Hair Loss

[J DUGIN]

Yup, I had the same. Dark and puffy under the eyes roughly 6 weeks into using minox. I stopped and the dark circles went away but still seeing some of the puffy eyes

 

[Hanshi]

Yup, I had the same. Dark and puffy under the eyes roughly 6 weeks into using minox. I stopped and the dark circles went away but still seeing some of the puffy eyes

I still have the puffy eye's somewhat as well. Been using the GF's Loreal eye cream and it helps.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil®, Finasteride®, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

The number of articles evaluating platelet-rich plasma (PRP) efficacy in androgenic alopecia (AGA) have exponentially increased during the last decade. A systematic review on this field was performed by assessing in the selected studies the local injections of PRP compared to any control for AGA.

The protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting for Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. A multistep search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Ebase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus database, and Cochrane databases was performed to identify studies on hair loss treatment with platelet-rich plasma.

Of the 163 articles initially identified, 123 articles focusing on AGA were selected and, consequently, only 12 clinical trials were analyzed. The studies included had to match predetermined criteria according to the PICOS (patients, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design) approach.

In total, 84% of the studies reported a positive effect of PRP for AGA treatment. Among them, 50% of the studies demonstrated a statistically significant improvement using objective measures and 34% of the studies showed hair density and hair thickness improvement, although no p values or statistical analysis was described. In total, 17% of the studies reported greater improvement in lower-grade AGA, while 8% noted increased improvement in higher-grade AGA.

Only 17% of the studies reported that PRP was not effective in treating AGA. The information analyzed highlights the positive effects of PRP on AGA, without major side effects and thus it be may considered as a safe and effective alternative procedure to treat hair loss compared with Minoxidil® and Finasteride®.

Gentile P, Garcovich S. Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil®, Finasteride®, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(8):E2702. Published 2020 Apr 13. doi:10.3390/ijms21082702 Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil®, Finasteride®, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] Low-Level Laser Therapy and Narrative Review of Other Treatment Modalities in Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also termed as androgenic alopecia or common baldness, is a condition where there is androgen mediated conversion of susceptible terminal hair into vellus hair. Although it is reported more commonly in males, it also affects females but the incidence is relatively unknown.

AGA tremendously affects the psychology of the patient due to its chronicity of treatment and cosmetic implications. There are numerous treatment options available for AGA but the choice of treatment has to often be tailored according to the patient's needs, affordability, and compliance.

This review focusses on the various treatment options available, with special emphasis on the role of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of AGA. The literature research considered published journal articles (clinical trials or scientific reviews). Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE and PubMed) and reference lists of respective articles. Only articles available in English were considered for this review.

Galadari H, Shivakumar S, Lotti T, et al. Low-level laser therapy and narrative review of other treatment modalities in androgenetic alopecia [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 11]. Lasers Med Sci. 2020;10.1007/s10103-020-02994-4. doi:10.1007/s10103-020-02994-4 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10103-020-02994-4

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Effective Combination Therapy with High Concentration of Minoxidil and Carboxygas in Resistant Androgenetic Alopecia: Report of Nine Cases

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is widely characterized as the main reason of hair loss which most of the time it has been reported in adults regarding dermatological consultation. Also, it is broadly believed that the progressive miniaturization of hair follicles could be usually different at the age of onset.

Aims: Over the last decade, detecting and understanding newer genetic basis in AGA lead to provide better therapeutic approaches. We have highlighted on an evidence-based method to treat AGA whose incidence is increasing significantly in our country.

Patients/methods: In this study, 9 adults with AGA including 5 women and 4 men, age range of 25-55 years, were treated with a combination of minoxidil (20%) by micro-needling and carboxytherapy mediated by needling. All cases had a normal physical development. Hair numbers (density) and diameter were calculated using trichograms before and after treatment. Hair growth was assessed by the pull test as well.

Results: Our results showed that combination of high concentration of minoxidil and carboxygas extremely can increase the level of hair growth.

Conclusion: Our treatment effects on the terminal follicles using needling make sticky follicles become progressively smaller as a result of mechanical forces.

Nilforooshzadeh MA, Lotfi E, Heidari-Kharaji M, Zolghadr S, Mansouri P. Effective combination therapy with high concentration of Minoxidil and Carboxygas in resistant Androgenetic alopecia: Report of nine cases [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 12]. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;10.1111/jocd.13362. doi:10.1111/jocd.13362 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocd.13362

 

[decode]

I know a lot of people are hesitant to run finasteride while on cycle, as they should be. DHT is important, after all. But I've always had pretty good luck with it.

And people that do run it are probably taking too much. There are studies that have shown taking just 0.05mg of finasteride reduce scalp DHT levels by over 61.6%, with 1mg reducing by 64.1%(reference below).
The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia. - PubMed - NCBI

I believe if the dosages are played with a bit, the right balance can be found. It really seems like very few know about how effective finasteride is in lower doses. Which may have played a role in the countless side effects that people taking it have experienced over the years.

 

[MajorGunz]

I still have the puffy eye's somewhat as well. Been using the GF's Loreal eye cream and it helps.

