Originally posted by: truthrocket. Give it to me straight is this just another rip off or can these things have any significant results.

Donno. But there is an interesting correlation between efficacy in stroke and efficacy in hair loss treatment. E.g., spin traps and spin labels work in both hair loss treatment and as neuroprotectants in troke treatment . Thus, TEMPOL ( which we use in some of uour formulations and have patents on) is in clinical trials for radiation alopecia and has shown efficacy in the experimntal treatment of stroke.

We even recently published in the journal Stroke on spintraps ( Proctor, PhD, and Tamborello, LP, “SAINT-1 Worked, but the Neuroprotectant is not NXY-059″, Stroke, Oct 2007). BTW, NXY-059 is the disulfonyl derivative of our old hair loss-treatment agent friend PBN– turns out the real antistroke agent was probaby another spintrap, MNP.

Reason for this correlation is that stroke and pattern hair loss share some of the same fundamental pathogenic processes. So what works in the fundamental degereative processes in hair loss tends to work in stroke and vice versa….

So what does this have to do with low energy laser treatment of hair loss? Well, there is this paper:

Yair Lampl, MD; Justin A. Zivin, MD, PhD; Marc Fisher, MD; Robert Lew, PhD; Lennart Welin, MD; Bjorn Dahlof, MD; Peter Borenstein, MD; Bjorn Andersson, MD; Julio Perez, MD; Cesar Caparo, MD; Sanja Ilic, MD, MS Uri Oron, PhD, Infrared Laser Therapy for Ischemic Stroke: A New Treatment Strategy, Results of the NeuroThera Effectiveness and Safety Trial-1 (NEST-1), Stroke. 2007;38:1843.

Peter H Proctor, PhD,MD

Our products were developed by taking people who had not responded to previous treatments and trying out new agents on them. This way, anything that worked would be an im[rovement on present treatment. You do this for 20+ years (we started in 1984) you get fairly knowledegeable about what works and what does not. One result is nine granted US patents for a wide variety of hair loss treatment agents.

Our product line is fairly short because we generally combine hair-loss-treatment agents together, rather than offering individual agents. This seems to be the way to get consistent results– No single agent is all that effective. So you use several different agents that work in different ways. The result is generally at least additive and hopefully synergistic. Lots of medical treatments for other chronic diseases work on the same principle.

We concentrate on what we do best– new treatments in combination formulations. Where there is an acceptable formulation already available, we see no reason to market a competing product.

Peter H Proctor, PhD,MD
Hair loss treatment

Hair loss treatment in Women with Finasteride
Matilde Iorizzo, MD; et al, Finasteride Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss, Archives of Dermatology. 2006;142:298-302.

ABSTRACT

To evaluate oral finasteride therapy associated with an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol in premenopausal women with female pattern hair loss.

Treatment: 37 women with female pattern hair loss were treated with oral finasteride, 2.5 mg/d, while taking an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using global photography and the hair density score from videodermoscopy. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess patient evaluation of treatment effectiveness.

Results At 12-month follow-up, 23 of the 37 patients were rated as improved (12 were slightly improved, 8 were moderately improved, and 3 were greatly improved). No improvement was recorded in 13 patients. One patient experienced worsening of the condition. There was a statistically significant (P = .002) increase in the hair density score in 12 patients.

Conclusions 62 % of patients showed some improvement in their hair loss with the use of finasteride, 2.5 mg/d, while taking the oral contraceptive. It is unclear whether the success was due to a higher dosage of finasteride (2.5 mg instead of 1 mg) or to its association with the oral contraceptive containing drospirenone, which has an antiandrogenic effect. Further studies are necessary to understand which patterns of female pattern hair loss respond better to this treatment.

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Hair loss treatment in Women with Finasteride
Matilde Iorizzo, MD; et al, Finasteride Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss, Archives of Dermatology. 2006;142:298-302.

ABSTRACT

To evaluate oral finasteride therapy associated with an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol in premenopausal women with female pattern hair loss.

Treatment: 37 women with female pattern hair loss were treated with oral finasteride, 2.5 mg/d, while taking an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using global photography and the hair density score from videodermoscopy. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess patient evaluation of treatment effectiveness.

Results At 12-month follow-up, 23 of the 37 patients were rated as improved (12 were slightly improved, 8 were moderately improved, and 3 were greatly improved). No improvement was recorded in 13 patients. One patient experienced worsening of the condition. There was a statistically significant (P = .002) increase in the hair density score in 12 patients.

Conclusions 62 % of patients showed some improvement in their hair loss with the use of finasteride, 2.5 mg/d, while taking the oral contraceptive. It is unclear whether the success was due to a higher dosage of finasteride (2.5 mg instead of 1 mg) or to its association with the oral contraceptive containing drospirenone, which has an antiandrogenic effect. Further studies are necessary to understand which patterns of female pattern hair loss respond better to this treatment.

Permalink Edit… Deprecate! Delete!

Male pattern hair loss is the most common form of hair loss, representing close to 95% of all cases of hair loss in men. And about half of all men experience male pattern hair loss by age 50. So if you have male pattern hair loss, you are certainly not alone.

