hair solutions
Hair loss sucks! Some guys can pull it off and it works for them. But for the majority of us, we prefer hair. Hair loss dosen't only occur in men, it also happens in women. There are many causes for hair loss, but the most common cause is androgenic alopecia. That's the one we will briefly discuss. This type of hair loss occurs due to the breakdown of Testosterone into Dihydrotestesterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5-alpha -reductase. DHT exists in two isoforms, Type I and type II. both forms have a role in androgenic alopecia but type II is greater. DHT can then link to receptors on hair follicles in your scalp, causing them to shrink and become less capable of supporting a healthy head of hair. DHT also shortens the growing phase oh hair. inhibiting DHT is one approach to help hair loss. A simple inexpensive treatment you can do right now, is buy shampoo that contains the active ingredient ketoconazole, such as Nizoral 1%. Commonly used for dandruff, this treatment helps block the effects of DHT. More well known treatments for male pattern baldness include Minoxidil, which works two ways, by increasing the duration of hair growth, the anagen phase, and by enlargement of the hair follicle itself. Another common drug is Finasteride, a potent inhibitor of 5 -alpha -reductase type II. It can be taken orally or topically. We prefer topicals when appropriate due to less systemic side effects. Dutasteride, is a more potent inhibitor of both type I and II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, but is only available in pill form. As with any drug, there are potential side effects.
Evolving treatments
There are some newer treatments for hair loss that have encouraging results. A couple treatments we are excited about are, the prostaglandin, Latanoprost, 0.01%. Not only does this help prevent hair loss, it thickens pre existing hair, it also grows new hair! We have seen this work with outstanding results, two of our doctors take it and swear by it, unfortunately is isn't cheap. Another treatment that has received a lot of attention is low-level laser light therapy (LLLT). Most studies with this have been with women, but initial results are promising.
Zinc-thymulin, PTD-DBM, and GHK-Cu are peptides, clinical trails have shown them all to increase hair growth. All studies are at least 24 weeks in length, so don't expect massive hair growth overnight.
At the end of the day we recommend a multifocal approach. Nizoril shampoo, topical scalp treatment with Latanoprost, minoxidil, finasteride applied twice daily and possible oral Dutasteride. As more results are obtained from peptide therapy we may include those as well.
PhytoSolRX
PhytoSolRX contains three active ingredients, all shown to to grow hair. Simply apply to the scalp nightly.
Latanoprost (0.005%-0.01%) Minoxidil (2%-5%) Finasteride (0.10%-0.25%) TrichoSolTM Base
PTD-DBM and Valproic Acid
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in men and women.
The Wnt/b-catenin pathway has been implicated in hair follicle development and hair regeneration in adults. Wnt/b-catenin activators like Valproic Acid promote human hair cell proliferation. CXXC5 is a negative regulator of the Wnt/b-catenin pathway which was upregulated in human balding scalps. However, scientists have found a way to black this negative feedback using PTD-DBM. This peptide, PTD-DBM, is often used as a part of larger hair protocols in conjunction with other peptides such as GHK-Cu, Zn-Thymulin, and Thymosin Beta with remendous results.
Finasteride
Finasteride, the generic form of Propecia, works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which decreases the amount of DHT in the body. DHT is a hormone that has been linked to. The downside is that finasteride is also teratogenic—meaning that if you get pregnant while taking it, it may cause birth defects. For this reason, premenopausal women who are taking finasteride should use reliable contraception, and pregnant women should not use it.
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Dutasteride
Dutasteride has been shown to be 3 times more potent than finasteride at inhibiting type II 5AR and more than 100 times at inhibiting type I 5AR. Furthermore, oral dutasteride decreases serum DHT concentrations by up to 90% while finasteride only reduces DHT by 70%
Although studies have shown Dutasteride effective for women for hairless, it is not FDA approved, and is used "off label."