Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Th... Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

MARKS, MD: So if a man reaches his 40s or 50s and hasn't had a whole lot of hair loss, he's in good shape?

MICHAEL REED, MD: All day long people ask me, "How long have I got, doc?" I tell them as individuals, the date of onset, the rate of progression, the endpoint and when in life that will occur cannot really be predicted in any one individual based on their physical characteristics, or even necessarily their family history. If someone has a family history of everyone cue-balling out at 25, and they're 23 and are mostly cue-balled, you can kind of predict for them, but it's usually hard to say for certain.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Now, there are different patterns of baldness. What are they?

NEIL SADICK, MD: There are different grades of baldness. We really classify men with baldness from class 1 to class 7, where they have some early frontal hair loss or they have diffuse hair loss involving the frontal and posterior parts of their scalp. In women it's much easier. We just classify them as having either mild, moderate or severe hair loss. So we really do have a grading system, and most men lose their hair initially in the frontal part of the scalp, and then progress to involve the occipital or posterior part of the scalp.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Is there a different cause for the frontal hair loss as opposed to the hair loss in the back of the head?

MICHAEL REED, MD: I think it's all the same cause, but it differs in degree.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: What should a patient do if he thinks he's losing his hair?

NEIL SADICK, MD: I think if a patient believes he's beginning to lose his hair, he should consult a physician who's an expert in hair disorders, because it's been shown that the earlier that some of the newer drugs are instituted, the better they have their onset of action in the earlier aspects of hair loss, so beginning at an early time gives you the best chance of saving your hair.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Since we're talking about causes, does the actual cause guide you towards a certain treatment?

MICHAEL REED, MD: Of course, although some treatments that we have are nonspecific hair growth enhancers, like topical minoxidil, that will help hair in a variety of conditions grow better, not just necessarily male pattern hair loss. So there's nonspecific hair growth enhancers, but there are specific drugs that are available for specific conditions that you wouldn't use in another one.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Thank you both for a very enlightening discussion.

Related Videos

The Biology of Hair Loss
Choosing a Hair Loss Expert
Cosmetic Options for Hair Loss
Can Your Diet Help You Keep Your Hair?
Genetics and Hair Loss
Hair Loss: Know the Facts
Herbal Supplements: Can They Fight Hair Loss?
Medical Treatment Options for Male Baldness
Debunking Hair Loss Myths
Treating Hair Loss: Over-the-Counter vs. Prescription
The Psychological Impact of Hair Loss
Beyond Hair Plugs: Modern Surgical Options For Hair Loss in Men
Hair Transplantation for Men: A Visit to the Operating Room
Hair Transplantation for Men: Is it Right For You?