Dody's Blog at Greyhairloss.com

Causes and Symptoms of Hereditary Baldness

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:58:25 GMT

The main cause of hereditary baldness is, as its name says, genetic. However, some people believe that losing hair is the result of poor circulation in the scalp, elevated stress, wearing hats and long hair or masturbation, which obviously is not true. Such rumours are also spread by the marketers of hair scams, who are trying to exploit our lack of knowledge. They often tell us that hair loss is due to the blocking and malnutrition of hair follicles or that scalp inflammation and a diet poor in essential nutrients cause baldness in order to sell us scalp cleansers and vitamin pills.

But how does genetics cause hair loss? Hereditary baldness in both men and women is caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) attacks on our hair follicles. This happens in all of us but only some people are born with hair follicles that are vulnerable to these attacks, which results in hair loss. The exact mechanism by which DHT acts on our follicles is, however, not yet known.

DHT is a metabolite of the male hormone testosterone, which plays a key role in the development of an enlarged prostate. In addition to making the prostate swell, it causes the hair follicles to shrink and produce finer and thinner hair with each hair growth cycle until they refuse to produce another hair and die. Hence, the balding process is actually hair miniaturisation. DHT is able to shut off only those hair follicles that have a genetic predisposition to baldness. They are usually located on the front and the top of our scalp, which gives us the typical horseshoe balding pattern called male pattern baldness. This pattern is less pronounced in women, who usually lose hair on their entire scalp, which leads to diffuse hair loss.

Hence, hair loss is actually hair miniaturisation. This explains why so many hair loss sufferers do not notice that they are losing hair until it becomes obvious to everybody. In the initial stage, only a doctor can tell you whether you are suffering from hereditary baldness, by performing a miniaturisation test. In some instances increased hair fall (more than 100 hairs a day for an extended period of time) can lead to baldness but more often than that hair loss goes on unnoticed until we lose 50% of our hair.

In people suffering from hereditary baldness the balding process can be greatly accelerated during the shedding periods. Those of us living in a temperate zone go through a shedding period twice a year - once in spring and once in autumn. Each shedding period lasts between four and six weeks. Somebody who suffers from hereditary baldness may, during this period, lose a substantial portion of their hair but many of them will not be replaced by new budding hair. This situation leads to the visible worsening of the hair loss condition within a few months. However, for people not suffering from hereditary baldness, increased shedding is normal and no reason for concern.

The most effective treatments for hereditary baldness are those that address its main cause - DHT attacks on our hair follicles. Such drugs are called antiandrogens and they either prevent the creation of DHT in the scalp or block the activity of DHT in the scalp by binding to the receptor sites in the follicle or blocking activity in the androgen receptor itself. Propecia (brand name for finasteride) is the best-known and the most powerful antiandrogen currently approved to treat male pattern baldness.

Touch of Gray Review

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:12:24 GMT

Touch of Gray is a new hair colorant from the US that hit the market in April this year. It has been designed for men, allowing them to control how much gray remains in their hair. Touch of Gray comes in the form of a gel in five shades. It is said to be easy to apply. You just comb it into your hair for five minutes and rinse it off and shampoo your hair. This product does not contain any poisonous metallic compounds; it is a mix of organic chemicals that may be, though, aggressive to the skin and eyes. Touch of Gray may not be used for colouring facial hair. It should be applied in weekly intervals until the desired shade has been achieved. The composition of Touch of Gray and its mode of action remind you of regular hair dyes but you need to apply it several times to cover most of your gray hair, which gives you better control and makes the change less noticeable.

Touch of Gray is a product a few months old, available only to North American customers and no consumer reviews are yet available. My assessment is purely based on publicly-available information and my conclusion is that Touch of Gray is a discrete form of regular hair dye that does its job stepwise, just like semi-permanent dyes do. Its chemical composition reminds you of a permanent hair dye but its mode of action is more similar to semi-permanent dyes. Touch of Gray contains PPD (p-phenylenediamine), believed to be a leading cause of hair colour allergic reactions. The fact that it needs to be applied more often than a regular, permanent hair dye may increase the chances of triggering allergy. It contains no peroxide or ammonia, though.

Review of Nisim New Hair Biofactors

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:39:03 GMT

Nisim New Hair Biofactors pack is an all-natural, hair care system of topical applications, which claims to help slow the effects of hair loss and regrow hair. These products are suitable for both men and women. Herbal extracts are, besides amino acids and vitamins, the main active ingredients of Nisim products. The herbal mix consists of saw palmetto (this small palm fruit cannot be missing in any herbal hair loss remedy), panax ginseng (both panax ginseng and Siberian ginseng are used in herbal hair loss remedies, as they are supposed to stimulate hair growth), ivy (a presumed hair growth stimulant) and chamomile and rosemary as antioxidants. Chamomile should also help fight small skin infections. In addition, Nisim products contain several other common herbs that are not usually found in many other hair loss treatments, such as sweet chestnut, arnica montana and geranium maculatum. Needless to say none of the aforementioned herbs has ever been clinically tested and proven to promote new hair growth.

Consumer reviews are few and only available at hair loss forums. Although some people are pleased with Nisim shampoo, it is rare to hear any praise from hair loss sufferers regarding the entire range of Nisim New Hair Biofactors therapy. The words scam and Nisim can often be found in the same sentence.

