HairMax Hair Fibers

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

12-23-09

Dec. 23--New Year's resolutions for many Americans will mean the latest diets and gym memberships.

But losing weight and keeping it off might be as much about the psychological struggles as the physical changes.

"Some people say losing weight is in the mind," said Judith Horvath, director of the psychotherapy training program at Texas Tech's Health Sciences Center.

The HSC psychiatrist said giving yourself a mental workout can complement healthful eating and exercise regimens.

"I think they need to go hand-in-hand," she said.

Psychological feelings make the holiday season one of the worst times of the year to embark on a program, Horvath said.

"Food can be used as emotional nourishment and to calm anxieties," she said. "The holidays stir up unfulfilled longings in people. People are reminded of the things they are missing out on."

But other emotions make losing weight hard year-round, Horvath said. Feelings of depression, a loss of control, rationalizing weight gain and low self-esteem can make losing weight seem like an impossible task, local experts said.

"Some people don't think they can allow themselves to look their best because they feel like they don't deserve to be a more attractive person," Horvath said.

Most of the morbidly obese patients treated at Lubbock's Advanced Bariatric Surgery Center are depressed, said David Syn, a bariatric surgeon who opened the practice in 2002. Many of them give up the antidepressants when they shed their extra pounds, he said.

They might also feel like they're losing a friend, like they must reach their ideal weight to succeed, or like they've already failed.

"If you look at the laundry list of diets they've tried on their own and failed, that can't have a positive impact on someone's psyche," Syn said.

Syn helps his patients overcome their overeating through surgery, counseling and education, he said.

"One of the great misunderstandings about what I do is that it's just surgery," said Syn, who spends hours with his patients before surgery and follows most for many years after.

"We are empowering people to take back their lives," he said.

Horvath said people striving for less dramatic weight loss can benefit from including family and friends in the process or talking to a professional.

The Texas Tech HSC Psychiatry Clinic provides a free counseling program for patients planning to lose weight, she said.

People should try to find distractions that help them stay away from food, Horvath said.

"They have to find out how to deal with the loss of satisfaction eating provides them," she said. "It's about exchanging the reward of food for the reward of achieving their goals."

A campaign in communist North Korea against untidy and foreign hairstyles was launched on the orders of leader Kim Jong-Il, a South Korean welfare group says.

Official media in the isolated state said last month that men should keep their hair short and women should have it tied up.

"To keep your hair tidy and simple... is a very important matter for setting the ethos of a sound lifestyle in the country," ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said at the time.

Seoul-based Good Friends, in its latest newsletter seen Wednesday, said the order came from Kim himself and was being enforced by the Central Youth Union Committee, a state body.

It quoted officials of the body as saying Kim took objection to what he saw as the foreign hairstyle of a female sales clerk.

"Is she really our own Korean woman? Why is she giving up our own traditional beauty and choosing to model bad foreign habits of the capitalist?" they quoted Kim as saying.

The leader also ordered that women should not wear skirts above the knee, tight trousers, flared trousers or any garment that reveals the body's contours, according to the newsletter.

Full Hair Loss Article

Our hair is an extremely valuable asset to our appearance and well being. The loss of hair can be harrowing and quite life changing. The advancement in hair transplantation has reversed all of the strife and anguish for people who find themselves in this unsettling situation. Medical Hair Restoration are specialists in hair transplant surgery and now offer an even more exceptional experience for those suffering with acute hair loss.
You no longer have to shy away from the possibility of surgery. The opportunity to improve your hair's appearance and boost your confidence levels has never been simpler. Men and women all over South Africa can benefit from the medical treatments offered by Medical Hair Restoration.

Medical advancements in hair loss transplants offer patients even better results after surgery has been completed. Medical Hair Restoration offers the Trichophytic procedure which hair surgeons use to seamlessly close the edges of a patient's scar.

