Dutasteride has become the latest player in the game of hair loss. Marketed under the name of Avodart,  Dutasteride  is a pill that is similar to finasteride, yet one that claims to be more effective in a smaller dose. It was orginally developed to help shrink enlarged prostates in men and it is now in the process of being approved by the FDA to treat hair loss.

While Avodart is still new to the hair loss game and not yet approved by the FDA as a hair loss treatment, many people are already using it for this specific purpose. Before you go and get yourself a prescription for some, it is important to take a closer look at this new drug and what it does and what are the potential side effects of it are.

How dutasteride works

Dutasteride works by being an extremely effective 5 alpha reductase blocker, which effects the body’s ability to turn testosterone into Dihydrotestoterone (DHT) which is thought to be responsible for the onset of androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) in men. In clinical trials, it has been shown that 2.5 milligrams of Dutasteride can be as much as 20 percent more effective in blocking the production of DHT than 5 milligrams of Finasteride in a two week period. Dutasteride blocks both type 1 and type 2  of 5-alpha reductase thus dramatically increasing the amount of testosterone (as opposed to DHT) that is present in the test subjects. Studies have found that dutasteride is up three time effective at blocking type 2 and almost a hundred fold better at blocking Type 1, however, since type 2 is the one thought to be responsible for male pattern hair loss, the drugs ability to block type 1 of the enzyme is only considered important for prostate health.

Side effects

Dutasteride’s side effects are pretty much the same found in Finasteride, with the most alarming one being the reported loss of libido and even cases of impotence in some men. These occurrences are rare and the symptoms cease after use is stopped.  Tenderness of the breasts were also reported, but most side effects are relatively mild and non threatening.

Longevity

Dutasteride also stays in the system for a much longer period of time suppressing DHT long after the subjects have stopped treatment. While this might bode well for men suffering for hair loss, it is recommended that those have stopped treatment abstain from donating blood for at least six months to preven exposure to pregnant women.

Dutasteride and minoxidi

As I stated in a earlier blog about Finasteride and minoxidil, many men have reported good results when using Finasteride and Minoxidil in conjunction.  Since Avodart is yet to be approved for  hair loss, there is barely any feedback as to whether combining it with minoxidil would prove to be effective, but since it works the same as finasteride, it seems like it will be tried in the future.

Conclusion

While this New Kid on the Block seems like an interesting prospect when it comes to a new hair loss treatment, the fact that is yet to be approved by the FDA for hair loss makes me wonder how men are able to get their hands on it. Perhaps they are just lucky enough to have a enlarged prostate that their doctors prescribe it to them. The fact that this drug is doubly more potent than propecia, makes you think that the potential bad side effects are also twice as likely to happen. As for me I think I will stick with the original new kid on the block: Provillus.

Hair cloning

Ever since Dolly the sheep made it into the news, scientists have been busy cloning everything from pet cats to you guessed it, hair follicles. A couple of scientists recently published a study in which they isolated  the dermal sheath cells which are found in the lower part of the human follicle and then injected into the scalp of another person and successfully grew some hair. Well this is not technically real cloning (Neither was dolly) scientists believe that these dermal sheath cells could easily be multiplied in large numbers in a petri dish and applied to an entire area. The new hair that grows also ends up taking on the characteristics of the host’s original hair. The researchers are not saying whether they plan to implant false memories in these hew hairs to make them think that they are actual hairs and not replicants (a little blade runner humor sorry).

Finding the baldness gene

Scientists are also busy looking at the map of the human genome, hoping to find and isolate the genes that cause baldness so that they night someday be able to correct it.  While finding and labeling the baldness gene does not mean an instant cure, it is a first big step in that direction. By figuring out which genes are responsible, researchers will be better able to find ways to target baldness and treat it more effectively instead of merely stumbling upon solutions that work.

New Drugs

Move over Minoxidil and Finasteride and seems that there is a new enzyme inhibitor in town that is being used to successfully treat baldness. Dutasteride, a drug that is currently being used to treat prostate problems (avodart), has been shown to be a even better DHT blocker than Propecia.  Scientists are also making breakthroughs in the field of natural cures for baldness with promising findings being found in resveratrol which is derived from grape skins and beta sitosterol which is derived seed oils as well as saw palmetto.

So do not be surprised if the future is full of people with full heads of hair and bald guys go the way of the dodo.

DHT is the only thing that causes hair loss

While many scientists believe that the overproduction of the hormone DHT is one of the main causes of Androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), its presence alone is not the single determining factor when it comes to hair loss.  Lack of proper nutrients and vitamins to the scalp can also damage your hair and lead to it falling out. Blood circulation also plays an important role in healthy hair. The presence of DHT, is also not really a totally bad thing either and lowering its levels in men could lead to a decrease in sexual desire. DHT also plays an important role during pregnancy and determining a child’s sex.  While using a DHT inhibitor such as Minoxidil and Finasteride can help lead to new hair growth,  making sure your hair is getting enough nutrients and blood flow is also vitally important.

Shedding 100 strands of hair a day is “normal”

We all start out with between 100,000 to 150,000 strands of hair, all of which go through a cycles of growth, rest and falling out that lasts about five years. Most (about 90%) of our hair is in the growth phase, with the rest either in the resting or shedding phase. At one time it was thought that losing hundred hairs a day was normal and nothing that to worry about, but now research has indicated that the number should be closer to 20 and no more than 50. So losing more than a hundred hairs a day is actually a bit excessive and points to the early stages of hair loss.  Then again, I really never met anybody who actually counts how many hairs they shed on a daily basis. Really, who keeps track of such things?

