SHAMPOOS TO CURE BALDNESS

Report #6709 1/22/96

Do you believe advertisements claiming that male pattern baldness is caused by blocked pores and that it can be cured by applying a special shampoo that opens the pores so that hair can reach the surface?

Bald men have almost the same number of hairs on their heads as those who have full heads of hair. However, the hair of bald men is so thin, light and short that you can see it only when you look very closely. Therefore, blocked pores do not cause baldness and unblocking pores to grow hair is nonsense.

The male hormone, testosterone, is converted to dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair to grow darker and longer on the bodies, faces and sides of the head of men. Dihydrotestosterone also causes male pattern baldness by making hair on the top of the head thinner, lighter and shorter so you can't see it. Scientists developed a drug called Proscar to shrink enlarged prostates by blocking the formation of dihydrotestosterone. Although preliminary reports several years ago seem to show that when taken with Rogaine, it darkens hair on the top of the head, we have not heard much about using this treatment recently. The only treatment for male-pattern baldness approved by the Food and Drug administration is Rogaine solution and it does not grow hair effectively, although it appears to slow hair loss. Another drug called spironolactone also blocks male hormones, but it can cause impotence when taken by mouth. So, some doctors prescribe 2% Rogaine solution applied mornings and a 2% solution of spironolactone applied nightly. When applied at the same time, it causes an offensive odor.

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News