Summary of Hair Loss Solution Products by AskDocWeb

Hair Loss Products

This forum is an overview of hair loss products. The best known are listed in the chart below. The discussion is also open for other products for hair loss that are not as well known.

Compare Hair Loss Products

Please note: The Rogaine for Women costs less than the formula for men. A 3-pack of 2 ounce bottles is about $38.00.

Nisim

Nisim is a shampoo that is clinically proven to re-grow hair. They claim that 85.7% of users have an increase of at least 30%. It comes with a 100-day money back guarantee. To date this is the best shampoo for hair loss that we have seen. Read the Nisim Reviews (5 pages of feedback).

Avacor?

Avacor is a three part “hair care system” that was supposed to re-grow hair. According to Response magazine, Avacor was the third best selling product on the Internet in April, 2002. In 2009 the rights to the Avacor product was purchased by a new business. We let readers decide if it is a waste of money or not. Read the Avacor Review or Avacor feedback from users (10 pages).

Propecia

Propecia is a prescription drug approved by the FDA and according to the manufacturer, stops hair loss for 83% of men and 98% of men taking Propecia have no side effects. The bad news is that 1.3% of users reported erectile dysfunction and if taken by women, it can cause birth defects. Please do not buy Propecia before reading the feedback from users (over 90 pages of feedback).

Propscar

Before Propecia came out, there was Proscar. It has five times the active ingredients of Propecia and costs about the same per pill. Some men get Proscar and divide the pills into quarters as an alternative to taking Propecia. Of course this lowers your cost but it also is dangerous to expose women to the contents of these pills.

Advecia

Advecia is a new product for hair loss. It’s a hair loss supplement, a blend of vitamins, minerals and herbs specially formulated to provide your hair follicles the nutrients needed for healthy hair growth.
Read the Advecia Reviews (5 pages of feedback).

ProFollica?

ProFollica? is a three-part system that claims visible effects within weeks of starting use and substantial new growth within 6 months. Ingredients include Kigelia Afrcana Extract, Gingko Biloba Extract, Cinnamomumb Zeylanicum Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, and Panax Ginseng Root Extract.

ThymuSkin

ThymuSkin started out as a European product but is now sold through a Canadian company. They claim a success rate of 67% for men and 95% percent for women. Read the Thymuskin feedback (4 pages of feedback).

Dentist?

When it comes to finding a solution to hair loss we want to cover all possibilities. This one may seem strange but scientists Dr. Montoya and Dr. Soriano at the Department of Stomatology, University of Granada has found a connection that they say links alopecia areata to dental infections. The scientists found that bald patches in patients with alopecia areata were often localized along the lines projected by the infected teeth. Although the exact relationship between hair loss and dental disease remains unknown, the scientists think that bacterial infections can trigger an autoimmune reaction that makes the immune system erroneously attack the healthy hair follicles of the scalp.

Dr. Montoya and Dr. Soriano recommend that people with unexplained hair loss and those who suddenly develop balding patches on the scalp, should visit the dentist?s office for an oral examination and treatment. In many cases, after a dental infection has been eliminated, the patient experiences complete regrowth of hair within three to six months.

Hair Loss Forum

Subj: Which product for thinning hair?
Date: 11/23/2003

I am a 41 year old lady. My hair is thinning so badly almost going bald. Please advise which product of yours should I use and whether it is available in Aurangabad (Maharashtra). Thank you

Girija

AskDocWeb: Sorry Girija, we do not sell anything. We do product reviews to report on health related products.
To date, the best products for female hair loss seem to be Rogaine for Women and Nisim Biofactors.

Subj: Foods to prevent hair loss
Date: 2/23/2004

Two bits of advice that stack well with whatever folks are doing and that work well for me; cut down your fat intake and eat apples. I’m 25 and my scalp irritation was much worse when I was eating large amounts of olive oil. I think it increased my testosterone to unhealthy levels. Also, the proantrocyanins in apples have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and they work by actually helping the inflammation problem rather than messing with your sex hormones. There was research from Japan pointing to the proantrocyanins in apples as being very helpful, applied topically, but I’m still looking for a good supplement for treating hair loss. Till then I just eat the things and that seems to have positive effects.

Ryan

Subj: Hair loss shampoo?
Date: 3/10/2004

Can you recommend a good DHT blocking shampoo? By the way, your website has been wonderful to use as a reference. Thanks.

David

AskDocWeb: The first ones we looked at turned out to be a waste of money. Let us know if you find another hair loss shampoo and we’ll check it out. In the mean time check out Nisim Biofactors.

Subj: Studies
Date: 3/19/2004
Just curious why you have done studies on procerin, propecia and avacor but haven’t done one for rogaine. Thanks

Noah

AskDocWeb: No one has requested one for rogaine. We keep track of requests and devote our time to those products that have the most interest.

Subj: Wearing a cap?
Date: 3/24/2004
Wearing a cap. This myth is true. I have 2 aunts that have been wearing hats at their job at a bakery for 15 years, and they both have balding areas because of the hats. It is caused by lack of oxygen and also the hat being pulling the hair too much. It does not effect all people but people with thinning hair should watch.

