Baldness Treatments Found To Be Of Little Use

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29206, 17 May 1960, Page 22

Baldness Treatments Found To Be Of Little Use

(Special Correspondent N2.P.A.) LONDON, May 16. After testing five treatments for baldness "Which?” the journal of the Consumers’ Association, Ltd., agrees with the medical and scientific opinion that there is no certain means of preventing much less curing baldness.

Since baldness ■ was usually hereditary and appeared only in She presence of the male sex 1 tormone its certain prevention, a ccording to an investigation, “inquires either the right parents oi * surgical castration.” jWhich?” investigated three pr rparations and two clinic treating mts all of which were alleged to restore the hair as well as prevei it its falling out. Of 16 men whi» tried the treatments only foui : showed any signs after six months of some new hair growth but neither they nor the dermatolog Ist consultant “thought that the few short, fine, pale hairs effect fcd any improvement in the appea tance or that the result was worth ’ the expenditure.” The clinic that one volunteer attend) »d charged £l3O for two courses of treatment. Anotl »er man who visited the same cl hie was told that dandruff was chc inng his hair and special deep c leansing treatment was necessar; V. He paid £6l 10s in ad-

vance for the first series of 40 visits. The treatment included cleansing with various liquids, masage and the use of a heat lamp and application of “biostimulant" paste. ; Thirteen Visits later this clinic’s hair specialist said he saw signs of new healthy growth. But a medical skin consultant who had an independent look reported no change whatsoever. A volunteer who visited the second clinic was told he had come just in time—another six months and it would have been too late. He was treated with a highfrequency appliance and by hand massage with lotions. His head was steamed and he was put under an infra-red lamp. Then he was given a “conditioner formula” and another chemical to put on the head at home. He also got vitamin tablets and pills containing bonemeal, sulphates of iron, manganese, and copper, cbbalt chloride and potassium iodide. But it was no use and he ended up as bald as he began—and it cost him £72. “Which?” said that at both clinics strong persuasion was used to get clients to start immediate treatment and there was an inducement to pay in advance. It was constantly suggested that new hair was appearing or about to appear and the preparations supplied for home use appeared to contain ineffectual if harmless ingredients.