Nioxin Review

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:35:54 GMT

The Nioxin brand includes a range of hair care products, with Nioxin intensive therapy follicle booster seemingly the key hair loss formula. The intensive follicle therapy booster contains a large number of active ingredients, including minerals (copper, silicon, iron, magnesium and zinc), vitamins (pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin), amino acids, proteins, phytosterols, bioflavonoids and herbal extracts. Other ingredients of interest include caffeine and adenosine. The herbal complex is comprised of angelica sinensis (a herb from the ginseng genus, often found in hair loss products that is believed to possess anti-inflammatory properties), centella asiatica (Ayurvedic youth tonic), ginkgo biloba, humulus lupus (common hops used for brewing beer), serenoa serrulata (a synonym for saw palmetto that is found in every herbal hair loss remedy), dioscorea villosa (rich in phytoestrogens, often speculatively associated with fighting male pattern baldness), visnaga vera (a microcirculation stimulant assumed to strengthen hair), cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seed oil rich in iron, zinc and essential fatty acids), prunus africana (this is a synonym for pygeum africanum), mentha piperita (peppermint is assumed to possess antibacterial properties) and rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary is thought to be an antioxidant and natural vasodilator).

Nioxin intensive therapy follicle booster seems to contain almost any ingredient that has ever been suspected of promoting healthy skin and hair growth but this variety of ingredients is no guarantee for its effectiveness. Nioxin intensive therapy follicle booster is a topical application and it is questionable how many of its ingredients can actually reach deeper skin layers, down at the level of hair follicles. Consumer reviews are rare and inconclusive. Users at hair loss forums usually comment on Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. The Nioxin range of products is not presented and should not be considered as a hair loss therapy. It can at best be used as a complementary treatment to one of the more powerful hair loss therapies.

Nioxin Review

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:00:39 GMT

Reviews of Shou Wu Pill and Shou Wu Pian

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:20:13 GMT

Shou Wu Pill and Shou Wu Pian are, besides Shen Min, some of the best known Chinese, natural, herbal supplements marketed worldwide as remedies for reversing gray hair and baldness. Their principal active ingredient is Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu, polygonum multiflorum), a Chinese herb that in Chinese traditional medicine is believed to be among the best herbs for restoring hair colour and reducing hair loss. Shou Wu Pill, in addition to Fo-Ti, contains a small amount of Fu Ling mushroom (poria cocos, similar to European truffle) that is added to enhance the digestibility and absorption of Fo-Ti. The third component of Shou Wu Pill, Chuan Xiong (ligusticum wallichii), is used as a messenger herb to focus the action of Fo-Ti on the head and hair. Shou Wu Pian formula is also built around Fo-Ti as its principal active ingredient, the effectiveness of which in this formula is enhanced by various other Chinese medicinal herbs.

The magic of Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu), the main active ingredient in both aforementioned products, refers back to the legend from centuries ago of Mr. He, who restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality using this plant. Modern science has not confirmed any of the claims made by the Fo-Ti marketers in regards to Fo-Ti’s ability to restore hair colour and reverse baldness. Using these products will, in my opinion, have no visible impact on your hair but if you strongly believe in their magic, the placebo effect might help you feel a positive change. I have been using Fo-Ti in various forms for sixteen months, experiencing no positive change in my hair colour or hair thickness and I personally do not know anybody who has. There are no consumer reviews of either Shou Wu Pill and Shou Wu Pian and reviews of the best known Fo-Ti-based, gray hair product - Shen Min original formula - might come in useful when assessing their potency.

Restoria Review

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:23:53 GMT

Restoria is a progressive hair colorant that alters the colour of your gray hair over a period of two to three weeks, enabling you to avoid the embarrassment caused by a sudden change. It is simple to use and it requires no mixing or use of plastic gloves. You simply apply it where necessary to dry hair and comb through. After the desired colour has been achieved, it needs to be applied just twice a week. It is available as a lotion and a cream. Restoria used to contain lead acetate but it changed from lead acetate to bismuth citrate in order to avoid being considered potentially carcinogenic. The new formula should continue to work in a similar fashion to the old one. The fact is, however, that bismuth citrate may not be a much safer option than lead acetate. Bismuth citrate is also poisonous and new Restoria should be handled with the same care as any other hair colorant. For more information regarding the health risks associated with using metallic-based, progressive hair colorants, please refer to the post “Is Grecian Formula Safe?”.

Restoria has been manufactured in Australia for more than 45 years and it can be found in pharmacies in many countries of the world. In spite of that, consumer reviews of Restoria are almost impossible to find. Restoria’s mechanism of action is nearly identical to that of lead acetate-based, progressive hair colorants, such as Grecian formula, GreyBan and Youthair, and their consumer reviews might be indicative of its potency. Restoria is not the only progressive hair colorant that switched from lead acetate to bismuth citrate. Grecian is using bismuth citrate-based formula in some countries, too, but consumer reviews of the new formula seem pretty negative. Many consumers say it does not seem to work as good as the old version.

Follicare Review

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:15:45 GMT

Follicare is a hair loss treatment, consisting of four applications: topical spray, nutritional supplements, revitalising shampoo and 5% minoxidil lotion. This complex structure makes it appear more valuable than a single treatment. Follicare, like many other hair loss products, combines the benefits of the FDA-approved medicinal treatment - minoxidil - with potential gains from herbal extracts and nutritional supplements. This treatment is designed for both men and women, but for women it comes with 2% minoxidil lotion. The main active ingredients, besides minoxidil (a hair growth stimulant), include saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, zinc, Fo-Ti, stinging nettle and pumpkin seed extract (rich in essential fatty acids), all of them assumed natural dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers. Follicare also contains natural vasodilators such as benzyl nicotinate, niacin (one of the main active substances of a popular hair scam from the 1980s - Helsinki formula), rosemary and ginkgo biloba. The vasodilators are believed to help promote blood flow and the supply of nutrients to the scalp. Other relevant ingredients include Procapil formula, caffeine, copper, vitamins B and soothing extracts from aloe vera, sage and chamomile that should fight possible inflammation of the scalp.

