Archive for October, 2007

Hair Loss: Four Signs to Watch Out For

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

If you are an adult male you have probably already thought about the possibility to eventually losing your hair. Whether it is complete baldness, or simply male pattern baldness, hair loss is something that affects nearly half of the male population, and nearly 80% of the male population indirectly. Essentially, it is something that you will need to watch out for.

Before you get into a panic about hair loss and its effects on you it may be smart to begin looking for noticeable signs of accelerated hair loss. Remember, people lose a small amount of hair every day (though the specific amount varies on the person), though any amount over 60-80 hairs is considered unusual.

Four important signs to watch out for are:

  1. Clumping – You’re tugging at your hair gently when suddenly a large tuft of it gives way. There, in your hands, is a clump of your hair- how horrifying. Clumping is not common and is usually the result of a serious medical condition, medication, or advanced cases of hair loss. If you are experiencing clumping it is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible, as it may be a sign of a much more serious underlying medical condition. Hair loss that is associated with illness or medication is almost always temporary, so it is important to have it dealt with as soon as possible.

  2. Shedding – You awake from a good nights rest. Refreshing and feeling full of energy, you pop into the shower and cleanse yourself. Upon your exit you notice something dark on the pillow of your bed. Further inspection reveals it to be a large mass of hair- your hair.Shedding is one of the most obvious (and common) signs of hair loss, and it is often associated with early morning freak outs. The reason that you will likely find it on your pillow is because of the fact that when you are sleeping you are often either stationary or confined to a relatively small field of movement- where else would the hair go?

  3. Drain clogging – The warm water runs off of your skin. Your eyes are closed as you lather the shampoo and rinse it from your hair. Upon completion of the shower you turn off the tap and notice a large clump of hair in the drain- uh oh.Drains and hair go together about as well as pickles and ice cream. The hair will clog the drain and generally make the shower a real pain in the behind. The actual question here, however, is why is all my hair in the drain anyway?

  4. Poor style – Face it: your hair just isn’t what it used to be. It’s thin on top and getting there on the sides. This is a very obvious sign that you’ve been losing hair (obviously), and that perhaps you may want to seek a treatment for it. Consult with your doctor about what treatments may be right for you.

Propecia vs. Rogaine

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

The sun has set in the evenings sky, and after much anticipation and excitement, the time has come. It is time to determine which hair loss treatment is the best- which is king of the hill, so to speak. On one hand we have Rogaine, a topically applied treatment that is relatively invasive and requires a few minutes a day to ensure proper application. On the other we have Propecia, a oral medication that does its magic internally on a hormonal level.

There are man opinions and research studies that lend support to either treatment, and from the perspective of the consumer it is almost impossible to determine which one to choose. Many people simply choose based on randomness, as both treatments are equally applauded and awarded for their success and histories.

No more. We have come to settle the score.

Rogaine

By far the more popular of the two, Rogaine has been around for quite some time. The active ingredient, Minoxidil, is actually applied via topical treatment to the hair and massaged into the scalp. Think of it as applying a form of conditioner or hair gel. Rogaine can be ordered as either a solution or as a foam, both of which have considerable properties and are equally effective. Rogaine does have an extra strength variety if you need it (for whatever reason).

Rogaine’s success rate is approximately 51%, which given the condition that it is treating is actually incredibly high. As you may expect, different levels of success were experienced- some experienced new hair growth, while others experienced a cessation of further hair loss. As with all things, your results may vary.

Propecia

Propecia is not quite as popular simply because it is not as well known. When compared to Rogaine, Propecia is much less invasive: it is an oral treatment that is taken as prescribed. Its active ingredient, Finasteride, works by preventing the distribution of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) into the blood stream. In is technically classified as an inhibitor, and it is not available without a prescription.

Propecia’s success rate currently stands at a reported 75% average, which is quite remarkable. Many tests have been done on the effectiveness of Propecia, and the success rates have averaged out to 75%- very high given the nature of the condition that it is treating. However, Propecia is reported to have more active side effects when compared to Rogaine.

Overall: Rogaine or Propecia?

The reality is that after all of our research we are unable to come to a conclusion. The fact of the matter is that no one solution is the “ideal” solution for every person. Rogaine is very effective, as is Propecia. Rogaine is topical, Propecia is ingested. Both work through different means.

In our opinion, try them both (one after another) and determine which one works for you.

Rogaine Review by Blake Ross

Monday, October 8th, 2007

I have been experiencing hair loss for a while now. My grandfather had lost almost all of his hair by the time he was 31, and my father had a similar fate, only he was 29 when he lost his hair. I, at 30, am starting to feel the same effects. Needless to say, I am not pleased. When I first noticed the early signs of hair loss I was frustrated, angry, and a little depressed.

I was also feeling a tinge of irony, as my father had warned me my entire life that I would soon fall victim to the hair loss curse. His father had not been spared, he had not been spared, and nor would I. For him, my losing hair meant the successful transference of one family “tradition” to me.

Sorry, but I don’t want that tradition.

Rogaine: The Treatment

I spoke with my doctor who, after being genuinely surprised that my father hadn’t tried some kind of treatment, recommended Rogaine to me. Rogaine is typically a 2% solution of Minoxidil, a drug that has shown promising results when treating hair loss. I have the foam variety, which is easier to apply and also much easier to conceal. I’m not exactly enthralled about being 30 and losing my hair, and the last thing that I want to do is have one of my kids or worse (my friends) find the bottle.

The Rogaine bottle looks just like a bottle of shaving cream, so it’s nice and easy for me to conceal. I couldn’t be happier about that.

