Antihistaminics for hair-loss

[Solo]

I´ve just read some histories in the Female Hair-loss section of the most famous spanish hair-loss forums.


There was a girl saying that after trying everything available with no results she gave up meds route. She was looking for the wig solution, and then...


...for I can´t remember the reason, she started taking antihistaminics everyday. She noticed in a month that she stopped losing as many hairs as before, and in 3 months she noticed a critical improvement of hair.

She claimed that by now she had full regrowth and no longer suffers the hair loss condition.

She was taking nothing else.

Another girl, apparently, followed her advise, WITH THE SAME RESULTS!!

Then the Bryan-ish guy of the forum came all scientific saying that it´s not as crazy as it seems, becouse antihistaminics clearly have an effect on the autoinmune response and microinflammatory whatever that is triggered by the DHT binding in the follicle, so he predict that a mix between propecia and antihistaminics COULD be a good approach for the problem, also based in the two cases of those girls with full regrowth on antihistamincs.

But he said that he was only guessing, so he begged all the people not to start taking antihistaminics creating an uncontroled fever.


Obviously, by now there´s an uncontrolled fever for antihistaminics in the forum that has spread like fire to the male pattern baldness section. Everybody seems to be starting on antihistaminics intake.

What do you guys think??

Could it be a good experiment or are they just crazy??

 

[hairschmair]

I say good experiment.

I took antihistamines for two weeks 3-4 months ago because of hay fever and I could swear that my shedding slowed down/stopped. I dismissed it because in my head I knew there's no way I could have seen results that fast.

Worth a try though.

 

[Dice_Has_Hair]

I say good experiment.

I took antihistamines for two weeks 3-4 months ago because of hay fever and I could swear that my shedding slowed down/stopped. I dismissed it because in my head I knew there's no way I could have seen results that fast.

Worth a try though.

Is zyrtec D an antihistamine? I have a script to get some but have never done it since my allergies have been under control lately for some reason. Hey........how many of you thinning peoples have "allergies"? This is going to be interesting!!

 

[everysixseconds]

i have no allergies

 

[Solo]

I have an allergie. To some microscopic arachnids that live in the dust.


Diffuse thinner, ya see.

 

[Guest]

I say good experiment.

I took antihistamines for two weeks 3-4 months ago because of hay fever and I could swear that my shedding slowed down/stopped. I dismissed it because in my head I knew there's no way I could have seen results that fast.

Worth a try though.

Is zyrtec D an antihistamine? I have a script to get some but have never done it since my allergies have been under control lately for some reason. Hey........how many of you thinning peoples have "allergies"? This is going to be interesting!!

It is. I take it for hayfever.

Zyrtec is a brand name - the actual drug is Ceterizine.

Another common one is Diphenhydramine.

 

[global]

I dont think it will have a major effect on male pattern baldness unless the underlying cause of the inflammation (ie DHT) is addressed, but in theory it could be a useful adjunct to other treatments.

 

[chewbaca]

I do not have any known allergies and a healthy individual.Anyone recommend me a suitable antihistamines?

 

[Guest]

I don't encourage the regular taking of antihistamines as they can make you feel drowsy and lethargic.

 

[chewbaca]

http://www.dermatologytimes.com/dermato ... p?id=67673


Antihistamine Touted




Ebastine offers advantages in treatment of AA


Aug 1, 2003
By: Barbara J. Rutledge, Ph.D.
Special Report





Male patient, age 54, with 50-74 percent loss of scalp hair before ebastine treatment (top) and 90-percent hair regrowth after five months of treatment. (Photographs courtesy of Yusuke Yoshizawa, M.D.)

Barcelona - Ebastine, a second-generation antihistamine currently marketed in Europe and Japan, offers many advantages as a treatment for mild to moderate alopecia areata, according to Yusuke Yoshizawa, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo.

Alopecia areata is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder targeting the hair follicles. "The pathogenesis of alopecia areata is still unclear," Dr. Yoshizawa said, "but expression of certain cell surface molecules on the hair follicle cells and the presence of peribulbar lymphocytic infiltrates are consistent and reproducible immunological abnormalities seen in alopecia areata."

Key players responsible for hair loss in alopecia areata appear to be interferon-gamma, IL-1, and substance P, among others.

T cells produce interferon-gamma, which induces expression of a variety of cell surface molecules such as MHC receptors, HLA-DR, and ICAM-1 on hair follicular keratinocytes and dermal papilla cells.

"IL-1 is thought to be the crucial inducer of hair loss in alopecia areata," Dr. Yoshizawa said at the 10th European Hair Research Society meeting. "IL-1b mRNA can be detected in skin lesions of alopecia areata. IL-1b has been shown to inhibit hair growth in vitro and stimulate ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells."

Substance P may be responsible for stimulating expression of the IL-1 family in keratinocytes. The anti-inflammatory effects of second-generation antihistamines such as ebastine include inhibition ofcell activation, inhibition of expression of various cell surface molecules stimulated by interferon-gamma, and inhibition of histamine-induced expression of substance P.

Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents have traditionally been used for treatment of alopecia areata, although often with limited success. Corticosteroid therapy is associated with potentially serious side effects and is no longer widely used. Diphenylcyclopropenone (DCPC) and squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) solutions are used in Europe and Canada. However, local immunotherapy is more complicated for an inexperienced dermatologist to administer, and application of DCPC or SADBE solution to alopecia lesions causes contact dermatitis, resulting in itching and discomfort for the patient. By contrast, ebastine is an oral medication, and is generally well tolerated, with slight sedation as the most common side effect.

