Category: Hair Products

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Rogaine Worked Great but I Stopped Due to Loss of Libido – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey thanks for your time. I had been using rogaine 5% solution for about 2 years. I only used it once a day.. but I used a lot more than the recommended dosage(all over my head). I have had a lot of regrowth even on the hair line. I quit using rogaine about a month ago due to face bloating and loss of libido.

I started taking procerin about a week after I quit using rogaine and I started using nioxin about 2 weeks ago. I am still experience a lot of regrowth. I even buzzed my hair the other day and I still see slow improvement like always. Do you think it is my new regimen? or is it still the rogaine that is causing my hair to still improve?

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People attribute all sorts of problems to specific medications, but I doubt the Rogaine (minoxidil) caused the libido effects. You used the medication for 2 years before you saw any issues, so it is strange that you’d suddenly develop a loss of libido.

I would’ve tried using less of the Rogaine (or in your case, just using the recommended dosage) before stopping it completely, but that was your call to make. I don’t know what to attribute your continued hair improvement to, but if you only stopped Rogaine a month ago you’ll likely see the benefits disappear over the next few months. Those new products you’re using won’t maintain what Rogaine regrew, since they don’t contain minoxidil.

Procerin’s main ingredient is saw palmetto which is a popular yet unproven hair loss treatment, but Nioxin is definitely not something I’d recommend if you’re serious about treating your hair loss.

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Shampoo for Thinning Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is the best shampoo for thinning hair ?

I saw this shampoo called Nano on the internet which is made by a doctor ,what do you think about it ? Thank you for your time !

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Just because its made or promoted by a doctor doesn’t mean it’s going to work.

There are no shampoos that are proven to regrow hair, but some suggest Nizoral (ketoconazole) works for some men. I’m not recommending everyone run out and by Nizoral to treat hair loss, and to be honest, I’m skeptical that it even works. There aren’t proper studies that show ketoconazole is good for hair regrowth, though it is a good anti-fungal shampoo. With that said, I suppose it’s worth a shot if you’re only considering using shampoo to treat your hair loss (which is a bad idea).

The best way to go about this is to talk to a doctor about Propecia, which is a proven treatment for hair loss and is just one pill daily.

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Clobex Spray and Spironolactone to Treat Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
I recently saw a dermatologist for my thinning hair. I’m not familiar with the medical terms he used, but he has me on clobex spray twice daily and spironolactone twice daily. I so desperately want something to work! I use hairmax lazer comb and rogaine. I am seeing hair growth on the sides near the temples but not much on top.Please guide me in the right direction. Thank you

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There is a difference in wanting something to desperately work and something actually working. Sometimes you have to face the fact there really is no treatments for some types of balding.

There is no right direction I can guide a desperate patient who will just about try anything. I realize this sounds very pessimistic but nothing (aside from Rogaine) you are trying has ever been proven to work. Clobex is a steroid with the problems associated with chronic steroid use; I’ve written about spironolactone here; and there’s also no evidence I’ve seen that the LaserComb regrows hair to any visible degree.

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Hair Loss InformationWhat Could Cause Histogen to Fail? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

i’m sure you heard and saw Histogen’s Pilot Study and the general comment i saw in all the forums were that is really promising. i hope you can answer my question..

what do you see that MAY be a downfall in Histogen HSC plan? and do you think its results are more promising than hair cloning? i know that we have been hearing the quote “3 to 5 years time” BUT i dont think science had ever had such results than now so things are moving i guess..

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HistogenI suppose the downfall could be the same for any new company in this space — financial backing. If the trials don’t go as well as expected, it may be harder to secure additional funds to keep making progress. I’m just speaking in generalities though.

I do not follow Histogen’s business or science plans close enough to scrutinize its progress, so I do not really have an opinion on its technology. The last I read about the HSC pilot program, it looked promising but only had a couple dozen participants… and it wasn’t known if the results would last for any significant amount of time.

It may be the hope to most (if not all) readers out there for a cure to balding, and I could only share the same hopes as any other.

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LaserComb Cooking DHT? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I came across an interesting blog post of a guy stating that by the prolonged use of laser comb (holding it in position for a long period) allows it to neutralize the effect of DHT by making the scalp to secrete it along with some sebum and that it gave him wonderous results in the long run

could you please share us our comments on this, do you think that his claim has any credibility?….

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CookingLaserComb does not cook DHT, nor have I seen evidence that any of the hair lasers do anything to DHT. People can believe what they want to believe, but there has yet to be any scientific study that provides a connection. I suppose that maybe what the guy with a blog reported in reversing hair loss had value (possibly circumstantial), but I truly doubt the cooking hypothesis. I’ve yet to see lasers show regrowth benefits in my own patients.

Anyone can post or say anything on the Internet, but it does not mean you have to take it at face value. I suppose that goes for what you read on my blog as well, so see your doctor if you need a second opinion.

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Can Lasers or Home Remedies Thicken Hairs? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doc,

Thanks a lot for the blog. I’m 22 and I have a full head of hair, but all the hairs are very thin. Moreover, there is distance between my hairs. Also, I have a problem of small acne kind of thing which keeps popping all over my head. However, I have started using betadine scalp and skin cleaner which has resolved the problem but I have tiny round scars all over my scalp. The main problem is my hairs are very thin. When I make them long, it covers my whole head but it gives a see-through look. When I get a buzz cut, no body knows that im balding.