Barry

Subj: Moving to Proscar
Date: 3/26/2004
Hi All, Well I must say this is a good site for hair loss info! I am 25 years old and I have been on Procerin for about 1.5 years. This is how I think Procerin works. If you are experiencing major hair loss it will slow it dramatically, that may make you feel that you have stopped hair loss and re-growing. But that is not the case. Procerin will not grow hair back in my experience but slow the rate of falling hair drastically.

As far as side effects are concerned I don’t think they are an issue as we all get stomach discomforts with or without Procerin. I am confident there are no other side effects.

Finally, since my hair loss has continued I am moving over to Proscar. Hope that works in growing back hair and let me pass my 30’s with a head full of hair (ha ha).

Ali

Subj: Things to do
Date: 5/1/2004
Things I am doing for my hair are monthly treatments at a saloon using a French vitamin mixture and an hour under a steamer. I have done this about six times and I think it is making my hair softer and less frizzy. My barber who recommends it has been in the industry for forty years mostly outside the U.S. He swears by it and even offered not to charge me until I see results after that it’s $60 a pop. I have also been using the laser comb for about three weeks. This product definitely does something to your hair. After each comb with it my hair seems healthier looking, however I don’t know if the results a purely aesthetic or if there is any really benefits, I assume I won’t return it. Also massage your scalp at least ten minutes a day and hang off the side of a bed allowing blood to rush to your head for five. Good Luck

John

Subj: What is a good product for female hair loss?

Date: 5/2/2004

I am 33 years old female. I have hair loss problem. Can you recommend a good product? Thank you.

Ozlem

AskDocWeb: Which product would depend on the reason for your hair loss. You may already know that most women lose hair for reasons different than men so this post will only be about women’s hair loss. We recommend you get a physical to find out the cause of your hair loss before buying anything. Below are some of the notes we have collected about female hair that you may find useful.

Some kinds of female hair loss are due to the effects of testosterone. There are medications to block testosterone and its conversion into DHT. These prescription medications are approved by the FDA for uses other than female hair loss. The most used are spironolactone (Aldactone®) and Finasteride
(Propecia® and Proscar®. These seem to help hair loss but pregnancy must be absolutely avoided because they cause birth defects if taken by pregnant women or by women who become pregnant while taking them.

If the problem were a declining level of estrogen, then estrogen may be the treatment. However, women under forty who have normal cycles or who are on an oral contraceptive are not likely to be estrogen deficient. If you have irregular or absent cycles, that can be a sign of lower estrogen but, that can also be due to other conditions like PCOS. Estrogen usually begins to fall after age forty-five with the approach of menopause.

One of the strange things about estrogen is that different parts of the body require different amounts. Usually the doses are based on what the bones and blood vessels need but more is sometimes needed to control symptoms such as hot flashes. Hair follicles seem to need even more. That means that the dose of estrogen needed to help alopecia is sometimes more than the usual one. An increase in estrogen dose often stabilizes hair loss and sometimes promotes regrowth.

With hormone replacement there is no set dose or form that is right for all women so it needs to be individualized. For older women it is important to work with a physician experienced with the subtle changes of menopause to find out what is right for you.

Rogaine ( Minoxidil ) would certainly be a possibility but with some cautions. This non-prescription product comes in two strengths, 2% and 5%. If you try it, use the 2% version first because the 5% version can cause hair to grow on unwanted places, for example if you get it on your forehead or other areas. It takes three to nine months to find out if you are benefiting from it and it doesn’t work for everyone. The biggest problem with Rogaine is that it has to be applied twice a day to the entire scalp. That’s not too hard to do for men but for women (who usually have longer hair) that can be a lot of effort. Then again, if you stop using it you gradually lose the hair that came in.

Saw palmetto is believed to inhibit 5 alpha reductase, the enzyme that activates testosterone, It is used by men for prostate enlargement and sometimes for male alopecia in products such as
Provillus. It may work for some women but experience in women is too limited to be sure.

Avoid testosterone creams such as those used to help restore sex drive. They can sometimes help libido but can cause hair loss.

A popular supplement called DHEA is converted into testosterone by the body and should be avoided if you are concerned about hair loss.

Oral contraceptives can lower free testosterone levels by about half. Although they sometimes help, we believe that oral contraceptives by themselves are not an adequate treatment for female hair loss.

Subj: Encouraged
Date: 5/7/2004
I was quite shocked to notice that I was starting to lose hair at the age of 31. My hair was always so thick (even to the point where hair dressers would moan about cutting it). In the last year it has speeded up with a receeding hairline so have just ordered some procerin and will report back in a month’s time. I still have quite a good covering of hair at the age of 36 but I’ve got to the point where I will need to take preventive steps to keep it including quitting smoking.

Great site by the way and I’m encouraged by the general comments regarding this product (Procerin).

