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Best Hair Thickening Agent?

I am a 42 year old male with thinning hair both at the front & crown area of my head. Without entertaining hair transplants, what do you recommend to improve the appearance of my hair? What is the best Thickening agent/shampoo out there? Are there any products that actually work in your opinion? I used minoxidol years ago but gave it up quickly.

Thanks

There are many thickening agents/shampoos on the market and people respond differently to each depending upon texture, shaft thickness, the wave in the hair, and other factors. I generally tell people to buy a series of such products and then test what works best, or ask a hair stylist who works with such products daily and get a recommendation from them. Minoxidil does not impact the texture or shaft thickness from above the skin as thickening agents/shampoo will.


2006-01-13 12:01:13Best Hair Thickening Agent?

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Minoxidil Response?

My situation is that I used minoxidil for 1.5 years, so imagine all that time I wasn’t a responder. Can it make my hair worse since I’m just applying alcohol all the time? I’m asking about my situation cause I have been on fin and min and my hair is worse.

If you used topical minoxidil, only 40% of men have the enzyme in their scalp to convert minoxidil to minoxidil sulfate, the active form of minoxidil; however, if you have taken it orally, 100% of men should get some response to the drug because the liver creates minoxidil sulfate, the active form of the drug. If you had no response to the oral, then you are not a minoxidil responder.

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How to better grow your hair?

One of my patients did this search in Medical News Today. This is a kick off place for you to search further on the various subject below. The links are active below and many of these remedies have been addressed in previous balding blog posts over the years.

Apple cider vinegar for hair growth: Does it work?13 Sep 2017 What is apple cider vinegar and can apple cider vinegar boost hair growth? Learn if it is safe to use and what the proven health benefits of vinegar are.

Hair growth stimulated using stem cells14 Aug 2017 Using 3-D organoids made from stem cells, scientists managed to uncover a six-step process by which hair grows and stimulated hair growth.

Study provides new insights into male pattern baldness13 Jul 2017 New research maps hair growth patterns across the entire body, providing new insights into male pattern baldness and excessive hair growth.

Can I use vitamins for hair growth?12 Jul 2017 Health experts agree that eating a well-balanced diet that contains the 13 essential vitamins can help maintain the health of your hair.

Alopecia: Hair growth restored with new drug26 Sep 2016 Clinical trials conducted by Columbia University Medical Center find that JAK inhibitors may trigger hair regrowth in people with alopecia areata.

Drug promises robust new hair growth23 Oct 2015 Researchers have found that two drugs already approved by the FDA for other conditions can help strengthen hair growth, offering hope for people with baldness and alopecia.

Researchers generate new hair growth using human pluripotent stem cells 28 Jan 2015A new treatment for hair loss could be on the horizon; researchers have found a way to generate new hair growth using human pluripotent stem cells.

Mouse study finds immune system could promote hair growth 24 Dec 2014Cancer researchers have found an unexpected association between the macrophages of the immune system and regenerative skin stem cells.

Arthritis drug helps bald man grow full head of hair 20 Jun 2014Using an arthritis drug, doctors have restored hair growth in a 25-year-old man left bare of body hair from the uncommon disease alopecia universalis.

Signals That Prompt Hair Growth Discovered, May Pave Way For Baldness Treatment 05 Sep 2011Molecular signals that trigger hair growth have been discovered by scientists from Yale University, according to an article published in Cell.

Reversing Baldness – Clue May Lie In Stem Cell Signals That Trigger Hair Growth 02 Sep 2011By studying mice, researchers found that stem cells in the fatty layer of the skin send signals that trigger hair growth, and suggest the discovery could lead to new treatments for…

Adverse effects of common prostate enlargement and hair growth drugs: A review 26 Aug 2015Twenty-five percent of men currently taking Finasteride or Dutasteride, popularly known as Proscar and Avodart, for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement (BPH), appear not to benefit from…

To boldly go where few mice have gone before…27 May 2015Prolonged exposure to space conditions may induce skin thinning and cause profound alterations in the hair growth cycle according to a study in three mice published online in the first issue..

Positive clinical study results for Cellmid’s hair growth product using novel FGF5 inhibitor 17 Apr 2015Cellmid Limited has received strong positive results in all measured areas of its independently conducted, randomized, blinded and placebo controlled human clinical study of the évolis ONE…

Hair growth in mice promoted by honeybee hive sealant 16 Dec 2014Hair loss can be devastating for the millions of men and women who experience it.

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Missed a Week of Avodart Dosages

Something went wrong at my pharmacy and I’m going to miss almost a week’s worth of doses of Avodart. It’s 0.5 mg/day. I’ve been taking it for 5 years now-every day. Will the drug still be in my body enough to suffice or should I be concerned that it will cause my hair loss to be more aggressive?

Thanks!

I don’t know what you will notice by missing Avodart (dutasteride) for one week. I do know missing Propecia (finasteride) for one week will be almost no issue. Perhaps your physician might know better, since he/she prescribed it.

You’ve been on the medication for half a decade so I’m sure the following isn’t news to you, but I have to point this out for the rest of the readers out there: As it is still not FDA approved to treat hair loss, we do not recommend Avodart. There is no solid study on what is the recommend or effective dose for treating hair loss. In addition, the drug lasts months in your body after stopping it.


2010-09-23 08:25:03Missed a Week of Avodart Dosages

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Black Tea and DHT?

