Latest Rogaine study-dismal...

Even Extra-Strength Rogaine Offers Little Hope

A significantly sizable study confirming what we’ve known for years –Rogaine, even “Extra-Strength” Rogaine, offers little hope as a hair loss treatment. If you have, however, been using Rogaine for a substansial period of time, you would be best to stay on it to avoid the acute, and more often than not, disproportionate shedding that invariably occurs upon cessation of usage. To avoid this shed, using a 2 % generic Rogaine once a day will economically suffice.

J Dermatolog Treat. 2007;18(5):268-70

Is topical minoxidil solution effective on androgenetic alopecia in routine daily practice?

Mapar MA, Omidian M.

Department of Dermatology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jundishapour Medical University, Ahvaz, Iran.

Objectives: Minoxidil solution stimulates hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. In order to maintain any beneficial effect, applications must continue indefinitely. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ratio of patients who were satisfied with the drug and continued to use it versus those who were displeased and did not continue their treatment, and the reasons for the discontinuation. Methods: A total of 1495 men aged 20-40 years who suffered from androgenetic hair loss were selected among patients who were referred to two private dermatologists. They were subjected to treatment with 5% topical minoxidil solution. These patients were treated with no difference from the routine office patients. Factors such as the duration of treatment, adverse effects, the patient's satisfaction and the causes of treatment cessation were also closely studied. Results: Almost all the patients gradually avoided continuing the treatment. Only in a few patients was the cessation of medication due to adverse effects. The causes of discontinuation in the majority of patients were the low effect of medication and an aversion to this topical treatment method. Conclusions: The insignificant cosmetic effect of minoxidil solution caused discontinuity of treatment among almost all patients.>

I wouldn't get too impressed--or depressed--over the findings because this was a very poorly designed study. It was apparent that the patients determined how and when the medication was to be administered rather than the clinical investigator. Considering that the effects of minoxidil take upwards of 12 months to achieve maximum effect, the investigation should rigorously maintain dosing for up to that period to assess success or failure. In addition, patients should have been informed that "success" may be defined by the lack of further loss of hair rather than the less commonly observed regrowth of significant amounts of hair. Left on their own, very few patients would have the patience or persistency to last that long.

RonLev Philly

Even if they did test them, I believe they would be a very biased or even rigged tests because there is no money in herbs and natural treatments.

I know I am beating a dead horse here, but I am so f'n sick of hearing this "you should only use clinically tested products" bullshit.

Until we realize that the processed preservative crazy western culture we consume is a major culprit in hair loss, real results will never be achieved.

Unfortunately many do not have the will power nor the patience. Sadly for some it is too late.

While modern medicine has doubled the average life expectancy, it has significantly reduced quality of life as a side-effect. Statins are a prime example - they statistically reduce the death-rate from cardiovascular disease, yet many patients end up with more problems than they started with, not the least of which is liver disease.

Herbs have been used for centuries, but have not been studied in extensive trials the way drugs have been for the obvious reasons mentioned. There are so many herbs out there, and without proper research and study, it is ignorant to assume that one of them could not work as well or even better than our current availible 'tested' treatments. Where do you think pharm compounds are derived from???? Nature!!!

I agree 100% with your second statement. I wish medical doctors were trained to prevent disease as well as they cure it. Too bad our diets did not evolve along with our medical care.

300 years ago, people were still learning how the human body works and medicine was non-existent. Nor did humans have access to the labs they do today to properly experiment and evaluate natural herbs and treatments.

My major point was that unfortunately if you are a pharm co. with deep enough pockets, you can make the FDA turn their head.

Do a little research on the FDA concentrating on its history, its directors and there political past and ties and you might agree.

our bodies dont and never came with a handbook(although many authors think they can make millions tricking you into thinking you need one.

the human body is a result of evolution and is in a constant change due to our diet and enviornment.

1000,s of years ago we were a hunter gatherer society and our bodies benifited most from this type of diet.

evolution take more than a 1000 years so its safe to say that the diet of our hunter/gatherer ancestors is the diet best suited to our lifestyle even today.

the fastfood generation with its high carbohydrate and fat intake is just the perfect example of why we are overly obese,unhealthy,and have heart disease as one of our leading killers.

this diet is as far as one can get from eating what you can find walking through the jungle (nuts,berries,meat when available,veggies,and fruits)we are not physically suited to catch prey items,we have no claws,fangs,unable to run fast,so naturally the only protien we should have gotten in nature would be the easy to catch type(eggs,fish,ect)and these are all seasonal so meats made up a small part of our diet untill the iceage.

with the iceage and our knowledge of making and using tools and hunting in a pack,were we first able to take down large game in order to survive the iceage.

even today we have not had enough time for our bodies to adjust to such high meat intake,yet,its part of just about everything americans eat.

if it wasnt for modern medicine and the drugs we developed to counter the high colesterol,weigh gain,and other nasty side effects from a diet so far from what evolution had in mind,we would still be dying at the age of 30.

oh and by the way,the advent on antibiotics were the primary cause for our ability to live so much longer than our ancestors.after antibiotics were discovered,one scientist said that in 10 years we nearly doubled our life span!and we have nothing or noone to thank other than antibiotics.

there was a time when it was common for a simple splinter in the finger to become so infected death was inevitable.