Follicare (not to be confused with Folicure) has been on sale since 1996 but there are only a few independent consumer reviews available and they seem quite negative. In summary, Follicare is not much different from Provillus, Avacor or Scalp Med and their customer reviews might be used to help asses the potency of Follicare and vice versa. If nothing else does the trick in this formula, minoxidil should help a little.

Grey Hair or Allergy?

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:44:00 GMT

Hair colouring products are thought to pose one of the biggest risks of serious allergic reaction of all categories of consumer products. In addition to containing components that can trigger allergies, all of these products are poisonous should they be digested. PPD (p-phenylenediamine) is one of the most common active ingredients in conventional hair dyes and it is believed to be a leading cause of hair dye allergic reactions. Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and diaminobenzene are other common components of traditional hair dyes that are alleged to cause severe allergies.

Progressive hair colorants are the alternative to conventional hair dyes and are suitable mainly for men. But they seem to be no less harmful. They either contain a metallic component, such as lead acetate, or bismuth citrate or organic substances. Both lead and bismuth are heavy metals and thus feared to be poisonous, though bismuth and its compounds seem to be the better choice of the two. The concentration of metallic compounds in hair colouring products should not exceed 0.4%-0.6%, depending on the country of distribution. However, heavy metal compounds, contained in progressive hair colorants, seem to be less allergenic than organic compounds used in regular hair dyes.

Some organic-based types of hair colorants, such as Touch of Gray, also contain the aforementioned PPDs. Another organic-based progressive hair colorant, Poly Re-Nature, uses 5,6 dihydroxyindoline as its main active substance, which has been approved for use in hair colorants at concentrations below 2%. Poly Re-Nature also contains ammonia, which is thought to be the second most frequent cause of allergic reactions after PPD.

No matter which approach you take, it seems that you cannot avoid using poisonous or allergy-triggering chemicals if you wish to colour your white hair. Natural hair dyes such as Henna offer no solution either. Besides their many practical limitations, natural hair dyes are known to be extremely allergenic. If you decide to go ahead and dye your hair, no matter which product you chose, make sure you follow the guidelines for correct application and use a patch test before you apply any of these substances.

Propecia Review

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:21:27 GMT

Propecia is the only FDA-approved, oral drug for treating male pattern baldness. It appears to be the most powerful treatment currently available for treating hair loss in men. Clinical evidence largely supports this claim. The sole active ingredient of Propecia is called finasteride and it works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into follicle- harming dihydrotestoterone (DHT). Propecia can only be used by adult men. In many countries of the world, generic finasteride is available under numerous other trade names. Finasteride is only available on prescription, which puts off many patients. In addition, Propecia (finasteride) is often associated with negative side effects, which discourages many patients from trying it. The originator of Propecia claims that side effects only occur in 0.5% of patients (I seem to be amongst the majority) but consumer feedback from various hair loss forums makes me believe that this percentage is significantly higher. Overemphasizing the negative side effects of Propecia is a common tactic used by the marketers of natural hair loss products.

Several generic, topical lotions use finasteride (generic Propecia) as their main active ingredient and claim good results. The big question mark concerns the effective localized delivery of finasteride. In one recent study, in vitro, topically-administered, liposomal-encapsulated finasteride was shown to be an effective vehicle of delivery. The effectiveness in humans has not been established yet. Topical administration of finasteride is hoped to yield superior results versus the currently used oral form, improving the drugs efficiency and reducing its side effects. However, the currently available preparations are not believed to deliver on this expectation.

Eucapil Review

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:45:47 GMT

Eucapil is a topical cosmetic application that is supposed to halt the balding process and promote regrowth in healthy hair follicles. Eucapil uses fluridil as its sole active ingredient. Fluridil is a novel anti-androgen that can be used by both men and women and should be applied only once daily. The main difficulty in applying Eucapil is the fact that it reacts with water and quickly disintegrates. Therefore, it cannot be used as a supplementary treatment to other water-based treatments. Sweating can also significantly reduce its effectiveness. Eucapil is rich in alcohol and some consumers complain that its continued use makes their hair weak and colourless. The problem with the science behind this product is that it has not been independently verified yet.

The product has been on sale for only a couple of years now and consumer reports are only available at a few hair loss forums. They are mixed at best. There is almost no patient claiming to have regrown terminal hair with Eucapil. The best result one can expect from this product seems to be halting of the balding process and regrowing some very fine vellus hair.

Xandrox Review

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:54:40 GMT

Xandrox is one of the more popular generic topical applications for treating hair loss. It combines the benefits of the FDA-approved hair growth stimulant, minoxidil, with the assumed dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibitor, azelaic acid, in a single formula. There are dozens of other generic minoxidil applications that mimic this formula available on the market today. Some products are experimenting with additional ingredients, such as retinoic acid or liposomes, in order to enhance the penetration and effectiveness of their main active substances. It is also believed that increased concentrations of minoxidil in the formula can enhance and speed up its results. Hence, formulations with 12.5%, 15% and even 20% of minoxidil are now available. The difficulty is to ensure the stability of such lotions. Alcohol-based, minoxidil solutions, with a concentration of 5% or more minoxidil require propylene glycol or glycerin or other such vehicles in the base to remain stable. It results in the solution having a greasy feeling and it stiffens the hair when it dries. In addition, such vehicles often cause scalp irritation and resulting inflammation. My own experience with Xandrox and Xandrox-like lotions is that azelaic acid does not seem to deliver any additional hair-growth benefits over plain minoxidil. The only reason I am using a generic version of minoxidil, that happens to contain azelaic acid is my scalp’s good tolerance of this product compared with Rogaine (plain branded minoxidil), which gave me an itchy scalp.

