COSMETIC TODAY'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
WITH DR. Glen Charles, A LEADING RESEARCHER
IN HAIR LOSS

COSMETIC TODAY:
DOCTOR, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAIR LOSS AND WHY IT HAPPENS?

DR. CHARLES:
The major form of hair loss we see in the clinic is commonly known as male pattern baldness, but that is a bit of a misnomer, because it affects woman as well. The medical name is Androgenetic Alopecia, which means there is a genetic component and a hormonal competent. We see it in over 50% of men, and even in about 20% of women but, the pattern is different between men and women. There are other types of hair loss that are more rare, such as Alopecia Areata, where the hair starts to fall out in small circular patches and can eventually progress to cover the whole body. We speculate now the reason so many people have male pattern baldness is because of the result of maybe 8 or 10 genes working together under the influence of hormones to bring about the problem.

COSMETIC TODAY:
DOES WEARING HATS CAUSE BALDNESS?

DR. CHARLES:
There are a lot of misnomers about hair loss. Hats causing hair loss is simply not true. Hair loss is a function of the follicle shutting down, or more precisely, being suffocated by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and not producing hair. Remember hair loss is both genetic and hormonal.

COSMETIC TODAY:
WHICH SIDE OF THE FAMILY CAN YOU INHERIT THE HAIR LOSS GENE FROM?

DR. CHARLES:
You can inherit hair loss from your mom or your dad's side. It can even skip generations and we have found cases in twins where one has hair loss and the other does not. Again, if you have hair loss in any part of your family tree it can be passed to you.

COSMETIC TODAY:
HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN HAIR LOSS RESEARCH?

DR. CHARLES:
My own interest in hair loss began in medical school. I started to lose my hair at a drastic rate. I began to look for options but at that time, there were no good options. I began to wear hats instead. I had a closet full of different hats. I began to take a very strong personal interest into what can cause this disease and what could be done to help me with my own hair loss. Today, I have a nice head of hair and I've made it my life's work to bring options to other people so they can start feeling good about their situation. No matter what level of hair loss a client may be experiencing, we now have different remedies that are the best in the industry.

COSMETIC TODAY:
WHY DO YOU THINK WE, AS A SOCIETY, ARE SO FIXATED ON HAIR?

DR. CHARLES:
Whether it's right or wrong, society gives people with hair loss a hard time. And by that I mean that there's hasn't been an elected bald president since the TV era began. Also, there have been numerous studies in social situations and in professional situations where people with thinning hair are viewed differently than those who have a full head of hair. Because I am a patient who suffers from hair loss, I know first hand that losing your hair is intimately tied to your sense of perception or your sense of esteem. It's the ability to get up in the morning and face the world. Anything that we associate with appearance or one's well being, is reflected by hair. I think, at that level, it is intimately tied to how we feel about ourselves.

COSMETIC TODAY:
WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE WEBSITES THAT CLAIM THEY HAVE A CURE FOR HAIR LOSS?

DR. CHARLES:
People have to be very careful about what they see on the Internet or what's on the back of a muscle magazine. These are not proven products and have no clinical data to back their findings or they just blatantly create erroneous information and disappear when government agencies discover them.

COSMETIC TODAY:
CMG LOCATED IN ONE OF THE HOTTEST SPOTS IN THE COUNTRY. WHY IS THAT

DR. CHARLES:
The answer is actually two-fold. The people who live here are some of the prettiest people in the country and always want to look good and it's an unbelievable vacation spot. We find that many of our patients want to come to a sunny resort area to relax while they have a procedure. It's a hair vacation for lack of a better term. By the time they leave, you can't even tell you've had any work done. We have a location in Boca Raton and another close to Miami Beach in Aventura.

COSMETIC TODAY:
DO ANY OF YOUR CLIENTS FEEL AWKWARD ABOUT COMING INTO A CMG?

DR. CHARLES:
Our goal here is to alleviate any discomfort associated with broaching the subject of hair loss treatments. We believe in total discretion, from your first consultation to your follow-up visits. Confidentiality is paramount to all of us, since some of our employees are also patients. Some people aren't as excited to talk about their hair loss as I am, and we respect that. We maintain a high level of confidentiality so our clients can feel at ease knowing that nobody has to know they are being treated. All of our locations are discreetly located in professional buildings.

COSMETIC TODAY:
CHARLES MEDICAL GROUP EMPLOYS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THINNING HAIR BY PROVIDING THEM WITH DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, TODAY. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING MORE HAIR?

DR. CHARLES:
There is a whole arsenal of choices people can use, from hi-tech non-surgical options like the new LASER LIGHT THERAPY process to FDA APPROVED REMEDIES to the latest MICROSCOPIC HAIR TRANSPLANTS. CMG is a leader in the hair loss industry and offers all the latest options. However, where you are in your hair loss will dictate which remedy is right for you. What we prescribe for somebody in there 20's who is just starting to experience hair loss may be very different to what we suggest for somebody in their 40's, 50's and 60's. The best thing that you can do for yourself is make an appointment to see a hair loss expert what's best for you. There is no charge for the office visit.