Baldness 秃头的烦恼

不论男女，有些人，到了年龄就会开始谢顶。这个现实着实让人难以接受，所以人们大多都愿意尝试防止秃头的药物疗法。据说，世界上的确存在能“治愈”脱发的良方，但这些办法真的管用吗？现代科学能否提供更有效的疗法？“秃头”对人有什么好处吗？本集《随身英语》讨论“秃头”人士的烦恼。

For many it means nothing at all, but to others it is the epitome of their identity. As humans, our appearance is often important to us and our hair plays a huge role. Whether you have long flowing locks or a swept back do, the way you wear your hair can say something about you. But what if you start to lose it?

Forty per cent of men experience hair loss by the age of 35, according to the Belgravia Centre UK, one of Europe's largest hair loss treatment centres. This figure rises to 80% by the age of 80. And women are far from exempt from losing clumps of hair, with 50% of them suffering some form of hair loss in their life.

It starts with a receding hairline, followed by a thinning of hair on the crown of the head and temples and before you know it, your scalp is showing and you're completely bald. Every human naturally loses between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the UK National Health Service. Excluding hair loss caused by disease, baldness is genetic. It's related to the hormone testosterone, which causes a shrinking of hair follicles in susceptible adults. This results in the loss of so called 'terminal' adult hair and the production of much finer 'vellus' hairs – like those on the heads of babies.

'It can cause considerable damage to emotional health, including loss of self-esteem and confidence.' a spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists told the BBC. But if you can't hide it with a comb-over, or a wig, what can you do?  Well, the ancient Greek medic Hippocrates recommended a mixture of pigeon droppings, mixed with horseradish, cumin and nettles liberally applied to the pate. Since then there has been a liberal dose of tonics, creams, pills and hair replacement surgery. All of which have had mixed results.

Now, a potential new cure has been found in a drug that was designed to treat osteoporosis. The research, published in PLOS Biology, states that the drug contains a compound that targets a protein which inhibits hair growth and plays a role in balding. In short, it stimulates hair to grow. Keep your hair on,though. Clinical trials need to take place to ensure the drug is effective and safe to give people.

And besides, many would say that being bald improves a person's appearance. Researchers at The University of Pennsylvania asked male and female students to rate photographs of men according to their attractiveness, confidence and dominance. In all three categories, the bald men came out ahead - and not just by a hair's breadth.

So, whether you love it or hate it or whether it's happening to you right now, you aren't alone. A cure may very soon be on its way. Until then, relax and let your hair down.

词汇表

locks 头发
do （多指女性为特殊场合做的）发型
hair loss 掉头发，脱发
clumps of hair 一把一把的头发
receding hairline 渐渐向后移的发际线，（男人）逐渐秃顶
thinning hair 头发变得稀疏
crown of the head 头顶
scalp 头皮
bald 秃头的
baldness 秃顶
hair follicle 毛囊
comb-over 把两侧头发梳到秃头部位的发型
wig 假发
pate 头顶（谑称）
keep your hair on 保持冷静，别生气
a hair's breadth 以细微之差
let your hair down 尽情地玩，放松下来

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What percent of men experience hair loss by the age of 35?

2. How many hairs does the average human lose daily?

3. What was Hippocrates cure for baldness?

4. How were bald men perceived by the participants in the experiment at the University of Pennsylvania?

5. Which word from the text means 'encourages to grow, develop or become active'?

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. My wife has such thick hair that when she leaves the shower, there are always ______in the drain.

hair loss       hair follicles       wigs       clumps of hair

2. He suddenly began shouting about how he'd left his umbrella, but I told him to ______ and that a little rain would be OK.

keep his hair on       keep his hair up       keep his hair down       keep his hair off

3. If you are losing your hair, just admit it. Don't try and hide behind a ______.

locks       pate       comb-over       scalp

4. It's Friday. Let's go out for a drink and ______. There's no work tomorrow.

let my hair down       let our hairs down       left our hair down       let our hair down

5. I hate that I'm losing my hair. Soon I will be as ______ as an egg.

thinning       bald       baldness       scalp

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What percent of men experience hair loss by the age of 35?
Forty per cent of men experience hair loss by the age of 35.

2. How many hairs does the average human lose daily ?
The average human loses 50 to 100 hairs daily.

3. What was Hippocrates cure for baldness?
Hippocrates recommended a mixture of pigeon droppings, mixed with horseradish, cumin and nettles.

4. How were bald men perceived by the participants in the experiment at the University of Pennsylvania ?
Participants found bald men to be more attractive, confident and dominant than men with a head of hair.

5. Which word from the text means 'encourages to grow, develop or become active'?
Stimulates. (In short, it stimulates hair to grow)

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. My wife has such thick hair that when she leaves the shower, there are always clumps of hair in the drain.

2. He suddenly began shouting about how he'd left his umbrella, but I told him to keep his hair on and that a little rain would be OK.

3. If you are losing your hair, just admit it. Don't try and hide behind a comb-over.

4. It's Friday. Let's go out for a drink and let our hair down. There's no work tomorrow.

5. I hate that I'm losing my hair. Soon I will be as bald as an egg.