Once the surgery has been completed, there may be a series of fine linear scars visible. These scars are usually 1-2mm in width. Sometimes, the scar may be wider for several reasons, this may be because, the patient's connective tissue is weak, the edges of the scar have been closed to untidily, or there is too much tension which means that the scar can become a cosmetic issue.

This is where Trichophytic cessation works magically.

All patients want a scar free surgery, and there is an expectation that a thin scar will or may remain. However, with regard to clients who will wear their hair in a short style, patients will want an almost invisible finish. With this evolutionary closing technique, mini Trichophytic closure, the surgeon can optimise the linear scar completely. This closure procedure is the latest in hair surgery in South Africa.

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Athletes put their skin through more and are exposed to the elements (i.e., sun, wind, rain, chlorine) more than sedentary people. Athletes are consistently sweating, training and showering, which leads to excessive loss of moisture to the skin and hair. Most city water systems contain chlorine; once the pores are opened from a warm shower or bath, the skin absorbs chlorine like a sponge. Chlorinated water can cause or exacerbate dry skin and rashes, and the inhaled steam can aggravate sinuses and lungs.
But chlorine is not the only chemical of concern. Adults put up to 126 unique chemicals on their skin each day, and up to 60 percent of what is put on the skin is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. One of every five adults are potentially exposed every day to all of the top seven carcinogenic impurities common to personal care product ingredients: hydroquinone, ethylene dioxide, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, PAHs, and acrylamide. The top most common impurity ranked by number of people exposed is hydroquinone, which is a potential contaminant in products used daily by 94 percent of all women and 69 percent of all men. Although these exposures may be small, they add up within the body. How do these affect an athlete’s performance in the long run?
With the recent crop of media attention about chemicals in drinking water, lead levels in cosmetics and phthalates showing up everywhere, more athletes (whatever their performance level) are looking for an organic and natural approach to personal care products. This goes hand-in-hand with their already diligent approach to their exercise, food and supplement regimen.
Another good reason why athletes should also be using our Sense Beautiful Science skin care line in addition to other selected USANA nutritional products.

Dr. Larry Shapiro, hair transplant and hair loss physician, is pleased to announce that Florida Whole Foods stores will be carrying the Help Hair Whey Protein Shake. Dr. Shapiro developed the all natural growth-hormone free, hair vitamin, protein shake, suitable as an adjunct for weight loss programs, working out and muscle building.

The Whole Foods grocery chain will be carrying the product in the whey protein section of the supplement section in all of the Florida Stores.

Today's diet lacks nutrients needed for healthy hair. Help Hair Shake provides hair with much needed structural nutrition with essential amino acids, proteins, vitamins and minerals -- offering support for healthier hair and nails.

Dr. Lawrence Shapiro, hair transplant surgeon, developed Help Hair Shake after 20 years of experience working with patients suffering from hair loss and hair thinning due to many reasons including pregnancy, post pregnancy, menopause, thyroid problems, post surgery anesthesia, facelifts, brow lifts, dietary deficiencies, male pattern baldness, use of growth hormone based supplements during weight training, steroids for weight training, and hair loss from weight loss products and fat burners.

As an all natural growth-hormone free product, Help Hair is a great supplement for proper hair nutrition supplying all the essential amino acids, proteins and vitamins for hair. Its is also good for hair loss and thin hair in African Americans who use hair relaxers and Asian woman who have thin hair and weak nails due to low thyroid.

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Results of a 1 year study on over 4,500 consumers provided data on attitudes and action taken by people regarding hair loss and validated the efforts to disseminate vital information for the HairMax LaserComb

Dec 2009

Lexington Intl, manufacturer of the HairMax LaserComb, the only laser phototherapy device cleared for marketing by the FDA, announces the findings of a major 12 month study on hair loss.
Over 4,500 male and female consumers responded to the survey which generated a wealth of data on peoples’ perception of hair loss and the actions they took to treat their condition.

Respondents were asked to complete a 16 question multiple choice survey and were also asked to provide open ended comments at the end. Data generated from the study by age of respondents mirrored the incidence of hair loss found in the general population.

