Health Update

If the masculine ideal is proverbially “tall, dark, and handsome,” then one can safely say that the picture paints an image of a towering man with full head of hair. Regardless of how their physique or emotional quotient, however, many men perceive hair loss as a catastrophic blow to their chances at love and success, be it a prominently bald spot or a sparsely stranded temple.

Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL), a medical condition that many men suffer from, is a stark reality for anyone who has it. Unlike women, who are practiced in comfortably seeking professional help, men often find themselves at a loss.

In clinical studies, men with hair loss claimed that they had a less attractive appearance, decreased sexual confidence and decreased self-esteem. The ones most affected by their condition were older males with MPHL and younger men with severe hair loss.

Unfortunately, majority of Filipino men suffering from MPHL (50% of all males by age 40, or 2 out of 3 men in their lifetime) often turn to sources that, while well intentioned, are far from cures.

Dr. Rica Silva Mallari, one of the country’s top trichologists said that studies show that “at the first sign of hair loss, the Filipino male often turns to his mother [followed by their] stylist or barber who is often misinformed about effective treatments.”

Lastly, there are the “solutions” advertised online, on TV and in newspapers. Only after much time and money has been spent do men seek medical attention, if at all.

Web site on MPHL

Fortunately, men with MPHL can now get answers (and doctor referrals) from www.prohair.com.ph, a Web site that provides information and support.

Before the Web site was put up, only 216,000 Filipino men with MPHL out of an estimated 5.4 million sought treatment options, with only 21,000 receiving medical treatment.

This is “an alarming statistic” according to Ms. Mallari considering how MPHL is “a progressive condition with sufferers losing 5% of their hair every year if it is not correctly diagnosed and managed.”

After the reader’s personal questions have been answered, they can turn to the Find a Doctor directory with its list of accredited doctors complete with contact information.

A Members’ Corner provides straightforward information on treatment options and member benefits. There is even a hair forum so that ProHair members can share and learn from each other’s experiences in the privacy of their own homes.

The Doctor’s Station, meanwhile, allows doctors to interact with users for pertinent feedback regarding MPHL, and the best options for each member.

Source: Business World