Sponsor   More Stories Search For Cure Continiues For Hair Loss Sufferers

In February, Brad Puffer set out to determine if there are any effective treatments and found out that many products offer promises they can't keep.

Jacksonville Police Officer Jim O'Steen started losing his hair right after high school. "I grew up at the beach, I had long surfer hair down to my shoulder," he said.

Now, approaching age 40, he wears a hair piece (pictured left). He's tried several treatments to stop his hair from falling out including Rogaine and a clinically unproven formula called Nioxin.

"About the only thing I noticed was peach fuzz, it was like a high schooler trying to grow chin hair. It wasn't really much" he said.

Dr. Marty Sawaya of Ocala is one of the nation's leading specialists in the field of hair loss, and says that many people exhaust many thousands of dollars and time doing research and buying over the counter products, that often don't help the hair loss. "If anything the hair loss has progressed," she said.

Then 10 years ago, Rogaine, the first FDA approved drug for hair loss, became available. Some men receive significant benefit from this topical ointment, while others like O'Steen receive little. Dr. Sawaya says newer products such as Extra-Strength Rogaine, and now Propecia are offering men choices they never have had before. But the key is starting early.

Both Rogaine and Propecia were first developed to treat other conditions before it became clear they could also help with hair loss. But pharmaceutical companies continue to spend millions in their search for more effective products.

St. Augustine Chiropractor Marty Monahan (pictured right) participated in a study at Dr. Sawaya's clinic.

"There was tremendous increase in the volume of hairs, the number of hairs as well as the diameter of the hair itself, it was amazing how fast this stuff worked," he said.

At age 20, Monahan had a full set of his hair. Soon it began falling out. Now at age 35, this new product is giving him hope.

"Once something like this gets to market, the guys who are 17, 18, 19 worried about hair loss now it's going to be a thing of the past, I believe that, personally I believe that."

Monahan has been out of the test study for a year. Now much of the hair he re-grew has started falling out. And new drugs, if proven to indeed produce results, won't be available for several years. So many men, like O'Steen, turn to Jacksonville's Hair Replacement Center for instant results, while waiting for that magic pill.

If you are are experiencing hair loss, Doctor Sawaya recommends contacting your local dermatologist to see how current products, or even a combination, might help.

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