Archive for September, 2007

Hair Loss and You: Two Ways to Stop Hair Loss

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

You’re proud of your hair, right? No guy wants to wake up one day and notice that he’s starting to lose his hair. Many men find this experience frustrating, embarrassing, and even emasculating. While it may be “just hair”, it also represents self capability and confidence to many men, and losing it jeopardizes all of those things.

Luckily, there are two treatments that have been around for a little while that are surprisingly effective and very popular among those losing hair. If you are certain that your hair loss is not the result of some kind of underlying medical condition or stress related factor, talk with your doctor about what treatment may be right for you.

Rogaine

Who hasn’t heard of Rogaine? It has long been on the butt end of many jokes, and even The Simpson’s did a show on Minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine. Regardless, Rogaine is an effective treatment for men that are experiencing hair loss that is not related to medication, underlying medical conditions, or stress related factors.

Some quick facts about Rogaine:

  • Rogaine has many applications – Rogaine can be purchased as a foam, a solution, or an ultra-strength solution. The primary active ingredient in each of these applications is Minoxidil, and it is found in varying percentages based on the application. In most instances, Rogaine contains a 5% Minoxidil solution.

  • Rogaine can be obtained without a prescription – Though you should still consult your doctor about using Rogaine, you will not need a prescription to use the regular-strength applications. As well, there are many stores online that can discreetly deliver Rogaine to your door.

  • Rogaine works over a period of time – Hair loss isn’t something that can be corrected over night. Rogaine takes around 4 months or so for significant noticeable results, so be patient and stick with it.

Propecia

Propecia is based on Finasteride, which is not necessarily a new medication. Where Rogaine is applied directly to the area that is experiencing hair loss, Propecia is taken once a day, just as you may take a vitamin.

Some quick facts about Propecia:

  • Propecia is an inhibitor – Propecia works by preventing the formation of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the primary cause of hair loss in men. By preventing its development, Propecia effectively stops hair loss and even encourages hair growth.

  • Propecia requires a prescription – Due to the nature of Propecia and how it works, you will need a prescription from your doctor in order to be able to use it. It is important that you absolutely do not use Propecia unless you have permission from your doctor, as Propecia is much more active than topical treatments (such as Rogaine).

  • Propecia is very effective – Studies have shown an over 75% success rate with Propecia, which is very high given the diverse nature of the condition that it is treating. If you have tried other hair loss treatments and have found that they have not worked for you, ask your doctor about Propecia.

The Psychological Aspect of Hair Loss

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

By the time a man is 50, he is 50% likely to have experienced (or begun to experience) hereditary hair loss.  It’s just part of being a man.  What’s sad is that billions of men all around the world are losing their hair in one form or another, and millions of these men are going to experience changes to their self esteem, self confidence, personal perception of appearance, and even feelings of self doubt. 

What many men don’t realize is that hair loss, like all aspects of life, is something that is often beyond the control of the person who is experiencing it.  Both sexes have unique elements to them that the other sex will not experience, and in the case of men hair loss happens to be something that primarily affects men. 

Noticing Hair Loss

Hair loss is not something that (usually) happens all at once, meaning that you’ll have a period of time where you’ll notice the tell-tale signs of gradual hair loss:

  • Hairs on your pillow – Losing a few hairs during the night is common, but losing a whole bunch of them is not.  If you are starting to see more hair than usual on your pillow, you may be experiencing gradual hair loss.

  • Hairs in your brush – It’s completely normal for a few hairs to find their way into your hair brush.  However, if you are literally finding thickets of hair in your brush you may be experiencing gradual hair loss.

  • Shower/sink drainage – Losing a few hairs in the shower is quite common.  If you start to notice hairs in your drains you may be experiencing gradual hair loss.

Those are the primary signs of hair loss, though there are others.  Please keep in mind that just because you are experiencing hair loss doesn’t mean that you’re going to go bald or that there’s nothing you can do about it.  Thankfully, there are several treatments available that have been proven to be effective, so don’t write off that luscious head of hair quite yet.

