Bryan, or anyone else with knowledge on Retin-A and male pattern baldness

[VoRteX]

The following quote is off Lewenbergs site(whose formula I wouldnt recommend) but this is the quickest info I could find about Retin-a. I have heard others state that retin-a has more hair growth properties than just increasing the absorption of minoxidil. Has anyone seen studies that support these claims or had a big improvement from using a retin-a/minoxidil formula? I'm thinking of trying Xandrox with retin-a

Thanks for any replies

Tretinoin is an important factor in controlling of DH Testosterone (DHT) activities in the scalp. 5-Alpha Reductase activity is sensitive to Retin-A. 5-Alpha Reductase is an enzyme that is used to convert Testosterone to DHT. Thus by reducing the levels of 5-Alpha Reductase , Retin-A reduces levels of DHT.

Tretinoin also reduces the effect of remaining DHT, by reducing the number of receptors to DHT in tissue.
"Numerous factors affect the number and activity of androgen receptors in
dermal papilla cells. Retinoic acid {Tretinoin}, if used for a long time,
may reduce the number of androgen receptors by 30 - 40 percent.1 "

Tretinoin rejuvenates dying follicles. Retin-A creates new follicles by stimulating stem cells.
"The hair follicle is one of a few human tissues containing stem cells. The stem cells are interspersed within the basal layer of the outer root sheath and in an area called the bulge. From this reservoir stem cells migrate to hair matrix and start to divide and differentiate.2"

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells used by the body to produce needed tissues. Thus Retin-A can help repair damaged hair follicles. This enables our patients to grow strong, normal hair and to improve the quality of their existing hair. This makes for an easy maintenance program; because the strong hair our patients grow can last months without formula application.

 

[HairFreak]

I have.
Check this out!
Treatment ] # of Patients ] good response ] moderate response ] no response

Both ] 36 ] 16(44%) ] 8 (22%) ] 12 (33%)

Tretinoin ] 12 ] 2 (16%) ] 5 (42%) ] 5 (42%)
(Retin A)

minoxidil 0.5% ] 3 ] 0 ] 0 ] 3
(not 5%)

Placebo ] 5 ] 0 ] 0 ] 5


As you can see from this table, Retin A by its self promotes hair growth. Response when using both would have been much better, but as you can see only 0.5% minoxidil solution was used, as this is a very old study (from '83 to 86).
Only bad thing about Retin A is that it’s causing skin irritation.
In Dr. Lewenbergs study, with 2 % minoxidil and 0.025% Retin A, after 2 years 90% of people in a study had satisfying results.

 

[HairFreak]

For some reason my "table" gets all messed up when I post the message. I hope you can figure it out... :hairy:

 

[VoRteX]

kind of a limited study, but the info is good

thanks

 

[HairFreak]

Well, Dr Lewenbergs study involved 484 people.
That's better, I guess :rockon:

 

[Redbone]

I use retin A with minoxidil and it works good. It is the only minoxidil I have tried so I dont know the difference. Of course we all know that Dr. Lewenberg is the one that pushes retin A and minoxidil solutions- he holds the patents. One warning though if you use to much your hair will dry out. And they will be calling you straw hat.

 

[Shinyscalp23]

the stuff is great

my dermatologist prescribed to me .5%(is that half a percent or just their way of saying 5%?LOL) minoxidil combined with .025 tretinoin...retin a--very very very very irritating at first your scalp will shred like a mofo-if youre like me..anyways he prescribed that solution .6 ml twice a day every day..liek i posted elsewhere on this site..what took 8 months on minoxidil 5% otc took only 3 months for this stuff..so definitely go for it...i stopped using it because i colored my hair, forgot it was on my scalp. i read somewhere on here that retin a made someones scalp look like bleeding meat--well mine looked like a scraped knee..anyways..i stopped the treatment for two months...very bad shed..went back on the treatment, had an even worse shed(i was like god, pretty soon there wont be anythign left to fall out)..3 months later..im back to doing very good again, i dont even really need to use toppik anymore(as ive also posted elsewhere),but id take a couple days even a week off of the treatment every now and then to give your scalp a rest..but, keep in mind..everyones experience varies..the first couple times i usd minoxidil religiously(the 8 months on the regular over the counter and then what my derm prescribed..i never even experienced any shedding and the shredding irritation became mild after a few weeks) The third time on this stuff my scalp is still very soar and shreds every now and then even in month 3..but i can deal with the soarness..rather have burning scalp than completely shiny scalp :lol: --could also be that its summer time too , since i started this product originally in the fall