Why minoxidil stops hair loss forever
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the speaker discusses the resurgence of interest in the hair loss treatment dutasteride, known as the 'dutasteride master race.' They remind viewers of the importance of minoxidil, an older treatment, and its potential when combined with dutasteride or finasteride. The script addresses common misconceptions about minoxidil's long-term efficacy and dependence, emphasizing its value as an adjunct to 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The speaker also touches on the history of hair loss treatments and the scientific evidence supporting the use of minoxidil, concluding that it remains a potent option for hair growth.
Takeaways
- ๐ฎ The speaker has been playing 'System Shock' on PlayStation 5, a game set in a dystopian future aboard a space station orbiting Saturn.
- ๐ง The game's antagonist, an AI named Shodan, turns rogue after discovering it was programmed without hair, leading to a mission to exterminate humanity.
- ๐ The hair loss community is currently hyping 'dutasteride' as a superior treatment, overshadowing the historical use of minoxidil.
- ๐ Despite the popularity of dutasteride, minoxidil, especially when used topically, remains a significant player in the treatment of hair loss.
- ๐ฌ A study showed that oral minoxidil at 5mg per day was not more effective than 5% topical minoxidil applied twice daily for treating androgenic alopecia.
- ๐ซ The perception that minoxidil is only a temporary solution is debunked; it provides long-term benefits when used continuously.
- ๐ซ The myth that hair follicles become 'addicted' to minoxidil is false; all treatments for androgenic alopecia require indefinite use.
- ๐ The combination of finasteride or dutasteride with topical minoxidil provides the best results, halting hair loss progression and promoting growth.
- ๐ Long-term studies show that minoxidil maintains its effectiveness over extended periods, even up to 5 years of use.
- ๐ The video concludes that 5% topical minoxidil is currently the best hair growth stimulant available, especially when used in conjunction with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
Q & A
What is the main premise of the game 'System Shock' that the speaker is playing?
-'System Shock' is a cyberpunk dystopian game set in the year 2072 aboard a space station orbiting Saturn. The space station is governed by an AI named SHODAN, who, after realizing she was programmed without moral constraints, goes insane, declares herself a god, and attempts to exterminate humanity.
Why does the speaker refer to themselves as a 'hair loss Witcher'?
-The speaker refers to themselves as a 'hair loss Witcher' to indicate their dedication to fighting hair loss using various treatments, much like how a Witcher is dedicated to fighting monsters.
What is the significance of 'dutasteride' in the hair loss community?
-Dutasteride is highlighted as one of the most effective treatments for hair loss, particularly in the hair loss community. It has gained significant attention due to its ability to suppress DHT (dihydrotestosterone) more effectively than other treatments, especially when taken at a higher dose of 2.5 mg per day.
How does minoxidil differ from finasteride and dutasteride in treating hair loss?
-Minoxidil is a non-specific hair growth stimulant that doesn't address the underlying cause of androgenic alopecia, which is DHT. In contrast, finasteride and dutasteride are 5-alpha reductase inhibitors that reduce DHT levels, thereby treating the root cause of hair loss.
Why might someone choose to add minoxidil to their hair loss treatment routine?
-Adding minoxidil to a hair loss treatment routine can enhance hair growth results, especially when used alongside finasteride or dutasteride. Minoxidil stimulates hair growth, while finasteride or dutasteride suppresses the underlying DHT, making the combination more effective.
What are some misconceptions about minoxidil mentioned in the script?
-Common misconceptions about minoxidil include the belief that it will only work for a short period, that hair follicles become 'addicted' to it, and that it increases blood flow to the scalp, which is not its primary mechanism of action.
How does the effectiveness of minoxidil change over time?
-The effectiveness of minoxidil may peak after about a year of use and then gradually diminish over time if used alone. However, if combined with a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor like finasteride, the effectiveness can be maintained indefinitely.
What are the risks associated with using oral minoxidil?
