Health
These 5 balding and hair loss treatments could help ensure a healthy scalp, experts say
Hair loss can be a frustrating byproduct of aging.
About 70% of men will lose hair as they age, while half will experience hair loss by age 50, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Approximately 80% of cases of male pattern baldness are due to genetic factors, studies have shown.
Among women, up to 40% will have noticeable hair loss by age 50, UCLA Health reported.
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Hair loss can be a factor in mental health struggles, research has shown.
A 2022 study found that adults with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss) were up to 38% more likely to experience clinical depression, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
For those looking to minimize and prevent balding, the following five treatments could be helpful, experts say.
1. Minoxidil
Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, recommends starting with the over-the-counter topical minoxidil, which does not require a prescription.
“It is thought to help keep hair in the growing phase, also known as anagen,” he told Fox News Digital.
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It is important to prevent the topical form of minoxidil from dripping onto the face, Camp warned, as it can promote hair growth in unwanted areas.
Oral minoxidil was also recommended as an off-label treatment for hair loss. This version of the medication does require a prescription.
The medicine is normally prescribed to treat high blood pressure, according to Camp, but one of its side effects is hair growth.
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“Minoxidil is prescribed at low doses to treat hair loss to take advantage of this side effect and promote hair growth,” Camp said.
2. Oral finasteride
Oral finasteride is an FDA-approved treatment for male androgenetic alopecia, which is also known as male pattern baldness, Camp said.
Finasteride works by limiting the formation of a hormone called DHT, which is responsible for hair shrinkage and hair loss, the doctor said.
Las Vegas dermatologist Dr. Candace Spann, MD, the creator of ReTress, a hair care formula for women experiencing hair loss, echoed the importance of targeting DHT with a blocker to “improve blood flow to the scalp” and boost hair growth in men.
Jimmy C. Sung, MD, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and medical director of Tribeca Aesthetics in New York City, agreed with Spann and Camp that minoxidil and finasteride are both effective and have an “established track record in treating hair loss.”
3. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment administered in a medical provider’s office, where a patient’s blood is drawn and spun to separate the plasma from the red blood cells, according to Camp.
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The plasma, which is rich in platelets and “growth factors,” is then injected into the scalp to “improve hair density and caliber,” he said.
PRP has also been used for wound healing in trauma and joint injuries, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, but has been gaining popularity in addressing male pattern baldness and stimulating the growth of hair transplants.
Results are most noticeable six months after the scalp injections. The procedure is not permanent, and additional injections may be needed, experts say.
Sung called hair transplants an “excellent solution for hair restoration for patients who are good candidates and looking for long-term solutions.”
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“Platelet-rich plasma injections enhance hair transplant results and benefit some non-transplant patients,” he told Fox News Digital.
4. Saw palmetto
An alternative treatment for hair loss, saw palmetto is a plant-based, over-the-counter supplement.
“Saw palmetto is thought to reduce the amount of DHT hormone that contributes to hair loss,” Camp said.
“The evidence behind the use of saw palmetto as an effective treatment for hair loss is limited, and OTC supplements are not FDA-regulated,” he noted.
A 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health noted a 60% improvement in overall hair quality among patients experiencing hair loss who used various oral and topical saw palmetto products.
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The study also found that 27% of participants saw improved total hair count, 83% reported increased hair density and 52% said the hair loss stopped progressing.
5. Scalp treatments and vitamin therapy
Treating hair loss in both men and women is a “multifaceted approach,” Spann said, involving the treatment of other issues like low vitamin D or scalp inflammation.
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“Treating female pattern hair loss is more complicated, because it requires addressing all underlying causes,” she told Fox News Digital.
“It is crucial to improve blood flow to the scalp, calm scalp inflammation and correct underlying vitamin deficiencies.”
Those experiencing scalp inflammation, or scalp folliculitis, should see a board-certified dermatologist to identify the cause of the condition and determine the proper treatment.
