timbo said:
Bryan I think that it's important to note that just because there is no proof that azelaic acid works for hairloss, doesn't mean that it's ineffective, same w/ topical finasteride.
Keep in mind that not only is there no proof that it works for hairloss, there is actually some pretty good evidence that it specifically does NOT reduce DHT where applied: most of the studies (4 out of 6, if I recall correctly) that have examined the effect of topical azelaic acid on sebum secretion have found no effect at all. So not only does Dr. Lee have to account for the lack of
positive studies for topical azelaic acid, he also has to account for the existence of all those
negative studies. His response to all that has been a deafening silence.
timbo said:
It would be pointless for Regrowth LLC (minoxidil.com) to spend money on FDA approval and proper clinical testing on a medication that has been widely used for years.
I don't want him to apply for FDA approval, I just want him to test it
in vivo for its alleged ability to inhibit 5a-reductase. That certainly wouldn't be a difficult or expensive thing to do. Why doesn't he do it? :dunno:
timbo said:
I will say that it seems suspicious that Dr. Lees opinion on azelaic acid's 5AR-inhibiting power is very matter of fact. But in his defense, he has ran his own studies in the past and found it to be effective.
I don't think he's ever run such a test on its alleged 5AR-inhibiting power. I remember that at the very beginning, he had claimed to run a test on Xandrox, compared to ordinary minoxidil, and had claimed (if I recall his words correctly...it was a long time ago) that it was "slightly more effective" than the minoxidil. That doesn't inspire me with confidence that azelaic acid really does work as a topical 5a-reductase inhibitor.
timbo said:
I guess i just don't understand why you have such a special place in your heart for Dr. Lee...?!?!
Did you follow all of that confrontation I had with him over on HLH several years ago? I pointed out to him the lack of POSITIVE evidence for topical azelaic acid in either animals or humans, and the existence of the NEGATIVE evidence, and he was blatantly unwilling to admit to any of it. He complained to Farrel that he didn't have the time to pursue that discussion anymore, so I had to drop it, and let the good doctor off the hook. I thought it was shameful that he ran away from such an important issue.
