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What treatments are available for women with thinning hair?
FROM ENGLAND Hair loss doesn’t just affect men – 40 per cent of women over 35 are affected by thinning hair. Zoe Strimpel gives the lowdown on what treatments are available and Dr Toby Murcott looks at the scientific evidence behind them
REGAINE SCALP SOLUTION FOR WOMEN
What is it? A spray containing an active ingredient, minoxidil, which the manufacturers claim increases the supply of blood and nutrients to hair follicles, stimulating growth.
What science says There is good evidence that minoxidil reduces male and female-pattern baldness. Treatment needs to be continued, perhaps for life, as new hair is lost within months if it stops.
Cost £24.95; Boots.com
HAIRBEAM LASER COMB
What is it? A comb-like object that uses infrared lasers to penetrate the scalp and stimulate hair follicles.
What science says A different type of medical laser has some success in treating alopecia areata, patchy hair loss, but scientists are unclearhow it works. There is no evidence that Hairbeam is effective for normal-pattern hair loss. A 2007 report found no reliable studies of laser-based devices.
Cost £495; www.versacchi-ireland.com
NOURKRIN
What is it? A range of products – scalp lotion, shampoo, conditioner and supplements – containing a marine protein extract to stimulate hair regrowth. Also claims to stimulate blood flow in the scalp.
What science says A single 2006 trial of 55 people found that Nourkrin supplements did reduce hair loss over a six-month period. While an indication that it might work, this is far from conclusive; more trials would be needed.
Cost £19.95 for lotion, £8.50 each for shampoo and conditioner, £35.99 for 60 tablets; hairthinning.co.uk
PLANTUR 39 SHAMPOO
What is it? A caffeine-based shampoo that claims to counteract the effects of postmenopausal hormone imbalance. It stops dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone largely responsible for hair loss, from attacking the hair follicles.
What science says Test-tube studies suggest that caffeine stimulates the growth of hair follicles. Further data reveals that caffeine can penetrate the scalp and hair follicles when applied as a shampoo. This suggests that caffeine may boost the number of hair follicles in a real-life situation, but there are no clinical trials of this particular shampoo.
Cost From £8.99; pureandgentleskincare.com
REVIVOGEN
What is it? Topical mixture aiming to block the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
What science says This contains many different ingredients intended to reduce DHT. While there is evidence that they do in the lab, there is none that this formulation works in real life.
Cost £65 for three months’ supply; expresschemist.co.uk
TRICOMIN SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER AND FOLLICLE HAIRSPRAY
What is it? A copper-based range of products that claim to inhibit DHT.
What science says There is some evidence that copper does this in the test tube, but there are no independent clinical trials demonstrating this in real people.
Cost £59.99 for spray, shampoo and conditioner; www.tricotec.co.uk
FOLTÈNE HAIR & SCALP TREATMENT
What is it? The active ingredient here is tricosaccaride, a naturally occurring chemical in skin tissue, thought to stimulate hair growth. The treatment claims to extend the hair’s growth phase and reduce the percentage of hair lost in the shedding phase.
What science says One 1987 trial of 30 men with various types of hair loss suggested that this treatment reduces hair loss. This is insufficient evidence to say much more than it has potential and further trials are required.
Cost £23.95; beautystoreonline.co.uk
BOOTS EXPERT HAIR LOSS TREATMENT SPRAY FOR WOMEN
What is it? Much publicised spray based on a complex extracted from Costa Rican coffee beans and Indian pennywort. The claim is that together they work to slow down hair thinning, encourage thicker hair, and boost the overall feel and condition of the hair.
What science says There is evidence that caffeine can reduce the amount of DHT in the test tube, but none from clinical trials. There is no known link between the other ingredients and hair loss.
Cost £19.99; Boots.com
NANOGEN HAIR THICKENING SPRAY
What is it? A topical range that uses pantothenic acid and water to make the hair swell as the water is forced to the centre of the hair shaft.
What science says There is evidence that some of the ingredients do this, but no research demonstrating that this approach is effective.
Cost £7.62; www.nanogen.co.uk
Bad breath? 10 solutions
FRESH PARSLEY If you chew this herb in small amounts, you can stop people heading for the door when you strike up conversation.
What science says Anecdotally famous for removing garlic breath, there is no research suggesting that it can help with that or halitosis. Like many plants parsley does have some antibacterial properties, a possible but unproven link to curing bad breath.
Cost 69p for 25g, Waitrose
MASTIC GUM A natural resin taken from the Pistacia lentiscus tree on the Greek island of Chios is said to have antiseptic properties and to decrease acidity in the mouth.
What science says Two studies of 75 patients published last year found that chewing mastic gum reduced the amount of mouth bacteria. However, the researchers did not measure bad breath, so it’s impossible to say whether fewer bacteria also meant less halitosis.
Cost £19.95 for 100 capsules, hollandbarrett.com involving 40 patients and recommended scraping for maximum effect. However, a small study last year found that tongue scraping alone is not enough; you have to brush your teeth properly as well.
Cost £2.99, Boots.com
ANTIBACTERIAL MOUTHWASHES These are said to swill away the bacteria that cause bad breath. Many also have antiplaque properties, so are kind to your teeth too.
What science says As bacteria produce most bad breath, an antibacterial mouthwash can reduce the problem, according to a review published last May. Another trial of ten people in the same year found that the most effective was a mixture of chlorhexidine and zinc. However, this has yet to be confirmed by other research, and other formulations are also effective.