Xandrox became the basis of further experimentation. Many generic producers of minoxidil lotions are now adding various other components to refine their concoctions. You can find mixtures containing minoxidil, azelaic acid, aminexil, finasteride, caffeine, flutamide, green tea extract and diverse herbal extracts, all contained in one formulation. It is impossible to draw a clear dividing line between the science and alchemy but the science seems to end here. Nevertheless, products rich in multiple components are promising fast and guaranteed results and have a bigger appeal to their potential buyers than plain minoxidil. Consumer reviews of such products are confusing and should not be used as guidance in your own quest for the most suitable hair loss product.

Reviews of Dermenodex and Adenogen

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:35:19 GMT

Dermenodex hair therapy is intended for people with thinning hair. The exclusive distributor of this product claims that Dermenodex fortifies the scalp with vital nutrients, improves circulation and promotes capillary activity, helping to create a healthy scalp environment necessary for new hair growth. Dermenodex therapy consists of three formulations - scalp-cleansing shampoo, daily hair and scalp conditioner and thinning hair-scalp treatment. The main and the most innovative active ingredient of Dermenodex is adenosine. It is used in a strikingly high concentration of 3%. The remaining active ingredients consist of essential fatty acids, caffeine and natural vasodilators such as niacin and concentrated ivy, which are supposed to help stimulate the circulation and provide nutritional support to hair follicles.

Dermenodex is a relatively new product that is being distributed exclusively through folica.com, which makes it easy to manipulate consumer feedback. Consumer reviews are only available at folica.com and they seem extremely positive and might be fake. Independent reviews are not available yet. Adenogen is a similar product that could be used to estimate the potential effectiveness of Dermenodex but its consumer reviews are also rare. This might be due to its unrealistic pricing. Adenogen was among the first products on the market that used adenosine as its main active ingredient. Adenogen is manufactured by the Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido and knowledge of Japanese might aid in assessing the efficacy of adenosine. Other hair loss products that use adenosine in their formula are Spectral DNC and Nioxin but they can not be used as a proxy because of their many other active ingredients.

I would like to encourage readers to share their experiences with either Dermedonex or Adenogen, to help others asses the potency of these new products. For the time being, watch out for consumer reviews but do not bet on these two products growing you a full head of hair. Although I do not believe that either Adenogen or Dermenodex can regrow hair (despite the bold claims made by the Dermenodex distributor), research indicates that they can help thicken thinning hair affected by androgenetic alopecia. It remains to be seen whether adenosine can be considered as a potential substitute to minoxidil.

Fabao 101 Review

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:07:37 GMT

Fabao 101 formula is a Chinese herbal hair loss product. It is said to be a safe and effective treatment proven to stop hair loss and regrow hair all over the scalp, including the hairline. Fabao 101 made big waves in Asia back in the mid 1980s. The manufacturer of this product mentions on its website that Japanese travel agencies were then organizing trips to China so that people could purchase this product. The formulas 101D, 101F and 101G are all designed to treat different stages of hereditary baldness. Fabao 101 consists of two dozen herbal extracts, including my “favourite” herb - He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti). The manufacturer claims that the product was subjected to rigorous clinical testing in China but to my knowledge no relevant documentation has been released for independent evaluation and no study has been published in any respected peer-reviewed medical journal outside of China.

When I first started gathering information for this site, I thought it would make an excellent story for my “miracle cures” section. But then, following confusing reader feedback, I decided to discontinue the “miracle cures” section in order to avoid possible misinterpretations.

Fabao 101 happens to be commercially very successful in North America. This success comes despite the lack of scientific data backing the bold claims made by the manufacturer and it is aided by the mystery surrounding traditional Chinese medicine in non-Asian cultures. There do not seem to be too many bald people amongst the Chinese population but I do not think it is due to either Fabao 101 formula or any Chinese herb. Consumer reviews of Fabao 101 products are plentiful but many of the five star posts appear to be spam. Using this product will probably not hurt anybody but keep in mind that it is a “buyer-beware” market. Apparently, a number of Chinese and Japanese scientists are wasting their time researching hair multiplication and other novel hair loss treatments, not knowing that there has been this miracle cure for baldness lying on their doorsteps for nearly 30 years.

Consumer Review of Poly Re-Nature

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:08:16 GMT

After trying various hair-dye products, I found that I am allergic to PPD, the component used in most darker shade hair-dyes. As I also like my short beard, even the slightest allergic reaction or irritation renders a product unusable - even ones that claim to be OK on facial hair. So, as an option, I found ReNature that has no PPD and gave it a try. I also liked the fact that it seems to have one of the least scary ingredients. It does break up the outer "skin" of the hair as all permanent dyes do, but the synthetic pigment is most nature-like unlike the metallic ones in other anti-grey hair products, and no PPD as in pretty much all darker dyes. As an advantage I can read German and found the reviews promising: while it is not a solution for everyone, it seemed to work for people with my hair colour.

Strangely, the German official FAQ says it is OK to use it on facial hair, although "not specifically suggested", hinting to be careful not to get it into one's mouth of course. The Australian FAQ in English on the other hand says "no"…

Review of Poly Re-Nature

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:16:36 GMT

Poly Re-Nature is a hair colorant that is said to bring back the natural hair colour gradually. The product was first introduced in Germany and Austria in 1998 and it is now available in many European countries as well as some oversees markets. It comes in the form of a cream and is suitable for use by men and women but it should not be used to colour facial hair. Poly Re-Nature changes the colour of the white hair gradually, which makes the change less noticeable than with traditional hair dyes. It works in a similar fashion to metallic-based, hair colouring lotions (such as Grecian formula) by replacing the missing pigment in white hair with a chemically-formed synthetic pigment. The difference is mainly in the type of chemical reaction and the resulting chemical formula of the pigment but the principle remains the same. The application also happens to be different. Poly Re-Nature is applied to the hair for about five minutes and then rinsed and the hair washed with shampoo. The main advantage over the metallic-based products using lead acetate or bismuth citrate is that it does the work without the use of poisonous heavy metal compounds and you can wash your hair as often as you like. The main disadvantage is the aggressive nature of the substance. The re-pigmentation process is slow and lasts several days after the cream has been washed out. The chemical reaction involves 5, 6-dihydroxyindoline which reacts with oxygen in the air to produce polymers that act like melanin and bring back your natural hair colour. I tried this product back in 1999. It did work but it gave me a bad allergic reaction after the first application and I never dared try it again. Poly Re-Nature works best for shades between dark blond and black. It was not designed for use on red hair and it was not tested on and is not recommended for African and Asian hair.

