Archive for October, 2007

Propecia, the Only Success After All Other Remedies Failed

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Mark, my brother, who at the age of 27 is losing his hair.  

For Mark, his hair loss is very real and painful. An otherwise handsome, well-built, intelligent, and personable young man, his receding hairline that began at the age of 19 has crept back and created a large bald area on his head.  Therefore, he either shaves his head or wears a baseball hat to hide his lost hair. 

After reading about Propecia, I introduced him to the solution three months ago, and it has been a relief to the difficult journey he has experienced combating his hair loss.  Although the growth has been minimal, Propecia is slowly working, and his bald spot has stopped increasing in size.     

Before Propecia, my brother’s self-esteem was at an all-time low.  Once the life of the party who usually dated several girls simultaneously, he had all about retreated from the dating world.  Lack of confidence does not show well for women in a bar or nightclub.  However, after three months of using Propecia, he is finally to get his hair…and his groove back.       

However, before Propecia, his hair and life was a different story… 

Experiments with the other “solutions”

Over the last five years, Mark has tried almost every “solution” available online, through the TV, and in brick-and-mortar stores.  

He bought a gadget earlier this year, called a laser comb, which guarantees hair growth. It cost him nearly a week’s salary, and he used it faithfully for 30 days. What he got was an itchy, reddened scalp, as he did not have enough hair in his bald spot to deflect the comb’s teeth.  In comparison, Propecia, as a pill, did not cause scalp irritation for him.   

He had tried herbal remedies, both creams and pills. He said, “the pills gave me a headache, and the creams smelled funky.”  Plus, they were not working.  Propecia did not only work, but did so without headaches, cream mixtures, or strange smells.   

Mark also researched Rogaine, but realized that it was not compatible for his health conditions.  Our father had several heart attacks, and Mark’s doctor did not advise him to utilize Rogaine.  Thankfully, Propecia has very few side effects, with very small chances of occurrence nonetheless. 

Mark had tried everything else on the market. Well, almost everything. He would not go for hair plugs, as he believes they look painful and fake.  I have to agree with him. It does look bloody, disgusting and excruciating, and I know there are more nerves and blood vessels in the scalp than in any other skin on the body.  Propecia, on the other hand, is painless and only takes one pill a day.

Progress, one hair at a time 

Mark takes one Propecia pill a day, and three months later, there is definitely progress.  His receding hairline / bald spot stopped expanding, and there is some growth back in his hair.  Although the growth is small, Propecia is slowly working.  With Propecia, my brother is finally gaining back some of his confidence, and he actually has hope for his hair for the first time in many years.  In fact, he has a date this weekend.  I am trying to persuade him not to wear the baseball hat, but I think that may take a few more months of additional Propecia hair growth.  Although it is occurring slowly, his confidence is grow back, one hair at a time with Propecia.  

Real Propecia vs. Generic Propecia

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

Consistently researching solutions for male pattern baldness, I stay abreast of all of the changes and news in the industry.  Without my persistent research, I would have missed the article about counterfeit Propecia. 

Global Medz: Counterfeit Propecia

Recently, a startup venture called Global Medz, based in the Bahamas, began selling Propecia and other counterfeit medications online and on the street.  Counterfeit Propecia, manufactured in illegal factories in China, India and Pakistan, were first shipped to the UK, and then to the Bahamas and the US.

The kingpin of this empire, Ashish Halai, a 33-year old British businessman from Essex, was convicted of selling the “fake” drugs by a jury in London.  This case is being called the biggest drug bust of the century by British law enforcement officials. According to the report, millions were made by Halai and his henchmen on sales of Propecia and other drugs.

Labels and packaging were faked, and fraudulent documents (including patient information sheets and clinical testing protocols) were linked to legitimate companies like Merck, which manufactures Propecia.

The drugs, including Propecia, contained less than 90% of the active ingredient, which in Propecia’s case is finasteride.  Unfortunately, customers did not know this information, and they purchased Propecia online or in stores, often paying up to £20 for a single dose, which was more than 400 times more than the vendors themselves paid for the counterfeit goods.   

The counterfeit Propecia was either purchased online, or through stores located in the UK, the US, the Bahamas, and Mexico.  There were scores of retail businesses, both legitimate and illegitimate ones. The question now is: why?

Protecting yourself against costly and counterfeit Propecia

A prescription for Propecia, which is not considered a Type A controlled substance, can be obtained from any licensed medical practitioner. The prescription itself, available at almost any pharmacy, costs approximately £25 for a month’s supply.

