelihood for future hair loss. According to a recent article at the Chicago Sun-Times, the test can help hair loss sufferers get a handle on hair loss before it begins: The test, called HairDX, looks for a genetic variant found in most bald men. Men who test positive [...]

Hair Loss Research Raises Hope for New Treatments
A recent article at SFGate.com explores the use of biotechnology in searching for new hair loss treatments. While not a life threatening disease, hair loss certainly has a devastating effect on sufferers. Kaiser Permanente dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani explains, “”I have tearful patients in my office many times a day. When they lose their hair, they [...]

Two Clinically Proven Treatments for Men’s Hair Loss
Hair loss has become an industry packed with snake oil miracle cures that promise to restore hair growth but fail to deliver results. Products that are not FDA approved or recommended by The American Hair Loss Association do not meet quality standards for hair loss treatments. To date, only two treatments are clinically proven: Finasteride [...]

Total Body Formula Dietary Supplement Recall – May Cause Hair Loss
Consumers are being warned that Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula liquid dietary supplements are being voluntarily recalled by the distributors. The supplements caused severe adverse reactions, including significant hair loss, in twenty-three individuals who used it. Reactions occurred seven to ten days after the products were consumed and included muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint [...]

Spencer Kobren Speaks Candidly About Hair Loss And The Hair Loss Industry
The American Hair Loss Association blog was created to help further empower hair loss sufferers with up to the minute hair loss information, commentary, and critique of everything and anything hair loss. As the founder of the AHLA I also think it’s important that I share my personal thoughts with everyone seeking help from [...]

Scientists discover new hair loss gene. Promising new baldness treatments may be on the horizon.
According to researchers in London, the discovery of a gene associated with a rare form of hair loss could lead to the development of new drugs to treat baldness. The identified gene causes a condition know as Hypertricosis simplex. It affects 1 in 200,000 people causing them to begin losing hair in childhood. [...]

Landmark Poll Links The Pill to Women’s Hair Loss
The life altering affects of hair loss is no secret to those it afflicts. While 2/3rds of men suffer with hair loss by or before the age of thirty-five, forty percent of hair loss sufferers are women. That’s right, women. The truth is that hair loss in woman is on the rise, and it’s striking [...]

Researchers Find Direct Link Between Tooth Infections and A Specific Form of Hair Loss
Even though it’s clear that Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disorder, it is still considered somewhat of a mystery as to why it afflicts approximately 2% of the US population. For many men suffering with AA, the disease presents itself in the beard region. Now researchers believe that infections of the teeth may be the culprit [...]

A Hair Transplant for a Woman is Not The Same as A Hair Transplant for a Man.
Since 40% of the worlds hair loss sufferers are women, the hair loss industry sees tremendous potential to increase its market share by targeting this extremely vulnerable demographic. Not only are unscrupulous hair loss treatment marketers taking advantage of these women in an attempt to sell their bogus products, the large chain hair transplant clinics are [...]

HairMax Laser Comb - Does The AHLA Endorse This Product?
I am thinking about getting the HairMax laser comb based on information I read online. Does the AHLA endorse the HairMax laser comb? Thanks Ivan The makers of the HairMax Laser Comb have done a fantastic job of marketing their product. The idea of a hand held devise that emits hair revitalizing laser beams is sexy to both the [...]

How Young is Too Young for A Hair Transplant?
Many young hair loss sufferers are under the false impression that having a hair transplant will put an end to their hair loss misery. This could not be further from the truth, however thousands of young men undergo hair transplant surgery every year in this country without understanding the long term consequences. Recently International Alliance of [...]

The 12 Month Promise of Propecia
Merck and Company Inc., makers of The True “Miracle Breakthrough” Drug For Male Pattern Hair Loss is Now Offering a Money Back Guarantee. The hair loss industry is a treacherous place . The vast majority of products being sold that claim to prevent or treat hair loss do not work. Besides the fact that [...]

My 17 Year Old Daughter Lost Her Hair After A Car Accident. Should She Have A Hair Transplant?
Hair loss caused by physical injury can be as debilitating to some as the initial trauma itself. While uncommon, a severe blow to the head can cause what’s known as “Anagen Effluvium.” The loss of blood supply to the scalp as a direct result of injury can cause a dramatic shedding of hair that in [...]

When a Hair Transplant Goes Wrong
The American Hair Loss Association receives thousands of questions from around the world each and every month. What never fails to amaze us is the complete lack of understanding concerning the scope and potential pitfalls of hair transplant surgery. One of the most outrageous questions that comes to mind was e-mailed by a [...]

Is An Eyebrow Hair Transplant Right For Me?
Question: I’ve been hearing a lot of about eyelash hair transplants in the news but I never hear about people having an eyebrow hair transplant. My eyebrows are very sparse from years of plucking. I am forced to basically draw them on now but would love to have an eyebrow transplant if possible. Do all [...]

Phony Blogs Promote Questionable Hair Loss Products
We all know just how treacherous the internet can be when researching hair loss products and services. Unsuspecting hair loss sufferers have enough trouble trying to navigate through the incredible maze of misinformation presented by hair loss marketers who promote their bogus products and services as “miracle breakthroughs.” Just when you think [...]

Online Support for Women with Hair Loss
As devastating as it is for a man to begin losing his hair, for whatever reason, society accepts male pattern baldness as one of life’s, not so pleasant, bumps in the road. For what it’s worth, men have been granted society’s approval to go bald with dignity. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the [...]

Hair Transplant Shock Loss
You won’t hear about it on the late night hair replacement infomercials or read about it on the websites of the large chain hair transplant clinics. It’s a term that that strikes fear in the hearts of the salesman trying to sell surgery to unsuspecting and vulnerable hair loss sufferers. But [...]

Could You Have a Thyroid Problem?
Depending on who you talk to, anywhere from 22 million to 59 million people have a thyroid condition. I tend to think the truth is that 59 million may even be the conservative number! And whichever number you use, the sad reality is that the majority of people with a thyroid problem don’t even [...]

Understanding Eyelash Hair Transplantation
An eyelash hair transplant procedure can be a wonderful option for patients who have weak, damaged or sparse eyelashes. This delicate procedure should only be performed by a hair transplant surgeon who has extensive experience with this extremely specialized cosmetic technique. Those who have lost lashes to trauma, trichotillomania, overuse of false eyelashes or eyelash [...]

Is Provillus Just Another Hair Loss Scam?
Question: Hi,I am beginning to experience male pattern baldness. I have found on the internet a hair loss product called provillus. Do you know anything about this product as to whether it’s successful/safe, etc. It claims to be FDA approved and has ingredients found in both Rogaine and Propecia as well as [...]