THERE may be light at the end of the tunnel for follicly-challenged Gwent men. That's because trials of a new wonder-drug in the USA have shown that a pill can not only stop hair loss, it can also, in some cases, lead to hair growing back.

Now South Wales hair loss specialists are cautiously welcoming the drug, Propecia, which was launched in the UK this week.

But they are warning against waiting until you are completely bald before seeking treatment - even with the new wonder drug.

Wales' only registered scalp specialist, Suzanne Tantrum, who works at Cardiff Trichology Clinic, said: "As with all hair treatments we can't promise anything and once the follicle is dead there is nothing we can do.

"You must seek help early and Propecia's results in America are promising." Ms Tantrum added: "Baldness is often joked about and for many men it is not a problem. "But I see many cases where loss of hair can affect confidence, self-esteem and even affect job prospects and socialising.

"If caught early enough hair loss can be slowed down and the results are often dramatic and these men can start living again.

"I must stress that men have to be patient, results do not come overnight. "You brush your teeth every day and you have to take medication for your scalp every day as well."

The makers of this new drug - pharmaecutical firm Merck - claim 83 per cent of men kept the same amount of hair after a two-year treatment - compared to just 28 per cent in a control group.

Yet more good news came with two-thirds of the group reporting hair growth, while just seven per cent given a sugar pill placebo every day claimed similar results.

The tablet - available from doctors on a private prescription costing £50 for six months of treatment - does come with a health warning, however, as two per cent of trial cases reported impotence.

Thankfully, that disappeared when they stopped taking the pill.

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