Cutting your hair makes it grow back thicker

Cutting your hair only makes it seem like it is thicker because the base of the hair happens to be thicker than the tip (think skyscraper).  Your shortened hair will still grow at the same rate and once again appear thin as it grows out. However, if you have thin hair and want to maintain the optical illusion of having thicker hair, then by all means keep it short.

Balding guys are more virile

Sure, some women do find balding guys more sexy, but the truth is that having too much testosterone based hormones coursing through your body, does not make you any better in the bedroom. While testosterone and even DHT do play an important role in a man’s libido,  having more or less of it does not seem to be a factor when it comes to sexual prowess (although having none will have an effect). This myth is most likley to have been dreamed up by some clever bald guy.

Standing on your head

It was once thought that standing on one’s head, would help increase blood flow to the scalp thereby decreasing baldness. This however, is completely false. Standing on your head will not make you grow more hair, but it will give you a nice and shiny red face.

Provillus is not a FDA approved treatment

This is false. Provillus’ topical solution includes minoxidil, one of the only two ingredients approved by the FDA to treat hair loss. It is true , that provillus includes a supplement of proprietary herbs that are not currently sanctioned by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss. This lack of approval, however, does not mean that this included supplement will not help you grow an healthier head of hair. Many of the ingredients, such as saw palmetto and Mura Puma have been used for centuries for this very purpose. These traditional medicines have always been sidelined by the modern medical establishment, yet there has to be a reason that people have been using them for so many years. On top of that, the various vitamins (B6 and Biotin) and minerals (zinc) that are included in the supplement, do have a scientific backing when it comes to growing and maintaining healthy hair.

Furthermore, we all know that the road to FDA approval is one that is paved with truck loads of cash, which enables large pharmaceutical companies to get the stuff that they stumble upon in their labs the offical seal of approval from the government. Certain proprietary substances cannot be patented and are therefore not considered profitable by these large profit hungry conglomerates, so the effects of these substances are downplayed by their researchers. It is also important to remember that both minoxidil and finasteride were being studied for something else before they were marketed as hair loss treatments, so that the companies that owned their patent rights could pad their bottom line and justify the millions they had spent in research and development.

I still don’t see any results…

One thing that I see over and over, are people complaining how they have been using provillus for a whole month and they still are not seeing any results. The thing is, it takes time for the stuff to work and you need to give it three to six months before you can say for sure that the product does not work. Most of us did not lose our hair overnight, it was a gradual process that took years. We cannot expect our hair to grow back it a mere fortnight, it takes a bit of patience and due diligence in order to get results. That being said, not everyone will benefit from using provillus. The stuff works best for people who suffer hair loss on the top of their head ( the old horse shoe) and some people will just be unlucky enough not to see any visible results after months of trying. As for the rest of you, keep it up for six months and then come back to complain.

Provillus is way too expensive

Truth is, Provillus treatment costs only about a dollar a day to use. Thats what, a half a cup of coffee these days? Sure, you may be able to find some cheaper stuff at Costco, but then you will not get the supplements that help you grow stronger and healthier hair or benefit from the the penetrating action of azeliac acid which is included in the provillus formula.

In conclusion

Give provillus a try for yourself and see that it really does work. After a month of using it, I was also getting a bit dismayed, but I kept it up and now I am sure glad that I did. Provillus is also backed with a 90 day money back guarantee, so act now and get back that hair you thought you had lost forever.

Dandruff and balding

A dandruff shampoo for hair loss? Now before you go out and buy several cases of Head and Shoulders, let me just say that Dandruff  typically does not cause baldness (only in the most extreme cases does it lead to hair loss).  Dandruff is caused by a fungal infection on your scalp and the overproduction of sebum from your sebaceous glands. The little fungi living in your scalp feed off of the oils secreted by the glands next to your hair follicles leading to itching and flaking and a multitude of little skin flakes that fall out of your hair and come to rest on your nice black sweater. Dandruff results from a combination of poor hair hygiene, too many greasy and fatty foods, and genetics.  While dandruff and hair loss do not necessarily go hand and hand, the conditions are found together often enough that people can easily make that assumption that dandruff can cause balding.

How is Nizoral different?

Nizoral contains a synthetic anti fungal product called Ketoconazole, which has been scientifically proven to control the P. Oval fungi that are thought to cause dandruff.  It is available over the counter in a 1% solution and a stronger dosage can be obtained with a prescription in more extreme  cases.  The real interesting thing about Nizoral is that a 1998 study showed that the 2% solution of the product seemed to stimulate hair growth with the same amount of effectiveness as a 2% minoxidil solution. While more studies need to be done before the FDA can let the makers of Nizoral market their product for men suffering from androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness)  it has been speculated that Ketoconazole will soon be let into the same class as minoxidil and finasteride.

As for Me…

Since provillus works for me, I am sticking with it, but since I have dandruff, I am also willing to give Nizoral a try. There seems to be no side effects besides a flake free head and PH balanced scalp, so I figure why not try it and see what happens. I will be sure to let you all know the results.