2 Effective Hairloss Treatments (Rogaine Propecia)

Member Name: Lizzad

Product:	Rogaine Propecia
Date:	05/09/03 (9717 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Slows Down Hairloss., Good chance of regrowth., Best when Minoxidil & Finasteride are used in combination.

Disadvantages: Both treatments need to be taken indefinately., Can be expensive (however, ordering from the USA is much cheaper)., May not help those men with SEVERE balding, best to catch the problem early.

These treatments have long been approved by the FDA [(food and drug administration), which is an American Medical Organisation] for the treatment od male patten baldness, however, they are not so widely know in the UK, so here is some information to enlighten you...

Minoxidil is a liquid, topically applied to the affected aread, this is the chemical found in pre-mixed solutions like Rogaine & Regaine, but you can very easily obtain the active ingredients in generic versions of this product (eg. Kirkland Signature). There is a 2% and a 5% formulation that have been approved by the FDA, however other custom solutions are also available by proprietary companies. Minoxidil in its 2% form has been approved for use in both Men and Women, however the 5% is typically only for use in men. Women sometimes use the 5% when the 2% form does not work for them, but there may be side effects at 5%.

Minoxidil is an ingredient which works to stimulate hair follicles into growth. It is safe to say that the 5% version is the strongest FDA approved regrowth product available over the counter, while the 2% is something you may wish to start with if you're just starting to lose your hair.

This is an over the counter treatment, in the UK and USA, and does not require a prescription in 2% and 5% solutions. However, it is harder to find in the UK. It is primarily used to stimulate hair growth. It is not the same as a DHT inhibitor like Propecia, and does not work to stop the causes of hair loss - only to override them. Minoxidil is classed as a "Potassium Channel Opener". Its true method of action for is not completely understood, however it has been clinically proven that drugs which open Potassium Channels seem to stimulate hair growth.

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Propicia/Proscar is the brand name for the chemical Finasteride. If someone were to tell yo
u that you had an 83% chance of keeping all the hair you currently have by taking a pill every day, would you do it? With Propecia, it's not only a possibility, it's becoming a reality for hundreds of thousands of men. For the group of younger men looking to keep their hair loss from getting any worse, this treatment has become a Godsend. Men who have already lost a significant amount of hair can use Propecia in conjunction with other treatments and potentially see some serious results.

Over 20 years ago a drug by the name of Proscar was approved for prevention of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH). Its active ingredient was 5mg of Finasteride, and it was taken once daily by men over 60. Finasteride was shown to inhibit the formation of DHT, one of the biggest culprits in the formation of Prostate Cancer, and conveniently enough, hair loss as well.

Merck Pharmaceuticals sought to find the smallest effective quantity of finasteride and test its long term effects on 1,553 men between ages 18 and 41 with mild to moderate thinning of hair. Based on their research, 1mg daily was selected, and after 2 years of daily treatment, over 83% of the 1,553 men had actually maintained or increased their hair count from baseline. Visual assessments concluded that over 80% had improved appearances.

Finasteride (Proscar) 5mg was split into fifths and bottled as a 1mg daily treatment for hair loss called Propecia. A prescription is required to obtain this treatment. However, there are numerous ONLINE retailers which will sell without need for prescription!

Propecia, like Proscar, is the newest clinically proven treatment on the market for men experiencing hair loss. It also has the longest, most successful run of any treatment to have undergone FDA trials. At the writing of this review, the original 2 year trials are approaching their 6th year, and the vast majority of participants are still maintaining hair counts.



Prope
cia's main benefit is to stop hair loss from progressing, and to maintain what hair one has left. In clinical trials, it did increase hair count in over 60% of men, but only about 42% had any noticeable improvement. Propecia is commonly used by younger men wishing to stop the progression of their hair loss, and it is extremely good at accomplishing this goal. It is also commonly used as a part of a combination treatment regimen with Minoxidil 2% and 5% by men who already have extensive hair loss.

It is important to note that neither is a miracle solution, however when used, especially together, studies have shown that they are very effective at maintaining hair & even producing regrowth. Especially when the problem is tacked early!


More information can be found at:

www.minoxidil.com
www.propecia.com
www.hairsite.com

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