OK, so you don't look like Telly Savalas -- yet -- but you have noticed some tell-tale thinning on the top of your head.
And lately itseems like you've got a whole lot more forehead than you used to.
Considering that your father, and his father before him, ended upwith a nice shiny dome by the time he reached middle age, chances are that you, too, are headed down the path to, well, baldness.
Malepattern baldness, as the most common type of hair loss is called, affects at least 40 percent of the adult male population, said LawrenceR. Feldman, a dermatologist with a practice in Westminster.
Less commonly, the condition also affects women, he said, addding that 10 percent to 15 percent of the female population experiences some degree of hair loss unrelated to an illness or some type of medical treatment.
Years ago, there weren't many options for a person losing hair. But times have changed.
Today, there are many ways to treat or conceal hair loss, including hairpieces, a topical chemical treatmentcalled minoxidil, and surgical procedures, such as hair transplants and scalp reductions.
Earle H. Brewer, owner of the Esquire Salon and Hair Replacement Center in Westminster, said he believes treatingmale pattern baldness with any one of the many options available hasbecome a lot more acceptable in recent years.
The increased interest in treating baldness probably has occurred because the new therapies produce more natural results, he said.
"When I first started, it was very crude," he said. "But it has become so sophisticated since then."
Though toupees of the early days often could be spotted at a distance, well-done hairpieces of today are virtually undetectable, he said.
"We pass by dozens of people every day and have no idea they've had a hair replacement," he said.
Feldman said he thinksmore people are seeking treatment because they see friends and acquaintances who have had good results, then decide to give it a try themselves.
Although the Esquire Salon specializes in hair replacement, a non-medical process, Brewer said he tells clients about all the available options during the first consultation, before they commit toanything.
"I don't hard sell anyone," he said. "It's a big investment. You don't want to talk anyone into it because then they'd be unhappy. And it's very important to me that my people are happy with the results."
