 HAIRY AND THE HENDERSONS
Weird question, Doc. I’m a pretty smooth 30-year-old dude. I really want to have a hairy chest, but am I just genetically out of luck? My friends tease me about a chest-hair wig, but I was wondering if maybe Rogaine would work.
D. Henderson
Tulsa, OK
The guys who want to be smooth are hairy, and the hairy guys want to be smooth. What’s a guy to do? Rogaine might work on the chest. Rogaine (minoxidil) was initially used as a blood pressure medication. It is a vasodilator for the blood vessels—that means it opens them—and decreases blood pressure. And it could cause hair to grow, but once you stop using it, the hair will stop growing and thin. In fact, there are many herbs that stimulate hair growth. Rosemary can help make the hair sleeker and shinier and also combats dandruff, which can accelerate hair loss. Chamomile helps soothe an itchy scalp, which is another cause of hair loss. With my thinning hair, I use the herb horsetail as a tea. Birch oil works well when mixed in with shampoo and is thought to support current hair growth and encourage new growth. I use MSM and L-cysteine as supplements. Most vitamin companies combine supplements since patients want one product that contains all. I use a Longevity Nutritionals (212.688.5536) product called Cosmedix, which contains 13 herbs and supplements. Good luck getting furry! —PF
SYMPTOMS OF A DOWN
I have this cold that just doesn’t seem to go away and, as a joke, one of my friends said that I might have HIV. I don’t think I have anything to worry about, but I couldn’t help but wonder: What are the early signs, if any, of someone who has HIV but doesn’t know it yet?
“Scared”
via Internet
Tell your friend that’s not very funny. Joking about HIV while you’re sick can make dealing with a cold a very frightening experience. Most people who contract HIV develop symptoms similar to a viral infection or flu six weeks after infection. If you’ve ever had mono, then you know what I’m talking about. Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, body aches, rash and even a cough. However, not everyone who contracts the virus exhibits symptoms. Some may experience mild cases of seroconversion and dismiss them as just another cold. That’s why it is so important for all sexually active men to get tested regularly for HIV. This will alleviate any unnecessary stress. If there comes a time when you think you may have been exposed to HIV, see your doctor or go to an emergency room immediately. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with antiretroviral medication can block the virus before it gets into your bloodstream. But time is of the essence, and PEP is not recommended if exposure time is greater than 36 hours. So don’t be scared. Just get tested and always protect yourself by using condoms. —FP
THE CRYSTAL METHOD
I’ve noticed more of my friends—including well-to-do professionals—trying crystal meth, only to watch their lives get destroyed. Please help scare these guys back to a normal life. I’d love to hear what you say that would help us gay guys to be better educated.
Kalif
San Diego, CA
To put it lightly, the use of methamphetamine (a.k.a. crystal) is a problem among gay men. While studies have found that 0.2% of Americans use crystal meth regularly, use of crystal among gay and bisexual men is 10 times higher than the general population. And crystal use is linked to high-risk sexual behaviors. Gay male users are more than three times likely to contract HIV and more likely to contract gonorrhea, syphilis and other infections than non-users. This is one reason these STDs are on the rise in most cities, especially New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is estimated that 10-15% of gay men have used crystal in the past year. Frighteningly, these statistics are rising every year, with the younger gay population using crystal at an increased rate. To combat this, our education system needs not only to be focused on safe sex again, but also on the use of crystal and its effects on the body. Tell your friends to seek help immediately—it could be the difference between life and death. —PF
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