Hair Remedy For Male
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What are male thinning hair treatment drugs? Drugs that are effective for AGA
What is a male pattern baldness drug?
In modern USA, many adult men are suffering from thinning hair.
The problem is AGA (male pattern baldness) , which is alopecia peculiar to men .
AGA is a type of alopecia that develops due to male hormones and genetics, and one in three adult men suffers from it.
And the troublesome thing is that AGA is progressive, and the range of hair loss gradually spreads .
However, AGA is by no means an untreatable disease.
In recent years, various men’s hair loss treatments that are effective in improving AGA have appeared, contributing to the elimination of many men’s worries.
We will also explain what AGA treatments are for improving thinning hair in men and how to obtain them.
3 Main Therapeutic Agents Effective in AGA
Drug therapy is the mainstay of treatment for AGA .
In recent years, various therapeutic drugs have appeared, but the following three types of AGA therapeutic drugs are the mainstream.
- Propecia
- Zagaro
- Minoxidil
Of the three types, Propecia and Zagallo are drinkable AGA drugs.
Minoxidil comes in two dosage forms, an ointment and a swallow.
However, even if it is a single AGA drug, the mechanism of improving AGA differs depending on the type.
Propecia and Zagallo are AGA treatment drugs prescribed by doctors and have the effect of improving AGA from the cause.
Taking it can be expected to stop the progress of hair loss, but Zagallo exerts a stronger effect.
Minoxidil, on the other hand, is an AGA treatment that can also be purchased at pharmacies and drug stores.
By promoting hair growth, it improves thinning hair in men.
All of them have been shown to improve AGA in clinical trials, and have a track record of actually saving many men suffering from thinning hair.
However, it is important to choose a therapeutic drug that suits your symptoms because the action and strength of efficacy differ depending on the type.
What is the AGA drug Propecia?
Propecia is the world’s first AGA treatment prescribed by a doctor .
It is prescribed in more than 60 countries around the world, and was launched in USA on December 14, 2005.
Until the advent of Propecia, the treatment for thinning hair was basically an ointment.
However, Propecia has become an oral drug and can be said to be an AGA treatment drug that has expanded the options for thinning hair treatment .
In addition, the package insert of Propecia states that the effect and efficacy are “delayed progression of androgenetic alopecia in men”.
This means that Propecia is a drug that stops the progression of AGA and is taken with the hope of maintaining the status quo.
Therefore, Propecia is a recommended AGA treatment for those who want to prevent AGA and those who still have mild symptoms.
Effects and features
Propecia belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
AGA is caused when the causative substance “DHT (dihydrotestosterone)” disturbs the hair cycle (hair cycle) and hinders hair growth.
DHT is produced by an enzyme called 5α-reductase that changes the male sex hormone testosterone.
DHT = testosterone + 5α-reductase
Therefore, Propecia has the effect of inhibiting 5α-reductase, which is required for the production of DHT.
This suppresses DHT and restores the disturbed hair cycle to normal, improving AGA .
In clinical trials in USA, the percentage of those who showed improvement in AGA or maintenance of the status quo by long-term administration of 1 mg of Propecia is as follows.
- Taking for 1 year→ Improvement: 58% Maintenance: 40%
- Taking for 2 years→ improvement: 68% maintenance: 31%
- Taking for 3 years→ improvement: 78% maintenance: 20%
Summarizing the improvement of AGA and the effect of maintaining the status quo, it can be seen that Propecia 1 mg has a therapeutic effect in more than 98% of patients.
However, in most cases, the progress of AGA is stopped, and notable improvement is rarely seen.
Therefore, Propecia can be said to be an AGA treatment drug that is taken only to maintain the status quo.
Active ingredient finasteride
The active ingredient in Propecia is finasteride.
However, finasteride was not originally created as an AGA drug.
Finasteride is an ingredient developed in the United States in 1991 as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia .
The following year, in 1992, a drug containing 5 mg of the ingredient finasteride was approved by the US FDA under the trade name ” Proscar “.
However, as the clinical trials continued after that, the subjects reported a series of reports such as “increased hair” and “decreased hair loss.”
With these reports, finasteride began to be studied as a treatment for thinning hair in men, and in 1997, 1 mg of finasteride was approved by the US FDA as a treatment for AGA.
In USA, finasteride was approved as a treatment for AGA in 2005, but Proscar, a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, is not.
Finasteride was once on the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) banned substance list.
This is because finasteride masked the traces of muscle-enhancing drugs .
