Check Up - Hair Problems

Whether you have too much hair or too little, or perhaps you’ve got hair in the wrong place, GP Dr Ann Robinson joins Barbara Myers in the Check Up studio to offer her advice. While they may not like it, many men lose their hair with age. In women, hair loss is particularly common after the menopause, when the hair can thin around the top and sides of the head. Stress and illness can also cause hair loss. The hair may eventually re-grow, may return in patches or not come back at all. Some people resort to hair transplants or wigs, while others try hair thickening lotions to help stimulate hair growth. But which treatments for baldness actually work? Excessive hair in women, or hirsutism, can indicate an underlying illness. Some women with polycystic ovary syndrome, for example, have excessive hair growth. In rare cases, hirsutism can point to the existence of a tumour. Hirsutism is also more common after the menopause. Waxing or creams are used to bleach or remove unwanted hair. More permanent options include laser treatment and a prescription-only cream.