Finasteride in the treatment of Taiwanese men with androgenetic alopecia: a 12-month open-label study.

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Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2002 Aug;18(8):379-85

Finasteride in the treatment of Taiwanese men with androgenetic alopecia: a 12-month open-label study.

Finasteride 1 mg/day is effective in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Our open-label study assessed the efficacy and safety of finasteride for the treatment of Taiwanese men with AGA. We enrolled 34 Taiwanese men (aged 18-40 yr) with AGA of modified Norwood/Hamilton scale (MNHS) grade II-V. In investigator assessments at 12 months, five of 21 subjects (23.8%) had two-grade improvement in MNHS grade and 12 of 21 subjects (57.1%) had one-grade improvement; the others remained at the same grade. In global photographic evaluation, five of 31 subjects (15.1%) had observable hair growth at 6 months and 11 of 21 subjects (52.4%) had observable hair growth at 12 months. Patient self-assessment of hair growth was favorable across all questions in the treatment course, more significantly at 12 months than at 6 months; nine of 21 subjects (42.9%) were satisfied with their overall appearance at 12 months. Serum prostate specific antigen levels had decreased by 23.4% at 12 months. Adverse effects, including abnormal liver function (5/34), were minimal, and the causal relationship with finasteride could not be established. Thus, in Taiwanese men with AGA, finasteride 1 mg/day for 1 year slowed the progression of hair loss and increased hair growth.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2002 Jun;11(6):549-53

Androgenetic alopecia and prostate cancer: findings from an Australian case-control study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between androgenetic alopecia (AA) and prostate cancer with particular emphasis on early age at diagnosis and higher grade tumors. We conducted an age-stratified, population-based case-control study in Australia of men who were diagnosed before 70 years of age during 1994-1997 with histopathology-confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate, excluding well-differentiated tumors. Controls were selected from the electoral rolls, and the frequency was matched on age. After excluding subjects with missing values, the analysis was based on 1446 cases and 1390 controls of whom direct observations were made of their pattern of AA during face-to-face interviews. Our data suggest an association between prostate cancer and vertex baldness; compared with men who had no balding, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.54 (1.19-2.00). No associations were found between prostate cancer and frontal baldness or when frontal baldness was present concurrently with vertex baldness. The ORs were 0.98 (0.79-1.23) and 1.14 (0.90-1.45), respectively. The highest ORs were for high-grade disease in men 60-69 years of age: 1.80 (1.02-3.16) for frontal baldness; 2.91 (1.59-5.32) for vertex baldness; and 1.95 (1.10-3.45) for frontal and vertex baldness. This association between the pattern of AA and prostate cancer points to shared androgen pathways that are worthy of additional investigation.

Oncology 2002;62(2):97-102

Effectiveness of the MSC cold cap system in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of the MSC cold cap system to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia. METHODS: The system was applied in 83 cancer patients (mean age 49.8 years) undergoing chemotherapy with alopecia-causing agents. Seven patients did not tolerate the system. Seventy-six patients were evaluable for assessment; 26 received anthracycline (group A), 33 taxane (group T), 5 anthracycline plus taxane (group AT), 7 intravenous etoposide (group E) and 5 ifosfamide with or without other alopecia-causing drugs (group I). In group A, 18 patients received conventional (subgroup Ac) and 8 high doses (subgroup Ah). In group T, 8 patients received docetaxel (subgroup D) and 25 paclitaxel (subgroup P). Alopecia grade 0-1 (Dean's system) was considered as treatment success. RESULTS: Grade 0-1 alopecia was achieved in 49/76 (64.5%) patients: group T 23/33 (69.6%), subgroup P 16/25 (64%) and subgroup D 7/8 (87.5%); group A 18/26 (69.2%), subgroup Ac 16/18 (88.8%) and subgroup Ah 2/8 (25%); group AT 1/5 (20%); group E 6/7 (85.7%), and group I 1/5 (20%). CONCLUSIONS: The MSC cold cap system is effective in preventing alopecia from anthracycline, etoposide or taxane but not from anthracycline-taxane combinations or ifosfamide-containing regimens.

Lasers Surg Med 2002;30(2):127-34

Hair removal with the long pulsed Nd:YAG laser: a prospective study with one year follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the efficacy, side effects, and the long-term results of a long pulsed Nd:YAG-Laser for hair removal in different hair colors and skin types. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective clinical study with 29 volunteers. Treatment was performed on the lower leg with a long pulsed Nd:YAG-Laser. Five test areas were treated 1-5 times in monthly intervals; one served as control. Follow-up investigations were performed at each session, and 3, 6, and 12 months after the last therapy. No depilatory treatment except shaving was allowed during the time of follow-up. Percentual hair loss, short- and long-term side effects, and pain during the treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: After one month, a hair loss of greater than 50% was found in 44.9% of the areas treated once. With up to five treatments, this percentage increased up to 71.5%. One year after therapy, a greater than 50% hair reduction was still present in 40% of the five-treatment-areas and in 0% of the areas treated only once. There were no permanent side effects despite one small scar after a folliculitis. CONCLUSIONS: The long pulsed Nd:YAG is suitable to remove hair for more than 12 months effectively, although 4-5 sessions are necessary for these results. Blond hair can also be removed, although much less effective. No lasting side effects could be seen. Darker skin types or tanned skin can also be treated without side effects. A cooling may be advisable due to the pain reported by the volunteers.

Natural Herbal Supplement: Hair Million

Hair loss, or alopecia is a concern for increasing number of folks in aging society. Loss of hair is indeed a visible problem.
The phenomenon of hair thinning and hair loss is most commonly associated with natural phenomena associated with aging, there are many other causes of hair loss, which include inherited or genetic conditions, illnesses, malnutrition, stress, hormonal problems, chemotherapy, and use of some drugs.
Hair growth is a sophisticated biological process, which has not yet been completely understood. A multitude of therapeutic measures, including drugs, surgery, and suppelements have been made available, and used. However, due to the diversity of the problems underlying hair loss, there is no single solution for all hair loss cases. Most of chemical drugs and hair transplantation surgeries are not free from varying degrees of undesirable side effects on health.

Hair Million is an alternative solution to hair loss problems. Anecdotally, it shows prositive results and improvement for age-related hair thinning and hair loss for a fraction of people who take it. We do not know the mechanisms of action as to how Hair Million works to help stop hair loss, and promote hair growth. We only know by anecdotal observations. There has been no clinical trials nor placebo controlled statistical analysis on the efficacy of HairMillion on hair loss and hair growth.
Bottom line is that there are two merits in this hair restoration herbal formula:
Firstly, Hair Million is rather inexpensive, and secondly, it is made of well known herbs that are safe when consumed in regular quantities. For clinically tested prescription medication, try Propecia.

Related Web resources:

What is hair?

Curly Hair

Biology of hair growth and development.

The phenomenon of hair loss.

Methods and treatments for hair loss and baldness.

Drugs and hair transplantation surgery for hair loss and baldness.

Hair loss linked to other health problems.

Baldness by choice and fashion.

Alopecia info.

Alopecia treatment info.

Hair care info.

Hair loss and alopecia research articles: abstracts and source links.

DHEA has been suggested to provide numerous potential benefits. DHEA (or dehydroepiandrosterone) is converted into androgens (male hormones) or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells.

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