If you are a male, over the age of 18, have evident balding, go to your doctor, and ask for a prescription, your doctor will most likely give you one.  However, the visit to obtain the little slip of paper that allows you to buy Propecia will cost approximately £50, depending upon your insurance.  The Propecia itself will cost you another £25. The first month is expensive, but in the subsequent months, the cost-benefit ratio of using Propecia declines to a definite range of affordability.  £25 a month is quite affordable in today’s economy. 

Make sure you obtain your Propecia the right way.  Go to a doctor, get a prescription, and obtain your Propecia from your local pharmacy or definitively reputable online pharmacy that operates in the UK or North America.  Getting Propecia the right way will ensure that your hair, body, and wallet will remain healthy! 

The History and Progress of Propecia

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

 Male pattern baldness has been around since the early recordings of civilization. Historical notes and remedies on the subject date back to ancient Egypt!  Their ancient remedies were often messy and unsightly, ranging from female urine to strange organic concoctions. 

Thankfully, we have science and Propecia to cure baldness.  Propecia works by blocking DHT formation and accumulation in your scalp. DHT is a synthesis of testosterone, which – as men age – is converted by enzymes in the body and concentrated particularly in the scalp and hair follicles, blocking new hair growth.  

Origins of Propecia

Propecia was originally developed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, and marketed by Merck & Co. under the name Proscar. While using it in clinical trials, research scientists discovered it also reversed the advance of male pattern baldness. 

In 1997, after several clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Propecia to treat baldness in men. Propecia’s use is not approved for women, particularly women in their childbearing years, as Propecia is suspected to cause a specific kind of birth defect in male babies.

Over the course of the last 10 years, Propecia has been shown to be safe in 98% of the population. Two percent develop side effects, with the most significant being an allergic reaction like a rash, but this incidence declines in five years to less than .03%. Very rarely, men have reported sexual side-effects, breast enlargement, and testicle pain.  However, no health risks, such as cancer, heart disease, or autoimmune responses, have been associated with Propecia. 

Propecia’s effectiveness over topical applications

Unlike other remedies, Propecia attacks the root of the problem: DHT bonding to follicles. There are topical DHT blockers that say they do the same job, but the skin is a much-less permeable organ than the intestines. Propecia works inside the body to correct the problem and at a much higher dosage than can be administered safely in a topical solution.

Recent advances in scientific understanding about the relationship between hormones, enzymes, and genetic factors, may soon produce an improved version of Propecia. Clinical studies at Merck, carefully advanced in four phases, point to more effective solutions. In the meantime, Propecia remain a very powerful solution to re-grow hair in men with pattern baldness, while simultaneously retaining existing hair and preventing further recession of the hairline.

To Hair or Not to Hair

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

All drugs, ranging from simple aspirin to Propecia, have potential side-effects.  The key to finding the right medication for you is as simple as understanding your odds of winning against losing.  For example, let us weight the costs and benefits of Ropinirole, which is a treatment for restless-leg syndrome; this drug often creates massive sleep attacks in people, making daily activities like driving very dangerous.  Personally, I would rather deal with restless-leg syndrome than know that every time I ventured behind the wheel, I could instantly fall asleep and kill myself and others in a car accident.

On the other end of the risk spectrum is Propecia.  First licensed in 1997 by Merck & Co., Propecia is an effective hair-loss preventative medication that has side effects.  In analyzing the questions, to hair or not to hair, it is important to also weigh the cost-benefit analysis of Propecia.

Side Effects of Propecia    

Propecia has warnings of side effects, although the chance of these side effects is less than 2% in all the below cases.  In fact, the incidence chance falls to less than .03% if you use Propecia for more than five years:

  • Rashes or allergic reactions
  • Breast enlargement
  • Painful testicles 

If you are a gambler, 2% and .03% in five years are pretty good odds.  If you are over fifty, losing your hair, one divorce under your belt, trying to build your life, and once again on the dating scene, the odds - and Propecia - begin to look even better.

Gain your confidence with Propecia  

Although it is a sad commentary on our society, the importance of hair can impact both social and professional success.  According to dozens of commercials flashed over the TV screen, a middle-aged man who is going gray and balding is not likely to get either that promotion or the babe on the elevator. A grey, balding, middle-aged man is simply dead in the water.

You can fight this mind-set and lose your mind in the process, or you can go to your doctor, get a prescription for Propecia, and start living again. If you are an average male, you will see Propecia’s results in 90 days.  That is better odds than you will get at the casino!  At the end of a year, after taking one Propecia a day, you could have a full head of hair again.  Whether you enjoy life to the fullest is up to you, but at least people {read: women} will not see you as a fish out of water. 