However, finasteride was removed from the list of prohibited substances in 2009 due to improvements in testing technology that enabled the detection of muscle-enhancing drugs even while taking finasteride.
side effects
The most common side effects of Propecia are sexual symptoms such as:
- ED (Erectile Dysfunction)
- decreased libido
These symptoms of sexual function may be particularly disturbing to men.
However, in a 48-week clinical trial, 11 of 276 (4%) had side effects from Propecia.
Among them, decreased libido was reported in only 3 cases (1.1%) and ED in 2 cases (0.7%).
In any case, taking Propecia is very unlikely to reduce libido or cause ED.
If you worry too much, you may develop ED due to mental factors, so it is important not to worry too much.
In addition, initial hair loss is a common side effect of AGA drugs including Propecia.
Initial hair loss is a symptom of temporary increase in hair loss when you start taking AGA medications such as Propecia.
However, early hair loss is rather a positive reaction.
When you start taking AGA remedies, your hair roots will be activated and new, healthy hair will grow.
At this time, the old hair is pushed out to the new hair, and the mechanism of initial hair loss is that it comes off.
Therefore , after the initial hair loss, thicker and healthier hair grows.
What is AGA treatment Zagaro?
Zagallo is an AGA treatment drug that was launched in USA on June 13, 2016.
It became a capsule-type oral medicine and was developed as the second AGA treatment drug after Propecia .
Zagallo has been found to have a higher AGA improvement effect than Propecia .
In the column of effect / efficacy of the package insert, only “male pattern baldness in men” is described, and the word “progress delay” that was in the package insert of Propecia has disappeared.
Overall, Zagallo is an AGA treatment drug that can be expected to not only delay the progression of AGA but also promote hair growth .
It is also recommended for those who have advanced AGA and the range of hair loss has expanded.
Effects and features
Zagaro, like Propecia, is a type of drug called a 5α-reductase inhibitor.
The mechanism of effect is similar, improving AGA by inhibiting the activity of 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone in the body to DHT .
However, Zagaro’s action is very different from Propecia.
5α-reductase, which produces DHT, the causative agent of AGA, has two types, type 1 and type 2.
While Propecia blocks only one type, Zagaro blocks both.
- Propecia→ Inhibits only type 2
- Zagaro→ Inhibits both type 1 and type 2
Moreover , it has been reported that the inhibitory effect of type 2 by Zagaro is 3 times that of Propecia, and that of type 1 is 100 times or more .
In clinical trials, subjects were asked to take Zagallo and Propecia, and they were verifying “how much hair increased” and “how much hair got thicker.”
In this trial, Zagallo exceeded the results of Propecia in terms of the number of hairs to be increased and the thickness of the hair, proving that the therapeutic effect of Zagallo is higher than that of Propecia.
- Number of hair growth→ 1.6 times that of Propecia
- Hair thickness→ 1.58 times that of Propecia
Zagaro is an AGA therapeutic drug that can be expected to have a higher improvement effect than Propecia by strongly inhibiting 5α-reductase.
Active ingredient dutasteride
Zagaro is an AGA treatment containing dutasteride as an active ingredient.
It is a drug that exerts an improving effect on AGA by suppressing the production of DHT by inhibiting 5α-reductase .
However, dutasteride has another face that is not an “AGA drug”.
Zagallo was approved as an AGA treatment in USA in 2016, but in fact, pharmaceuticals containing the ingredient dutasteride have existed since 2009.
That drug is “Avolve”, and Zagallo is a drug that contains the same ingredients.
The indication for Avolve is not AGA, but benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease peculiar to men in which the prostate gland enlarges and causes symptoms such as difficulty urinating.
At first glance, AGA and benign prostatic hyperplasia may seem like completely different diseases.
However, both diseases are related to male hormones, and the ingredient dutasteride, which has the effect of suppressing the production of DHT, is effective in both diseases.
Also, the only difference between Zagallo and Avolve is the product name and capsule colorant.
The type and content of ingredients, additives, etc. are all the same, and some clinics prescribe Avolve, which is cheaper than Zagallo, for AGA treatment.
side effects
International studies are investigating how often Zagaro can have side effects.
According to the study, adverse reactions were reported in 95 (17.1%) of 557 subjects (120 of whom were USA), and the main symptoms were related to sexual function as well as Propecia .
- ED (Erectile Dysfunction)→ 24 cases (4.3%)
- Decreased libido→ 22 cases (3.9%)
- Decreased semen volume→ 7 cases (1.3%)
It has also been reported that these symptoms of sexual function persisted even after discontinuing Zagaro. However, its relevance to Zagaro has not been clarified.