Treatment Patterns

One of the main goals of the survey was to discover which factors influenced their decision to treat their hair loss and what action they took. While the result showed, as expected that over two thirds of respondents were ‘dissatisfied with their appearance’, almost 40% of respondents indicated that lack of confidence or a ‘negative impact on social or job situations’ was a key factor in seeking treatment.

The findings also highlighted how important it is for physicians to become fully knowledgeable about the device as over 45% of respondents visited a doctor and of these 41% sought advice from a dermatologist.

Finally, the study confirmed the cost involved in treating hair loss in that while almost two third of respondents indicated that they spend up to $25 a month in treatment for their hair, almost 20% spend up to $50 per month.

Of those who purchased products to treat their hair loss, almost 50% purchased minoxidil, while almost 40% had purchased vitamins and herbal supplements in an effort to try to ameliorate their condition.

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It was meant to be a night to remember, but Nazia Ahmed (name changed) would like to forget it soon. On the night she got married to Abdul Akhtar Hussain Sayyed, 27, Nazia found out that he was bald, something hidden from her till that point.

Nazia, a 25-year-old arts graduate from Mumbai University, married Abdul on Thursday, December 3, with the consent of elders. Nazia's mother, a widow, is teaching Arabic to locals in Agripada.

After the wedding, the newlyweds went to a south Mumbai hotel. On reaching the hotel, Abdul surprised Nazia by removing his wig and exposing his bald pate. A shocked Nazia stormed out of the hotel and rushed home.

She then narrated the incident to her mother and relatives who decided to lodge a complaint of cheating against Abdul and his father, Akhtar Hussain Abdul Sayyed, 53.

Later, the relatives found out that the gold ornaments given by Akhtar during the wedding, which they thought the value of was Rs5 lakh, were artificial, said Nazia's relative Arif.

"Abdul and his father were booked under sections 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) IPC." said senior police inspector Praveen Gosavi of Agripada police station and added that the duo had been released on bail of Rs5,000 each by the Mazgaon metropolitan magistrate's court on Saturday.

Abdul and his father are residents of Jogeshwari but have been working in Dubai for the past several years, said Gosavi.

Full Hair Loss Article

The next generation in scalp coolers will be showcased by Paxman Coolers next month, providing cancer patients with the best possible chance of retaining their hair whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

The loss of hair during cancer treatments is a traumatic and psychologically devastating side effect and a constant reminder of the disease.

Paxman's cooling caps aim to minimise patient distress with figures showing that on average 70-90% of patients who use the system do not require a wig.

Paxman Coolers will be unveiling their new NPAX1 scalp cooler at Arab Health - attracting potential business partners from across the Middle East.

Made from lightweight, silicone tubing, the Paxman scalp cooling cap is soft and flexible creating a snug yet comfortable cap during treatment.

Moulding to all head shapes and sizes, the specially developed liquid coolant passes through the cap extracting heat from the patient's scalp, ensuring the scalp remains at an even, constant temperature; minimising hair loss.

The caps are worn 30 minutes before the start of chemotherapy, during the treatment itself and for a period of time after infusion of the chemotherapy depending on the toxicity of the drugs.

With straightforward programming and controls, including recommended cooling time guides, the new generation cooling cap system is not only effective, but uncomplicated.

The cap is connected to a cutting edge and easy to use refrigeration system which uses an up-to-the-minute touch screen display, and simple switch operation, making it easy for both the patient and staff to operate.

Managing Director Glenn Paxman is hoping Arab Health will allow the company to expand their links with the Middle East:

"Arab Health will allow us to platform our products on an international stage and establish links with potential business partners from across the UAE; enabling us to expand on our already buoyant overseas market."

Full Hair Loss Article

Increasing numbers of men are turning to hair transplants in a bid to beat baldness with the number of operations carried out increasing almost five-fold in five years
Dec 2009

It is thought the increasing popularity is due to celebrities making it more acceptable to undergo the surgery - which typically costs £3,000 - to beat hair loss.