Handling Hair Loss 

The last thing that you should do is stress out about your hair.  Remember, in the grand scheme of things it’s a very small element of who you are, and it certainly isn’t a defining factor of your self worth.  Just as growing old is a fact of life, hair loss is something that will always affect men.

You can handle it via treatments, such as Rogaine or Propecia, a new hair style, or by simply accepting your thinning hair and focusing on other things.  Stressing out is likely to cause increased hair loss, so take it for what it is and either accept it or do something about it.

Both Rogaine and Propecia have high effectiveness rates, so it’s not unlikely that you’ll find a solution with either one of those medications.  Keep in mind that you will need to continue taking those drugs for prolonged periods of time in order for them to continue working.

Buying Medication Online: Tackling the Legal Issues

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

 The Internet is a strange place.  Nowhere else can you find a huge assortment of discounted merchandise, information, opportunity, and illegitimate networks.  When the business world migrated to online business in the mid 1990s, the illegitimate business world followed it.  This meant that your legitimate online pharmacies, auction houses, and retail stores had to compete with more than competition: they had to compete with a negative business image.

The good news is that the vast majority of what you’ll find online is legitimate, open for business, and ready to go.  Most are run by hardworking entrepreneurs, large companies, and even educational institutions.  When it comes to medication, such as Propecia, there are plenty of online vendors that are able to provide you the lowest price for your medication.

At the same time, you need to address a certain element of caution:

  • Always ensure that the medication that you’re looking for is even allowed to be sold online – Many medications cannot be distributed online as there is very little to prevent fraudulent prescriptions from being used to obtain the medication.  Medication that is highly concentrated, effective, or particularly active is unlikely to be sold online.

    When in doubt, consult the manufacturer of the medication and find out for yourself.  If they are authorized to allow online sales, get a list of vendors that they have approved to distribute their products. 

  • Ensure that the medication is legitimate – Certain medications, such as Cialis or Viagra, and famous for being sold illegally online.  What’s more, these medications are often sold in generic form, with varying amounts of active ingredients and chemicals per dose- you might take a proper dose in one pill, and then a hugely weighted dose the next.

    Taking medication that is not legitimate can lead to all sorts of complications, side effects, or even health problems.  Always be sure that you’re taking the appropriate medication, and always ensure that it is the dosage that you require.

  • Never buy active medication internationally – Many Rx websites are based overseas, and though they may be perfectly legitimate, the importation of medication into the United States is highly controlled.  You may be setting yourself up for a whole bunch of legal complications without even realizing it.  Make sure that whatever online pharmacy that you buy from is located in North America, or the UK, and is able to ship to your location without hassle.

    If your medication arrives disguised as soap or some novelty item that is a very bad sign, and not only should you not use the medication that you’ve received, but you should also consult the appropriate authorities regarding the shipment.

When in doubt, ask.  The manufacturer of the medication will be able to provide answers to most of your questions, and talking with someone who can give you information about buying medication online and the legalities associated with your particular area will save you from headaches later.

Three Ways to Slow Your Hair Loss without Medication

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007


If you’re starting to experience hair loss, regardless of the cause, you may be feeling upset, frustrated, or even angry. Unfortunately, hair loss is something that nearly 50% of men will have to deal with at some point in their lives, and it doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. While scientists have spent decades wondering what the exact cause of hair loss is (and it has largely been discovered to be DHT), men everywhere have been spending hundreds of years trying to deal with it.

In the classical era (the 1700s and 1800s), men wore elaborate wigs that were adorned with huge amounts of hair. It was seen as a sign of wealth and prosperity, and hence it was something that every male that could afford it made sure that they had. Today, wigs have lost favor as they are now seen as something that is designed to cover up someone’s faults or imperfections.

However, there are ways to slow or reduce the appearance of hair loss without medication and without having to resort to wearing a wig. Here are our favorite three:

  1. Style – Nothing screams “I’m going bald” more than someone who refuses to change their hairstyle, despite the lack of qualified hair to fill it. And hey, maybe it’s time for a new do anyway!If you are starting to lose your hair, either by thinning or by hair line receding, there are a few styles that look great, are appropriate for everything (business and casual), and dramatically reduce the appearance of hair loss.
    • Top-do – Grow your hair longer on the top and trim the sides shorter. Then, style your hair so that it sweeps back in a natural, flowing way. This will give your hair the appearance of volume and length, not thinning and hair loss.