The restless-leg syndrome drug was recently approved for use; Propecia has been on the market for 10 years.  Which one would you rather put your money on?  Although restless-leg syndrome may keep you up at night, hair loss keeps you out of the race, especially if you are a young man (and male pattern hair loss begins to exhibit itself as early as 17). 

Propecia: easy on the wallet, great on the hair

Propecia is affordable and can be budgeted into anyone’s finances. Pack a bag lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays, and wash your car with a hose on weekends: that is how little Propecia costs. Compared to Minoxidil, Propecia is half the price with twice the benefit, and you do not have to apply it or wipe up the mess. Compared to hair restoration, Propecia’s cost is like buying a motorcycle instead of a Ferrari! 

If you are the one of 35 million men experiencing thinning hair, you should consider trying Propecia. As one satisfied user noted, Propecia is a lot safer than birth control, and equally as reliable.  FDA-approved, readily available at any pharmacy, and inexpensive, Propecia provides the kind of hair restoration you cannot get with herbal remedies, creams and lotions, or even expensive weaves, and - unlike similar medications under other names - Propecia has passed the test of time. After all, you really do deserve the best, and this time, you can afford it!

Propecia & the Hormonal Lifespan of Male Pattern Hair Loss

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

  Unfortunately, for many men, the older we are, the most hair we lose!  There almost seems to be an inverse relationship between the candles on our birthday cake and the hair on our head.  The reason for hair loss in the majority of men comes from the hormonal lifespan that occurs in our bodies.  The amount of the hormone testosterone, although always present in the male body, has a trajectory similar to a rollercoaster in our lifetime.  However, with recent pharmaceutical developments, there are medications, such as Propecia, that can keep the hormonal hair ride going.     

The rollercoaster of testosterone and hair

At birth, every person has a certain amount of testosterone in his body.  At puberty, when testosterone undergoes increased production, the change in hormone level grows facial hair and deepens the voice, as well as drives sperm production, sexual drive, and sexual performance.  This is when the testosterone production reaches the top of the rollercoaster, and thus, most teenage males have heads filled with thick, full hair.              

After this spike during the puberty and teenage years of testosterone, the hormone production begins its descent down from the rollercoaster top.  For most men, the amount of testosterone in the body continues to decrease with age.  Thus, as men become older, they lose more and more hair. 

There are some men in their sixties who continue to have fairly high levels of testosterone, but there is no medical explanation for the difference in production levels; experts do believe that it is most likely genetic.  It is this group of men with elevated levels of testosterone production that early Propecia research evaluated to find the optimum amount of hair based on age and health.  

The cause of it all: pituitary gland

The culprit to blame in hair loss is the pituitary gland.  It produces LH, which stimulates testosterone production. It also makes FSH, which triggers the growth and health of hair follicles in the scalp.  Unfortunately, as men age, so do their pituitaries, which produce less and less of the needed hormones.  The biological timeline for hair loss follows in several steps:

1.      Levels of hormone production decreases.

2.      Remaining testosterone is converted into DHT, an aging bio-marker.

3.      DHT interacts with an enzyme in the scalp.

4.      The interaction shrinks scalp follicles to such an extent that they no longer produce hairs. 

 

Propecia to the rescue! 

Propecia works on this primary cause of hair loss by reducing the amount of DHT in the scalp, allowing the follicles to enlarge and produce normal hair shafts. Results with Propecia can appear as quickly as three months, and most users of Propecia report both new hair growth and a slowing of hair loss within that time. Once begun, however, Propecia treatments must be continued, or any benefits derived will be lost.

Statistics show that 85% of men who began using Propecia before they noticed significant hair loss were able to maintain their original hair’s thickness. A full 66% achieved new growth using Propecia, even after hair loss had begun, and the new growth closely matched their original hair.  Some men, who began using Propecia before they had lost a significant amount of hair, actually reported having more hair using Propecia than they had had before the loss started. Only 2% of men using Propecia reported side effects, primarily sexual, and – of those – the percentage decreased to .03% by the third year of treatment with Propecia. In fact, the primary reported side effect with Propecia was a rash. In rare instances, men reported testicular pain, or enlarging breasts.

Since hair loss is partly genetic, Propecia may not work as well for some men. If twelve months of continued Propecia use produces no significant benefits, it is very likely that genetic factors, rather than hormone imbalance, are causing hair loss. Propecia also affects the results of a certain test, called a PSA (prostate-specific antigen), which is used to determine the nature of prostate problems. If you are using Propecia, be sure to tell your physician before you have a PSA.