Actor James Nesbitt and comedian Rob Brydon have both been spotted with thicker thatches this year promping rumours they've undergone treatment.

New figures released by leading hair transplant provider, The Hospital Group, show a 444 per cent growth in treatment between 2004 and 2009.

During the first nine months of this year 1,166 hair restoration procedures were performed.

The cosmetic surgery group, which carries out more hair transplants than any other British clinic, also saw the amount of treatments for women rise by 300 per cent over the five year period.

Dr Peter Williams, of The Hospital Group, said: "There seem to be more younger people losing their hair these days. It has also become more of an issue when men and women suffer from hair loss.

"Both men and women can be left feeling frustrated about losing their hair.For women, it can be very embarrassing, with stress causing patches to fall out.

"For men, it is more likely to be hereditary and something they feel they can't change. The effects of hair loss can cause irritation, anxiety of even suicidal depression.

"Hair transplants have become more acceptable because celebrities have no problem with talking about it. The technology has gradually improved and the results are a lot more natural.

Full Hair Loss Article

A woman whose hair was falling out had her breasts and private parts fondled by an "alternative doctor" who claimed that doing so would make it grow back in, a court heard.

The woman, 28, said pressure of work as an online journalist had made her hair fall out.

The condition prompted her to seek Western, Chinese and even steroid treatment.

Then, through a priest she knew from university, she came to consult the accused, Chan Tung-choi, 68, who claimed he was an alternative medicine therapist.

Chan, who denies four counts of indecent assault, also claimed to have studied Western medicine in the United States.

Eastern Magistrates' Court heard that when the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - met Chan for the first time in his Sheung Wan clinic in September 2005, he persuaded her to buy a package of 10 massage treatments for HK$2,000.

A few months later, she said, during a massage in the middle of winter, Chan told her to strip off.

She said he then touched her private parts and said he was trying to "stimulate her locus." In early 2006 when she went for the next round of treatment, she told the court, he fondled her breasts and said she needed more intensive "sex therapy" to help her hair grow.

When she discussed Chan's therapy with friends, they told her they had never heard of such a method.

The woman told the court Chan became even more aggressive in September and October 2006.

At these visits to his clinic he kissed her breasts, forced her to accept his kisses and hinted at having sex with her, the court was told.

Full Hair Loss Article

Pharmacogenomics research and development innovator PharmaGenoma, Inc. and its subsidiary HairDX, LLC (www.hairdx.com) today announced that it has begun worldwide legal enforcement and protection of its intellectual property.

HairDX today filed a lawsuit against Speedwinds Nutrition, Inc. and CJ Thompson of Vancouver, WA for knowingly and willingly violating HairDX intellectual property. The suit was filed in the United States Federal District Court in Orange County, California.

HairDX is a molecular dermatology company founded in 2007 and pioneer of several genetic tests for male and female baldness, as well as Finasteride response. The tests are offered by leading dermatologists worldwide.

“As an industry leader and innovator, HairDX will vigorously protect its intellectual property,” says HairDX CEO Andy Goren.

Jeffrey G. Jacobs, HairDX’s corporate consul intends “to zealously prosecute HairDX’s intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally.” He further stated that “HairDX is considering filing a secondary claim with the Federal Trade Commission in addition to the lawsuit filed in the United States Federal District Court to proactively protect and enforce its intellectual property ownership rights.”

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Bad hair days may be over, with scientists hoping to develop a pill to make hair straighter or curlier.

Australian researchers have discovered the gene that causes curly hair.

They are developing a treatment that could spell the end of hair straighteners.

Would you take a pill to beat a bad hair day? Have your say below

The discovery will also make it possible to predict if a baby will have straight or curly hair.

And it may even help police, with DNA found at the scene of the crime indicating how wavy a suspect's locks are.

