Archive for September, 2007

Propecia FAQ

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

Propecia is a surprisingly effective hair loss treatment for adult males. Of course, there are many questions associated with this type of treatment. We’ve done our best to catalogue the most common questions and their appropriate answers:

Q) What is Propecia exactly?

A) Propecia is an effective hair loss treatment for adult males. It’s primary active ingredient is Finasteride, an inhibitor that prevents the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) secretion in the scalp. DHT is associated with prostate cancer development and male hair loss.

The tablet comes in 1mg doses.

Q) How do I take Propecia?

A) You take Propecia once daily. Do not make up for missed doses by taking multiple doses unless your doctor deems it acceptable.

Q) What are the major side effects of Propecia?

A) The side effects associated with Propecia are general mild in nature and occur in a very small percentage of users. However, the most common side effects are: decreased sexual desire, decrease in sperm count, difficulty achieving an erection. These side effects were rare in subjects taking Propecia and in most instances where they appeared they went away during their usage time.

Other side effects include: allergic reactions, itching, hives, swelling, ejaculatory problems, muscle tenderness, and testicular pain. If you experience any of these side effects cease taking Propecia immediately and consult with your doctor for an alternate treatment.

Q) Should I take Propecia?

A) Propecia is designed for males that are over the age of 18 and is suitable for any male experiencing hair loss. However, you should not take Propecia if you have liver problems, as Propecia is metabolized in the liver.

Women should not take Propecia under any circumstances.

If you are trying to start a family or have a child it is recommended that you cease taking Propecia one week before you begin trying. This will ensure that all traces of Propecia are out of your system. Though Propecia has been found to have no impact on fetal growth, maintaining a one-week gap acts as a safety measure.

Q) How effective is Propecia?

A) Clinical trials and independent studies have shown an effectiveness rate of just over 80% in men that were taking Propecia. These results are actually quite common and underline Propecia’s effectiveness.

In fact, two thirds of the participants taking Propecia experienced new hair growth, versus just 7% of those taking the placebo.

Hairloss 101 - What Causes Hair Loss?

Sunday, September 16th, 2007

Welcome to “Hair Loss 101”. Please take your seats and put away your notebooks, as this class will be taught entirely through lecture. Okay, all jokes aside, this article is going to discuss the primary reason that most males experience hair loss, effective treatments, and how to properly handle hair loss.

What causes hair loss?

Hair loss in most adult males is caused by a hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is also linked towards prostate cancer in men. DHT is not found in women in any significant levels, which explains why it is very rare for women to experience balding. This hormone inhibits proper hair growth, causing the gradual thinning effect as more and more hairs fall off of the scalp through normal hair loss.

Other reasons for hair loss include thyroid troubles, certain medication or medical treatments, traction, and illness.

  • Thyroid malfunctions – An overactive or underactive may cause you to begin losing hair. This type of hair loss is the direct result of the medical condition, and generally it ceases when the condition itself is treated. This type of hair loss is generally temporary.

  • Medication/Medical treatments – Hormonal imbalances, either the result of a medical condition or by certain medication, may cause hair loss. This type of hair loss can generally be treated by switching medication or concluded when the medical treatments have ended. It is generally temporary.

  • Traction – Wearing your hair in a pony tail or tight bun can actually promote hair loss over a prolonged period of time. This is because scar tissue eventually develops where the hair has fallen out preventing regrowth.

  • Illness/Stress – It is quite common to experience sudden and dramatic hair loss months after a major illness or period of extreme stress. This is the result of the severe stress placed on the body during the illness and is temporary.

Effective hair loss treatments

In the case of DHT, the primary treatment is with medications that prevent its secretion into the scalp. The most common are minoxidil and Finasteride, which operate under the brand names Rogaine and Propecia respectively. Both of these treatments require relatively lengthy treatment periods, though both have relatively high success rates.

Talk with your doctor about possible hair loss treatments that may be appropriate for you.

How to handle hair loss

You can always tell which men are handling their hair loss gracefully and which are a bit bitter. If your hair is starting to thin out it may be time to try a new hair style, consider shaving your head, or adapting your current hair style so that it suits your new hairline.

Stressing out about hair loss is unnecessary, as little can actually be done outside of treatments that are orchestrated with your doctor. Most men will experience some form of hair loss, as it is a rather unavoidable consequence. Essentially, it is part of being a male.

How Does Propecia Work?

