Question – Does Propecia Work?

January 18, 2010 · Posted in hair treatment · Comment 

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) gave its answer to the question “Does Propecia Work? when it gave approval to Merck & Co. to market this drug back in 1998.

For any drug to receive FDA approval, years of tests are involved and a huge investment of time and resources on the part of the pharmaceutical companies involved.

In the case of Propecia, over 1,500 men were involved in a two year study. The results showed that over 80% noticed an improvement in their hair growth and density. So the answer to the question “Does Propecia work?” is: Yes, in the majority of cases.

Obviously results differ on an individual basis and some men will experience better results than others. The drug needs to be taken daily for at least 2-3 months before making a final decision as to whether it is worth continuing.

Bear in mind that once you start taking Propecia you have committed yourself to a lifelong course of medication. Stop taking Propecia after hair has started to increase and you risk losing what you gained.

Just how does Propecia work?

The male hormone testosterone is involved. It is a contributing factor in the production of DHT, (Dihydrotestosterone) which can cause hair follicles to malfunction and shut down. Propecia blocks the process in which DHT is formed.

Each Propecia tablet contains 1mg of Finasteride, a drug originally used to combat prostate cancer in men over 50. It was prescribed in 5mg doses. It was noted that those who used this drug often experienced increased hair growth. Propecia is just the brand name of a different version of Finasteride specifically prescribed to combat male hair loss on the crown of the head or the mid-scalp area.

Does Propecia work for women too?

No. Precautions issued with the drug stress that this medication is for men only.

Additionally, although each tablet is coated pregnant women or women who think they might be pregnant are advised not to handle this medication. Contact with crushed or broken Propecia tablets can lead to deformities in the sex organs of male children.

Does Propecia work for all kinds of hair loss?

No. The drug is effective for hair loss on the crown of the head and mid-scalp. There is insufficient evidence to suggest it can help a receding hair line or loss of hair on the sides of the head.

From comments on user forums to do with hair loss it is evident that Propecia does work for many men. However, there are serious precautionary factors to consider:

1. This is a lifelong commitment which can be quite costly. Additionally the long term effects over decades of use are at this point impossible to predict.

2. A small percentage of men (around 3%) experienced various forms of sexual dysfunction including impotence, once they started taking Propecia. These effects quickly disappeared once the medication was stopped. In the clinical trials it is true that around 2% of the men using the placebo, a sugar tablet, also experienced forms of sexual dysfunction. So the number of men actually affected is quite small. However, it is important to be aware of these side effects.

Regretfully there is no ideal solution for hair loss at this time. However, there are a variety of choices available in combating hair loss. Prescription drugs such as Propecia are one option. Natural herbal remedies without side effects are another. See the resource box.

In conclusion: Does Propecia work? Yes, in the majority of cases from all the clinical evidence and user feedback available. Are you prepared for the possible implications of long term use? That is something you have to seriously consider.

Author: Mike Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker

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Does Rogaine Work?

December 30, 2009 · Posted in baldness · Comment 

In a single word, YES! Rogaine works as a hair loss treatment. Otherwise, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration of US) would not approve it. FDA is a tough authority, and never approves a medication, unless there are some high quality scientific proof showing usage of that drug is safe and results are good.

Yes, Rogaine (Minoxidil) works. HOWEVER, this does NOT mean that:

* Rogaine regrows hair in ALL of people

* Rogaine restores ALL of your hair

* The quality of the new hair just like the your normal ones

* Rogaine works for ALL types of baldness

* Rogaine works forever

The truth is:

* Rogaine GENERALLY regrows hair in most of men and women

* In some cases, it yields miraculous results, and restores almost all of your hairs and they are really thick

* In some case, it results in a thin coverage of thin hair

* In some case, of course, the result is far from satisfying.

Rogaine’s success may depend on how advanced your hair loss has become. So, the more severe hair loss problem, the less the results are satisfying. One of the real benefits of Rogaine is keeping what hair you have or slowing your thinning. So, it is especially good at preventing hair loss. So, when you detect a hair loss problem, you should take action as soon as possible. Rogaine is especially effective in maintaining or growing hair in the crown area (the top back of the head). It is not effective in the frontal hairline areas. Rogaine works for both men and women. Some people say it is also more effective in women than in men.