You’re probably very familiar with this type of hair loss. It begins with a receding hairline and/or slow balding at the crown. It is typically a progressive condition—left untreated the hair loss will likely continue. Scientists believe male pattern hair loss is inherited from either side of your family and that a chemical called dihydrotestosterone, more commonly referred to as DHT, is a key factor in hair loss.

DHT is a substance in the body that can shrink the hair follicle until it no longer produces visible hair. Scientists believe DHT and family history are key factors in hair loss.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by notgoing2gobald:
Dr. Proctor,

…"the incidence of this in males under 40 years old is less than 5%"…

“….Does this same age to % ratio hold true for erectile dysfunction as well?

Dr Proctor sez: Probably. IIRC, the incidence of sexyal dysfuynction in patients over 55 on finasteride ais about 25% or so.

“..Regarding the anecdotal stories where libido decrease did not reverse, have you heard the same with respect to erectile dysfunction?..”

Dr Proctor sez: Yes, but. It is unclear whether this lack of reversal was real, conincidental, or merely unverified rumor… I suspect a bit of each.

” Also, if propecia is not generally recommended for people past their early 40’s, then people who have had ht can not just continue use indefinitely. Don’t they run the risk of losing a significant amount of hair in their crown when they hit their 40’s then? I was always under the impression that if you have a ht the doctor recommends you stay on propecia indefinitely.[/QUOTE]

Dr Proctor sez: Good questions. Nobody knows the real answers. I personally will prescribe finasteride up to about age 50, after advising the patients accordingly, naturally. Over 40 is a “relative contraindication", mostly because the oldest person in the trial was 41. This seems appropriate most of the time because of the general reversibility of any sexual problems.

Over 50, I start to worry. One reason is the significantly increased incidence of sexual dysfunction. The other is that, while finasteride early may retard the development of prostate cancer, it may promote the progression of the last precancerous stage to frank prostate cancer. As a practical matter, this is probably not an issue under age 50, if it is an issue at all.

Peter H. Proctor, PhD,MD

Lapis aëtites in aquilae repertus nido custodit partus contra omnes abortuum insidias. penna vulturina subiecta pedibus adiuvat parturientes. ovum corvi cavendum gravidis constat, quoniam transgressis abortum per os faciat. fimum accipitris mammas a partu custodit adeps anseris cum rosaceo et araneo. Phryges et Lycaones mammis puerperio vexatis invenerunt otidum adipem utilem esse. iis, quae vulva strangulentur, et blattas inlinunt. Hair loss treatment and hair regrowh ovorum perdicis putaminum cinis cadmiae mixtus et cerae stantes mammas servat. putant et ter circumductas ovo perdicis aut . . . . non inclinari et, si sorbeantur, eadem fecunditatem facere, lactis quoque copiam, cum anserino adipe perunctis mammis dolores minuere, molas uteri rumpere, scabiem vulvarum sedare, si cum cimice trito inlinantur.

While any gains on medical treatment are generally lost within about 8-9 months of stopping treatment, this does not mean that you end up the same as you would have had you never had treatment. My impression from over 20 years of expereince is that agents that directly affect the pathogenic process in balding (this includes antiandrogens and maybe even minoxidil) retard or sometimes even put the physical process of balding on hold in at least some persons during the duration of treatment. That is, you end up better than you would have had you never had treatment.

Also, medical treatment generally does not slow the shed rate except rather indirectly, by making hair spend longer in the loss-phase. Generally-speaking, this effect takes so long to appear that it is mostly not evident. Even then, an reduction in loss rate is swamped out by the fact that when you have more hair, there is more hair to shed. Rather, medical treatment primarily makes hair grow and thicken without a perceptible change in the amount of hair shed, except for early shedding induced by follicels coming out of dormancy (which has been considere ad nauseum elsewhere).

Peter H. Proctor, PhD,MD.

Recent high fever, severe flu or surgery. You may notice you have less hair three to four months after events such as an illness or surgery. These conditions cause hair to shift rapidly into a resting phase (telogen effluvium), meaning you’ll see less new hair growth. A normal amount of hair typically will appear after the growth phase resumes.
Infancy. Newborns often lose hair during the first several months of life.

Hair treatments. straightening or perming can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly also can cause some hair loss. leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally regrows.

Disease can cause hair loss. Inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses

Medications. Certain drugs used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women. http://www.doctorproctor.com
Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.

Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop this type of baldness are generally in good health. Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition. A family history of alopecia areata makes you more likely to develop it. With alopecia areata, your hair generally experiences regrowth, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times. http://www.centpharm.com

Hair loss treatments

Causes Return to top

Baldness is not usually caused by a disease, but is related to aging, heredity, and testosterone. In addition to the common male and female patterns from a combination of these factors, other possible causes of hair loss, especially if in an unusual pattern, include:

Alopecia areata – bald patches. In various area of the body.
Autoimmune conditions such as lupus
Burns
Certain infectious diseases such as syphilis
Chemotherapy
Emotional or physical stress, includicn psychological stress
Excessive shampooing and blow-drying
Fever
Hormonal changes – for example, thyroid disease, childbirth, or use of birth control pills
Nervous habits such as continual hair pulling or scalp rubbing aks “tricotillomania”
Radiation therapy
Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp)
Tumor of the ovary or adrenal glands

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 357:1620-1630 October 18, 2007 Number 16 exerpt

Hair Loss in Women

Jerry Shapiro, M.D.

