Hair Loss News

An Israeli company, Medidermis Ltd of Netanya Israel, has recently been issued a patent for a new hair loss product based on the ingredients Saw Palmetto and Swertia.

US Patent # 7,166,300 which was granted on January 23, 2007 is entitled: “Agent for inducing hair growth containing extracts of saw palmetto and swertia”.

Both Saw Palmetto and Swertia are plants whose extracts are often used in herbal treatments.  

Saw Palmetto is believed to be beneficial for hair loss because it blocks the androgen receptors where the DHT attaches to the hair cells in the follicle.   Saw Palmetto grows wild in the southern states of the USA like Florida.   Its berries contain the active ingredient that gives it the medicinal properties it has.

Swertia, also known as Chirata, Chirayta, Chiretta, Frasera, Green Gentian, Indian Balmony, Indian Gentian, Kirata-Tikta, Star gentian, Star Green-gentian, Green gentian, Felwort is indigenous to temperate Himalayas at altitudes above 4000 feet and is sometimes found in other parts of India.

Swertia is primarily used medicinally to treat intermittent fevers, skin diseases, intestinal worms, bronchial asthma, burning of the body and regulation of the bowels.

• Read more: Patent issued for Saw Palmetto and Swertia hair loss treatment

The Bald Truth, Consumer Advocate Spencer Kobren’s long running hair loss radio show, has begun airing weekly on XM Satellite radio.

Broadcasts of the show began on Sunday January 7th and can be heard each Sunday evening from 8pm PST (11PM EST).

XM Radio currently broadcasts throughout the Continental United States, Hawaii, Canada and the Bahamas.

For more info visit the Bald Truth website. http://www.thebaldtruth.com/

SAN FRANCISCO — The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has announced that more than 500 cosmetics and body care products companies have promised to eliminate toxic ingredients from their products worldwide.

By signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, companies pledge to replace ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and other negative health effects with safer alternatives within three years.

Major concerns regarding the safety of personal care products led the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2004 to create the Compact, formally known as the “Compact for the Global Production of Safe Health and Beauty Products.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not review or regulate cosmetics products or ingredients for safety before they are sold to the public and has no legal authority to require safety assessments of cosmetics.

• Read more: 500 Cosmetics companies pledge to make safer health and beauty products with fewer chemicals

The additive effects of minoxidil and retinol on human hair growth invitro.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Jan 30
Yoo HG, Chang IY, Pyo HK, Kang YJ, Lee SH, Kwon OS, Cho KH, Eun HC, Kim KH.
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.

Minoxidil enhances hair growth by prolonging the anagen phase and induces new hair growth in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), whereas retinol significantly improves scalp skin condition and promotes hair growth. We investigated the combined effects of minoxidil and retinol on human hair growth in vitro and on cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT). The combination of minoxidil and retinol additively promoted hair growth in hair follicle organ cultures.

In addition, minoxidil plus retinol more effectively elevated phosphorylated Erk, phosphorylated Akt levels, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio than minoxidil alone in DPCs and HaCaT. We found that the significant hair shaft elongation demonstrated after minoxidil plus retinol treatment would depend on the dual kinetics associated with the activations of Erk- and Akt-dependent pathways and the prevention of apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

Source: PMID 17202653

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Academy of Dermatology Association (Academy Association) has urged the New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine to follow the lead of the state’s legislature and sign a bill repealing the unpopular tax on cosmetic medical procedures enacted in June 2004.

The “Cosmetic Medical Procedures Gross Receipts Tax” imposes a 6 percent tax on a range of medical procedures that the state deems cosmetic, including cosmetic and dermatologic surgery, laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, cosmetic soft tissue fillers and injections, hair transplants, and cosmetic dentistry. The New Jersey state legislature unanimously approved a bill to repeal this tax on December 14, 2006.

“While the original intent of this tax was to fund indigent care in the state’s hospital system, our understanding is that the amount of revenue generated by this tax in its first year was only a fraction of the revenue that was expected when this bill was passed,” said dermatologist Stephen P. Stone, MD, FAAD, Academy Association president. “What may be happening is patients considering elective cosmetic surgery are driving to a neighboring state to undergo procedures without being taxed for it, saving hundreds of dollars.”

• Read more: New Jersey mulls repealing the state’s cosmetic medical procedures tax

Jotronic aka Joe Tillman, a hair transplant patient and now consultant with Hasson and Wong, has launched a new website dedicated to advising patients about hair transplant procedures.   The most unique feature of the site is a weekly videocast where Joe discusses various hair transplant related issues.   What we liked about this site is that although it’s run by an employee of Hasson and Wong, a well known hair transplant clinic, it’s not focused on promoting their services.   The topics covered by Joe are relevant to all prospective and current hair transplant patients and we will be featuring his weekly videocasts on this site.

If you want to visit the site the address is http://www.hairtransplanttv.com/ 

A Detroit woman, Susie Lucas, has created a new option for cancer patients who have lost their hair due to their cancer treatments.

As a licensed cosmetologist, Lucas recognized the need for people who are dealing with their temporary hair loss to have other options besides traditional wigs, which can be irritating to the scalp and uncomfortable to wear.

Susie came up with the idea off attaching a partial hairpiece around the rim of a baseball cap which would allow the wearer to have the appearance of hair, while enjoying the comfort of wearing a light, airy and fashionable cap.

This now patented idea, has proven to be particularly appealing to women experiencing hair loss as a result of chemotherapy and other conditions such as Alopecia Areata.   Her product line has since expanded beyond baseball caps and now also includes slouch hats, sweater caps and dressy hats.

Lucas buys the hats and strips of hair separately. She uses fitted caps and custom makes the bands of hair. The finished product she claims looks like real hair and is priced at less than $100.

Susie’s site, Unique Hair Design, has a variety of styles ranging from baseball caps to fashionable hats and has various styles and colors of hair available, including braids.   Hats can also be custom-made on request and her hats use the finest quality 100% human hair.

To get more info visit her website http://www.uniquehairdesign.net/