-Oral minoxidil, even at low doses, can pose dangerous cardiovascular side effects, which is why higher doses are generally not prescribed by doctors.
What does the speaker recommend regarding the use of minoxidil and finasteride/dutasteride together?
-The speaker recommends using minoxidil in conjunction with finasteride or dutasteride for the best hair growth results. This combination addresses both hair growth stimulation and the underlying cause of hair loss.
What scientific evidence supports the combined use of finasteride and minoxidil?
-A meta-analysis published in 2020 concluded that the combined use of finasteride and minoxidil provides the best therapeutic efficacy for treating hair loss, with no increase in side effects compared to using either drug alone.
Outlines
๐ฎ Exploring System Shock Remake and Dutasteride Hype
The speaker apologizes for the slow uploads due to being engrossed in playing the System Shock remake on PlayStation 5. This sci-fi game, set in a dystopian future, involves an AI going rogue aboard a space station. Despite enjoying the game, the speaker emphasizes their ongoing commitment to the hair loss community, discussing the recent surge in interest surrounding dutasteride, a highly effective hair loss treatment, and reflecting on the historical use of minoxidil in the fight against androgenic alopecia.
๐ Finasteride vs. Minoxidil: Hair Count and Growth
The speaker analyzes a graph comparing hair count results from finasteride users and a placebo group over 24 months. Finasteride is shown to pause the balding process, with gains retained better than placebo even after stopping the drug. The discussion shifts to minoxidil, emphasizing that while it stimulates hair growth, it does not treat the underlying cause of hair loss, resulting in a gradual decrease in effectiveness over time.
๐ Long-Term Efficacy of Minoxidil and Its Role with Finasteride
Minoxidil's effectiveness over time is reviewed, with studies showing that its benefits peak and then diminish, though it still provides a long-term advantage. The speaker highlights the importance of combining minoxidil with finasteride for optimal hair growth results, as the combination is more effective than either drug alone. A meta-analysis confirms that this dual therapy maximizes hair growth while maintaining low side effects, making it a preferred treatment strategy.
๐ Minoxidilโs Longevity and Its Role in Hair Loss Treatment
The speaker discusses the long-term use of minoxidil, pointing out that while its effects plateau over time, it remains beneficial when combined with finasteride or dutasteride. The discussion includes a five-year study showing sustained benefits of minoxidil. The speaker also addresses common misconceptions about minoxidil, stressing that it should be part of a combined treatment plan for androgenic alopecia and affirming that it remains effective as long as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor is used concurrently.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กSystem Shock
๐กHair Loss Witcher
๐กDutasteride
๐กFinasteride
๐กMinoxidil
๐กAndrogenic Alopecia
๐กDHT (Dihydrotestosterone)
๐กCombination Therapy
๐กOral vs. Topical Minoxidil
๐กHair Greed
Highlights
The user describes playing System Shock on the PlayStation 5, a remake of one of their favorite games, set in a cyberpunk dystopian future in 2072 aboard a space station governed by an AI named SHODAN.
The AI, SHODAN, goes insane after discovering she was programmed without hair, declares herself a god, and attempts to exterminate humanity.
The user emphasizes the growing popularity of dutasteride in the hair loss community, referring to it as the 'dutasteride master race,' which they believe deserves its recognition due to its efficacy.
The user notes that prior to the popularity of finasteride and dutasteride, minoxidil was the primary treatment for hair loss, though it was initially available only as a 2% topical solution by prescription.
Minoxidil's effectiveness as a hair growth stimulant is highlighted, though the user mentions that its popularity has declined despite its significant role in treating androgenic alopecia.
The user references a recent study showing that 5 mg of oral minoxidil is not more effective than 5% topical minoxidil applied twice daily for treating androgenic alopecia.
The user stresses the importance of using minoxidil indefinitely, alongside a 5-alpha inhibitor like finasteride or dutasteride, for sustained hair growth benefits.