Some cases can be remedied at home with a warm compress, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, or an antifungal or anti-dandruff shampoo, according to the Valley Skin Institute website.
In some cases, however, the condition may require prescription-strength medication.
“It is also important to correct iron deficiencies, low iron stores and low vitamin D levels,” Spann added.
Many vitamins and minerals play a role in healthy hair growth, according to Harvard Health.
Some of these include vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), B12, C, D and E, as well as iron, selenium and zinc.
“Consuming adequate vitamins and minerals is important to preventing and managing hair loss,” states the Harvard Health website. “Most people can cover all their nutritional needs through a healthy, balanced diet.”
Those who have questions about choosing the right hair loss treatment should consult a medical provider, experts recommend.
Health
Lack of sleep poses concerning risk for kids, study finds: 'Crucial role'
A good night’s sleep has many proven benefits — potentially including a healthier future for kids.
New research from Penn State University analyzed how childhood sleep patterns could be linked to future substance use.
Researchers at the university found that adolescents who went to bed later and slept fewer hours during their childhood were more likely to have consumed alcohol or marijuana by the age of 15.
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The study, published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology, looked at data of 1,514 children from 20 cities across the U.S., focusing on sleep duration and bedtime in different developmental stages.
Parents involved in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, from where the data was obtained, recorded their children’s bedtimes at ages 3, 5 and 9, as well as sleep duration at 5 and 9.
The results showed that teens were 45% more likely to try alcohol by age 15 if they had a later bedtime at age 9.
Bedtime at age 5, however, wasn’t associated with future alcohol use, nor was sleep duration at either age.
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Meanwhile, a later bedtime at age 5 was associated with a 26% increased likelihood of marijuana use by age 15.
Sleeping an hour less at age 9 led to a 19% increased chance of trying marijuana during adolescence.
15-year-olds also reported their bedtime, sleep duration and substance use, which revealed that those with a later bedtime had a 39% increased chance of drinking alcohol and a 34% chance of trying marijuana.
“By ensuring that children get adequate and high-quality sleep, we may protect long-term health and encourage positive health behaviors later in life.”
Adolescents who slept one hour less increased their odds of trying alcohol by 28%, but there was no association with marijuana.
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In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, study co-author David A. Reichenberger, PhD — a researcher in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State — noted that the study only included participants who had complete data, “so that we could assess the effects across time within the same set of kids.”
“Overall, the implications of our results suggest that sleep may play a crucial role in whether children engage in substance use as teens,” he said.
“By ensuring that children get adequate and high-quality sleep, we may protect long-term health and encourage positive health behaviors later in life,” the researcher added.
Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral and social scientist at RAND Corporation in Park City, Utah, shared with Fox News Digital how this study adds to growing evidence that sleep problems may lead to “risky health behaviors” later in life.
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“These findings are consistent with my work conducted with my RAND colleagues, showing that poor sleep health in adolescence longitudinally predicts increases in alcohol and marijuana use in early adulthood,” she said.
“Importantly, this new data suggests that sleep problems even earlier in life can predict substance use during adolescence — a critical inflection point for the onset and exacerbation of drug and other alcohol use.”
Sleep problems may increase the likelihood of substance use due to affected decision-making, impulse control and emotion regulation skills, according to Troxel.
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“Collectively, these findings point to the importance of addressing sleep problems using multi-level strategies, including family-based programs and public policies, such as later school start times, to promote sleep health in childhood and adolescence,” she said.
Health
These Dessert Teas Could Help You Drop Up to 9 Pounds in a Week
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Health
‘Dual-action’ weight-loss pill helps people drop 13% of body weight in three months in early trials
An experimental weight-loss pill is showing promising results, helping people drop 13% of their body weight in a three-month period.
The results from early clinical trials were presented by Novo Nordisk — the Danish drugmaker behind Ozempic and Wegovy — at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Madrid this week.
