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Does Minoxidil 2% and Minoxidil 5% Extra
Strength for Men
and Minoxidil 2% Minoxidil For Women Work?
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5-Alpha-Reductase (5AR) is an enzyme in the body that is
involved in DHT Metabolism, a
process that converts the hormone testosterone into Di-Hydro-Testosterone
(DHT).
Research indicates that DHT is found
not only within the hair follicle, but also at
the root of the hair shaft (dermal papilla).
It
is the accumulation of DHT in the hair follicles and
roots that is one of the primary
causes of male and female pattern hair loss. The DHT
causes the follicles to shrink in size and also creates a wax-like substance around the hair roots and
has a negative impact on the health and
life of the hair roots.
It also
causes the hairs in those follicles to grow shorter in length,
thinner in diameter and weaker and lighter in color. Eventually those follicles
may die and the hair shafts in them fall out. Learn
more about DHT and its effects in causing male and female
pattern hairloss and baldness. |
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| The negative effects of DHT on
hair follicles and roots
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Proper nutrition to the hair roots and follicles is critical in order to
maintain strong, healthy hairs. A restricted blood
supply to the hair roots (dermal papilla) prevents
necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals from
bringing nourishment needed to sustain life in those
hairs.
When there is a
limited supply of blood to the hair roots and
follicles, because of the increasing
negative effects of DHT, the cells
in the follicles and roots reproduce at a much slower
rate. This causes the hair follicles to become smaller
and thus shortens their growing stage (anagen
phase)
and
or lengthens their resting stage (telogen
phase).
Thus the hairs in those affected follicles also become weaker,
smaller and lighter in color. Eventually those hair
roots and follicles die and the hairs in them fall
out. |
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| Why Minoxidil is generally
ineffective long term in stopping
hairloss
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One of the
reasons that Minoxidil-based products are generally not effective
in stopping hair loss is that Minoxidil does not block the
harmful effects of DHT in the scalp and hair follicles.
Minoxidil is a blood pressure medication, so when it is applied to
the scalp topically, it simply dilates blood vessels in the
scalp. Scientists and researchers are
not exactly sure what happens next,
except that somehow Minoxidil may
sustain (keep alive) the hair follicles
for some additional period of time.
The problem is
that meanwhile, the harmful DHT is still being
produced in the body and still
getting into the scalp and hair follicles and causing the hair
to become thinner and thinner and eventually fall out. |
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Minoxidil - Does Not
Work Effectively
or at all - on some Areas of
the Scalp
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 Minoxidil is the
active ingredient in Rogaine for men and women. It
is also used in other hair loss treatment products,
such as Avacor and Hair Advantage. Many users
of Minoxidil do not achieve the results they expect
from using such products. Here is one of the possible
reasons.
According to the maker of Rogaine, Minoxidil only works
on what doctors call the VERTEX area (top middle
area) of the scalp. (You
may research this further on the Rogaine web site
( www.rogaine.com ) Then click on the link "How Rogaine
Works".)
According to clinical research,
Minoxidil does not work effectively or at all on the receding hair line
area in the front of the scalp where there is already noticeable hair loss.
Likewise, it also does not work effectively or at all on the
back
area of
the scalp.
These are the first two areas that most
men experience pattern hair loss. See how increased hair loss over time follows a particular
pattern, as shown in the Norwood
hair loss diagrams. Women tend to get thinning hair
throughout their hair or various patchy spots of hair loss.
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Why Rogaine and Minoxidil are
only marginally effective in treating
hair loss
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Available in over the counter
formulations, Minoxidil contains as much as 60%
rubbing alcohol, which dries the scalp. Research has shown
that when it dries on your hair, it actually weakens
and damages the hair shafts themselves, making them
dry and brittle.
As a result, some Minoxidil cannot be
effectively absorbed into the hair follicles. The
hairs which are above your scalp are not living cells
and so once they are damaged, they cannot be repaired.
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Compare the difference between
how Minoxidil works and how
HairGenesis works
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| DHT accumulates in the
hair follicles and roots, constricting the blood supply of oxygen and
nutrients to the hair roots. Sebum oils also
build up, blocking the upward growth of hair
shafts and preventing the topical
lotion in Minoxidil-based products
from being effectively absorbed into
the scalp and hair follicles. |
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| Hair Genesis products
thoroughly clean the scalp and hair follicles of
accumulated
sebum oils and other substances. They also
help protect the hair follicles and roots from losing their hairs by
preventing DHT from binding (locking)
inside them at the androgen receptor
sites. Hair Genesis also inhibits the
production of more DHT in the body, through
the use of clinically proven and
naturally-derived DHT
blockers. |
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Minoxidil dilates blood
vessels, but HairGenesis blocks DHT
from harming the follicles
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Take a look at the picture above on the left. There
are two sebaceous glands, one on each side of the hair
follicle. Sebum oils are secreted from these
glands to lubricate the hair for smooth upward growth
and also give the hair shafts their luster and shine.
But if the hairs are not strong and healthy (due to
the effects of accumulated DHT in them), the sebum
oils also accumulate and harden inside the follicles.
This then further blocks the normal growth of the already
thinning and weakened hairs.
It is this build up of sebum oils that also blocks
some hair loss treatment products, such as Minoxidil, from getting into the follicles to help.
Consequently, the Minoxidil cannot effectively
penetrate past the sebum and reach the hair root (dermal papilla) where the hair growth actually starts
from. The result is that the Minoxidil (containing
as much as 60% alcohol) stays on the surface of your
scalp, and in some instances, causes an irritation to
the scalp itself, along with itching and drying of the
hair shaft. This in part explains why some people
experience these side effects when using hair loss
treatment products containing Minoxidil.
DHT in the hair follicles also creates a
wax-like substance around the roots. This
effectively constricts the flow of blood containing
vital oxygen and nutrients to those roots. Since
Minoxidil dilates the blood vessels, whatever
amount eventually does reach the roots does not
remove the on-going problem of DHT build-up and the
wax-like substance around the roots.
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Comparisons of other Hair Loss
Treatment Products which use Minoxidil
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Compare Rogaine,
which uses the drug Minoxidil, with HairGenesis
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Compare Avacor,
which uses the drug Minoxidil, with HairGenesis
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Compare HairAdvantage,
which uses the drug Minoxidil, with HairGenesis
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Compare Follicare,
which uses the drug Minoxidil, with HairGenesis
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Compare Minoxidil-Store
Brand,
which uses the drug Minoxidil, with HairGenesis
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The information provided on this web site is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be used as a substitute for the advice or treatment
that may be prescribed by a physician or other health care provider. The products and the claims made about specific products on this site
have not been evaluated by HairGenesis.net or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate
or prevent any disease or illness. Results vary by person. Before using any information or products, you should consult with your physician.
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