The History and Progress of Propecia
Male pattern baldness has been around since the early recordings of civilization. Historical notes and remedies on the subject date back to ancient
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.