Spencer Kobren
Ask Spencer
Hair Loss Questions
September 1998
Updated 3/20/05
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Introduction
 Spencer
Kobren is the President, American Hair Loss Association, the
only national, non-profit membership organization dedicated to
educating the public, healthcare professionals, and the mainstream
media about the emotionally devastating disease of hair loss. .
He is also the author of two books on the topic of hair loss.
His first book The Bald Truth: The
First Complete Guide To Preventing and Treating Hair Loss (Simon &
Schuster/Pocket Books) and The Truth About Women's Hair Loss
(Contemporary Books), which includes a foreword by pioneering
geneticist Angela M. Christiano PhD, who discovered the first gene
linked to hair loss. was deal with general issues of hair loss with
special focus on treatments for men.
The success of The Bald Truth book eventually led Spencer to host
his own syndicated radio show about the topic of hair loss.
Spencer also continued his work as a consumer advocate in hair loss,
eventually writing a second book, which was focused on the issues
facing women with hair loss.
In the early days of his hair loss work with consumers, Spencer
graciously provided some follow-up questions related to his book for
HairBoutique.com visitors, which are included here and in the index
listed to the side.
Spencer Kobren was sued in 1999 as
a result of his efforts to protect consumer rights in the field of
hair transplantation.
After 2000, due to his work with his radio show and writing,
Spencer was unable to continue providing personalized hair loss
issues. However, the majority of his work on the topic of hair
loss is still available through his two books, which are still
available from Amazon.com and on the Web.
Kobren and his work have been featured in articles in many
publications, including GQ, The Wall Street Journal, Men's
Health, Men's Journal, Newsday, The New York Times and The
Washington Post. Kobren has been interviewed by local and
national affiliates of ABC News, the Fox News Organization, CBS News
and the CBC. Most recently he has been interviewed for ABC News
"20/20" and "Good Morning America." Mr. Kobren has had a chapter
dedicated to his work in New York Post columnist Gersh Kuntzman's
Book, Hair! Mankind's Historic Quest to End Baldness.
We have included below some of the Questions and Answers that
Spencer originally provide from his AskSpencer Hair Loss Column.
For more information on hair loss topics please visit
The HairBoutique.com HairLoss Forum.
May 25, 1999
Question
Dear Spencer,
My boyfriend has a full head of hair except for a circular
spot the size of a golf ball right below his left ear.
At first we thought it was his mountain bike helmet rubbing against
his
scalp.
He keeps his hair quite short, and he doesn't recall noticing it thinning. One day
it was just kind of there.
This has been going on for 9 months and his doctor doesn't know what it is.
He works a high stress job and I have heard stories in the past of people loosing
patches of hair due to stress.
Is this true?
He stopped wearing his helmet and nothing grew back. Now we sometimes notice small
hairs growing in (very thin however) but they never seem to stay.
What do you think it could be?
Answer
Sounds like Alopecia Areata. Do a search on the net to
receive more info.
I also forworded your question to Dr. Angela Christiano. Hopefully she will have to
time to respond.
Many cases of this disorder are transient and the hair grows back in time.
Tell your boyfriend to relax...stress only exacerbates this condition.
I'm very surprised that his doctor was unable to diagnose his condition.
Seek
the advise of a dermatologist.
Good luck and let me know how things turn out.
Spencer
March 21, 1999
Question
Dear Spencer,
I had been using Propecia for 6 months (the drug worked great on my hair
regrowth) and was beginning to develop an allergic reaction to it—pretty severe in
fact.
I bought your book and was encouraged by the section on herbal remedies.
Question: Is there any good numerical
data on saw palmetto and pygeum in terms of there effect on dht?
Even better is there any reliable data on herbs compared to propecia with regard to
hair loss?
Thanks for your consideration,
Tom
Answer
It is extremely unlikely that you would experience
an allergic reaction to Propecia after six months of use, unless something else in your
diet or lifestyle has changed.
Try to think what this change might be. What is the reaction exactly...perhaps I can
help?
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "numerical data", but their is plenty of
clinical evidence easily found on the Internet. Check out the Journal of The American
Medical Association's web site...
For reliable data on herbs compared to propecia with regard to hair loss check out
JAMA.
Good luck,
Spencer
Question
Hi Spencer,
I have been taking Propecia for about 8 months.
One question: does the body, over
time, establish a tolerance to the drug so it stops being effective?
Thanks
Richard
Answer
At this point no one really knows....but it is
unlikely.
