From what I understand, antibiotics do three things:
Primary:
1) kill bacteria (good and bad)
Secondary:
2) reduce inflammation
3) kill toxins
The second two relate to hair loss. Therefore, would long term mild antibiotic usage (doxycycline, minocycline) be beneficial in reducing hair loss through its affect on inflammation?
My theory:
Antibiotics kill bad bacteria AND good bacteria. This causes a misbalance of microbial flora in the intestine which can potentially cause a whole host of problems (some debatable). One such problem is chronic inflammation throughout the body (and hence hairloss).
I have taken dozens of courses of antibiotics in my life, mainly for various skin problems. Some of these have been long term doses. Interestingly, I never noticed hair loss until AFTER I stopped with the long term courses and decided I would never take antibiotics again due to a complete lack of good bacteria (i actually had these levels tested).
So to summarise, a few things I believe:
1) Increased antibiotic usage leads to increased hairloss (AFTER taking them) due to its effect on microflora imbalance and hence inflammation. This could also explain balding becoming increasingly common/premature and doctors hand out antibiotics like candy.
2) HOWEVER, while you're taking them, they are beneficial for us male pattern baldness sufferers through their antinflammatory/antioxidant effects. [of course, with my logic, it would mean you'd be taken them "forever"]
3) Probiotic therapy is extremely important regardless.
Could long-term, low dose doxycycline be the perfect complement to finasteride?
Apologise for the long post. Any thoughts/comments much appreciated.
Primary:
1) kill bacteria (good and bad)
Secondary:
2) reduce inflammation
3) kill toxins
The second two relate to hair loss. Therefore, would long term mild antibiotic usage (doxycycline, minocycline) be beneficial in reducing hair loss through its affect on inflammation?
My theory:
Antibiotics kill bad bacteria AND good bacteria. This causes a misbalance of microbial flora in the intestine which can potentially cause a whole host of problems (some debatable). One such problem is chronic inflammation throughout the body (and hence hairloss).
I have taken dozens of courses of antibiotics in my life, mainly for various skin problems. Some of these have been long term doses. Interestingly, I never noticed hair loss until AFTER I stopped with the long term courses and decided I would never take antibiotics again due to a complete lack of good bacteria (i actually had these levels tested).
So to summarise, a few things I believe:
1) Increased antibiotic usage leads to increased hairloss (AFTER taking them) due to its effect on microflora imbalance and hence inflammation. This could also explain balding becoming increasingly common/premature and doctors hand out antibiotics like candy.
2) HOWEVER, while you're taking them, they are beneficial for us male pattern baldness sufferers through their antinflammatory/antioxidant effects. [of course, with my logic, it would mean you'd be taken them "forever"]
3) Probiotic therapy is extremely important regardless.
Could long-term, low dose doxycycline be the perfect complement to finasteride?
Apologise for the long post. Any thoughts/comments much appreciated.