Thursday, September 13th, 2007

Propecia is an effective solution to male hair loss, and many successful clinical trials all over the world have shown it to be an effective treatment. With total success rates (where the subject maintained their hairline and experienced new hair growth) of over 60%, there is no other product on the market today that is as capable or as successful.

Propecia is actually a variation of a product called Proscar, which was approved over 20 years ago for the effective treatment and prevention of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH). The active ingredient in Proscar is Finasteride, and thus it is also the active ingredient in Propecia as well. The major difference is the dosage: where Proscar was taken in 5mg tablets one daily, Propecia is taken in 1mg tablets once daily.

Finasteride: What it Does for You

Propecia works on a very fundamental level, as Finasteride operates on the hormonal plane. A hormone called Dihydrtestosterone (DHT) has been proven to be the fundamental cause of male hair loss. This is not surprising, as years of studies with testosterone, of which DHT is a variant, has shown mixed results in all subjects that have been tested.

Finasteride works by inhibiting the development, creation, and secretion of DHT. DHT is also associated with the formation of prostate cancer, though the dosage of Finasteride in Propecia is so low that it cannot be marketed as a prostate cancer preventative treatment as well. However, in regards to hair loss Propecia has shown to be very useful and quite effective.

Finasteride is essentially little more than a chemical inhibitor of the hormones that are related to hair loss. The concept itself is simple, but the execution is surprisingly complicated. Studies have shown that the effects of Propecia are cumulative, and that it takes prolonged periods of treatment in order to see any noteworthy results. Most physicians recommend that you take Propecia for at least three months before you reevaluate your hair-loss strategy.

One significant advantage that Propecia offers is the fact that it stimulates real hair growth, not “peach fuzz”. 63% of males taking Propecia during its largest clinical trial were verified to have new hair growth by independent dermatologists.

Using Propecia

Previous drugs have included Finasteride in larger amounts than what Propecia contains. Propecia has lower instances of negative side effects and results due to the lower amount of active ingredients in Propecia, and because of this Propecia has become widely regarded as one of the premier hair loss treatments available today.

Users of Propecia are to take Propecia once daily. It is important that you do not exceed your dose nor try to make up for lost doses by taking multiple tablets at once. Because of the chemical properties of Propecia and the fact that it is an active inhibitor taking multiple doses may have adverse side effects.

What is Propecia?

Monday, September 10th, 2007

Propecia is a solution to the age-old conundrum that has been plaguing modern man: hair loss. There is nothing more debilitating for a man than to lose that thick head of hair that was once so firmly plopped upon his head. For many men, balding is not a fear but a rather imminent reality, as in my blood line nearly every single male has gone completely bald by the time they were fifty.

Propecia is the pharmaceutical industry’s solution to the hair loss problem. The active ingredient, Finasteride, is one of the oldest and most established treatments for hair loss. Just as Viagra has been known to do wonders for one’s sex life, Propecia is showing the same kind of benefits for one’s head of hair. Taken daily in the form of 1mg tablets, Propecia is showing some amazing results.

Critical Testing of Propecia

Men all over the world spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year seeking a solution to their hair loss, and products that range from the improbable to the downright impossible have been designed and marketed to this core group of men. It has been proven that desperation makes it easy to convince someone to part with their hard-earned cash, and many of the “hair loss treatments” that are available are little more than excuses to take someone’s money.

Propecia is very different from that stereotype for a number of reasons. Most notably, Propecia has been tested by numerous independent agencies world-wide and has shown fantastic results. Merck Pharmaceuticals, a major industry business, has tested the long-term effects of Propecia on 1, 553 men between the ages of 18-41 that were experiencing mild/moderate thinning hair.

These men were given 1mg a day of Propecia, and their study showed that after two years of treatment over 83% of the 1,553 men (or 1,289) had shown positive results in the way of hairline maintenance or new hair growth. The consensus was that over 80% of the subjects tested had improved appearances, and consequently, self confidence and self esteem.

Is Propecia Right For You?

Propecia is an effective hair loss treatment for men over the age of 18. Due to the nature of the product and the drastic hormonal changes that a male experiences during puberty it is not recommended for males under the age of 18.

Propecia has shown excellent results in many clinical testing trials, and real-world testing of Propecia has been quite positive as well. Real-word observation shows a total success rate of 60%, where total success is hairline maintenance and hairline growth. If you are beginning to notice hairline loss or thinning Propecia may be a suitable solution for you, but you should always do your research and consult with your doctor before choosing to go on any kind of medication, including Propecia.