Hair Loss Products

There are a wide range of products in the market claiming to deal with baldness. There are wigs and switches. Shampoos, creams, tablets, lotions, powders and innumerable others jam the shelves – all claiming to be the answer to the problem. Some of course are effective. These are the serious ones that reduce the hormones and thus start off growth. Others deal with the inflammation of the follicles or handle the auto-immune response. The latter occurs when the follicles have to cope with too many hormones.

Among the thousands of products that claim to be best only few have the stamp of research and science. These have proved their effectiveness. Thus the first priority is to consult a skin specialist (dermatologist) before jumping in to buy blindly anything off the shelf, swayed by strong advertisement. The doctor will diagnose the patient and then prescribe what is best suited for the individual. It is worth remembering that use of improper medicine might cause more harm than good.

One of the best known products is Rogaine. It is a type of shampoo. It promotes growth of hair and stops its loss. Another product is in the form of a tablet – propecia. Propecia deals with hormone treatment and addresses the imbalances in the region of the follicles.

Crinagen

 

Crinagen, with its natural DHT inhibiting formula, is known to have stopped loss and promoted growth of hair. It is a natural product. Users get the opportunity to go for a product whose active components are natural. Thus it is an alternative to synthetic chemicals, such as minoxidil, which are used to treat hair loss. However crinagen is classified amongst those medicines that are clinically effective but as yet whose results have not been proved. Together with Revivogen and Folligen, Crinagen too should be given a thought only after using time tested proven treatments. Let us now see what crinagen is and what it does. It is a hundred per cent natural topical lotion for the scalp. The ingredients are not synthetic but natural. It has two main functions.

Firstly it decreases the production of a strong male hormone connected with the male type of hair loss, known as DHT.

Secondly it reacts on the blood vessels that feed the follicles on the scalp. One of the distinctive features of it is that it has many active ingredients and not just one. These ingredients act en bloc to frustrate all the factors that are responsible for hair loss.

Crinagen is a treatment which both men and women can go for. It can be used by itself or it may be used with other follicle stimulators such as minoxidil and DHT inhibitors like propecia. The last mentioned ones sometimes cause skin irritation. But the use of crinagen relieves the symptoms and such is compatible with these typical products.

Mainly crinagen, being a topical DHT inhibitor, is used generally by men, for the same purpose as that of propecia – that is to maintain growth and stop falling of hair for a long period of time. While using crinagen one should give this angle a thought and be realistic about hopes. Since the treatment involves some amount of stimulation of growth it is advisable to use it together with minoxidil or tricomin.

What happens is that the follicles become small in size and get damaged as DHT continues. This on going process of dihydrotestosterone causes an irritation or inflammation around the affected area. This is the response of the body’s immune system to the attack. It then becomes a vicious circle. The follicles become further damaged and are finally destroyed.

Thus the effective way to tackle the problem is to remedy the progress of androgenic alopecia, which is a genetic defect. Unfortunately genetic science is still in its infancy. Thus the next best alternative is to stop the formation of dihydrotestosterone. Most specialists agree that this particular hormone is mainly responsible for the steady miniaturization of the follicles. What crinagen does is to obstruct the action of 5 alpha-reductase. Thus it loses its power to convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. Hence the amount of DHT in the scalp is reduced which in turn leads to lessening the miniaturizing of the follicles.

It works both ways. Firstly the amount of injury is reduced and secondly the immune response is also lessened. Those who have introduced the product suggest that it should be used together with immunosuppressant agents. Although crinagen reduces to a great extent the amount of DHT it does not totally cure the damage to the follicles that has already been done. Not only that – these damaged follicles trigger off an inflammatory response from the immune system which can cause more and more harm. Immunosuppressant can lessen this response by the immune system and consequently check further damage to the follicles.

Folligen

 

DHT is checked with the use of propecia and revivogen. Hair growth is nourished with minoxidil and tricomin. Now what is of utmost importance to any type of treatment is the condition of the scalp. On this depends the maximum results. The folligen family of products is considered to be among the best of scalp conditioners and regimen-supplementing hair treatment products. It also uses copper peptide technology (like tricomin) to accelerate growth of hair.

