Archive for the ‘Rogaine’ Category

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.

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.