Anyone searching “How to reverse hair loss online” has undoubtedly come across the Big Three protocol: minoxidil (Rogaine®), finasteride (Propecia®), and ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral®). What many might not know: despite ketoconazole’s popularity, it’s not actually FDA-approved for pattern hair loss, nor is it as well-researched as minoxidil or finasteride. In fact, there are just a … Read more…
Finasteride is among the most effective drugs for androgenic alopecia. And while side effects are often overstated, it can lead to reduced libido or lowered sperm counts in some men. For this reason, many choose topical versus oral finasteride, hoping to limit the drug’s DHT-reducing effects to the scalp. But at certain doses, even topical … Read more…
Studies show that within 3-6 months of stopping minoxidil, any hair growth resulting from the drug is lost. After quitting minoxidil, hair counts can even temporarily fall below where they would’ve been had we never sought treatment at all, before eventually rebounding back to baseline. Why does this happen? Is there a way to lessen … Read more…
How long does a hair transplant last? The answers are debated. Nearly all the top-ranking articles on google claim that hair transplants are permanent. At first glance, this makes sense. After all, early hair transplant studies from the 1960s and 1970s found hairs transplanted to balding regions survive the duration of those studies.[1]https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1960.tb40920.x And one editorial … Read more…
Stool transplants – also known as fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) – are a controversial therapy reserved for life-threatening bacterial infections and autoimmune disorders. Fascinatingly, people who’ve undergone stool transplants have later reported unintended benefits: weight loss, less acne, personality improvements, and even hair regrowth. At face value, a connection between stool transplants and hair loss … Read more…
Helminths are parasitic worms that live in our intestines. Once maligned by the medical field (and eradicated in most of the developed world), studies now suggest that helminthic worms may have “co-evolved” with humans. They might even help regulate our gut flora, immune systems, and hormones. Today, researchers are wondering if the absence of helminths … Read more…
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune form of hair loss that affects 2% of people worldwide. If you’re dealing with alopecia areata, the burden of hair loss often feels overwhelming – as the condition can progress rapidly, inexplicably, and without regard. Fortunately, alopecia areata is treatable. In many cases, it’s also reversible. The first step toward … Read more…
Microneedling: a powerful, under-researched hair loss therapy In the last five years, microneedling therapies have exploded in popularity – especially among hair loss sufferers. Research now shows that microneedling can increase hair counts by 15%. And as clinical evidence for microneedling continues to grow, so do the devices available to consumers: microneedle rollers, microneedle stamps, … Read more…
Caffeine & Hair Growth: A Scientific Deep-Dive In recent years, there’s been an explosion of interest in caffeine shampoos / topicals and their potential to improve pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). The hope: that applying caffeine to our scalps might stimulate growth factors, improve blood flow, and maybe even reverse hair follicle miniaturization. At first … Read more…
Can “the pill” cause hair loss in women? Hormonal birth control is incredibly effective at achieving its intended effect: to prevent pregnancy. However, many online anecdotes suggest that birth control might also harbor unintended consequences: namely, hair loss. So, do these anecdotes align with reality? Can hormonal contraceptives actually cause hair loss? Are there factors … Read more…