My inflammation theory...SAD AS IT MIGHT BE

[eliazush]

Hi everyone,

I am starting to believe in the theory that baldness is the outcome of an inflammtory reaction that occurs at the hair follicles or at the surrounding celles of the follicles. As a pharmacist, I know that one of the ONLY reactions in the body that changes slowly but UNREVERSIBLY
the functioning of cells is inflammation. Just like a continous inflammation of the joints, COPD, scarring etc... Once a cell has lost its function it changes into a fibroblast - a scar cell and will remain unfunctional forever. I think this is the reason why DHT inhibitors won't work for everyone. Let's face it, if male pattern hairloss was purely a consequence of DHT, drugs like propecia and avodart would help every single man with impressive success. So the theory of an iflammation at the follicles would explain it. If a hair follicle changed and lost its funcionality, nothing will revive it. It also explains well the fact that the more you wait till you start with treatment the less effect you will get from it, as the follicles/surrounding tissues changed irreversably. Blocking DHT may be important because DHT probabely has a role in this inflammation. Only if the inflmmation isn't severe (or there are hairs that only started with the reaction) will these drugs have the chance to actually regrow.

So guys, in my opinion if you tried propecia or other DHT inhibitor and didn't see any change or did see but the progress has stopped and it's steady, it's very doubtful that other products will help more. This is probably the most you can regrow...

I am seriously considering to focus on anti inflammation drugs such as Elidel cream or Inflamil, and I believe this should be the first line of drugs when STARTING the threatment in hairloss.

So, I am not expecting to regrow more than what I have so far, but dreams like Elidel might maintain my situation. I am going to add a topical DHT inhibitor (Don't want to take oral propecia) because I do think it has to do with the inflammation.

Tell me what you think about my theory guys. I honestly start to believe in it...SAD AS IT MIGHT BE.

Eliaz

 

[The Gardener]

Makes sense to me. I definitely think that inflammation is a key component of male pattern baldness.

Do you think that copper peptides are a tool in fighting what you describe? Do anti-seb derm shampoos a tool that may help with this?

 

[chewbaca]

eliazuh, there are certain loopholes in yr theory...I have an uncle who went almost bald at the top in his early 30s....he took propecia of for 2 years and regained 80% of his hair including the front hairline...How do u explain this?

So i think its rather difficult to arrive to conclusions.....Even if certain idead in yr theory are true, it may not be the same for all people...BTE me and my uncle are asians...in my country all of them are asians and male pattern baldness has a racial preference as known.....Definetly the caucasian expats who are in my country have a higher incidence of male pattern baldness than anyone else

 

[northeastguy]

Good theory. Finasteride hasn't done anything for me so I too am going to start focusing on other aspects such as inlammation.

But as stated above the theory doesn't hold true for everyone. Check out Bing's results over at Hairsite he has pics and all. The guy was smooth bald on top and regrew a great amount after balding for like 20 years. Thats just one story that stuck with me and I'm sure there are more.

For what it's worth, I believe there is something to this theory though.

 

[northeastguy]

Good theory. Finasteride hasn't done anything for me so I too am going to start focusing on other aspects such as inlammation.

But as stated above the theory doesn't hold true for everyone. Check out Bing's results over at Hairsite he has pics and all. The guy was smooth bald on top and regrew a great amount after balding for like 20 years. Thats just one story that stuck with me and I'm sure there are more.

For what it's worth, I believe there is something to this theory though.

 

[eliazush]

Hi,

I didn't say propecia didn't work. It does, and I believe it is related somehow to the inflammation theory. But, in the majority (95%) of the cases it won't save all hairs, as most of the follicles are scarred. Only very few people manage to restore most of it. What I am saying is that even with propecia the sooner you start the better results you get. And if you tried it and the succes was limited it means that the follicles have scarred eternally and other drugs won't revive it. If someone hasn't tried propecia or other DHT inhibitors he should try it. DHT is related somehow to this inflammation. But I think the focus on new drugs should be on the aspect of anti inflammation. It's just my hunch. Didn't check anything or led a research.

Eliaz

 

[Guest]

If it's down to inflamtion but helped along by DHT, does this mean that the back and side are not affected by this inflamation. If so, why not...

 

[eliazush]

Hi,

We all know the male baldness is patterned. That is, it has a certain shape, susceptible areas (norwood scale) etc. I am not denyind this. But an inflammation can also be patterned, such as psoriasis which usually appears in certain specific areas (elbows, knees, scalp ears...) I don't know what causes this inflammation, but it doesn't contradict the fact it is patterned.

 

[viperfish]

Propecia does help with inflammation though! The follicle inflammation, for the most part, is a result of dht binding to the receptor sites. Basically, dht binds to the receptor sites, causes inflammation around the follicle, which then leads to fibrosis or the 'scarring over' of the follicles. Once fibrosis takes place it's all over for that particular follicle. So each part makes sense to fight, dht, the inflammation, and trying to reverse some of the scarring. All I believe are equally important.

 

[everysixseconds]

well, normally if you have rash, we call it an inflammation.
we scratch rashes because they feel itchy.
my scalp feels itchy. but its not a rash-like itch. its very pin point, like as if the follicle is under attack. some people say an itch is not related to male pattern baldness, but i think it is cos finasteride and dutasteride really cut down my itch.
other people who are balding experience no itch.
so, its possible people who have no itch (indicating reduced or no inflammation) will probably have more success with propecia.

 

[cyberprimate]

What exactly is fibrosis and is there evidence this actually happens in male pattern baldness? Once scarring is there, is it there forever?

 

[viperfish]

Fibrosis is the build up of scar tissue, due to inflammation. This results in the slick bald spots found on many males. Generally,once this happens no treatment will bring it back (minus a transplant maybe).

 

[jimmystanley]

do you guys ever get the feeling that topical anti androgens, once attatched to the AR, might also cause inflammation? (the same as if DHT or T attatched to them??)

 

[Old Baldy]

No.

 

[vogs]

eliazuh, there are certain loopholes in yr theory...I have an uncle who went almost bald at the top in his early 30s....he took propecia of for 2 years and regained 80% of his hair including the front hairline...How do u explain this?

Very doubtful.