Category: Hair Products

Trying to research (and in the process, bypass all the websites advertising products claiming to be the “answer” for hair loss) a solution for my thinning spot. There has to be a biological reason this happens and, thus, a biochemical solution. In other words, I’m seeking a connection between foods I eat and regrowing the hair – a natural way that involves my diet rather than expensive pills or surgery. Are you aware of any research in this regard? Where can I find information about their findings?
Thank you!

There are many causes for hair loss and it is well understood. To date, the only “biochemical solution” they have found is a drug called finasteride (Propecia) which is approved by the FDA for the “biochemical” treatment of male pattern hair loss or male pattern baldness (MPB). You are also correct in stating that certain diets (such as poor nutrition) can lead to hair loss. Unfortunately, the only medical solution to MPB is either taking finasteride or getting a hair transplant. Nothing is guaranteed, and you can find out much more about Propecia, here.

You are under the impression that you are what you eat, and there is clearly truth to this concept, but the complexity of the thousands of vitamins, nutrients, protein, sugars, and other things in our diet weighted against the things that are wrong with us is a daunting task. Just above, I discussed the drug finasteride, but did you know that this substance we call finasteride was actually found in the diet of some primitive people? It was naturally in the food staple of their daily diet. Because they ate so much of it, the explorers that first found the primitive tribe noticed that there were no young boys — just what appeared to be girls. On further examination of this situation, they found many, many hermaphrodites in the population that came from ingestion of this ‘natural food’ substance. This later turned out to become finasteride, a drug used for men with prostate problems and/or hair loss. So here are some important lessons for the natural minded herbalist readership:

1. Not all natural foods are safe. Arsenic is natural, but it can kill.
2. There are many good things in what we eat. A good healthy diet will make us healthy.
3. If we eat anything that is not well understood, then we should take the time to learn and understand the issues of safety and effectiveness if we expect some outcome from what we eat.
4. There are many substances that work to produce effects we might want. Some natural substances have steroids in them and they may make us feel better, healthier and look more muscular, but the question that must be asked is what is the real costs of such substances? Steroids are harmful in the long term and are not good things to take whether it be natural or in pill form.
5. Even things like Vitamin A which is healthy in low doses, can cause hair loss in high doses.

If you are concerned about your hair loss or thinning, you should first be evaluated by a hair transplant doctor to map your scalp for miniaturization and the pattern of your hair loss.

Finally, if you find this elusive “cure” to hair loss, please come see me. I would love to be your business partner!

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I am a 46 year old balding man presently at class 5. I have tried minoxidil up to the 12.5% concentration (Xandrox) but has not worked for me. I also have had one transplant session of about 400 grafts (not NHI) but most of the grafts are gone and obviously am not happy with the result. I just wanted to know if you would recommend my continuing the 12.5% minoxidil or even try the 15% treatment just to slow down the balding process and keep me from going to class 6 or class 7.

Your question is troubling me. Transplanted hairs are permanant and very successful so if yours failed, something is wrong. It is also troubling that you only had 400 hair grafts when you state you are a Norwood Class 5. That would hardly have an impact on your appearance. If your hair transplant was a failure, it is my opinion that you should follow-up with your original hair transplant doctor to discuss the failure with him/her. There are instances where patients believe their hair transplant was a failure because they also had ongoing hair loss. Could that be your situation?

Furthermore, if minoxidil 5% or 12.5% didn’t work for you, what makes you think 15% will work? Minoxidil, like all drugs, has its limitations and higher concentrations may have adverse side effects. Depending on your medical history and a good diagnosis of hair loss, I would also consider finasteride (Propecia) as another option.

Dear Doctor,
Recently I have been prescribed with Tribestan to boost my testerone level. But i have been taking Propecia for a year now and the effect from propecia is good and i am a more confident man now of course with more hair too.

My question is can Tribestan be taken together with Propecia? will it cause more hairloss? or any side effects?

Thank in advance. Desperately needing a answer… Best Regards

Tribestan is not a medication. It is a natural supplement that is available over the counter without a prescription. Since Tribestan is not a FDA approved product, there is no medical evidence for its efficacy or its precise mechanism of action. There are endless internet sites that promote Tribestan (as I have found), but there are no formal FDA approved or medical data on Tribestan, nor are there any studies that show safety and / or effectiveness. For those reasons there is no way for me to tell if there would be adverse effects when taken with Propecia. There is no medical evidence.

I do not know your medical history to know how or why your “testosterone level” is low. Perhaps you should be seen by your primary care doctor for a complete physical.

i’m 22 and have been thinning in the crown/back/top for about 3 years. i’ve used minox 5 % and propecia for a couple of years, switched to dutasteride 10 months ago…with no results.

i am going to continue the avodart…but i’ve recently started a regimen from Regenix out of LA. i was wondering if using minox 5 % once a day is enough to avoid a major shed? regenix took some hair samples and ‘formulated’ a treatment just for me. do you know if Regenix is worth my time and money? also, could it be that the avodart takes a while to start showing results? any advice is much appreciated.
thanks.

I am assuming that you are a male, not female. With that said, if you have genetic hair loss and it is progressing rapidly, then it sounds like you have real problems. I may sound like a broken record here, but you need your scalp mapped out for miniaturization and then get a working diagnosis.

Avodart, in theory, is as good or more potent than Propecia. Minoxidil must be used twice daily to get any reasonable effect. I do not know about the special formulations of Regenix you asked about. To me, it sounds like you are playing with fire with a blind-fold on. Please get a working diagnosis first so you will know what is really happening.

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