1879 – Thomas Edison invented the first commercially successful light bulb. Science.
1924 – Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer, finds galaxies beyond our Milky Way. Science.
1969 – Humans launch a space shuttle and land on Earth’s largest satellite – the Moon. Science.
Curiosity is at the genesis of all science. What is on the other side of the Moon? How exactly did its craters form? What really happens in the Bermuda Triangle? Is there a missing link between humans and apes?
The Tortoise and the Hair
But for as long as humans have been fascinated by science, we’ve also been taken in by fiction, especially science fiction. Curiosity and storytelling are as natural to us as breathing, and have been linked to almost all cultures studied by historians. We are just as driven to find out the truth as we are to tell everyone our best guesses or theories about the unknown. The facts may eventually follow.
Is Bigfoot real? Of course he is, if you ask the right person. Is Elvis still alive? Same answer. Mainly because we want some things to be true (even if they’re not.)
There is debate regarding the exact dates science fiction began, but whether it was in written or oral form, it is as old as our curiosity. If we don’t know, for example, what really happens in the Bermuda Triangle, we often fill in the blanks with our imagination. It makes for good entertainment, whether in comic books, TV, movies or in any other form. But what happens when our penchant for stretching the truth ends up confusing us with the facts? Therein lies the problem with marketing.
Miracle Cures and Other Snake Oils
It only takes a scroll down a social media app to see advertisements stretching the truth as far as it will go. This is also true for all things hair, including beauty and wellness products, and even hair restoration products. L’Oreal famously advertised some of its skincare products as “Clinically Proven” although no lab tests had actually been conducted.
Thanks to regulatory agencies like the FDA and others, marketing departments are not allowed to make certain claims in advertising a company’s products. The FDA demands clarity when identifying a product as a cosmetic vs. a drug. Many companies have been fined for promoting exaggerated or unproven health benefits, like some vitamins and workout supplements.
Those attempting to fool the public will likely go out of business before very long. Reviews and personal experiences with shotty products usually weed out the bad apples. Whether by regulations or word of mouth, the truth will eventually rear its head.
What About Hair Restoration Though?
A hair-restoration medicine has long been the holy grail sought by humans since balding began many moons ago. The first hair restoration product was finally approved by the FDA in 2022. It is listed at $5,244 for a 1-month supply of the higher 4mg dosage used in the trials, and $2,622 for the lower 2mg dosage. The listed side effects occurring in trial patients are numerous, and the published warnings come in at a whopping 1100 words. If that’s the best we can come up with, let patience be our guide.
Science continues to pull us along the path of understanding. One day there may be safe products for all our ailments, and even safe products for hair restoration without the heavy reading included with the warning labels. Until that time comes, I believe the best that science currently has to offer is FUT (Follicular Unit Transfer), FUE (Follicular Unit Extension), and LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy).
Over half a million people received hair transplants in 2020, and the number is estimated to grow each year. Contact us today for a consultation to learn more about your options, and leave science fiction to the writers.