I will try this. Always looking for eye cream that doesn't make me look 10 years older than I am.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael7]

9j

I know a lot of people are hesitant to run finasteride while on cycle, as they should be. DHT is important, after all. But I've always had pretty good luck with it.

And people that do run it are probably taking too much. There are studies that have shown taking just 0.05mg of finasteride reduce scalp DHT levels by over 61.6%, with 1mg reducing by 64.1%(reference below).
The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia. - PubMed - NCBI

I believe if the dosages are played with a bit, the right balance can be found. It really seems like very few know about how effective finasteride is in lower doses. Which may have played a role in the countless side effects that people taking it have experienced over the years.

I thought I saw a study also showing 1mg is as effective as 5mg finasteride.
Personally I use Dutasteride

 

[Hanshi]

I will try this. Always looking for eye cream that doesn't make me look 10 years older than I am.

I switched to ROC correction eye cream and it is awesome. These damn dark puffy eyes drive me crazy.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Transdermal Drug Delivery for Hair Regrowth

Today, about 50% of men and 15-30% of women suffer from hair loss as well as the associated psychological impact. Drug therapy, especially through topical administration, is the main treatment strategy for stimulating hair regrowth. However, challenges exist due to the skin barrier that hinders drug penetration. To this end, many efforts have been made to enhance drug penetration efficiency.

This review focuses on the advancement of the transdermal drug delivery strategies for hair loss therapy reported in the last five years, especially those via nanoformulations for topical administration and microneedles for transdermal delivery. In addition, physical or chemical penetration enhancers are also introduced, which are often applied with the drug delivery systems to achieve a synergy effect.

Yang G, Chen G, Gu Z. Transdermal Drug Delivery for Hair Regrowth [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 20]. Mol Pharm. 2020;10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00041. doi:10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00041 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00041

 

[Hugh J Sachs]

Any try peppermint oil?
Oily as minox, but smells good an natural. one or two studies showed promise

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Oral Minoxidil Treatment For Hair Loss

Background: Although topical minoxidil is an effective treatment option for hair loss, many patients are poorly compliant due to the necessity to apply the medication twice a day, undesirable hair texture, and scalp irritation.

Objective: In recent years, oral minoxidil at low dose has been proposed as a safe alternative. This study reviewed articles in which oral minoxidil was utilized to treat hair loss to determine its efficacy and safety as an alternative to topical minoxidil.

Methods: PubMed searches were performed to identify articles discussing oral minoxidil as the primary form of treatment for hair loss published up to April 2020.

Results: A total of 16 studies with 622 patients were found discussing the use of oral minoxidil as the primary treatment modality for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia was the most studied condition, but other conditions included: telogen effluvium, lichen planopilaris, loose anagen hair syndrome, monilethrix, alopecia areata, and permanent chemotherapy induced alopecia.

Limitations: Larger randomized studies comparing the efficacy/safety of different doses with standardized objective measurements will be needed to clarify the best treatment protocol.

Conclusion: Oral minoxidil was found to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative for healthy patients having difficulty with topical formulations.

Randolph M, Tosti A. Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 1]. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;S0190-9622(20)32109-5. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2020.06.1009 https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(20)32109-5/pdf

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss

Persistent hair loss is a major cause of psychological distress and compromised quality of life in millions of people worldwide. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of hair loss and identifying valid intracellular targets for designing effective therapies for hair loss treatment.

Whereas a variety of growth factors and signaling pathways have been implicated in hair cycling process, the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a central role in hair follicle regeneration. Several plant-derived chemicals have been reported to promote hair growth by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in various in vitro and in vivo studies.

This mini-review sheds light on the role of Wnt/β-catenin in promoting hair growth and the current progress in designing hair loss therapies by targeting this signaling pathway.

Choi BY. Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(14):E4915. Published 2020 Jul 12. doi:10.3390/ijms21144915 Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Comprehensive Review

Female pattern hair loss is a common form of hair loss in women that increases in incidence with age. The etiology is unknown with numerous factors identified that influence its onset. Female pattern hair loss may be viewed as a marker for an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. New treatments include microneedling, low-level laser therapy, and autologous fat transfer. This article focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, systemic associations, and current treatments for female pattern hair loss, which is the most common cause of alopecia in women.

Bertoli MJ, Sadoughifar R, Schwartz RA, Lotti TM, Janniger CK. Female pattern hair loss: A comprehensive review [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 23]. Dermatol Ther. 2020;10.1111/dth.14055. doi:10.1111/dth.14055 Error - Cookies Turned Off

 

[TheDarkStranger]

Some of you bros dont care about hair loss, but it can be a big concern for most of us other bros. I'm 35 and I still have a thick and full head of hair. I am not one of those guys who would look good bald or balding. In some of my cycles years ago, I noticed large volumes of hair falling out in the shower during a cycle. This brought me to the point where I would look in the mirror and say, "What good is there in having huge muscles if my hair looks like crap?" So my search began to find the best possible hair solution, which involves stopping hair loss and even reversing it!