IN YOUR OPINION,

1.Is there a way that each hair of my head can be thickened? Is it possible for thick-hair-promising hair oils and home remedies (egg yolk, etc.) to penetrate the scalp and nourish the hair from the roots? what about lasers, i know they cannot grow new hair, but can they make thin hair thicker (many doctors on tv say they can)?

2. Any update from lexington? They said something like they were going to publish their results in the scientific journal?

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LLLTYou can put styling products (pomade) to make your hair “feel” thicker. Medically, you can take Propecia (finasteride) to thicken the shaft size, but it is not a permanent solution. Herbal products and shampoos that claim hair thickening may accomplish this by adding water to the hair shaft. There is no scientific proof that Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT lasers) work in my experience.

There was a study published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy last year that an insightful BaldingBlog reader wrote a response to — Reader Checks in with His Thoughts on the Latest LaserComb Study. I can’t seem to find the actual study online anymore though.

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Accuracy of MPB Predisposition Testing? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr, I’m a regular reader of your blog and have honestly found it both reassuring and informative in equal measure, so thanks for the great work.

My question is regarding the new test for determining a patients predisposition to MPB. I know it has been made available by a very reputable British Dr, but it seemed to me that if such a test were accurate and completely reliable it would be absolutely industry standard? Have you any insights on it and it’s reliability?

also as a ps, I wonder if you have any safety pointers to look out for when purchasing generic propecia online?

many thanks again

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All tests have flaws with a margin of error. There is no completely perfect, 100% accurate test. The genetic balding test like HairDX gives you a probability score, not a blanket YES or NO answer. It is not an industry standard, because any good physician can diagnose MPB without a blood test.

I don’t have hands-on experience with generic Propecia, as it isn’t legal in the US yet due to patent laws… so what I know about the generic brands has been limited to just learning all the names. As for safety pointers, well, the biggest pointer would be to not order medication from an online pharmacy that you don’t have previous experience with. I am not an advocate of ordering medication online anyway, as many of those pharmacies ignore the law and don’t require a prescription when necessary.

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Dr Shapiro’s Hair Loss and Whey Protein Supplement Study – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Interesting brand new study on the link between male pattern baldness and whey protein isolate supplements. What do you think?

Links: WPLG Miami News Video and Study [PDF]

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Although the results of Dr. Shapiro’s study of 100 patients do look favorably upon using whey protein, I can’t say one way or the other if this dietary supplement works to improve the appearance of hair or not. There is no real double blind test to show value. That is the standard scientific methodology needed to prove something like this.

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Hair Loss InformationNew Genetic Hair Loss Test in India – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I just read this press release about a company in India that developed a baldness prediction test that sounds similar to Hair DX.

Do you know anything about it? It sounds like it is just limited to India right now, but I was curious if its like a generic Hair DX (I dont know if that’s even possible) or if they are testing in an entirely different way. Thanks

Link: Metropolis develops screening test to predict genetic predisposition to baldness

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MetropolisThe press release you sent is the first I’ve heard of it (thanks for bringing it to my attention), but I’d assume this newly announced test identifies the same genes as HairDX. It doesn’t appear that the HairDX test is available in India, so Metropolis appears to have the market cornered there.

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Hair Loss InformationFamily History Shows Men Losing Hair Later, So Why Am I Losing Hair at 19? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My father start to lose his hair at 45 and my uncle at 35-40, and no grandfather have hairloss problem. I have 21 now and for 2 years i’m fighting to keep my hair with avodart, kirkland and some vitamins named forcapil, but this seems that not work very well for me. Why i begin to lose my hair at 19 if my father start to lose at 45. I can make something else for my hair?

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ForcapilFamily patterns do not necessarily follow either by the degree of balding or the onset of balding. Sometimes they can be used as a guideline, but it’s not a guarantee. So why did you start losing hair at 19 years old? I guess you can attribute it to bad luck.

You’re young with early hair loss and you’re using multiple treatments. Let’s break down your regimen:

Avodart (dutasteride) — I assume you don’t have a prescription, as I’d expect most doctors would not prescribe this strong prostate medication to a 19 year old with early hair loss. Avodart is not approved to treat hair loss at this time. Although there is evidence it works to treat genetic hair loss, most doctors would not be comfortable prescribing this until at least dosing and safety data is available. If you do have a prescription, you should be talking to your doctor about this.

Minoxidil (I believe this is what you meant by Kirkland) — This is fine, but I don’t know if you’re following the dosing instructions. Apply it twice a day to the area that you’re losing hair. If you’re losing hair in the frontal hairline, it probably won’t be much help there.

Forcapil (vitamin supplement) — Their site describes it as a “special formula combining vitamin B complex, sulfurated amino acids, zinc and vitamin D3“… which means if you’re taking it with hopes of regrowing your hair this is probably a waste of time and money. I hadn’t heard of Forcapil before, but it appears to be made by a French pharmaceutical company and not sold in the US. I found the dosing instructions are to take 6 pills a day for the first 2 weeks, then 2 pills a day for the next 6 weeks… so I hope you enjoy taking pills.