You know how these urban legends work. Somebody says something to somebody else and before you know it, the story has spread all over the world and is on the internet and news services and blog feeds.
This one is about Hartz Flea and Tick Treatment and hair loss. It seems that somebody, somewhere, said that if you rub Hartz Flea and Tick Treatment drops on bald spots, hair would grow there.
Here's the truth: It's false! A rumor and a lie. Hartz Flea and Tick Treatment will not grow hair anywhere. In fact, it's been taken off the market because it causes hair loss (and other symptoms up through and including death) in cats.
Did you get that? It causes hair loss-and other symptoms-in cats.
Hartz Flea and Tick Treatment joins a long list of other things that people say you can rub on your head to stop hair loss. Things like onions, garlic, lemon juice and kerosene and cow manure. Mostly, these things will just make you smell bad and diminish your social standing. Trust me, nobody with cow manure on his head is a chick magnet.
What can you rub on your head to stop hair loss? Try minoxidil. It is the only FDA approved topical treatment for hair loss.
Most hair loss in men and women is caused by a genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone made from testosterone. In order to stop hair loss, a medication must either decrease the production of DHT or block the hair follicle cells' sensitivity to it.
Propecia, an oral medication, decreases the production of DHT. Minoxidil stops the follicles from absorbing it. Either or both work some of the time. Some of the time, nothing stops your hair loss. Even if propecia or minoxidil works, your hair loss will resume if you stop taking it.
So, that's the deal. Rubbing Hartz Flea and Tick Treatment on your head might stop fleas and ticks, but it works just about as well as rubbing cow manure or onion on your head does to stop hair loss. The only thing you can rub on your head that might stop hair loss is minoxidil.
Your best bet, if you are concerned about hair loss, is to see a doctor. If you can find a doctor who specializes in hair loss-a dermatologist or a hair loss specialist-that's even better. There are other rare, but reversible, causes for hair loss. There are other treatments, too.
If your hair loss concerns you, don't fool around with home remedies or mythical treatments or urban legends. Get real help. See a physician who specializes in treating hair loss.
Glossary:
Dihydrotestosterone: an androgenic (male) hormone. In genetically sensitive individuals, DHT accumulates in hair follicles on the scalp, causing hair loss.
Minoxidil: a topical medication effective in treating hair loss. Minoxidil is available over the counter.
Propecia: a prescription medication for hair loss taken as a pill