Dr. Loren Pickhart was the original inventor of tricomin spray to be used as a treatment. Later he went on to produce a whole family of products related to skin and hair problems. Folligen is available as a spray, a lotion and also as a cream. All three are very effective in soothing the inflamed regions of the scalp as a result of the use of minoxidil. Copper peptides help in the resurgence of growth.

A particular type of skin repair cream was being experimented with in the dermatology department of the University of California, San Francisco. Accidentally a woman of 41 suffering from acute alopecia tried this cream, since nothing else was giving her relief. Within the short time of two and a half months she noticed the growth of a significant amount of hair. Soon the news spread. Its use began to circulate and in due course it came to be a by word in the treatment of balding. Soon folligen stood out as a particular distinct medicine for the treatment of hair loss.

Acta Derm Venereal

 

To find out if lymphocytic inflammation around the lower infundibula in the male type of baldness is a particular or a general happening, morphometric and ultrastructural analysis was done of inflammatory infiltrates in the transitional zones of the vertex and occipital hairy scalps on 19 patients suffering from male pattern of baldness. For reference there were six normal subjects. The number of inflammatory infiltrates around the follicular infundibula of the alopecic vertices and non-alopecic occiputs of the suffering patients was much greater than that of the referral subjects. In the patients the number of mast cells in the widened fibrous tracts in the vertices was much greater than those in the adventitial fibrotic sheaths of the referral subjects and the non-alopecic occiputs of the patients. This experiment goes a long way to support the idea that the inflammation may be partly (if not fully) responsible for the male pattern of baldness.

Both men and women may use folligen. Folligen can either be used by itself or in combination with other follicle stimulators such as minoxidil and DHT inhibitors like propecia. Folligen is in tune with these products – rather it reduces the harm done to the scalp by these other medicines.

Copper peptides in folligen act to arouse the follicles from their hibernating stage. Consequently a large number jump into the growth stage. The number is relatively larger to the number that would have normally emerged.

Minoxidil

 

Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. in 1988 brought into the market for the first time a FDA approved product which had been proved to allow for re-growth of hair. From 1996 onwards because of their unchallenged record of having no after effects, Rogaine regular for men and Rogaine for women began to be sold without prescription from chemists shops.

Minoxidil is marketed as a topical liquid or lotion in pre mixed solutions like rogaine. The active ingredients in its generic versions are also obtainable. FDA has approved a 2% and 5% formulation. Nevertheless the customized solutions are also available from the proprietary companies.

The medicine does not need a prescription. Minoxidil in its 2% form can be used by both sexes. But the 5% variety is ostensibly only for men. Sometimes when women find that the 2% lotion is not working they try the 5%. But this is not without side effects.

The aim of minoxidil is to stimulate the growth of hair follicles. The 5% type is the strongest variety of product dealing with re growth of hair, sanctioned by FDA, which is allowed to be sold without prescription. But usually people start with the 2% variety if their hair loss is at its initial stage.

Note may be taken that it is not like propecia, which is a DHT inhibitor. It does not attack the main cause for loss of hair but only by passes it.

Minoxidil is included in the type of treatment which are potassium channel openers. How it really works is not as yet fully understood. But it has been clinically proved that it opens potassium channels to cause stimulation of hair growth.

Propecia

 

Innumerable men have been for time immemorial suffering from baldness. They have tried everything suggested in myths and legends surrounding this malady. To them propecia is like a miracle. It is a reality. The buzz word is – a pill a day and there is the 83% chance that you will not lose the amount of hair that you have right now. The young are anxious to save their growth. And the not so young are keen to see that their hair problem do not worsen. Propecia in conjunctions with other treatments have shown real positive results.

More than two decades ago, a drug named proscar, was given approval for the treatment of benign protate hyperplasia or BPH. 5mg of finasteride was its active ingredient. Men over 60 were told to take one pill daily. In due course it came to be noticed that finasteride checked the formation of DHT – the latter being the main cause for the appearance of prostate cancer. One was linked to another. It was also found to check hair loss.

The smallest quantity of finasteride was located by Merck Pharmaceuticals. Its long term effect, as regards loss of hair, was tested on 1,553 men (18 to 41 years). All the subjects suffered from mild to moderate loss of hair. After completing the study, 1mg daily for 2 years was prescribed to the patients. More than 83% reported that either the hair loss was checked or there was an actual increase in numbers from the base line. A broad visual survey concluded that the looks of about 80% had improved.