Long Term Review

Since you need to use Rogaine for nearly four months before you will start to see any real results (or so their site says) I’ve decided to report my results at the end of four months. As of right now I have thinning hair on the top of my head as well as a pretty prominent receding hairline (widow’s peak).

I’m hoping that Rogaine will grow some hair back, or at the very least, stop my hair from falling out.

Update: Four Months Later

So four months flew by, and my results are mixed. My hair doesn’t fall out anymore and I have experienced a slight amount of regrowth, but it definitely isn’t a huge amount when it comes to the regrowth. However, I’m happy with how Rogaine is working so far and I’m also convinced that my results are only going to get better with time.

I experienced a “peach fuzz” phase where the hair that came in was light and blonde, but I’m told that’s to be expected. Perhaps I’ll update this in another four months (January, 2008).

Propecia: The Wonder Drug?

Friday, October 5th, 2007

Everyone knows that a lot of men lose their hair. It’s an unfortunate part of many males’ lives, and the reality is that there isn’t much that can be done to prevent it. Short of the usual prevention methods (wide toothed comb, proper shampoo/conditioner, etc.) it’s pretty much a waiting game.

Rogaine had long been considered the hair-loss treatment of choice. Minoxidil became a common name in households that could afford the treatment, and its relatively high success rate meant that it gained almost instant notoriety as an effective treatment for hair loss. Men from all over the world flocked to Rogaine for an answer to their hair loss woes.

For the manufacturers of Rogaine, this was great news. Increased sales (and increased revenues as a result) were part of the drugs initial wave of success.

There’s a New Player in Town

But this article is about Propecia, right? Well, yes, and I’m just getting to that. Propecia has been around a long time. Its active ingredient, Finasteride, is actually widely known for its ability to block the secretion of DHT- Dihydrotestosterone. This was long sought after as a treatment for prostate cancer, but of course, applications for hair loss treatment were also apparent.

DHT, you see, is one of the primary causes of hair loss in males. Removing DHT from the mix means that there is a much lower possibility of hair being lost, as there is no DHT it actively promote it. As you can imagine, the popularity of Propecia has skyrocketed, combating and even rivaling Rogaine as the hair loss treatment of choice. What’s remarkable is that, while both are quite effective, Propecia is actually more effective than Rogaine by a small margin.

This has caused many people to hail Propecia as the hair loss wonder drug- with success rates as high as 80% (in some cases), many men are finding renewed self-esteem and self-confidence thanks to the results offered to them by Propecia. Finasteride is also well received as it has relatively few side effects when considering the type of medication that it is.

Propecia and Rogaine – The Hair Loss Cocktail

Not surprisingly, many men take both Rogaine and Propecia simply because they feel that they are increasing their chances of success by taking both. While the results somewhat support this assumption, the reality is also that individuals that take both medications are placing themselves at risk for side effects from each medication. Both have side effects, some of which are more common than others, and both medications are quite effective.

The general consensus is that the “hair loss cocktail” is not the right away to approach the medications, and that both medications should be taken individually and as directed. Most individuals won’t see any results for four months (or more), and being susceptible to all sorts of side effects is not very appealing- at least, we sure don’t think so.

The Hair Loss Cocktail: Rogaine and Propecia

Monday, October 1st, 2007

Did you know that nearly 40% of people that are taking Propecia are also taking Rogaine?  They claim an increase in the effectiveness of the medication, but recent studies have shown that not only does it not increase the effectiveness of either medications, but rather it exemplifies your risk for side effects and ailments.

Both Rogaine and Propecia work through intricate means to achieve a cessation of hair loss or stimulation of new hair growth, and mixing and matching the two is literally a recipe for disaster.

Rogaine

Rogaine used to only be available as a “solution”, which required a bit of insight when using it.  It is also the most memorable name when it comes to hair loss treatments, and it has many years of successes and accomplishments underneath it that distinguish it from other treatments. 

You can now order Rogaine as a foam-based treatment, and it comes in a package similar to hair mousse.  It is applied in the same way that you might apply other foam products into your hair, and most men find it much easier to apply (and remember to apply) than the hair solution. 

Rogaine contains a solution of Minoxidil (typically over 5%), and it designed only for certain hair treatments.  Much of the regrowth that most men experience comes in the form of “peach fuzz” at first, and then later fills out into a more recognizable shade and length.

You do not need a prescription to take Rogaine.

Propecia

Where Rogaine is applied directly to the areas of hair loss, Propecia is a tablet that is taken once daily.  It is important that you know the cause of your hair loss before taking Propecia, as taking Propecia to compensate for a serious medical condition will not result in hair growth of positive treatment.

Propecia’s active ingredient, Finasteride, works by blocking the creation of Dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that has been directly linked with several conditions in men, including hair loss.  It is less invasive than Rogaine (both foam and solution based), but it also operates on a different level.  Whereas Rogaine is absorbed into the scalp, Propecia works on a hormonal level.  Because of this, it is important that you consult with your doctor before taking Propecia, as you will need a prescription.

Side Effects of Mixed Usage

Both Rogaine and Propecia product similar results at first- light, soft “peach fuzz” that slowly turns into full-length hair follicles that have a similar color and feel to them.  Taking both products at once will make it nearly impossible to determine which product is working and which isn’t.

As well, both Rogaine and Propecia work based on their formula, so taking more does not always mean that you will see better results.  By mixing the two treatments you are also exposing yourself to side effects associated with each, and there’s quite the list when you combine the two.

Unless it is specifically recommended by your doctor, taking Rogaine and Propecia is not recommended or encouraged.