Rob

Subj: Hair transplant
Date: 6/4/2004
Hair transplant is definitely the alternative for baldness. I had at least 2400 micrographs, which were done in 2 separate sessions, and it took 6hours or more for the painless procedure. It’s quite an experience. My next goal is to have another hair transplant for more density to my hairline and crown. If you were thinking of having a hair transplant, I would prefer that you research the DR’s or company who provides this procedures. Also, just be ready to hear of how much it’s going to cost you. But then again just think of it as an investment. It’s well worth for the money!

Lydon

Subj: Hair Growing Soap
Date: 6/17/2004
I never liked spending a lot of money on the perscription products. I found a small chinese herbal shop that sells Hair Growing Soap. You use it in place of shampoo. They’re only $3-7 per bar of soap and they last 2-3 months. It made a huge difference and I’m still growing some hair back.

Richard

Subj: DHT inhibitors
Date: 6/21/2004
Olive oil can inhibit dht and sebum.

Rajan

Subj: Found 2 products that work
Date: 6/27/2004
Hi, I would like to say that I have found 2 products that work for hair loss and if your browsing this web site then you are probably looking for some type of solution. They are fabao 101 products and thymuskin. Both are applied to the scalp. Taking an HGH precursor(such as secretagogue-one at GNC) with it will help speed growth. The 101 original bottle is one of the stronger lotions but stinks. 101D is more of a pleasant smell but still works. I usually apply this lotion about 5 minutes after putting the thymuskin gel on which is not for styling hair. The thymuskin has a kit that can be bought which contains all kinds of stuff but if you haven’t got the cash, gel is the main one for hair regrowth and is even better with the shampoo. I use the 101 original, thymuskin gel and secretagogue-one.

Now, I’m not sure if its my positive thinking but some how my hair is actually growing. Slow, but in time I will have almost a complete restoration not including the sides of my temples. This could take a few years and will tell you that 2 years ago I started using these products and quit using them after about a year because I didn’t see much results. My hair practically fell out within two years at the age of 18 leaving me a little at the front. I had the huge forehead look with receded hairline. After spending all that cash and only growing hair barely thicker than peach fuzz I said the hell with it and accepted it.

Now, that hair that was barely thicker than peach fuzz, was right at where my hairline used to be. Today, all that peach fuzz now has color and is thicker. I had almost forgot what it’s like to not be embarrassed when getting a hair cut and keeping my cap with me to cover up. It’s like my hair is receding in reverse. I haven’t noticed any at the temples but that’s minor and each year will improve. Hope this is helpful in your search.

Reuben

Subj: Recommended dose
Date: 7/7/2004
What is the recommended dose of saw palmetto for hair restoration? There seem to be so many different doses. Thanks,

Scott

AskDocWeb: While the effect of saw palmetto on hair growth has been documented, a dosage for treatment has not yet been set. Some men will see the same results at 1000 mg that others will see at 2000 mg. Of course the higher the dosage, the more chance of side effects.

Subj: Advice from Brian
Date: 7/9/2004
Hair Loss Facts for men 25 and under.

1. You will not notice that you are losing your hair until 50% of the hairs are gone from a given area. Therefore, those who have a strong tendency toward male pattern baldness in their family and who are not freakishly paranoid about the “side effects” of propecia, procerin, etc, should take these medications (at least propecia) as a precaution. You will maintain a perfect head of a hair and will save yourself a world of time and effort spent on vanity.

2. Propecia. If you want to regrow hair at the crown and STOP hair loss, you MUST take this. It’s a given. However, if you are paranoid about the side effects, then you should be willing to lose your hair.

3. Rogaine. It will only produce peach fuzz and will dry out your hair at the same time due to the high concentration of alcohol in the solution. If you miss even 2 days, all of the fuzz will fall out. All of it. You are better off using a quality shampoo that nourishes your hair rather than over drying/washing it.

4. Procerin. I don’t know about this from experience as I am considering using the product.

5. Hair Transplants. Be willing to spend $5000 for 500 micrografts. Anything less and your transplant surgeon is a piece of crap who was trained in a third world country. Avoid chop shops who advertise on infomercials. A transplant will look great and NATURAL if 1) your surgeon is good 2) you are willing to spend the money 3) you CONTINUE taking propecia. The scam on transplants USED to be to give you transplants your entire life. With Propecia preserving what you already have, a quality transplant will simply replace what you have lost and you can get on with life. But you must continue with propecia or else you will lose the rest of the untransplanted non-dna coded hairs on the top of your head while the sides, back, and transplanted hairs grow for life. Also, it is VERY important to allow for adequate blood flow to the follicular units. As much as you may want, no more than 500 should be transplanted per session. Otherwise, it will look fake and even worse, you will lose many of the follicles that you paid for due to a lack of blood flow. They simply won’t take.

Advice: If you are young — take propecia to avoid hair loss. If you have lost hair and are spending more than 30mins a day thinking about it. Finance a hair transplant with a top surgeon and put it to bed. Continue taking propecia so you get on with your life. Society is vain. Let’s not deny it. Cheers!

The #1 surgeon is Dr. Orentriech in NYC. He charges $6000 for 500 follicles. He performed my transplant. I am 24 years old. I was 23 at the time of surgery. I now have a full head of hair.

Brian

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