How Does Rogaine work?

Rogaine revitalizes shrunken hair follicles, thus increasing their size. When you use Rogaine regularly, your follicles may increase in size and in number, and the growing phase may become longer. This may then produce longer, thicker hairs. The exact mechanism of action of Rogaine as hair loss treatment is not known. However, scientist showed that Rogaine increases the blood flow to the balding areas of the scalp. Some researchers believe that Rogaine (minoxidil) works by opening the follicle’s potassium channels located in the cells.

Author: Edgar Gilbertson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

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Hair Loss Treatment – The Rogaine Minoxidil Story

December 15, 2009 · Posted in baldness · Comment 

Rogaine Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment came on the market back in 1988 after gaining FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval to be sold as a prescription drug.

Then in 1996 the status was changed so Rogaine Minoxidil could be sold over the counter instead of being prescription only. This has no doubt accelerated the growth of Rogaine Minoxidil as a popular hair loss treatment for both men and women.

Minoxidil was originally a drug used to treat high blood pressure. It was marketed under the name Loniten by the Upjohn company (now part of Pfizer). It works by relaxing blood vessels to allow the blood to pass through easily. However, patients using Minoxidil for high blood pressure noticed the following side effects:

  • hair growth
  • weight gain
  • increased heartbeat
  • chest pain

It was the hair growth side effect that caught attention and after further development Minoxidil was manufactured in 2% and 5% doses under the brand name Rogaine to combat hair loss.

Two Versions

The 2% version could be used for men and women while the 5% version was recommended for men only. Some women who used the extra strength noticed undesirable facial hair growth.

In view of the effect on the blood circulation, heart patients are advised to consult their doctor before considering using Rogaine Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment.

In all its forms, Rogaine Minoxidil is a topical solution that needs to be massaged into the scalp areas affected by hair loss. This must be done daily and patience is needed as results may not be seen for many months. Initially there may even be more hair loss before improvement is seen.

In view of the fact that Rogaine Minoxidil changed from being a prescription only hair loss treatment to over the counter status indicates the side effects are no longer deemed that serious. In fact, from user feedback it appears the side effect that causes most concern is skin irritation on the scalp.

Additionally, users report that Rogaine Minoxidil can make the hair extremely greasy. Applying it first thing in the morning after a shower can result in the hair appearing limp and matted through the day – a condition many men and women find a major disadvantage.

Relief For Men

Relief for men has come in the form of Rogaine Minoxidil Foam. This new application seems to overcome this negative side effect. Like shaving foam in appearance, this new form of Rogaine Minoxidil can be easily applied to the scalp.

Rogaine Minoxidil Foam contains 5% Minoxidil and is therefore recommended for men only. It is suggested you wash your hands under cold water first before using the foam dispenser so the foam doesn’t melt so quickly in the hand before applying it to the scalp. The foam appears to melt as it comes to skin temperature.

It needs to be stressed that Rogaine Minoxidil is not a whole scalp hair loss treatment. In the clinical trials it worked best for hair loss on the crown of the head and mid-scalp area. Hair loss at the temples or a receding hairline seemed to not respond in the same way as hair loss or thinning hair on the top of the head.

Nevertheless, the popularity of Rogaine Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment cannot be disputed. From the time it came on the market in 1988 to the time it’s status was changed in 1996, some estimates put sales at over $700 million. From 1996 to the present with its over the counter availability the sales must be colossal.

Scientific studies indicate Rogaine Minoxidil does work for many. In one trial, over 55% of men regrew hair. That means 45% did not see any improvement. It seemed to work best on men who had been experiencing hair loss for less than 10 years with a balding patch under 4 inches across with some hairs in the middle of the balding patch.

A Realistic Appraisal

These details help give a realistic picture. As the manufacturer clearly states: “Not everyone responds to Rogaine. Individual results vary.”

There are at present only two FDA approved medications for hair loss treatment – Rogaine and Propecia. Propecia is for men only and it appears to have a higher success rate than Rogaine although the side effects need consideration as well as the lifelong commitment.

So if you are looking for a hair loss treatment, you may wish to consider Rogaine Minoxidil. You could be one of the group who find it is the answer they have been looking for.

Author: Mike Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

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