Also, when comparing the test results of Propecia and Zagallo, side effects were reported more frequently with Zagallo numerically.
- Propecia→ 4% (11 out of 276 cases)
- Zagaro→ 17.1% (95 out of 557 cases)
However, the frequency of side effects was investigated differently between Propecia and Zagaro.
The frequency of side effects of Propecia was investigated in a double-blind controlled trial.
This method provides more objective data and makes the findings more reliable.
On the other hand, when examining the frequency of side effects of Zagallo, a survey method called “open-label study” was adopted.
This method tends to bias the survey results and cannot be simply compared with the Propecia data.
What is minoxidil, an AGA treatment?
Minoxidil is a hair growth ingredient approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
In USA, it is famous for being included in familiar hair growth agents such as “RiUP” .
Furthermore, the hair growth effect of minoxidil has been recognized by the USA Dermatological Association.
In the 2017 edition of “Male pattern baldness clinical practice guidelines,” minoxidil is ranked highest along with the same AGA treatment , Propecia Zagaro .
Propecia and Zagallo were drinkable AGA drugs.
On the other hand, minoxidil is an AGA treatment drug that has two different dosage forms, an external drug and an oral drug.
Effects and features
Minoxidil is an anti-AGA drug that dilates blood vessels .
Hair growth and blood circulation in the scalp are closely related.
Each hair root contains two types of cells that are important for hair growth.
- hair follicle
- Hair papilla
First of all, hair matrix cells are, so to speak, cells like a hair factory.
Each hair is made by repeated cell division of hair matrix cells.
Next, the dermal papilla is a cell that is also called the control tower of hair growth.
It receives oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels that run through the scalp and sends a command to the hair matrix cells to “grow hair.”
In other words, in order for the hair matrix cells and hair papilla to work actively, it is necessary to improve the blood circulation of the scalp.
Minoxidil improves blood circulation by widening blood vessels.
Then, more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the dermal papilla, and the hair matrix cells also actively undergo cell division, so that the hair growth effect is exhibited .
There are two types of minoxidil, one for external use and the other for internal use. However, the internal medicine is not approved as a hair growth agent in USA, and its effects and side effects have not been sufficiently verified.
However, it is said that internal medicines have a higher hair growth effect than external medicines because the ingredients spread throughout the body .
Active ingredient Minoxidil
Minoxidil is now well known as a hair growth and hair growth ingredient.
However, it was originally developed as a remedy for a completely different disease.
Minoxidil was developed in the United States in the 1960s.
Upjohn (now Pfizer ) developed minoxidil as the active ingredient in Loniten, an oral medication for hypertension.
However, patients taking Loniten reported a series of side effects of “hypertrichosis”.
For this reason, research on minoxidil as a hair growth agent was recommended, and in the 1980s, minoxidil-containing ointment ” Rogaine ” was sold in the United States.
In 1999, RiUP, a hair growth product containing minoxidil, was launched in USA.
In addition, minoxidil is the world’s first ingredient recognized for the effect of growing hair .
It has been used by many people suffering from thinning hair for decades since it first appeared in the 1980s.
In addition to minoxidil, many other hair thinning treatments are now available, but only minoxidil is still treated as a “hair growth agent” .
side effects
Minoxidil has external and internal medicines, but the side effects vary depending on the dosage form.
First of all, minoxidil external medicine is an over-the-counter drug (OTC) that is marketed at pharmacies.
However, it is classified as a class 1 drug with the highest frequency of side effects among over-the-counter drugs, and the following skin symptoms have been reported as side effects of topical minoxidil.
- itch
- The skin turns red
- Dandruff appears
- folliculitis
- Contact dermatitis
Since topical minoxidil is applied directly to the scalp, these symptoms are thought to be allergies to the active ingredient or additive .
It has also been pointed out that using more than the prescribed dose may cause symptoms other than skin, such as headaches and numbness in the hands and feet.
On the other hand, oral minoxidil is used for thinning hair treatment at many AGA clinics because it can be expected to have a higher hair growth effect than topical drugs.
However, not only the effects but also the side effects are at higher risk than oral medication.
It has been reported that the side effects of oral minoxidil are mainly in the cardiovascular system.
- Systemic hypertrichosis
- Chest pain
- increased heart rate
- Sync
- shortness of breath
- difficulty breathing
- Congestive heart failure
- Swelling
- weight gain
Such In this way, oral minoxidil is said to be at risk of various side effects.
However, in reality, there are few cases of symptoms other than systemic hypertrichosis.
Generic drug for AGA treatment
AGA remedies do not solve your worries as soon as you take them.
