Hair loss therapy enhances men's personal care

Dr. Gio E. Dimayuga, a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological
Society (PDS), discusses how medical advancements have
given men new options in managing and treating hair loss.

Society's obsession with self-improvement as well as advances in science and medicine have made physical imperfections taboo. "Within the last 10 years, it is evident that people are less willing to accept minor blemishes or small impairments in their external appearance because there is a general feeling that we should do something about it," observes Gio E. Dimayuga, M.D., a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS).

"Today, appearance has become much more important for men. In an era when consumerism rules, one's appearance is increasingly more important in social relationships, at work, etc. Men are not only looking for treatments for their hair loss but also for surgeries and other treatments that can change their appearance. One of the reasons for this change is related to men's professional activities. Before, men did more manual labor and paid little attention to appearance. However, with the development of society, men's activities and workplace have given them the opportunity to take better care of themselves. The other reason I think has to do with personal life - an acceptance that women pay attention to a man's personal appearance," Dr. Dimayuga adds.

"Hair loss can interfere with a man's social life, confidence and career. Men's interest in good grooming seems to cut across age, class and income level, and there is an accelerating trend to stay young, healthy and in control of their appearance," says Dr. Dimayuga.

The heightened awareness and concern for male pattern hair loss (MPHL) likewise gave rise to a proliferation of personal care products such as shampoos, creams and herbal treatments that claim can prevent and remedy MPHL. Unfortunately, many of these treatments have serious limitations; they can be inconvenient, and do not yield successful results for all users. There have been hair loss products in the market for a long time but what they have done has made men very skeptical because they are messy and complicated, and worse, they do not always work.

Dr. Dimayuga explains that "one of the major deterrents to the treatment of men's hair loss has been the complex and time-consuming nature of the remedies available, as well as the ineffectiveness of many of the treatments. Some people prefer the systemic route rather than the topical route, because it is a lot easier to take a pill than to put a lotion."

In addition, "The development of a substantially beneficial drug for male pattern hair loss (MPHL) has given men an entirely new option concerning their appearance. It has set a new standard in the fight against a concern men have had for years, but only recently began to express," Dr. Dimayuga discloses. Dr. Dimayuga cites as an example, finasteride, the first oral treatment that successfully addresses a key underlying cause of hair loss. "In worldwide clinical trials, finasteride at the appropriate dose for MPHL, was shown to block a hormone responsible for the expression of the condition among genetically, sensitive men. The medicine is a prime example of a new category of lifestyle drugs that address such conditions as hair loss, wrinkles, acne and erectile dysfunction."

"In the said clinical trials, few drug-related adverse experiences were reported, namely, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorder. Nevertheless, the majority of men that I put on finasteride are very happy with it, both in terms of preventing further hair loss and getting some kind of regrowth. The most important thing that I emphasize to my patients is prevention - that is keeping what you have," adds Dr. Dimayuga.

Now that there are effective alternatives to simply enduring hair loss, men are no longer willing to suffer in silence about a condition they dread. "It is very important to start treating early, because hair loss progresses over time," concludes Dr. Dimayuga.

Men seeking additional information on hair loss and available treatment for MPHL should consult a dermatologist. Only a doctor can recommend the best treatment option and provide individual patients with realistic expectations of treatment results.