I have read some studies online about black tea and dht.They seem to indicate that black tea reduces dht as much as propecia while actually increasing serum testosterone levels. Do you know anything about this

Earl Grey is black tea, and it’s probably the most common tea in the UK… where hair loss is just as prominent as anywhere else in the world. Those who try to connect DHT with the current supplement/food source of the day can have a big market impact, so it doesn’t surprise me that the buzzwords get people excited.

As far as I recall, the study about black tea and DHT was in a couple dozen lab rats and it was published a few years ago. I don’t know anything further, but I suspect that if there was anything to it, more would’ve been announced since then. If someone has more info, please feel free to let me know.

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More Info on Generic Propecia in the US

We received quite a few phone calls and emails after yesterday’s post about Dr Reddy’s 1mg finasteride (generic Propecia) now becoming available in the US, so we called some pharmacies in the Los Angeles area to get pricing/availability info:

Costco:

In stock! $47.37 per 30 day supply at Hawthorne, CA location (compared to $73.92 for name brand Propecia). Costco has an online price checker, but it’s not showing the 1mg generic in the system yet.

Target:

In stock! $67.99 per 30 day supply at Los Angeles location on La Cienega (compared to $73.92 for name brand Propecia)

CVS:

In stock! $70 per 30 day supply (compared to $98 for name brand Propecia)

Walmart:

Not in stock as of this posting (Jan 8, 2013)

Walgreens:

Not in stock as of this posting (Jan 8, 2013)

Rite Aid:

Not in stock as of this posting (Jan 8, 2013)

–
There isn’t a significant savings from the generic at CVS or Target, but Costco has the lowest price so far at under $48/mo. It doesn’t seem like there will be a huge drop in price until perhaps the 180 day exclusive window is up and other pharmaceutical companies can make their generic Propecia available. I have no estimates on what the price point might be 6-12 months from today, but I hope the price does come down considerably in that time.

Pricing and availability could change at any point, so you should call your local pharmacy for info.

Photo source: Twitter @KerriLynn_C (hat tip to KP)


2013-01-08 13:32:54More Info on Generic Propecia in the US

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Boar Bristle Brush, Water, and Wheatgrass

Dr Rassman, like many others, I keep an eye on my head every day, not liking what I see. I’ve already been on propecia for a couple of yrs, seemingly with no significant benefits. This has lead to explore other options, theories etc. That being said, I would really appreciate your thoughts on 3 things and whether they earn a spot on the list of possible contributors to hair loss. They would obviously be an aside to the most common ones ie genetic, infection related, stress

1. The first is not drinking enough water, because generally speaking there are a number of ramifications for not doing so.

2. Second one is, benefits from using a boar bristle brush with the theory being: “The other excellent feature of a boar bristle brush is the massaging effect. The hard bristles stimulate the scalp, increasing the blood flow which can be very relaxing and soothing. The stimulation of the scalp also spreads the natural oils of the scalp – the sebum through the hair and down the hair shaft. This results in smoother, healthier hair that is soft and manageable. Increasing the blood flow to the scalp has been linked to stimulating hair growth, creating thicker and longer hair as well.”

3. And last, possible benefits from “supplements” such as drinking wheatgrass or matcha based drinks, both of which seemingly have a number of overall health benefits.

Thanks very much in advance for your time and valuable input!

We have said many times that genetic hair loss is not a curable or completely reversible process. It is what you are born with. Drugs such as Propecia (finasteride) work, but in the long run your genes will catch up. I’m not sure what benefits you’re looking for from Propecia. Are you merely looking for regrowth? Or have you seen continued loss at the same pace?

  1. Drinking water and hydration have nothing to do with hair loss.
  2. Massaging the head with brushes do not impact hair loss (either positive or negative). Blood flow is not the issue. Your hair follicles are programmed to die due to their inherent genetic programming tied to a particular number of hair cycles.
  3. I realize supplements are a big thing in our society, but it really does not impact the hair in my opinion.

Sorry for the negativity, but it is how I see it. Everyone is free to try their own remedies in hopes of stumbling on the cure.

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Boost Hair Vitamins

i was just wondering if you heard of a company called “Boost”? They are a vitamin company and a hair care product company. Supposedly there stuff works they say?! Have you heard of them? Their website is worldofhair.com

Can you check out their site and tell me what you think? I basically dont want to start buying there product and realize it’s bogus!!

BoostVitamins are great, and products that can strengthen hair or make it healthier are good… but they have one product in their Boost line that claims to be good for thinning hair, and even says “guaranteed to stop hair fall”. Most over the counter hair products people ask me about the outlandish hair loss treatment claims (like guaranteeing something that can’t be guaranteed), and unfortunately this one is no different. It appears to just be a vitamin infused shampoo. Which vitamins is it infused with? No idea. However, I’d be skeptical of any product that brags about hair growth abilities and tries to sell the idea by saying it contains, “herbs, proteins, aminos and more“. I want to know if “more” includes leprechaun magic…

Does it work? Again, I have no idea. But when a company uses smooth sounding marketing lingo and doesn’t provide any real substance, it doesn’t fill me with any trust in the products. Don’t expect it to regrow hair, but if you do try it I’d be curious to read your review. The FDA takes a strong position when a company promotes a benefit and can not prove it. They can be told to stop selling the product.

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Only have my mustache grows, what can I do?

I have always grown a full mustache but mine started disappearing little by little. I only grow one side and the other is as smooth as a babies bottom. what sucks so much about is that I have to keep up with shaving one side so you cant see it growing in and looks like I forgot a side lol. (what’s going on) any anwsers

A mustache transplant can solve this problem, something we do frequently