Basically, it is a drug that is supposed to be taken for a long period of time, and it is said that it takes at least three to six months before it starts to work.
Moreover, AGA remedies do not cure thinning hair.
If you stop taking it, the improvement effect that you have obtained will be lost, and the hair that has finally grown will return to its original state.
Therefore, in order to improve AGA and maintain fluffy hair, the cost aspect is also important when purchasing AGA treatment drugs.
Therefore, we want to use generic drugs for AGA treatment to reduce monthly treatment costs .
A generic drug is a generic drug that is made with the same active ingredients and manufacturing method as the original drug after the patent for the original drug has expired.
Compared to the original drug, the development cost is less, so the price is lower , and since it contains the same active ingredients, it can be expected to have the same effect .
Generic drugs are appearing one after another as AGA therapeutic drugs, and in recent years, cheap overseas-made generic drugs have been favored.
However, generic drugs are not only beneficial, but even if they contain the same active ingredients, they may not be as effective as the original drugs.
It should also be noted that some foreign-made generic drugs have not yet been approved in USA and their safety has not yet been established.
Ingredients commonly used in supplements for thinning hair
AGA treatments such as Propecia , Zagaro and Minoxidil are highly effective for thinning hair in men.
However, it is important not only to deal with hair loss after it has progressed, but also to prevent thinning hair with daily care .
It is a hair growth supplement that you want to use to prevent thinning hair in the long term and maintain thick and strong hair.
It is also recommended for those who are concerned about the side effects of AGA remedies .
Hair growth supplements are not intended for “hair growth” to grow new hair, but for “hair growth” to grow existing hair.
It contains nutrients that are often deficient in daily diets and ingredients that are effective in maintaining healthy hair.
Typical ingredients are:
- L-lysine ·zinc
- Saw Palmetto
Below, we will introduce the features of each ingredient.
L-lysine
L-lysine is a type of amino acid .
Amino acids are classified as essential amino acids, meaning they cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from food or supplements.
The human body, including hair, is mostly made of protein.
Hair is mainly composed of a protein called “keratin”, which is further composed of 18 kinds of amino acids including L-lysine.
To maintain healthy hair, you need to have a balanced intake of 18 amino acids.
However, L-lysine is contained only in small amounts in cereals such as rice and flour.
It is an amino acid that tends to be deficient especially for those who have a carbohydrate-only diet or a vegetable-based diet.
If you lack L-lysine, one of the ingredients of keratin, you will not be able to make strong hair, so it is recommended to use supplements.
In addition, L-lysine improves blood circulation and enhances the effects of oral AGA drugs such as Propecia and Zagallo .
Therefore, there are many people who use L-lysine supplements and AGA drugs together.
However, just because it’s a supplement doesn’t mean it’s free of side effects, so it’s best to stick to the recommended dosage.
zinc
Zinc is a well-known mineral as a “good nutrient for hair” .
It is also one of the “essential minerals” and cannot be produced by the body, so it must be taken firmly with food and supplements.
The reason why zinc is said to be good for hair is that it helps the metabolism of proteins .
About 90% of human hair is composed of a protein called “keratin”.
Therefore, in order to grow healthy hair, it is necessary to actively take in the proteins and amino acids that are the ingredients of keratin.
However, the protein contained in the daily diet is not used for hair as it is.
Proteins ingested from food are first decomposed into amino acids, and these amino acids are reconstituted to produce keratin.
And it is the role of zinc to help reconstitute this amino acid .
Insufficient zinc prevents the production of keratin, which can lead to hair loss and thinning.
In other words , not only protein and amino acids but also zinc intake is essential for hair growth.
However, while zinc is important for maintaining healthy hair, it is not a good idea to take too much.
Overdose of zinc can cause vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and other overdose.
When using supplements, make up for the shortfall and be careful not to overdose.
Saw palmetto
Saw Palmetto is a palm plant that grows in North America.
Propecia, an AGA remedy, was created by studying the ingredients of saw palmetto.
The extract contained in the fruit is effective for AGA and is used in many hair growth supplements.
AGA is said to be male-specific alopecia, and its onset is related to male hormones.
DHT, which is produced by the degeneration of one of the male hormones, testosterone, disturbs the hair cycle, causing hair loss.
Propecia, which was created from research on saw palmetto, is an AGA treatment drug that suppresses the progress of thinning hair by inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT.
Similarly, saw palmetto extract has been reported to reduce DHT .
According to a 1998 paper published in Italy, the group who drank saw palmetto extract showed a decrease in DHT levels compared to the group who did not.