Consumer reviews are plentiful but they only seem to be available in German and most of them are positive. Some consumers complained about the bad smell and the aggressive nature of the cream, and flaking after its continued use. Several people said Poly Re-Nature coloured their hair red after repeated application. It sounds weird, as this product is typically not very useful for colouring hair that was originally red. I think Poly Re-Nature is a good alternative for grey hair sufferers afraid of the metallic compounds contained in other types of hair colorants. However, they must be ready to put up with the inconvenience of using this fast-reacting mixture and be lucky not to suffer from an allergic reaction to one of its chemicals.

ProFollica Review

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:18:54 GMT

ProFollica is a recently-introduced hair loss product, relying on old, proven marketing tricks to sell a new story. It claims to be a natural answer to dealing with hereditary baldness in both men and women, being more powerful than medicinal products while having no negative side effects. ProFollica comes as a triple pack (shampoo, topical activator and nutritional supplement pills) to make it appear more valuable and deserve premium pricing. It uses some of the most common natural ingredients, such as saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, gingko biloba, He Shou Wu and pumpkin seed oil extract, that can be found in almost any other natural hair loss product on the market. The supplement pills contain minerals, vitamins and amino acids that are essential nutrients which feed hair but which our bodies can extract from a regular healthy diet. So far no news.

One novelty, though, is that ProFollica introduced several herbs as its key active ingredients that have not been used in other similar products yet, some of them with very exotic names. The first two - kigelia africana (a tree from tropical Africa with heavy poisonous fruits) and cinnamomum zeylanicum (famous Sri Lankan cinnamon bark) are supposed to reduce the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalp. The two other novel substances - panax ginseng root and salvia sclarea - are supposed to stimulate hair growth. Panax ginseng, is a very distant relative of Siberian ginseng, which can be found in many other natural hair loss products. Salvia sclarea rounds up the list of novelties introduced by ProFollica. This plant, originally from Europe and the Middle East, has been used in the past mainly as a vegetable and flavouring in traditional European cuisine. Needless to say, there appears to be no reliable scientific evidence backing the claims made by the manufacturer that any of these herbs is beneficial in treating hereditary baldness.

There are no independent consumer reviews of ProFollica yet, except for reviews at sites either associated with or directly selling this product. There does not seem to be anything extraordinary in this formula, other than a possible placebo effect created by artful marketing to convince potential customers that it works differently from most other natural, hair loss remedies.

Confusing Hair Loss Treatments

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:11:40 GMT

If you go to see your dermatologist about your hair loss, you probably come back with a prescription for Propecia (or other form of finasteride), advice to try Rogaine (minoxidil) and, where appropriate, with a basic introductory knowledge to hair transplantation. Some doctors may also recommend other things but the choices are limited. However, there are thousands of hair loss products sold as hair cosmetics out there, most of them of natural origin, that are supposed to thicken your hair, with all of them claiming to be a result of many years of medical research. And each one of them is associated with the name of some medical doctor to give the product more credibility. But why are the doctors selling hair loss products telling you things you have never heard from your dermatologist? The reason for the difference in opinions lies in the industry’s regulation. In every civilised country of the world, the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry are strictly regulated. For instance, all approved drugs have to pass a clinical test to demonstrate their safety and efficacy. If you do not adhere to the rules of the industry, you can be excluded. Discipline helps ensure consumer safety.

The cosmetics field, on the other hand, is in most countries underregulated. This gives the manufacturers and marketers of dubious hair cosmetics the freedom to use their imagination. As long as their products do not hurt anybody, nothing will happen to them for not delivering on their promises. This allows many of them to bundle minoxidil in a package containing herbal extracts enriched with several vitamins and minerals and sell it for an outrageous price, with the promise of guaranteed hair growth. And the choice is yours whether you want to pay the money and be a guinea pig or not. Practising dermatologists do not have this choice. They cannot use you as their guinea pig.

But why do the manufacturers of hair loss cosmetics not try to have their products approved as pharmaceuticals by the national health supervisory authorities, and get their products listed with dermatologists? This would ensure their product guaranteed support and greatly boost its sales volumes. Dermatologists would gladly include a newly-approved remedy on their short list of hair loss treatment options. The financial costs and the time needed to have such treatments approved are not the only reasons for not having this done. The main reason is the effectiveness of such treatments. Admittedly, in some cases it is impossible to reformulate cosmetics to have them approved as pharmaceuticals. But more often than that the true reason is they just do not work well enough or do not work at all.

The aim of this website is not to discourage you from experimenting with alternative hair loss treatments. The ambition is to equip you with the basic knowledge of hair loss treatment options and encourage your own research. You are advised to try proven medicinal treatments first, allow them enough time to get to work and only then start experimenting with more speculative products that might or might not provide additional benefit. However, for those who would like to see a fast and dramatic improvement on the top and front of their head, hair transplantation is the only currently available option.