The Queensland Institute of Medical Research team identified the trichohyalin gene as being responsible for creating hair curls.

Although it was known to play a role in the development of the hair follicle, the scientists have discovered its role in hair curliness.

Researcher Professor Nick Martin said a variation in the gene determined the straightness or curliness of hair.

It may be possible to come up with treatments to make hair straighter rather than relying on heated hair straighteners, he said.

"Potentially we can now develop new treatments to make hair curlier or straighter, rather than treating the hair directly," he said.

Full Hair Loss Article

Almost all of the 3000 women aged 25 and over who were polled said they would be ashamed to say they were losing their hair

Dec 2009

The stresses of modern life have left one in three women over the age of 25 suffering from hair loss, research has revealed.

Experts believe a major cause is society's obsession with being thin.

This leads women to eat less as they try to imitate the skinny frames of celebrities, which means they are not getting enough nutrients which, in turn, is causing their hair to thin or even fall out.

A survey found that 37 per cent of women have experienced hair loss to some degree, with serious thinning a problem for 4.8million women in the UK.

Researchers argue that because the phenomenon is regarded as something that happens only to women in old age, the hair loss itself is adding to stress levels, accelerating the process.

Almost all of the 3,000 women aged 25 and over who were polled said they would be ashamed to say they were losing their hair.

A third of the women said hair loss made them depressed, while a quarter said their personal lives had been affected.

Trichologist Sara Allison said: 'We are all leading more emotionally stressful lives and are more nutritionally deficient than previous generations.

'The pressure on women to stay thin often means that they simply don't eat enough to get all the nutrients or they are not eating the right foods.

'Hair is essentially the least important tissue of your body; therefore, your hair only receives nutrients if there are any remaining in the body after your vital organs have taken what they need.'

Dr Linda Papadopoulos, a psychologist, said: 'In Western culture, hair is bound up in notions of femininity, youth and sexual attractiveness.

Full Hair Loss Article

Alopecia Areata

This is normally first noticed as a small bald patch on the scalp. Usually a number of patches in an area of the scalp develop and eventually join up to form larger patches. A patch can sometimes form overnight, so that the hairs that are shed are found on the pillow in the morning.

This can be a very frightening experience for someone when it happens for the first time. The skin in the patch is usually pale and glossy, with no hairs present. The hairs around the patch are usually short and of a frayed appearance that can easily be pulled out, which is the last thing that should be done.

The cause of alopecia areata is not fully understood by doctors. Some people have a family history that could suggest a genetic link. However stress and shock have been blamed as reasons for the problem, while very often there is just no explanation at all.

Often the hair regrows on its own accord after about a month, while at other times the bald patch will clear up completely only to move to another area of the scalp.

Medical advice should be sought as worrying about the condition can actually make it worse. Whilst there is no actual cure for the condition, just being reassured that you are not suffering from some major disease, will help ease the distress this problem can cause.

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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has become the latest follically challenged cricketer to sign up for an advertising campaign with the Advanced Hair Studio.

AHS has a record of treating cricketers and using them in advertising campaigns. Both Australia's Shane Warne and England's Graham Gooch have had their revamped pates featured in the company's ads.

The hair studio said Vaughan had received its Strand-by-Strand procedure, which it describes as a "cosmetic process involving the application of a non-surgical graft of synthesised second skin to the thinning areas to which hair is inserted".

Speaking about the decision to bring in Vaughan, AHS chairman, Carl Howell said: "The main reason we can bring in all these great ambassadors is because our programmes do the job."

However AHS recently found itself under fire from the Advertising Standards Authority over its ads featuring Warne. The ASA branded the campaign, which was also for the Strand-by-Strand procedure, as misleading because it implied it could stop hair loss and cause it to regrow.

Speaking about the upcoming South Africa vs England Test series and his treatment Vaughan said: "There were certainly times captaining England when I was tearing my hair out. The game takes its toll.