Let me just show you the final results (IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE), and I will comment on each:

1. AVODART® (Dutasteride) - Dutasteride was developed to help shrink the prostate and was found to have an even more profound effect on regrowing hair than Finasteride! Not only that, it can take care of more of your DHT, it starts working faster, and stays in your system for much longer. 1 to 5 mg ED is all you need, and it also keeps that prostate down during your cycles. In my book, this is a win/win situation.
   
2. PROPECIA® (Finasteride) - Next to Viagra, this drug may have had one of the all time record advertising budgets. Finasteride is a hair loss prevention / regrowth drug. Recommended dose is 1 mg ED and after 6 to 12 months the user may achieve positive results. The reason I write "big 4" in the title of this thread is that it may not be necessary to use both Dutasteride and Finasteride, although there are no known drug interactions. I say roll with Dutasteride if you can and if not then use Finasteride.
   
3. ROGAINE® (Minoxidil) - Cheap to buy generic at target in three month supply, Minoxidil blocks DHT on the scalp. After handling DHT within the body via Dutasteride or Finasteride, you can also stop the damage of DHT on the scalp. Use twice a day. I use it after my morning shower and after my workout shower.
   
4. NIOXIN® (Cleanser, Conditioner, and Treatment) - Use these Nioxin products as your daily shampoo and conditioner. They work on the scalp to ensure that your skin is healthy. Shampoo removes impurities that clog follicles, including DHT. The conditioner keeps the scalp moisturized. The treatment adds botanicals and nutrients to the scalp skin.
   
5. NIZORAL® (A-D Shampoo) - Ketoconazole, the main ingredient in Nizoral, acts as a relatively mild anti-androgen. (Androgen binds to hair follicles and over time shrinks them down, causing thinner and thinner hair.) Use this shampoo once a week for help with DHT.

​

This hair regiment is not difficult to maintain, and can provide great results. I went from losing my hair to growing it back! It takes a few months to start working, so for the first 6 months have patience. Passing the 1 to 2 year markers using the "Big 4" regiment should yield significant hair gains, or at the very least put an end to your loss.

This article assumes appropriate nutrition, hydration, and sleep.

Peace,

-bj

Good stuff. One thing to add to the war chest is Bimatoprost (Latisse). It’ll thicken up vellus hair quickly and then can be maintained by methods in your list.

 

[Rippidy Dippidy]

Think ima just fly out to turkey and get a hair transplant. Turning into a real life toilet seat over here

 

[TheDarkStranger]

Make sure it’s FUE (follicular unit extraction), instead of wedge dissection. You’ll have significantly less scarring and can keep your hair short if you like. You’ll also be able to do it multiple times, if needed.

 

[TheDarkStranger]

[OA] Low-Level Laser Therapy and Narrative Review of Other Treatment Modalities in Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also termed as androgenic alopecia or common baldness, is a condition where there is androgen mediated conversion of susceptible terminal hair into vellus hair. Although it is reported more commonly in males, it also affects females but the incidence is relatively unknown.

AGA tremendously affects the psychology of the patient due to its chronicity of treatment and cosmetic implications. There are numerous treatment options available for AGA but the choice of treatment has to often be tailored according to the patient's needs, affordability, and compliance.

This review focusses on the various treatment options available, with special emphasis on the role of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of AGA. The literature research considered published journal articles (clinical trials or scientific reviews). Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE and PubMed) and reference lists of respective articles. Only articles available in English were considered for this review.

Galadari H, Shivakumar S, Lotti T, et al. Low-level laser therapy and narrative review of other treatment modalities in androgenetic alopecia [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 11]. Lasers Med Sci. 2020;10.1007/s10103-020-02994-4. doi:10.1007/s10103-020-02994-4 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10103-020-02994-4

Yeah. It’s like 620-660nm wavelength, if I remember correctly. We used to include treatments w Neoftaft FUE procedure. Sold the small low powered ones for at home use.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] The Utility of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Alopecia

Importance: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a novel therapy for alopecia. Although the use of PRP remains under investigation, medical practitioners administer PRP for hair regrowth without quantitative evidence of clinical results.

Objective: Systematically review literature regarding PRP for alopecia.

Evidence Review: PRISMA guidelines were utilized to search the PubMed database in May 2019 with search terms "platelet rich plasma" and "hair", "hair loss", or "alopecia". Manuscripts were included if they were written in English and described PRP treatment in human subjects with alopecia.

Findings: Sixty-one articles discussed the use of PRP as monotherapy, or in combination with other medical modalities, for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata (AA), and cicatricial alopecia, ranging from level Ib to IV evidence. PRP results in significant increase in hair density and hair shaft width in AGA patients, with high rates of patient satisfaction and minimal adverse events. Data heterogeneity and limited number of well-designed, large-scale clinical trials were limitations of this review.

Conclusions and Relevance: Preliminary results regarding the use of PRP for AGA, AA, and cicatricial alopecias are promising. Physicians should be aware that current studies often report qualitative, rather than quantitative, clinical outcomes and should counsel patients regarding PRP treatment efficacy accordingly.

Juhasz MLW, Lo Sicco K, Shapiro J. The Utility of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Alopecia. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(7):736-741. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5192 Article - JDDonline - Journal of Drugs in Dermatology