ThymuSkin Hair Loss Products Review

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:23:47 GMT

ThymuSkin is a set of hair loss products amongst which ThymuSkin treatment and ThymuSkin gel are the key components. ThymuSkin hair products were originally developed in Germany to prevent hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment but are now offered to people suffering from all sorts of hair loss. It is assumed that hair loss from chemotherapy can be significantly reduced if the product is rubbed on the scalp before the patient takes a chemotherapeutic agent. It was later discovered that ThymuSkin is also effective against rare types of hair loss and scalp disorders. The ThymuSkin approach to treating baldness is based on the assumption that baldness is an auto-immune disease, where the body's immune system (white blood cells) mistakenly identifies hair follicles as foreign tissue and attacks them. This might be true for some forms of hair loss, where hair loss occurs suddenly, such as telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium and alopecia areata, with its different variations, but it is unlikely to be the cause of hereditary pattern baldness. ThymuSkin proved to be considerably more effective in treating hair loss in women than men. This, in my opinion, challenges the theory that it is useful for treating hereditary pattern baldness, which happens to be by far the most common form of baldness in men. The main active substance in all ThymuSkin products is thymus gland extract. The peptide molecules of thymus gland extract are active in stimulating the human immune system and can help prevent destruction of hair follicles by neutralizing the auto-immune attack. The remaining ingredients of ThymuSkin products include vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids.

ThymuSkin, due to its unique mode of action, might be a useful option for treating effluviums and alopecia areata but it is extremely unlikely to help in combating hereditary baldness. Consumer reviews of Thymuskin products are few but those comments available support the assumption that ThymuSkin may be a good treatment for alopecia areata but not such a good treatment for androgenetic alopecia.

Hair Loss Concealers

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:51:58 GMT

Growing back lost hair might be mission impossible for many of us who started treating their baldness after many years of losing hair. If you are not convinced about the benefits of hair transplantation yet and only need quick fixes for certain occasions, hair loss concealers might be a reasonable option. There are many different kinds of camouflage but fibres are by far the most natural-looking solution. The statically-charged microfibres that are sprinkled over the thinning areas cling tightly to the existing hair on the scalp. They bond so securely that they should stay in place all day and night, in even the strongest wind or hardest rain. Use only a wide toothed comb or your own fingers to style your hair. The fibres should remain in the hair until the next shampoo wash. Some of the most common names among microfibre hair loss concealers are Toppik, Nanofibres, Organin and Mega THIK. The common problem with all of them is that they only come in relatively few shades and thus may not match everybody’s hair colour.

Consumer reviews are relatively positive, though some people complain that the fibres brush off onto the pillow case at night. The biggest drawback seems to be the small choice of available shades. If the shade is too different from your hair colour, it makes the fibres detectable from a distance. Some consumers recommend using two different brands of hair loss concealers at the same time in order to overcome problems with unsuitable shades and adhesion of fibres. Some negative comments are related to difficulties with applying the fibres accurately to the areas where they are needed most. Using these products correctly takes practice and a steady hand. Therefore, it is advisable to use those products that come with a spray applicator.

Youthair Review

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:54:16 GMT

Youthair is a hair colouring rejuvenator designed to blend away gray on a gradual basis. It comes in the form of a liquid and a cream. Youthair is mainly designed for men but it can also be used by women. Its main active ingredients are sulphur and lead acetate, working together to replace lost hair-pigment melanin with a similar acting agent - lead sulphide. Although there are unfounded claims that it is possible to restore gray hair using certain nutritional supplements, herbs, exotic oils or pills, such solutions are nothing but a waste of money. The only proven way to restore your natural hair colour at the moment is to get an external agent to replace the missing pigment in the fibre of your hair.

Youthair is an old traditional product that is in its composition very similar to Grecian formula and other lead acetate-based hair colorants. Lead acetate-related health issues have been discussed in more detail in the post “Is Grecian Formula Safe?”.

Consumer reviews of Youthair are mixed but the majority of them are positive. This product seems to work well on fine hair that is lighter in colour but reviews from Afro-Americans seem to prove that it doesn’t work on their hair. Some consumers were put off by what they consider to be bad odour. This is a common complaint with all products using sulphur. It is best advised, if possible, to try various hair colorants besides Youthair, for example Grecian formula, Restoria, GreyBan, etc., in order to find the product that suits you best. They all work in a similar fashion and, therefore, watch for differences in their secondary properties, such as ease of application, smell, greasiness and pricing.

Shen Min Review

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:23:26 GMT

Shen Min, meaning vitality in Chinese, represents a range of hair care products, mixing vitamins and minerals with herbal extracts, while claiming to revitalise hair and promote healthy and fast hair growth. Shen Min original formula and Shen Min advanced formula are two key products used to revitalise gray hair. Shen Min original formula contains Fo-Ti (He shou wu) as its principal ingredient, which has been used in China for centuries as a youth tonic and is believed to bring back the original colour to the hair. The second active ingredient is black pepper extract. The black pepper extract is present in the form of a proprietary ingredient called BioPerine, which is expected to increase the bioavailability of nutritional supplements, thus helping them become more effective.

Shen Min advanced formula is said to be a combination of traditional Chinese medicine represented by Fo-Ti, soy and kudu extracts, and modern science. The “modern science” seems to be represented by vitamins B (pantothenic acid, biotin and folic acid), minerals (iodine and zinc), saw palmetto extract and black pepper extract, which is used to enhance the effectiveness of other active substances. Some Shen Min products also claim to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and are thus sold as hair loss treatments. None of the aforementioned substances and herbs has ever been clinically proven effective in treating gray hair. Shen Min products should not be expected to reverse the gray colour of your hair but the mix of nutrients they contain might help your hair look healthier. Consumer reviews are mixed but not too bad, though some of them sound too good to be true.