It cannot be said that there is a medical basis for the effects of saw palmetto, but it is a supplement that can be expected to have a hair-growth effect .
In addition, almost no side effects have been observed with saw palmetto supplements .
However, the possibility of health damage due to overdose cannot be ruled out, so be sure to follow the recommended dosage.
How to get a thinning hair remedy
AGA is a baldness characterized by gradual hair thinning that occurs only in men.
Thinning hair is a very serious problem and can cause a loss of self-confidence in men.
However, AGA can be improved by treatment, and the main treatment is AGA remedies.
In addition, there are multiple ways to obtain AGA therapeutic drugs, and the types and prices of available therapeutic drugs differ depending on each method.
- Hospital / specialty clinic
- Pharmacy / drugstore
- Domestic mail order
- Overseas mail order
All of these acquisition methods have pros and cons.
The features of each acquisition method will be introduced below, so please refer to them.
Hospital / specialty clinic
Among AGA treatments, Propecia and Zagaro are “prescription drugs” that require a doctor’s prescription.
Therefore, these AGA drugs are available at specialized clinics and dermatologists that provide AGA treatment.
The first thing I would like to pay attention to is a specialized clinic specializing in thinning hair treatment.
After receiving a medical examination and examination by a specialist, it is possible to receive a prescription for AGA treatment drugs according to the symptoms and constitution.
In addition, some clinics handle original therapeutic drugs.
On the other hand, dermatologists have a narrower range of treatments than specialized clinics, and basically only Propecia is prescribed .
However, the number of examination items is small, and the cost of dermatology tends to be lower than that of specialized clinics.
Please note that AGA treatment is free medical treatment and insurance is not applicable .
Pharmacy / drugstore
Propecia and Zagallo are prescription drugs, but minoxidil is an over-the-counter drug that does not require a prescription.
Minoxidil can be purchased at pharmacies and drug stores.
Until now, the only minoxidil-containing hair growth agent that was commercially available at pharmacies and drug stores was Reup, which is manufactured and sold by Taisho Pharmaceutical.
However, the patent for Reup expired in 2017, and minoxidil generics have appeared one after another from the following 2018.
- Scalp D Medical Minoki 5
- Mino up
- Riglo EX
All of these generic and brand-name RiUPs have the same active ingredient, minoxidil.
However, the concentration of minoxidil and the active ingredients contained in addition to minoxidil vary depending on the product.
In addition, since minoxidil is an unapproved drug in USA, it can only be purchased as an ointment .
Domestic mail order
Hair restorers and hair growth agents are called “complex products” because they aim to eliminate the inferiority complex that people have.
There is a strong image that it is “embarrassing” to buy complex products at stores, and many people hesitate to purchase hair growth agents and hair growth agents.
However, hair growth agents containing minoxidil can also be purchased at domestic mail order sites such as Amazon and Rakuten Ichiba.
If you are on a mail order site, you can get a hair growth agent without worrying about the eyes around you or meeting the clerk.
Furthermore, if you have a PC or smartphone, you can purchase it regardless of time or place, so it is an advantageous purchase method even for those who are busy with work.
However, Propecia and Zagallo require a doctor’s prescription, so they cannot be purchased at domestic mail-order sites.
Overseas mail order
There is also an option to use overseas mail order as a method of obtaining AGA treatment drugs.
Propecia and Zagallo usually require a doctor’s prescription, but if you shop overseas, you can buy them cheaply without a prescription.
Minoxidil is available both as an ointment and as an oral medication at a low cost.
AGA treatment is a long-term battle, and you will continue to take medicine.
In recent years, overseas mail order, which can be purchased cheaper than domestic, has been attracting attention, and it seems that there are many people who personally import AGA treatment drugs .
At first glance, overseas mail order seems to have only advantages because you can purchase AGA treatment drugs at a low price and there are many types.
However, it should be noted that AGA remedies that can be purchased overseas have the risk of fake drugs, and it is difficult for amateurs to distinguish them from genuine products.
Summary of male pattern baldness remedies
Propecia , Zagaro and Minoxidil are effective in improving AGA and are taken by many men who suffer from thinning hair.
The improvement effect is guaranteed, and these AGA treatment drugs have received the highest rank of “A” in the “Male and Female Pattern Alopecia Treatment Guidelines 2017 Edition” by the USA Dermatological Association.
Symptoms such as thinning hair and hair loss are very delicate problems .
When AGA develops, many people become concerned about what others think of them and lose confidence.
However, AGA is a symptom that can be improved with proper treatment.
If you are suffering from thinning hair, we recommend that you consider taking an AGA treatment as the first step toward treatment.