Spencer
Question
Hi Spencer,
I read your book and learned a great deal.......are you
saying it's possible to get most of your hair back with propecia and the herbs, or just a
small amount.???
THE main reason I'm writing is to ask if you have ever heard anything about Dr.
Seager of Toronto?........
At his web site he talks about the all follicular transplant procedure that
"he" developed and I'm a bit nervous because he isn't one of the doctors or
developers mentioned in your book.....
I have a personal consult scheduled with him on Monday.................if he's good
I want to go with him because the price is WAY cheaper than the doctors who are mentioned
and close enough to me .
Example: for the same amount of hair, it would cost me $20,000 in New York,
vs.$8,700 in Canada.
I dont intend to ever have the procedure done if I have to spend more that $9,000,
but I still will not have the procedure done at all if its going to yield shitty
results........I'd rather be bald.
Since I have two kids nearing college age, I cannot justify spending more than the
9 grand.
Have you heard of him???? Is propecia promising enough that I might be satisfied
with that??
Thanks for your input..........Ed
Answer
Dr. Seager did not develop it and the mere fact
that he claims that he did is a bit scary to me as well. He is very well known but that
doesn't need much.
You might want to try drug and/or herbal therapy for a year before you go under the
knife.
If you do take the plunge make sure you ask about shock fallout...see if he uses a
densomoter or similar devise to test your donor density and if he tries to talk you into a
scalp reduction...RUN.
Good luck,
Spencer
Talk To Spencer Kobren Live On The Radio
For Immediate Release:
The Bald Truth on 77WABC
WABC is making broadcasting history with the premier of its weekly program "THE
BALD TRUTH", the first nationally broadcast interview and information program
entirely devoted to the prevention and treatment of baldness.
Premiering Saturday evening, September 12, 1998 at
11:30pm, this weekly program is hosted by the countries most prominent and
effective hair loss consumer/patient advocate Spencer David Kobren. Kobren is the author
of the recently published groundbreaking and critically acclaimed baldness bible The Bald Truth: The First Complete Guide to Preventing
and Treating Hair Loss (Pocket/Simon&Schuster, 1998).
Kobren and is work are the focus of the upcoming Discovery Channel documentary also
titled "The Bald Truth". The Bald Truth is the #1 Best selling hair loss book on
Amazon.com, "The Worlds Largest Bookstore". No more suffering in silence.
For the first time men and woman have a platform to discuss and share their struggles
with baldness and to receive completely objective information on how to effectively treat
their condition. Spencer Kobren and 77WABC, 770AM invite you to tune in to find out about:
- Effective Prevention and treatments.
- Updates regarding bogus products or unsafe treatments.
- Cutting edge research, including gene therapy
and hair cloning.
- Treatments specific to men and woman.
- Open forum discussions with top researchers
from around the world, including:
Dr. Angela Christiano, the Columbia University
researcher who recently discovered the first gene linked to hair loss and Dr. Barry Sears,
world renowned Bio-Chemist and New York Times #1 best-selling author of The Zone.
We welcome your questions and comments.
Call in during show time to speak with Mr. Kobren on
the air. The toll free # is 1-800-848-WABC.
For More Information Contact: Laurie Cotumaccio
212/698-4679 Fax:632-8083
Be sure to listen to Spencer
live on the
radio.
You can catch Spencer on these radio stations:
KIEV-AM in Los Angeles WEVD-AM in New York
WAXY-AM in Miami
WODI AM 1230 Virginia's Cool Oldies & Hot Talk
KTKA AM 1220 Pittsburgh's Radio Station
WIBC AM 1050 Indianapolis...The Voice of Indiana & Live on The Internet.
More Information About Spencer Kobren!
Spencer's show (right after Dr. Laura) will reach 38 states and parts of Canada.
In most states you will be able to hear the show on 770AM.
If you can't find it on 770AM, you may have to search on the AM dial.
If you are
tuned in to listen to Dr. Laura, you will be able to hear Spencer right after the good
doctor.
Press Release
Spencer David Kobren recently reported to the Hair Boutique that The
Bald Truth Radio Show has now expanded to an hour-long format.
The new show is broadcast on WEVD 1050AM in New York as well as KLSX
97.1 FM in Los Angeles. The two stations combined reach over 50 million households.
The newly formatted show premiered on WEVD on Thursday, November 12,
1998 at 8 PM Eastern. It is important that all of you show your support and call in.
Please call in with your questions and comments. We all need to speak out!! |