Grecian Formula Review

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:29:20 GMT

Grecian formula is one of the best-known, hair colorants for men. It comes in three forms: liquid, cream and foam. Its main advantage over conventional hair dyes is that it changes the hair colour gradually, which makes the change less noticeable. Grecian formula has the ability to replace lost melanin with a similar-acting, metallic-based pigment (metallic salt such as lead sulphide). This pigment is produced by the two active ingredients - lead acetate and sulphur. You can regain just the right amount of lost colour by applying Grecian formula until your desired shade has been achieved. From then on, you only need to apply it two to three times a week to maintain the restored colour. Grecian formula contains lead acetate, which is a poisonous substance. Lead acetate-related, health issues have been discussed in more detail in the post “Is Grecian Formula Safe?”. Grecian has been on the market for over 45 years now, with only one major change to its formula so far. It was an attempt to replace lead acetate with bismuth citrate as discussed later. There are several other products out there that mimic Grecian formula. However, Grecian was not the first product to use metallic salts to colour hair, as this technique has been known for more than a century.

Consumer reviews of Grecian formula are relatively positive. Most consumers give it credit for effectiveness but often complain about its bad chemical odour. The foam is considered by many consumers to be the most convenient form of application. Grecian works better on fine hair that is lighter in colour than on dark, coarse hair. Certain consumer complaints do not seem reasonable, though. Some consumers put Grecian formula on at night and wash it off in the morning and then complain that the product does not work. This is not the way it should be used. You have to leave it on for a couple of days in order to allow it time to work. One helpful tip for people who wash their hair every morning might be to apply it in the evening and to cover your hair with a plastic bag for one hour to prevent fast drying and then remove the bag and let your hair dry naturally. This technique, used by some users, might hypothetically increase the risk of lead acetate absorption through the scalp, though. But this is only my own speculation, as there is no proof whatsoever that lead or any lead compound contained in hair colouring products can be absorbed through the skin.

A few years ago, Grecian introduced a new, improved formula in some countries, changing from lead acetate to bismuth citrate, in order to avoid their products being considered potentially carcinogenic. Although the new formula applies the same principle as the traditional product, consumer reviews seem pretty negative. Many consumers say it does not seem to work nearly as good as the old formula.

Rogaine Review

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:22:32 GMT

Rogaine was the first medicinal product in history approved by a major national health supervisory authority - the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration) to treat male pattern baldness. To this day it is the only clinically-proven, topical method of treating hereditary hair loss that can be used by both men and women. Minoxidil is the sole active ingredient of Rogaine. The men’s formulae contain 2% and 5% of minoxidil, whereas women’s Rogaine only contains 2%.

Minoxidil is no longer patent-protected and, therefore, there are many producers of generic minoxidil (generic Rogaine) out there. Some of them offer plain Rogaine-like minoxidil but many others use minoxidil as a basis in their own hair loss formulas. The main difference between the plain, generic minoxidil and Rogaine is the patient’s tolerance of the product, which largely depends on the type of solvents used in the formula. This topic has been discussed in more detail in the post “Rogaine, Regaine or Minoxidil”.

The potential negative side effects of Rogaine, apart from itchy scalp and flaking, include conditions such as increased hair growth on other parts of the body, allergic reactions, very low blood pressure, irregular or fast heart beat, blurred vision, swelling or puffiness of hands, face and ankles, etc. If any of these conditions occur, treatment must be discontinued. Rogaine seems to fall victim of its own popularity and many consumer reviews reflect that. They seem to be worse than the reviews of numerous unproven, hair loss treatments. Rogaine often seems to be the target of bashing due to its negative side effects, which are being overemphasized in false testimonials posted by the snake oil marketers.

Rogaine Foam Review

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:46:04 GMT

Rogaine foam is a relatively new form of minoxidil application and it is not yet very popular outside of the North America. It contains 5% of minoxidil, which is equivalent to Rogaine Extra Strength solution, so it is currently only available for use by men. Rogaine foam is claimed to be a superior delivery form of minoxidil. But in addition to being a more efficient form of delivery, it is also much easier to apply and dries quickly. It takes only a minute or two for it to dry, leaving hair nearly in the same condition as it was before. This is a great advantage over traditional Rogaine solution, which is greasy and needs three to four hours to dry completely, while leaving hair flaky and lighter in colour. But this is far from Rogaine foam’s greatest benefit. It also contains no propylene glycol, propanol or glycerine; thus the risk of an allergic reaction to it is greatly minimised. Allergic reactions and redness caused by such vehicles have forced many patients to discontinue their use of either Rogaine or generic minoxidil solutions. If treatment is not discontinued, it can lead to more serious side effects, as discussed in more detail in the post “Rogaine, Regaine or Minoxidil”.

I cannot tell yet whether Rogaine foam really is a better form of delivery than Rogaine solution and thus more effective. It may not feel so, given its ease of application. Its future popularity will largely depend on its availability and pricing but I have already included it in my daily regimen and use it in the mornings. Consumer reviews are not too plentiful so far but the great majority of them are positive, though some fine noses complain about the foam’s bad odour. Consumer feedback at hair loss forums has also been quite positive so far.