Dr. Yoshizawa described two clinical trials evaluating ebastine for treatment of alopecia areata. The first study looked at ebastine as a second-line treatment for patients who had failed diazepam. Nine patients with alopecia areata were initially treated with diazepam, and one patient responded favorably. The remaining eight patients were treated with ebastine for several months. After four to eight months, six patients showed improvement, with three patients considered cured.


Dr. Yoshizawa

In a second study, 29 patients with alopecia areata were treated initially with ebastine. Patients with mild or moderate alopecia areata had a response rate of 75 percent or 46 percent, respectively. Only one of two patients with severe alopecia areata and only one of six patients with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis responded to ebastine treatment.

In total, 37 patients were treated with ebastine, and the efficacy of treatment based on both hair re-growth and cosmetic acceptance were evaluated. Thirty-seven patients with alopecia areata were treated with ebastine. Patients were classified into four groups based on the extent of the loss of scalp hair: mild, 25 to 49 percent loss, 13 patients; moderate, 50 to 74 percent loss, 15 patients; severe, 75 to 99 percent loss, 3 patients; and alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, six patients. Percentages of patients in each group with at least 50 percent hair re-growth after 12 months were 69, 57, 67, and 14 percent, respectively. Patients with atopic dermatitis were significantly less likely to respond to treatment. Of 20 patients with at least 50 percent hair regrowth, only one had atopic dermatitis, compared to six of 17 patients with less than 50 percent hair re-growth (p<0.01).

Cosmetic acceptance was determined by the patient, and generally was regarded as a maximum of two or three small patchy lesions. Compared to hair re-growth, cosmetic acceptance was reported in slightly smaller percentages of patients in the study groups, occurring in 61, 43, 33, and 0 percent of patients in each of the four groups, respectively. "These rates of cosmetic acceptance were almost half the rates that have been reported following DPCP therapy," said Dr. Yoshizawa.

Overall, ebastine therapy was not as efficacious as DPCP therapy. "However, ebastine therapy was well tolerated, and the procedure was very simple, even for dermatologists not familiar with taking care of patients with alopecia areata," said Dr. Yoshizawa. "We recommend second-generation antihistamine therapy for alopecia areata in patients with mild to moderate alopecia without concomitant atopic dermatitis, who are more than 30 years old at the onset of the first episode and who have less than one year history of alopecia."

Ebastine is marketed by Almirall Prodesfarma (Barcelona). Dr. Yoshizawa reported no conflicts of interest.

 

[oni]

Get an antihistamine cream and rub that on your scalp at night

 

[chewbaca]

pill fm is preferred

 

[chewbaca]

But will antihistamine work for male pattern baldness? it is marketed for AA

 

[oni]

chewbaca have you been smoking drugs again !

chewbaca put down the crack pipe and step away from the crack pipe. :lol:

 

[ShedMaster]

would antihistamine be safe to take on a daily basis for long periods of time? I would be careful.

 

[HairlossTalk]

But will antihistamine work for male pattern baldness? it is marketed for AA

Bingo. Alopecia Areata is guessed to be primarily an auto-immune disease. male pattern baldness is considered to be more of an andro (hormonal) genetic (genetic) condition than an auto-immune condition. If it were such, steroid anti inflammatory injections would be the standard protocol for men with bald spots. It is only the standard protocal for people with Alopecia Areata bald spots for that very reason.

Inflammation is still a factor with Male Pattern Baldness, but it can easily be handled with scalp conditioning and anti inflammatory shampoo's like Nizoral, TGel, and even Aloe or Emu Oil. Propecia is still necessary for DHT related hair loss, which is what men have. Women are an entirely different breed of hair loss sufferers.

And fully agreed on the safety issues of Diphenhydramine. I spoke with one of the heads of the office of regulatory affairs at the FDA both in San Francisco and Texas a couple weeks ago. They confirmed the extreme concern they have for safety issues related to any hair loss treatment containing Diphenhydramine. There are contra-indications and you may end up walking around like a zombie all day. "Do not operate motor vehicles or heavy machinery" is just one of many related warnings for this drug.

HairLossTalk.com

 

[JayB]

well i take an antihistamine every night before bed, it has the effects of xanax for my anxiety, but without the dependence and tolerance.
Ill let you guys know if i see anything happening with my hair.

PS- been on it for about 3 weeks now

 

[HairlossTalk]

Careful Jay, even if you see results, its not a plausible treatment for the rest of us. Prescription antihisthamines or even over the counter ones taken daily is not suggested as a safe method for treating hair loss. If you have an anxiety condition and are taking it at the recommendation of a physician, then great. I wouldn't want my users to become antihisthamine taking zombies that crash and kill people while using the forklift ... with full heads of hair

HairLossTalk.com

 

[hairschmair]

Still worth knowing if it does anything though. Let us know.

 

[HairlossTalk]

As Dr. Proctor always says: "A lot of things can cure hair loss, but they're either not safe, or are not plausible as hair loss treatments." (paraphrase).

He says there are a lot of chemicals and knick knacks that can give us all full heads of hair today, but that doesn't mean they should be used.

HairLossTalk.com