The drug, amycretin, works by replicating two hunger hormones — amylin, which regulates appetite and creates a feeling of fullness, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), the same hormone that is used in Ozempic and Wegovy to suppress appetite and boost insulin secretion.
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“Amycretin is the first treatment to harness the two distinct biological pathways stimulated by amylin and GLP-1 in a single molecule,” Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president and head of development at Novo Nordisk, said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
“We are proud to present the phase 1 study results at EASD, showing that the mean change in percentage body weight was -13.1% with amycretin after 12 weeks of treatment.”
While Ozempic and Wegovy are administered via injection, amycretin is given as a 50-milligram oral pill.
The clinical trial included participants who were obese or overweight but did not have diabetes. Those who took amycretin for 12 weeks lost more weight than those on a placebo — and higher doses led to more weight loss, according to Novo Nordisk.
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Taking the pill once a day led to around 10% weight loss, and those who doubled the dose lost 13%.
Another benefit the researchers highlighted is that people taking amycretin did not appear to hit a “weight loss plateau,” continuing to shed pounds as long as they took it.
“The lack of weight loss plateauing indicates the possibility of achieving further weight reductions with extended treatment,” Agnes Gasoirek, a senior clinical pharmacology specialist at Novo Nordisk, wrote in the study findings.
‘Dual effect’
Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding, director and chief of bariatric surgery at the NYU Langone Weight Management Program, commented on the drug’s effectiveness.
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“GLP-1-based treatments, like Ozempic, have already shown impressive weight loss results by helping patients feel fuller for longer and reducing appetite,” the doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
“Adding amylin, another hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating insulin and hunger signals, amplifies this effect.”
This “dual action” creates a more powerful tool to manage cravings and caloric intake, according to Ren-Fielding.
“It’s particularly interesting because it addresses weight management through multiple physiological pathways, making it more comprehensive and potentially more effective than conventional treatments that typically focus on a single mechanism,” she added.
Potential risks or side effects
The most commonly reported side effects of amycretin include gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, more so with higher doses, according to Novo Nordisk.
“These adverse effects are not unusual with GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are known to affect gastric motility,” Ren-Fielding noted.
“It addresses weight management through multiple physiological pathways.”
It’s important to monitor these side effects closely, she advised, as GI issues are common among patients with obesity.
“While the initial weight loss outcomes are indeed encouraging, further studies are needed to ensure that the therapeutic benefits consistently outweigh the potential risks, especially with long-term administration,” Ren-Fielding added.
‘Not a cure-all’
While GLP-1 based drugs — including this new experimental pill — may show promising results, Ren-Fielding emphasized that they’re “not a cure-all for obesity.”
“Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease that requires a comprehensive, long-term approach,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Pharmacological treatments can play a significant role in managing the condition, but they are often most effective when combined with other interventions.”
Some patients may benefit from surgical interventions, the doctor said, along with lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating and psychological support to address underlying behavioral factors.
“It’s important to recognize that obesity is not just about weight loss — it’s a lifelong condition that requires ongoing management, much like any other chronic disease,” she added.
Next steps
The results of the study are considered preliminary, as they have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
The researchers will continue to conduct research on amycretin in the coming months, according to Novo Nordisk.
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“The safety and tolerability profiles and the magnitude of weight loss support further development of amycretin, and we are awaiting data from the ongoing phase 1 trial with subcutaneous amycretin, with expected read-out in 2025,” Lange said.
“If further research supports these initial findings, I can envision it becoming a viable option for those struggling with obesity.”
Ren-Fielding said there is “certainly potential” for the new drug to get FDA approval, especially considering the effectiveness of GLP-1-based drugs in recent years — but confirmed that much more testing is needed.
“The current clinical trials are promising, but we need larger, long-term studies to really assess the safety and overall benefits of the drug,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“If further research supports these initial findings, I can envision it becoming a viable option for those struggling with obesity,” she went on.
“While I’m cautiously optimistic, there’s still a road ahead before we see widespread availability.”
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