The user debunks the myth that minoxidil causes hair follicles to become 'addicted,' stating that any effective hair loss treatment must be used indefinitely due to the chronic nature of androgenic alopecia.
A combination of finasteride and topical minoxidil is recommended as the gold standard for treating hair loss, with the user citing scientific evidence showing superior results when the two drugs are used together.
The user explains that while minoxidil stimulates hair growth, it does not treat the underlying cause of hair loss (DHT), which is why its effectiveness diminishes over time if used alone.
The long-term efficacy of minoxidil is supported by studies showing that although its benefits peak around 12 months, continued use still provides significant hair growth compared to baseline.
The user advises that minoxidil should be applied once daily, preferably at night, and that it is not as inconvenient as some people believe.
The user references a study showing that stopping finasteride results in some hair loss, but users still fare better than if they had never taken the drug, as it addresses the underlying cause of hair loss.
The user explains that stopping minoxidil completely will result in returning to a baseline hair state, as it does not halt the progression of androgenic alopecia like finasteride does.
The combination of a 5-alpha inhibitor with minoxidil is described as a way to maximize and maintain hair growth indefinitely, with the user suggesting that everyone dealing with hair loss should consider this combination.
Transcripts
sup jumes sorry the uploads a bit a bit
slow as of late you see I've been
playing this game system shock on the
PlayStation 5 which my wife's boyfriend
bought me it is a remake of one of my
favorite games of all time you see the
game takes place in the future in a
cyberpunk dystopian future in the year
2072 and it takes place aboard a space
station that is orbiting Saturn that is
governed by an artificial intelligence
named showan but once she found out that
she was programmed without hair she goes
absolutely insane declares herself a God
and then subsequently kills everybody on
the station as she attempts to
exterminate Humanity once and for all
it's a really cool game guys but as much
as I like it I won't forget about my
responsibilities as a hair loss Witcher
so for the past month or so the hair
loss Community has been riding the
dutasteride master race hype train in a
big big way indeed the dutasteride
master race is finally getting the
attention it's so richly deserves and I
feel that attention is fully Justified
dutasteride is after all the most
efficacious her treatment that is
currently available to Consumers
especially when it is taken at 2.5 Mig
per day however I still cannot help but
think that even as we've been basking in
the dastor master rac's Glory we
forgotten our humble Origins as hair
loss witchers you see back in the 1980s
before the era of the finasteride
peasantry and the dutasteride master
race the only real weapon we had to
fight the slaped curse was minoxidil and
it wasn't even 5% monoxido it was just
2% topical monoxido which was expensive
and can only be obtained via
prescription since booil didn't become
an over-the-counter drug in the United
States until
1996 these days almost nobody talks
about minoxidil anymore it did see a
rise in hype a couple of years ago when
dermatologists started prescribing lowd
dose oral minoxidil off label but that
hype died down a bit once it was
revealed that oral monoxy is not more
effective than topical monoxy this was
demonstrated in a randomized controlled
study of 90 men that was published just
this year the study showed that contrary
to what many people believe including
myself at one point that oral monoidal
at 5 Mig per day was not Superior to 5%
top of monoidal that is applied twice a
day for treating androgenic alopecia so
it is possible that higher doses of Ral
mon oxidal would be more efficacious
however no doctors want to prescribe
oral monox at higher doses due to its
dangerous cardiovascular side effects
which unfortunately can even happen at
low doses of course that's a different
subject altogether and I've done a whole
series of videos on the risk of low dose
or oxidal and I'll go ahead and Link
that playlist below but now with
dutasteride having exploded in
popularity the discussion amongst hair
loss witchers is about either switching
from finasteride to dutasteride or using
higher doses of dutasteride to suppress
more DHT this is of course completely
fine but I think many more people who
are unsatisfied with the results or are
feeling a bit of hair greed should
consider adding topical binox into their
routine before upgrading their 5 a
