Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that have emerged as a treatment against, in particular, alopecia areata and scarring alopecia. These compounds, synthesized to mimic the activity of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. This makes them effective in treating hair loss conditions where inflammation or … Read more…
Topical minoxidil is an FDA-approved treatment for male and female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia (AGA). Despite its popularity, not very many people continue using topical minoxidil for the long-run. In fact, one clinical study found that by the one-year mark, 95% of topical minoxidil users voluntarily quit applying the drug – … Read more…
In this article, we’ll explore the history of minoxidil, how it became a hair loss drug, and the debate over its mechanisms of action for hair growth. Despite decades of study, researchers still do not know how minoxidil promotes hair growth. But they do have some ideas, and these ideas have remained the subject of … Read more…
Topical finasteride is an effective treatment for androgenic alopecia – particularly for those interested in better localizing the drug’s effects to the scalp. Unfortunately, prescriptions for topical finasteride can cost as much as $50-$100 per month. This prices out a lot of people who would’ve otherwise committed to the topical had it not been for … Read more…
Vegamour is a relatively new company – one centered around providing solutions for females with hair loss. Their star products? A set of hair serums designed to restore hair growth: the GRO and GRO+. Based on their ads and testimonials, these seem like great products. But are they really that effective? Is there any clinical … Read more…
Peppermint oil has been used for centuries to treat a variety of health conditions including hair loss, and a 2014 clinical study suggests that peppermint essential oil facilitates hair growth. How reliable is that 2014 study? And should we consider using peppermint oil to treat hair loss? In this article, we’ll explain what peppermint oil … Read more…
Stinging nettle is a type of flowering plant, generally regarded as a weed, that is regularly discussed within the hair loss space. This is because stinging nettle offers a variety of unique compounds that appear to modulate our hormones. People consume stinging nettle either as the whole plant extract, or generally the key compounds it … Read more…
Finasteride is among the most effective drugs for androgenic alopecia. And while side effects are often overstated, it can lead to reduced libido or lowered sperm counts in some men. For this reason, many choose topical versus oral finasteride, hoping to limit the drug’s DHT-reducing effects to the scalp. But at certain doses, even topical … Read more…
Studies show that within 3-6 months of stopping minoxidil, any hair growth resulting from the drug is lost. After quitting minoxidil, hair counts can even temporarily fall below where they would’ve been had we never sought treatment at all, before eventually rebounding back to baseline. Why does this happen? Is there a way to lessen … Read more…
Minoxidil is just one of two FDA-approved hair loss drugs. But FDA-approval doesn’t necessarily equate to guaranteed results with Minoxidil. In fact, many hair loss sufferers use minoxidil (i.e., Rogaine®) for six months and still don’t see significant benefits. Why is that? In other words, why do 50% of people seem to respond favorably to … Read more…