8 Common medications treatment to hair loss for men - 3

5. Tretinoin for male

Topical tretinoin is used by some to treat male and female pattern hair loss, sometimes in combination with minoxidil.

Tretinoin essentially is a derivative of vitamin A. Topical Tretinoin is used by dermatologists in the treatment of mild to moderate acne and on skin that has been damaged by excessive exposure to the sun. Two treatment forms of retinoic acid have been developed - all-trans-retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid.

hair loss

As a retinoid that regulates the growth and differentiation of epithelial cells, topical Tretinoin can be used to help enhance the effects on Minoxidil for the treatment of hair loss. Although Tretinoin alone does not act as a significant stimulant of hair growth, there is some evidence that a combination of Minoxidil (0.5%) and Tretinoin (0.025%) promotes hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia. This is most likely due to the increased absorption of Minoxidil through alteration of the horny outer layer of the epidermis, the stratum cornum.

However, the manufactured formulations of Tretinoin (Retin-A®) and Minoxidil (Rogaine®) are incompatible and become ineffective if compounded in one formulation. They must either be mixed using generic powder forms or be applied as separate treatments. For efficacy, Rogaine® must be applied every morning and night and Retin-A® during the day. Even though there appears to be some benefit in using the combination, the need for an extra application during the day is generally considered to be rather inconvenient, discouraging wide acceptability. Additionally the skin irritation caused by Tretinoin is not always well tolerated.

Side effects

The potential side effects of topical Tretinoin are irritation and photosensitivity .As Tretinoin does not work alone, the potential side effects of Minoxidil should also be considered when administering treatment. Concerns about increased irritation, possible systemic absorption of drug, and difficulties related to the use of both agents together has led to the limited usage of this line of treatment.

6. Diazoxide for male

Diazoxide is a nondiuretic benzothiazide. This potent and rarely anti-hypertensive agent has diverse pharmacologic effects including :

Hypertrichosis (hair growth). Hyperglycemia associated with suppression of insulin release, which is why it is used to treat idiopathic hypoglycemia of infancy. Elevation of serum levels of androgens.

Taking advantage of the hypertrichotic side effects of diazoxide, several authors have examined the effect of topical application of the drug on hair re-growth in androgenetic alopecia. A topical formulation of diazoxide was reported in 1989 to show efficacy in male pattern baldness. Nineteen men with "early to midstage" androgenetic alopecia were treated with 3% diazoxide solution twice daily for 2 to 11 months. Reports indicate that four men had a dense growth of new hair, seven had moderate growth by way of some new terminal hairs, one had vellus hair growth, and seven had no re-growth at all. Local irritation occurred in one patient.