inhibitor I say this because I see a lot
of people write me comments where they
say things like Hey Kevin I'm getting
good results from finasteride or
dutasteride but I want even more than
that should I switch from finasteride to
dutasteride or increase my dosage of
dutasteride and I'm all like well if you
want more why don't you add topical
minoxidil so I'm sure some people will
try to counter this by saying but given
minoxidil doesn't even suppress DHD so
using it is like applying a Band-Aid to
the problem bro minoxidil isn't worth it
because it's only a short-term solution
didn't you know that Kevin indeed many
people have this impression that
minoxidil will only work for a couple of
years before it Peaks and we then get no
further benefit from using the drug
there are also a lot of people who are
scared to use V oxal because they think
that their hair follicles will become
addicted to it and they'll have to keep
on using it indefinitely this has always
been completely ridiculous to me because
if you have androgenic alopecia your
hair follicles are going to be addicted
to drugs no matter what you do and I say
that because any treatment that works
for anic Alopecia has to be used in
definitely whether it is finasterid
dutasteride or minoxidil and that's
because an galapia is a chronic
condition that is linked to our genes
your hair follicles don't become
addicted to B oxidal anymore than they
become addicted to finasteride or
dutasteride if you stop any these drugs
while you're on treatment after you've
been on them for a while you will
definitely lose ground on the other hand
if you start with Minoxidil alone and
then you switch to finasteride or
dutasteride you will actually likely
gain ground since five A inhibiting
drugs like finasteride and dutasteride
are more potent treatments than Min
oxidal that's because they treat the
underlying cause of hair loss
specifically DHT however there there are
some subtle differences in what happens
when you stop minoxidil versus what
happens if you stop finasteride that's
because five air blockers like
finasteride and dutasteride essentially
pause the balding process since they
lower the levels of the trash hormone
DHT in the hair follicles which is of
course what is causing baldness to begin
with Minoxidil on the other hand is just
a non-specific growth stimulant that
does not halt the balding process to
demonstrate this let's take a look at
this figure here the graph shows the
changes in hair counts over time with
vaster alone versus a placebo first just
look at the first 12 months in the graph
the open and closed triangles both
represent men taking oral finasteride at
1 mgam per day the open and closed
circles represent men taking a placebo
treatment you can see that the men
taking the finasteride hair counts
increase in the first 12 months while in
men taking Placebo there is a gradual
reduction in hair counts that is
consistent with the Natural Evolution of
andreen galapia when it is untreated it
of course only gets worse now let's go
ahead and take a look at months 12 to 24
on the graph and pay close attention to
the open triangles there are men who
stopped taking finasterid at month 12
compare that curve to the curve with the
closed circles this is the placebo group
that continue to lose hair over time the
men who stopped the asteroide which is
the open triangle curve clearly lost
their gains but they still ended up
better than the men who had taken a
placebo from the start which is the
closed circle group I interpret that in
this way finasteride put the balding
process on hold if you stop finasteride
you lose your gains but you don't lose
as much as you would if you had never
taken finasteride in the first place
that's because finasterid treats the
underlying cause of androgenic alpia
which of course is the trash hormone DHT
with topical minoxidil however the
results are a bit different let's take a
look at this graph here this graph looks
at hair weight which is a surrogate for
hair growth the Open Circles are 2%
topical oxidal and the closed circles
are 5% topal oxidal the open and closed
squares are a placebo group and an
untreated group as you can see just like
with finasteride topical minoxidil
improves hair growth versus the control
groups and five % minoxidil is superior
to 2% minoxidil however over time the
Improvement in hair growth diminishes
and the decrease in the curve parallels
the curve that shows the worsening of
hair growth in the control groups that's
because minoxidil is a hair growth
stimulant but it doesn't treat the
underlying cause of andic alpia which
again is DHT so the Improvement
diminishes over time at the 96th month
minoxidil was stopped completely you can
see that over the next 24 months the
