Minoxidil and Ketoconazole - Similarities & Differences

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong but we don't know for sure the reasons why Minoxidil and Ketoconazole can promote hair re-growth without touching DHT levels.

I'm thinking if we can put our minds together on the two drugs, outlining the similarities and differences, we can perhaps understand them better. In what ways are they similar and how do they differ?

According to Nizoral's website, it can be used to stop excessive hair growth in women... how does this play into hair loss for men?

 

[Guest]

No replies? How dissapointing...

 

[decro435]

Minoxidil:
The mechanism by which minoxidil promotes hair growth is not fully understood. Minoxidil is a potassium channel agonist. It contains the chemical structure of nitric oxide, a blood vessel dilator, and may be a nitric oxide agonist. This appears to explain its vasodilatory effects, but may also be linked to minoxidil's ability to stimulate hair growth and treat hair loss. Since minoxidil is a nitric oxide-related compound, it was suspected to act via activation of guanylate cyclase, an enzyme involved in vasodilation, however there are no reports of cGMP or PKG activation to date.

Ketoconazole 1%/2%:
A study in mice indicated that ketoconazole may have a stimulatory effect on hair growth. Nizoral shampoo has shown to be beneficial in men suffering from androgenic alopecia. One 1998 study showed that Nizoral 2% worked just as well as minoxidil 2% in men with androgenic alopecia. Both medicines increased hair thickness and increased the number of anagen-phase hair follicles on the scalp. Researchers were guarded about the meaning of these results, saying that more rigorous studies on larger groups of men should be done to confirm the findings, both to evaluate the ideal dosage and formulation, and to assess the desirability of routine treatment in this condition. Nizoral Shampoo only has FDA approval for the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, so although Nizoral may be useful as a hair loss remedy, it cannot be endorsed or marketed as one to the general public. Nevertheless, pharmacies and drug stores often stock Nizoral with other hairloss remedies, rather than other shampoos.

Results so far indicate that both the 1% and 2% dosages have positive hair loss benefits; however the more potent 2% formulation could have better results. Optimal usage is speculated at every third day, leaving the shampoo on the scalp for 3–5 minutes before rinsing. It has been stated that medications capable of maintaining the existing hair population should be regarded as effective treatments for androgenic alopecia. The present data suggest that ketoconazole should enter this group of drugs.

So basically the two both work in different ways, Ketoconazole will not promote regrowth, yet it might thicken hair and help maintain due to it's apparent weak anti-androgenic properties.

 

[dazzerler]

to anyones understanding would there be any benifit in useing nizoral more often if your scalp can handle it. i keep my scalp in good condition with oils etc and find no prob with nizoral 2 % and use it every other day. i I was to say use nizoral 1 % one day and the 2% the other would this give my hair a better chance of growth and or DHT protection

 

[Guest]

to anyones understanding would there be any benifit in useing nizoral more often if your scalp can handle it. i keep my scalp in good condition with oils etc and find no prob with nizoral 2 % and use it every other day. i I was to say use nizoral 1 % one day and the 2% the other would this give my hair a better chance of growth and or DHT protection

I hear nizoral is pretty strong stuff, I wouldn't use it more than what's suggested.

 

[Jokerman]

I hear nizoral is pretty strong stuff, I wouldn't use it more than what's suggested.

On the bottle the recommended dosage is once every week or two.

Using it every 3 days is way over the recommended dosage, but most people have no problems using it that frequently. If you have no problems using it every other day then I'd say go for it. Not sure if it would help more, but if you can handle it then why not?

 

[JLL]

One 1998 study showed that Nizoral 2% worked just as well as minoxidil 2% in men with androgenic alopecia. Both medicines increased hair thickness and increased the number of anagen-phase hair follicles on the scalp.

Actually, they found that Nizoral worked even better than minoxidil.

The first part of the study concluded that Nizoral increases hair growth in men with male pattern baldness.

In men with hair loss, using 2% Nizoral shampoo 2-4 per week significantly improved measures of vertex hairs in anagen phase and hair diameter during the course of a 21-month study. At 15 months, the increase in the hair growth score was close to 50%. A slight decrease in hair growth scores was seen in those using normal shampoo.

The second part concluded that when compared with 2% minoxidil, 2% Nizoral was more effective in growing hair.

After 6 months of using the treatments, the hair density of the Nizoral group went from 250 to 296 hairs per square centimeter; an increase of of 18%. In the minoxidil group, the increase was 11%, from 276 to 306 hairs. Both ketoconazole and minoxidil increased hair shaft diameter by 7%. Even though the sample size in this second experiment was very small, this looks like a very promising result.

The mean sebaceous gland area of the Nizoral group decreased by 19.4%. However, in the minoxidil group, the area increased by 5.3%. This means that even though both ketoconazole and minoxidil stimulated hair growth, they did it through different mechanisms.