Press Date: 02/18/2009
Reported by: WBNS-10TV, February 18, 2009
A new treatment for baldness is giving new hope to women who lose their hair.
Through the ages, women have tried to steal hairstyles from the stars in Hollywood.
"I spend about 20 minutes on my hair every day," said Lauren Hamby. "I would be devastated if I lost my hair."
"I would probably feel a little naked," said Ann Matticcy.
Dianne McCune began losing her hair and is undergoing treatment for female hair loss.
"My grandfather was bald. My mother is 90 and she has lost most of her hair," said McCune. "I thought, 'Well, this is probably something that is going to happen with age.'"
More than 30 million women in America are experiencing the same thing.
"Many men expect to lose their hair and become thin and bald as they get older," said plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Smialek. "That's not an acceptable, socially acceptable thing for a woman."
Smialek said there are several reasons why hair loss can occur, including heredity, hormones and other medical problems.
A hair follicle grows a strand of hair over four to six years - about half an inch per month. The follicle then rests before pushing out the old hair and starting anew. Hair loss happens when follicles die or simply stop producing healthy hair.
A new treatment called Revage is waking up dormant follicles and getting them to grow again.
McCune sits under what looks like a hair dryer while 30 cold laser beams slowly circle her head.
The doctor said the lasers stimulate circulation and new hair growth. It is a slow process and can take up to seven months. After only six weeks, McCune said she has already seen a change in the texture of her hair.
"If feels like there's a lot more hair," said McCune. "I don't see the area that's so thin when I pull my hair back. It may be an optical illusion, but I choose to think it's working."
The treatment is available for both men and women. Since it is a cosmetic treatment, it is not covered by insurance.