Cost Corsodyl mouthwash with chlorhexidine, £3.59 from shops nationwide
“LIVE” YOGHURT Live yoghurt is said to decrease levels of hydrogen sulphide, the smelly gas produced by bacteria in the mouth, through the action of the live bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.
What science says There are no published studies on whether the bacteria in yoghurt can minimise bad breath. It might work, but without research it is impossible to say.
Cost £1.67 for 100g, Tesco
BAKING SODA Brushing with baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, is meant to counteract high levels of acidity in the mouth, a possible cause of bad breath.
What science says Research published between 1996 and 1998 found that brushing with toothpaste containing 20 per cent baking soda reduced bad breath for up to three hours. Interestingly, a paper published in 2001 suggested that baking soda-powered chewing gum might also be effective.
Cost Arm & Hammer, baking soda toothpaste, £1.89 for 100ml, superdrug.com
PEPPERMINT OIL Some natural health practitioners believe that popping capsules of this oil may keep your breath minty fresh.
What science says A study in July last year of 32 intensive care patients showed that an essential oil mouthwash, with peppermint oil in its list of ingredients, reduced bad breath. But the study is too small to draw any conclusions.
Cost £5.49 for 60 capsules, Boots.com. Mint mouthwash, £4.49 for 250ml, greenpeople.co.uk
FENNEL SEEDS Chewing on fennel seeds after a meal was a traditional way of masking mouth odours.
What science says There are no studies of the impact of fennel seeds on bad breath, but extracts of fennel do have some antibacterial properties. As bad breath is caused by some mouth bacteria it may have an effect.
Cost £1.39 fo 30g, Waitrose
HOLLAND AND BARRETT BREATH CHECK CAPSULES These contain parsley seed oil and sunflower seed oil.
What science says I can find no published research to say whether these ingredients have any effect on smelly breath; either for good or bad.
Cost £4.99 for 150 capsules, hollandandbarrett.com
MAGNOLIA CHEWING GUM Preparations containing the bark of this tree are thought to help treat nausea, indigestion and menstrual cramps. Recent studies indicate that it can also work to freshen your breath.
What science says Chewing gum containing magnolia bark extract was shown in a 2007 study to reduce the amount of halitosis-causing bacteria in nine healthy volunteers. The research was done by the Wrigley’s.
Cost Still in development
BOOTS EXPERT TONGUE CLEANER The bacteria that cause bad breath reside on the tongue and don’t like exposure to oxygen. If you scrape your tongue, you not only scoop them up, but also expose them to oxygen, which may help to prevent halitosis.
What science says Cleaning or scraping your tongue can lessen bad breath. What’s more, scrapers appear to be more effective than simply using a toothbrush as a tongue cleaner, at least according to a review published by the respected Cochrane Collaboration. The authors examined two studies
FRESH IDEAS
Mervyn Druian, a dentist and spokesman for the British Dental Association, gives his checklist for keeping dragon breath at bay
- Professional help Gum problems are the main cause of bad breath, so get checked out by your dentist or hygienist
- Drink plenty of water Avoid having a dry mouth, as dead and dying bacteria and cells, which would normally be swept away by saliva, linger, stagnate and release pungent gases. And be aware that the more you chat, the worse you’ll smell. Talking makes yourmouth dry, so drink plenty of water.
- Eat fruit Chewing fruit not only hydrates the mouth, but also efficiently dislodges the dead and dying cells and bacteria in the mouth that lead to bad breath.
- Always eat breakfast “Morning breath” is caused by breathing through your mouth during the night, making it very dry by the time you wake up. The smell will linger if you don’t eat – and coffee and cigarettes make it worse.
- Dental floss Fundamental to maintaining good oral hygiene.
- Medical problems Persistent bad breath may indicate an underlying condition such as diabetes or kidney problems.
For more details Visit the British Dental Association website, www.bda.org
TEEN DIES FROM CUT FINGER! Infection the Cause
A U.K. teen, who unknowingly suffered from a rare condition that affects just one in four million people, died after contracting an infection from a tiny cut on his finger, it is reported by the Daily Mail.
Matthew Corbett, 18, cut his ring finger while vacationing with his family in Spain and contracted a minor infection, according to the report.
At the time Corbett was unaware he suffered from aplastic anemia, a condition in which bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish older blood cells. People with the condition have lower counts of all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
The condition prevented Corbett's body from fighting the infection from the cut and it quickly spread up his arm, according the Daily Mail.
He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset, U.K., on Oct. 14 and specialists diagnosed him with aplastic anemia. Corbett was then moved to the Bristol Royal Infirmary where doctors determined that he needed a bone marrow transplant, according to the report.
After family members were determined to be unsuitable bone marrow donors, one was found in Northern England. He was scheduled to have the tranfusion on Feb. 7, but developed a chest infection beforehand that turned into pneumonia, it is reported. He died Feb. 6.
I Was Right About the Bird Flu Hoax
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Although some “experts” still argue that preparations against bird flu must continue, many are finally beginning to realize what I said all along -- that this overhyped, oversold “pandemic” was never a threat in the first place. According to Dr. Paul A. Offit, a vaccine specialist at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, “H5 viruses have been around for 100 years and never caused a pandemic and probably never will.” Still, according to this New York Times article, scientists and governments are congratulating themselves for averting a threat that never was by stockpiling worthless vaccines, pointlessly culling hundreds of millions of birds, and pouring money into preparation efforts. Sources:
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Last year, the number of human cases of avian flu dropped rather than rose for the first time -- from a paltry 115 in 2006 to an even more insignificant 86 in 2007. Frightening headlines warning of a pandemic that could kill 150 million people have all but vanished.
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