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One of their lawyers, contended that Global Vision Products' advertising referred to a clinic that didn't exist

Dec 2009

An Alameda County, Calif., jury late last month returned a $50 million verdict in a class action that sought relief for Californians who'd bought Avacor, a hair-loss remedy that was marketed as an all-natural, clinically tested product.

Attorneys fees have yet to be decided, said L. Timothy Fisher, of Walnut Creek, Calif., firm Bramson, Plutzik, Mahler & Birkhaeuser. New York lawyer Scott Bursor and New York firm Faruqi & Faruqi also represented the plaintiffs.

There were about 150,000 purchases of Avacor in California during the class period, but since some were reorders, the exact size of the class is unclear, Fisher said.

The outcome against two defendants marked the second trial victory in the same class action for the plaintiff lawyers. The earlier trial had ended in a $40 million win against different defendants, but Fisher said the awards from the trials will not be added together, and he expects the court will order that $50 million in all be returned to the class.

Both trials took place before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman.

The defendants in the latest trial were two officers of Global Vision Products Inc., Robert DeBenedictis and Henry Edelson -- a court stay after the company's 2007 bankruptcy filing had kept them out of the earlier one. DeBenedictis was represented by Peter Hart and Michael Collins of LeClairRyan's San Francisco and New York offices, respectively. Edelson was recently representing himself and did not appear at trial.

One of DeBenedictis' lawyers said his client was just an investor and not directly participating in the company in its early years, and that he planned to appeal.

"Once he became involved in 2004, he took every effort he possibly could to get the company back on the straight and narrow and get its advertising in compliance with the Better Business Bureau and the Food and Drug Administration," Hart said. "We think the jury looked at his position and made the leap that just because he was president, he was responsible." To bolster that thought, he noted that the jury had found in DeBenedictis' favor on allegations of conspiracy with defendants from the earlier trial.

Full Hair Loss Article

The study will continue research on linking a defect in lipid processing and peroxisome biogenesis to cicatricial alopecia

Dec 2009

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Pratima Karnik, Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University, a grant of $1.77 million to fund a five-year study titled “PPAR-gamma Signaling in Normal Pilosebaceous Units and in Scarring Alopecia,” reports the Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation (CARF).

The study will continue research on linking a defect in lipid processing and peroxisome biogenesis to cicatricial alopecia.

The CARF statement quotes Dr. Karnik as saying, “In preliminary studies that formed the basis of the NIH award, we provided insight into highly complex interactions between hair follicle cells and environmental factors that may cause cicatricial alopecia.

This funding provides us the support necessary to aggressively test novel ideas aimed at understanding progression of these diseases and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.”

In December 2008, Dr. Karnik and her research team published findings that unprocessed lipids set the stage for developing scarring hair loss. The work suggests that either processed lipids are necessary for hair growth or unprocessed lipids are toxic.

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The research indicates that irrespective of how stressful a woman's life is, there are greater forces at play which are more likely to cause her hair to grey

Dec 2009

A woman's genes are much more likely than lifestyle factors such as stress or diet to cause greying hair, a study suggests.

Unilever scientists studied more than 200 identical and non-identical Danish twin sisters aged between 59 and 81.

The scientists found little difference between the greyness of the identical twins - who share the same genes.

But there was more difference between non-identical twins, whose genes differ, the study found.

The study, published in the journal PLoS One, also suggests receding hair is linked to mainly genetic factors.

But it indicates hair-thinning on the top of the head is connected to environmental and lifestyle factors.

On the issue of greying hair, lead researcher Dr David Gunn said although many theories had been put forward to explain different rates of greying, there was little hard scientific evidence to back them up.

He said: "This study offers us a fascinating insight into the reason why women go grey and it certainly suggests that environmental factors are not as important as we once thought.

"The research indicates that irrespective of how stressful a woman's life is, there are greater forces at play which are more likely to cause her hair to grey."

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said previous work had also found few identifiable environmental factors among people who went grey much earlier than their relatives.

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