Hair Transplantation Market Statistics

Sat, 31 May 2008 00:35:42 GMT

Despite the notable advances of recent decades in the area of hair loss drug research and development, the current medicinal treatments of hereditary baldness do not give satisfactory results. The only existing option for patients wishing to achieve a fast and dramatic improvement in their hair condition is hair transplantation. The recent introduction of modern hair transplantation techniques such as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) has improved cosmetic results and patient satisfaction. The surgical hair restoration industry has been booming over the past few years, as new hair transplant clinics mushroomed in all corners of the world. A quick look at the market statistics confirms this trend.
The latest worldwide hair restoration statistics available are only from 2006. The total number of hair restoration surgeries performed in 2006 was 226,000; that is a 34% increase over 2004 and 16% average annual growth. Though this number may seem impressive, it is only a small fraction of the actual potential. Out of the aforementioned 226,000 hair surgeries conducted worldwide, 93% were performed on the scalp. Asia registered the fastest growth, a remarkable 178% (2006/2004). The total number of patients at hair restoration clinics worldwide (surgical and non-surgical patients) was estimated at 645,000, a 79% increase over 2004, which happens to be 34% annual growth. Male patients represent more than 86% of total hair-restoration patients. Follicular unit transplantation accounts for 91% of all procedures, with less than 8% accounted for by the follicular unit extraction technique. Old techniques, such as scalp reduction and flap surgery, still account for almost 2% of procedures. Should a similar growth rate be sustained (estimated 15% p.a.) in 2007 and 2008 (2007 statistics are not available yet) we could, for the first time in history, see the total worldwide revenues from hair transplant surgeries exceed euro 2bn (US$ 3bn).
The US market accounts for 45% of all hair transplant surgeries, with Asia being second with 25% market share and Europe third with only 13%. In the US, almost every second patient of a hair restoration clinic took surgery versus every third in Europe and every fourth in Asia. Almost every single hair restoration clinic in the world prescribes finasteride to their male patients. Minoxidil is the second most frequently recommended medicine, prescribed by 61% of doctors. Other than that some hair restoration clinics also recommend special shampoos, such as Nizoral, vitamins and low-level laser therapy. The average number of surgical therapies needed to achieve the desired results is 1.8x.
Although some of these numbers may sound impressive, especially the growth rates, the hair restoration industry is still accessing only a tiny fraction of the world population that suffers from hair loss. Asia and Europe are trailing far behind North America but are expected to become the engines of further growth. New surgical technologies, such as hair multiplication and the generation of new hair follicles from wounds, though still years away, should help the hair restoration industry expand further, improve its services and make them more affordable to the population.

GreyBan Review

Mon, 26 May 2008 09:46:43 GMT

GreyBan is a popular hair colorant that is, unlike regular hair dyes, supposed to colour your white hair gradually and unnoticeably. Its mode of action and composition are similar to such grey hair products as Grecian formula, Restoria and Youthair. It comes in the form of a spray. GreyBan contains lead acetate as its main active ingredient, which coats and penetrates the hair shaft to be then converted as the hair dries to form a lead-based pigment (lead sulphide). Lead acetate is a poisonous substance and there is no one hundred percent clear answer to safety issues related to its use in hair colouring products. For more information, please refer to the post “Is Grecian Formula Safe?”. I know at least one person very well who has been using lead acetate-based lotions for more than 40 years to dye his hair. He is 72 now and shows no signs of lead poisoning.
Consumer reviews seem quite positive, though some users say GreyBan does not colour their hair completely, which is a common complaint about all metallic-based hair colorants. Interestingly, I could not find anybody complaining about the smell of GreyBan, which happens to be the most frequent complaint with similar products. This is a standard hair colorant that should work well for people with fine hair in lighter shades but do not expect it to colour all your grey hair if more than 50% of it is naturally grey or if it is coarse and very dark. People with red or deep brown hair may not get satisfactory results either.

Is HairMax Only for Full Heads of Hair?

Sat, 24 May 2008 18:42:23 GMT

Lexington International’s HairMax LaserComb is the latest FDA-approved remedy for promoting hair growth. It employs a technology that has been in use for several years to accelerate healing and hair growth after hair transplant surgery. There are other laser combs on the market that are less expensive than Lexington International’s HairMax, and which claim to be as effective, but none other has been approved by the FDA for promoting hair growth. LaserComb is said to work by dilating blood vessels and increasing the blood supply to hair follicles. Reviews of this product have been mixed so far. It seems to be best used as a supportive treatment to standard treatments such as finasteride and minoxidil but its reviews as a stand-alone treatment are relatively negative. Many users believe that HairMax only improves the shine and manageability of their hair. HairMax seems to be more appropriate for women as they have fewer treatment options than men.

Customers, in assessing the efficacy of HairMax LaserComb, must largely rely on the data provided by the manufacturer as no reliable independent research has been done yet to confirm the study results claimed. Before and after pictures on LaserComb’s own website do not look unreasonable but some of the voice testimonials sound illogical. Several customers claim that their hair thickened after the first two weeks (!!!) of using HairMax. Lexington International must have been very fortunate to find such excellent responders to their product with such fast growing hair. Furthermore, none of the people in the promotional video below seems to be suffering from any form of alopecia. It would be a great disappointment to the balding community if HairMax LaserComb turned out to be just another product that only promotes hair growth in people not affected by any form of baldness.

Intercytex Reports Further Progress

Thu, 01 May 2008 20:00:15 GMT

In March 2008, Intercytex reported the latest results on its progress in the phase II clinical study of ICX-TRC. ICX-TRC is a suspension of a patient’s own dermal papilla cells that is injected into the patient scalp to stimulate new hair growth. Intercytex is a frontrunner in the development of hair multiplication. The latest results are consistent with the earlier data reported last September and the hypothesis that new hair production is improved by pre-stimulation of the scalp, leading to an interaction between the injected cells and the resident hair producing cells. A couple of years back, Intercytex awarded Bosley, the largest chain of hair transplant clinics in the US, an option to negotiate an exclusive distribution agreement for ICX-TRC. This option can be exercised upon completion of the phase II clinical trial. Bosley has already transferred a small sum of US$200,000 to Intercytex as the first milestone payment, which is a sign of good progress. The next report on the phase II clinical trial, including 24-week data on all subjects in the trial, will be available in September 2008.

Avacor Review

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:44:45 GMT

Avacor is a set of several hair loss products, whereas the topical formulation and nutritional capsules are those that are supposed to hold the key to regrowing hair. Due to the inclusion of minoxidil (5%) in the topical formulation, Avacor is suitable only for men.

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Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:42:54 GMT

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