What do Hair Loss Medications Consist of?
Hair loss medications are typically comprised of several formulas. They can contain finasteride, minoxidil, and/or retinoic acid. Dr. Demetri offers a specialized hair loss medication, compounded with a medical formulation that includes topical finasteride (Propecia), minoxidil (Rogaine) and retinoic acid.
Propecia tends to show better results if the patient still has a large amount of fine-thinning hairs. In cases of extensive hair loss, finasteride may not be able to provide desired results. Younger candidates respond better to the treatment, despite being also effective in older individuals.
Minoxidil (Rogaine) works best with hereditary hair loss at the vertex of the scalp in male patients or women with general thinning of hair on the top of the head. As a general rule, Minoxidil isn’t meant for a receding hairline or baldness at the front of your scalp.
Is Oral Hair Loss Medication Safe for Everyone?
Some men report they cannot take oral finasteride due to the sexual side effects. As such, Dr. Demetri and his team have worked with a local pharmacy in Tampa, Florida to develop a topical hair loss medication, along with a couple of other variations.
Is Topical Hair Loss Treatment Effective in Preventing Hair Loss?
We have anecdotally seen similar efficacy compared to the oral version without the sexual side effects. In older studies, topical finasteride did not show great results in slowing down the progression of hair loss. However, retinoic acid was then supplemented and showed great promise because it allowed the finasteride to penetrate the scalp and target the hair follicles.
One study published in the International Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2014 found that men who applied 1ml of topical finasteride solution to their scalps once a week showed similar results to men who took 1mg of oral finasteride for seven days.
How long does it take to see results?
Propecia works as part of the natural cycle of shedding and growth of hair, which means it takes approximately 3-to-6 months for a visible difference to appear. Baby hairs and some minor change may appear before this but, for the majority of men, the maximum effect will be achieved in about 12 months.
Patients taking Rogaine should expect to wait between 3-to-6 months to notice visible results. A study by the FDA found that after 4 months 26% of patients had moderate to dense regrowth, with a further 33% showing some regrowth too.
Schedule a Consultation for Hair Loss Medication
If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Demetri’s approach to hair loss prevention, please call our office 813-603-3110 to see If you are a candidate for this novel medication.