Finasteride (proscar) is the latest clinically proven treatment for baldness in men. Among all those that have been put on trial by FDA, it has the longest and most successful record. At the time of writing this study, the first trials are entering its 6th year. Most of the subjects are still maintaining their hair counts. Split into fifths (5mg) and bottled as a 1mg daily treatment it came to be named propecia. It is not available over the counter – requires a doctor’s prescription.

Propecia is only for men above the age of 18. It claims to stop further loss of hair and to maintain the level of hair that the subject has at the onset of the treatment.

In the clinical experiments it was found to increase the number of strands of hair in about 60% of the men undergoing the treatment. But only in about 42% was any appreciable improvement noticed. Younger men, anxious to stop the progress of balding, are keen to use propecia. It is used together with minoxidil (2% and5%) by men have already suffered a lot of damage.

Let us now see how propecia acts. In the typical adult male is found in the blood stream testosterone. In its regular course it combines with an enzyme named 5-alpha reductase. This leads to the formation of a stronger sexual hormone known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT. The latter is the pivotal factor in determining the maleness of men during the fetal stage as well as during the time of puberty.

Some men are genetically programmed towards baldness. When they start losing hair it is noticed that certain follicles begin to develop DHT receptor sites. The DHT attaches to these sites and starts to treat the follicles as foreign objects in the body. A process of chemical change sets in which affects not only the hair but also causes itching, soreness and greasiness. The hair follicles being thus targeted begin to become dwarfs or miniaturize with each growth cycle. After the lapse of many years the size of the hair is too thin and short to be seen by the naked eye.

Propecia’s work is to retard the formation of DHT in the system. After taking the medicine for few months the overall DHT levels do not increase – stays at a low constant mark. Consequently the negative impact on the follicles stop and hair ceases to abnormally fall off.

Having seen how propecia acts lets us now see how it should be taken. With no exceptions whatsoever, 1mg in tablet form should be taken daily. There is some glib talk about customized dosage, jumping gaps and doubling doses etc. All this has no basis. It will not help the problem of hair loss. Rather the system might be harmed in other ways.

It should be remembered that hormones are not to be played with – these are very fine chemicals that work in conjunction with others. Thus a steady dose will guarantee a constant hormonal atmosphere. The biological functions will be in tune with each other. Nature’s harmony will not be disturbed.

Not everybody knows that those who participated in the FDA experiment used a shampoo like nizoral during that specific time. The positive side of any treatment can be negated by an increase in sebum production causing swelling and itching. Hence it is essential that propecia treatment should also include nizoral shampoo. The latter is to be administered every three days in rotation with the usual shampoo used by the participant. Without nizoral or its allied shampoo results may not quite up to the mark expected.

Revivogen

 

There are two sides to the problem of hair loss. The hair must be maintained and secondly there must be re-growth. The main aim might be re-growth but even then it is of great importance to use a product that inhibits DHT. It must be very much a part of the treatment. DHT inhibitors attack the main cause of hair loss. One can see the results visibly.

Now, 43% of those who come for help are men whose age ranges from 20 to 30. They have just started to lose their hair. Their age betrays the fact that this group is at the prime of their sexual drive and hence their libido is affected by this adverse change on the crown of their head. For this very reason propecia may not be the best option. Regular and steady use of DHT inhibitors may result in unhappy side effects. At this point revivogen makes an entry.

Revivogen is as yet an unproven product. But from the feedbacks we have got from its users, it appears to have great potentiality in tackling the problem of baldness. So taking all sides into consideration it is advisable to first go in for treatment which includes propecia, minoxidil and tricomin.

It is a topically applied lotion that contains DHT inhibitor – packed with stuff that has the backing of science. The manufacturers have included in a single solution as many known DHT inhibiting chemicals as is possible. There does not seem to be the possibility of any after effect as no substantial amount is absorbed into the blood stream. This is not so in the case of propecia.

The value-pack available in the market contains three scalp therapy bottles and one shampoo bottle. The former has medicinal qualities while the latter (according to the users) gives a cosmetic dressing to the hair – makes it look nice and thick.