    • Shaved – A few decades ago, a shaved head was not considering professional. Today, that is far from the case. Many working professionals have their heads shaved, and not only does it look professional but it also completely eliminates the appearance of hair loss. You never know, it might just suit you.

  2. Blow-dry your hair – Aggressive towel drying can shed hairs due to the amount of friction that it causes. Blow drying your hair (on low) will help you build volume as well as reduce how many hairs are lost as the result of breakage.It may take a little longer, but once you get the hang of it (and allot the appropriate amount of time) you’ll be glad that you started doing it.

  3. Use a wide-toothed comb – Many men use a thinly spaced comb, and though it may offer greater control of your hair, it also breaks and rips out many more hairs than a wide-toothed comb will. Using a wide-toothed comb will significantly reduce how many hairs you lose as a result of combing.

Propecia Review by Steve Nelson

Friday, September 21st, 2007

Yesterday we received the folloing Propecia review by one of our visitors, Steve Nelson.

Hmm, where to begin?  I guess you should know a bit about me: I am 20 years old and still attending university; I don’t drink, smoke, or use drugs; I am fairly active and am in good physical condition.  My Achilles heel, of course, is my hairline.  It’s receding- slowly, but enough that I notice it. 

I used to be like my father: thick, wavy hair that grew like a weed.  I can recall times growing up when I hated the fact that my hair needed to be cut every two weeks because of how thick and unmanageable it became.  It was very frustrating growing up, but as I hit my later teens I began to appreciate my hair for I had noticed that I was starting to lose it.

They say that everyone loses around 80 hairs per day.  Me?  I probably lost right around that, except that they wouldn’t grow back afterwards.  It became a bit of a sore spot for me, and though my friends and family hadn’t started to notice until I was 20 years old, I did.  I noticed.  It drove me insane.

My Introduction to Propecia

I talked with my doctor about it, and after some sessions with a dermatologist it was confirmed that my hair was indeed thinning.  My doctor ran over a serious of possible solutions, and we decided on Propecia.  There were many reasons for this decision, though the ones that were most important to me were:

  • Few side effects – Clinical trials conducted on Propecia have shown fewer side effects than other hair loss treatments.  This is a good thing as far as I’m concerned.

  • Clinically proven – Many independent tests have all shown positive results, and I felt that Propecia was the one treatment that I could be the most optimistic about.

  • Dosage – One 1mg tablet once a day, just like taking a vitamin.

Of course I was nervous about taking it, but the side effect list wasn’t too severe and I doubted that I’d experience any of them anyway.  And, given the fact that I wanted my hair back, I figured it was worth the risk.

Three Month Review

I’ve been taking Propecia for three months now and the results that I’m seeing aren’t phenomenal.  In fact, I can’t say that I’ve seen any noticeable results at all.  My doctor is telling me to stick with it for another three months before I jump to a different treatment, but I won’t lie and say that I’m optimistic because I’m not.

Thankfully, I have not experienced any side effects at all.  I’ve been taking my doses first thing every morning when I take my vitamins.

Six Month Review

About five months into the treatment I was standing in front of the mirror one day and I looked at my hair and it just looked better.  I wasn’t able to explain it, but everyone I asked agreed that it looked as if it had been thickening.  Suddenly I was excited again.

At my six month revue with my doctor he confirmed that he could see some positive results and he sent me to a dermatologist for testing.  We confirmed it- an estimated 12% increase in total hair volume over my last test, and my hairline had not receded in any areas. 

Overall

I am still taking Propecia and I probably will until my doctor advises me to stop.  I have not experienced any noticeable side effects that I can directly attribute to Propecia, and I remain very optimistic and enthused about the results that I have experienced. 

I feel better, I feel that I look better, and I’m just happier overall.  I know that hair is such a small thing, but everyone always says that until they lose theirs.