…Antiandrogen agents (including the androgen-receptor blockers spironolactone, cyproterone acetate, and flutamide and the 5-reductase inhibitor finasteride) and oral contraceptives are not commonly used to treat female-pattern hair loss in North America, but they are used more commonly in Europe. None of these agents are FDA-approved for female-pattern hair loss. Cyproterone acetate is not approved in the United States, and neither flutamide nor finasteride is approved for any indication in women, although finasteride is approved for the treatment of hair loss in men.

“In an open-label study of cyproterone acetate (50 to 100 mg daily for 10 days of the menstrual cycle) or spironolactone (200 mg daily) in women with female-pattern hair loss,19 more than 80% of women had either hair regrowth or stabilization of hair loss, but this study was uncontrolled. In a randomized trial comparing topical 2% minoxidil solution plus an oral contraceptive with cyproterone acetate (52 mg per day) plus an oral contraceptive in women with female-pattern hair loss, the latter combination resulted in greater hair density in women with hyperandrogenism, whereas in women without hyperandrogenism, minoxidil had a greater effect. If antiandrogen agents are used in women of reproductive age, an oral contraceptive should be prescribed concomitantly, since these agents are known teratogens.

In two small, uncontrolled studies, finasteride (Propecia) at a minimum dose of 2.5 mg per day appeared to have a benefit for women with female-pattern hair loss.21,22 However, in a double-blind, controlled trial23 involving postmenopausal women with female-pattern hair loss, treatment with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg per day was not significantly better than placebo. Like the antiandrogens, finasteride is a known teratogen, and its use is not recommended in women of reproductive age…….”

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, eventually affecting over half of all men (male-pattern baldness) and 10-20% of women. The hair loss can begin at any age, even during the teenage years.

Male-Pattern Baldness

In men, hair loss usually begins at the forehead or on the top of the head toward the back. Some men lose only some hair and have only a receding hairline or a small bald spot in the back. Others, especially men whose hair loss began at a young age, lose all of the hair on the top of the head but retain hair on the sides and back of the scalp.

Female-Pattern Baldness

In women, hair loss begins on the top of the head and is usually a thinning of the hair rather than a complete loss of hair. The hairline typically stays intact. This pattern is referred to as female-pattern baldness.

Toxic alopecia results from physical or psychologic stress. Sudden weight loss, a high fever, or surgery may cause hair loss. Some drugs—including chemotherapy drugs, blood pressure drugs, high-dose vitamin A, and other retinoids—can also cause hair loss. Usually, the hair loss is temporary, and the hair grows back.

Alopecia areata is a common skin disorder in which round, irregular patches of hair are suddenly lost. The cause is believed to be an autoimmune reaction, in which the body’s immune defenses mistakenly attack the hair follicles. The site of hair loss is usually the scalp or beard. Rarely, all body hair is lost, a condition called alopecia universalis. Alopecia areata is most common in children and young adults. Alopecia areata is not the result of another disease, although some people also have a thyroid disorder.

Scarring Alopecia

Scarring alopecia occurs at scarred or damaged areas. The skin may be damaged from burns and other physical injuries or from x-ray therapy. Diseases that cause scarring include lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, and persistent infections. Skin cancers also may scar the skin.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A doctor diagnoses male-pattern or female-pattern baldness based on its typical appearance. Determining the cause of other types of hair loss simply by observation is sometimes difficult. A doctor usually examines the hair shafts under a microscope and may perform a biopsy of the skin (see Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Disorders: Diagnosis). A biopsy helps determine if the hair follicles are normal; if they are not, the biopsy may indicate possible causes. If the doctor’s examination finds signs of hormonal irregularities or other serious illness, blood tests to identify those disorders may be needed.

Male-pattern and female-pattern baldness can sometimes be treated effectively with drugs. ROGAINE
may stimulate and support hair growth when applied directly to the scalp daily. Finasteride or
PROSCAR works by blocking the effects of male hormones on the hair follicles and is taken by mouth daily. Improvement may occur with either of these drugs when taken for several months.

Toxic alopecia generally resolves after the toxic substance is discontinued. Because the hair loss is usually temporary, wigs often offer the best treatment. Alopecia areata is sometimes treated with corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are typically injected under the skin of the bald patch, and may be applied topically as well. Scarring alopecia is particularly difficult to treat. When possible, the cause of the scarring is treated, but if the area is fully scarred, hair regrowth is rare.

Hair growth and shedding is cyclic. It includes phases of growth, involution (catagen), and rest. Growth and rest are regulated by complex messages between the epithelium and the dermis that are not yet well understood. In a normal scalp, most follicles are in the growth phase, a few are undergoing involution, and the remainder are in the telogen phase. Folling telogen, hair releases. Each day, up to 100 hairs shed daily from the head. Roughly the same number of follicles enter anagen. Anagen determines the length of hair, and the size of the hair bulb determines the diameter.