Members of both sexes who are suffering from hair loss due to hormonal imbalances may safely go for this treatment. It checks male baldness. Women who have some form of androgenetic alopecia also benefit from it. Primarily it inhibits DHT. Thus for the remedy to be effective it must be diagnosed that DHT is the main culprit. Generally majority of the men qualify for undergoing this treatment as do some women.

Broadly speaking revivogen may be used for all types of hair loss because it is basically concerned with stimulating growth. For a stronger growth it should be used along with minoxidil or tricomin.

In men revivogen is used for the same reason as propecia is used – it is a topical DHT inhibitor. It stops falling of hair and maintains the level for a long period. Taking all aspects into consideration the expectations of the sufferer should be realistic.

Now let us see how it acts. The medicine is rubbed on to the scalp. It is known to inhibit the 5AR enzyme that is the cause for the formulation of DHT. Let us compare it with propecia. Propecia is able to inhibit type II serum 5AR levels by 70%. But the scalp therapy formula claims to check both types – that is I and II 5AR up to as much as 98%. It has another additional property. An active ingredient in it stops the attachment of DHT to its receptors on the follicles. This gives extra protection. Thus the way it acts gives it the ability to help in maintaining the level of your hair growth for a long period.

Hair loss is closely connected to genetics. Certain follicles begin to develop DHT receptor sites. The DHT hang on to these receptors and thinks that the follicles are foreign objects of the body. The chemical change victimizes the hair and then go on to cause irritation, swelling and greasiness. During the period of attack by the DHT, the hair begins to become mini in size and thickness. With each growth cycle it becomes worse and worse. After some time it is too mini to be seen by the naked eye.

The scalp treatment is effective both ways. It inhibits the formation of DHT. Secondly it stops the DHT from getting attached to the follicles. After a few months of treatment it will be noticed that the DHT levels have remained constantly low. This will reduce the negative effects on the follicles. All said and done – falling of hair will be appreciably arrested.

Tricomin

 

In tricomin copper peptides are used to encourage the growth of hair. Initially it might seem strange but today it is the latest successful alternative method for curing hair loss. It has no second. It neither inhibits DHT (like propecia) nor does it use potassium channel openers (like minoxidil) to excite hair growth. Tricomin is a class by itself.

Tricomin comes in the form of a spray that is applied on the scalp. It is one of a family of products that include a shampoo, conditioner and conditioning shampoo.

It is included in our list of clinically effective product because it is one of the few that have actually encouraged growth in cases of intensive partial FDA trial cases. The results of phase II clinical studies have shown positive results on some of 36 men who used it twice a day for 24 weeks. The name of the technology is COPPER PEPTIDE TECHNOLOGY.

Both men and women who suffer from some form or the other of hair loss may go in for tricomin treatment. It should be used as a supplement for more conservative treatment of stimulating hair growth. Many react to the use of minoxidil. For them tricomin is an excellent alternative/addition. Together with propecia the prospects of good hair growth are very optimistic.

Now let us see how tricomin goes about its work. We know that hair follicles, at any point of time, go through two phases – it rests and then it grows. In several forms of alopecia a large number of follicles hibernate for more than the usual period. As a result there is less growth. Bald spots or thin patches begin to appear. Propecia attacks the root cause by checking the formation of DHT in the blood stream. In the case of the male this is invariably the main cause for hair loss. But it is not so with the female. Minoxidil goes about its work by shocking the follicle into action. It does not address the cause of the loss. What tricomin does is to shorten the hibernating stage of the follicle. It makes a greater number of follicles to become vigorous. Thus at a given point of time that is being considered, hair begins to grow.

The main culprit for dwarfing the hair in height, length and breadth is the DHT factor. It involves the play of several important nutrients. The latter might slow down or totally stop. At this point tricomin plays a very important role. It has been noticed that the presence of copper inhibits 5-alpha reductase – the latter being the cause for the formation of DHT. With age the peptides in the body lessen and 5-alpha gets a chance to form DHT in the follicles.

Copper is also known for activating the basic ingredients which comprise of a healthy hair follicle. Hair grows in stages. It alternates between the growing and the hibernating stage. During the former stage substances at the base of the follicles like collagen and other proteins are in active production. During the resting stage these are inactive. Tricomin provokes them into action by delivering copper peptides to the base of the follicles. This is where all four hair loss treatments come into conjoined effective action. The need of the individual should be looked into before taking decision as to the course of action.