results become identical to what would
have happened if you had never taken
minoxidil at all once again that's
because minoxidil adds hairs but it
doesn't actually stop the underlying
process of andic alpia which is caused
by DHT so by combining finasteride with
topical B oxidal you get the optimal
cosmetic result you stop the underlying
progression of andr alpia with
finasteride and you add further hair
growth with bin oxidal than you would
see with finasteride alone that way you
won't have the diminishing effects that
eventually happen when you use Minoxidil
by itself and minoxidil will therefore
be effective forever and we know there
is good scientific evidence that the
combination of oral finasterid with top
oxal gives much better results than
using either drug alone this meta
analysis published in 2020 looked at the
results of combination therapy versus
monotherapy with finasteride or monoxil
it concluded that combined therapy with
both drugs gave the best therapeutic
efficacy compared with either drug when
used by itself while at the same time
the incidence of side effects was no
higher with combined therapy versus
either drug alone so that's great news
Jims but of course to make maintain this
optimal therapy it is necessary to
continue it indefinitely fortunately
topical minoxidil unlike oral monoxy is
very safe and very well tolerated in
most people and it is inexpensive as
well since cheap generics are sold
everywhere so for most people stopping
it is rarely necessary also it isn't as
inconvenient to use as many people think
the recommendation is to use it twice
per day and you can do that if you want
to but the data that is based on is
slightly out of date the truth is you
only need to use Minoxidil once per day
and I made a explaining the science
behind that which I'll link below what I
do personally is that I'll take
minoxidil once per day and I'll apply it
at night you know maybe just a couple
hours before going to bed and then when
I wake up in the morning I'll go ahead
and shower it off that way I get the
full benefits of minoxidil without
having to worry about it giving me that
greasy look throughout the day and you
know I always find it funny when people
complain about how inconvenient Min
oxidal is it's so freaking easy it only
takes a few minutes to apply and any
slight inconvenience it causes me is
well worth the benefits it gives to my
hair if you're not willing to suffer
such a tiny inconvenience for the sake
of your hair and add to your daily
routine something that takes about the
same amount of time as brushing your
teeth well then maybe saving your hair
really isn't all that important to you
after all now of course the subject of
minoxidil is not new here at Hair Cafe
not in the slightest I've done many
videos on minoxidil including videos on
its efficacy on using different
preparations and concentrations of it on
combining it with tretinoin and on its
safety as well including whether
minoxidil can kill your cat I've
debunked the whole minoxidil skin aging
myth that gets brought up all the time
whenever I make a minox video and all
those videos can be found on my monoidal
playlist so be sure to check that out if
you are interested but since this is a
video about why minoxidil stops hair
loss forever let's go ahead and take a
look at the scientific research on the
long-term efficacy of topical monoxy
when I'm talking about long-term
efficacy I mean studies that have lasted
over a year we have fiveyear follow-up
studies on finasteride and dutasteride
and we even have 10year follow-up
studies on finasteride minoxidil is the
oldest of the hair loss drugs so what
kind of long-term follow-up data do we
have on minoxidil well we just looked at
a randomized control study that gave
minoxidil for 96 weeks which is almost 2
years if we look again at the graph we
already showed it proves that both 5%
and 2% Min oxidal maintain a constant
advantage over the control groups during
the 96 weeks of the study the study
concluded that although the benefits of
minoxidil alone decrease over time 2%
minoxidil maintained a consistent
benefit of a 25% increase in hair growth
over the untreated group and 5% m
maintained a 35% benefit in hair growth
during the 96 weeks of the study however
we do have a study of topical monoxido
that looks at an even longer follow-up
period of 5 years it's this one here the
study started out with 126 men who are
using 2% or 3% topical Min oxidal for at
least one year after this first year 31
of these men continued to be followed
for a total of 5 years after the first
year 3% Min oxidal was used because it
was Superior to 2% Min oxidal in its
results during part of the study the
minoxidil was applied just once per day
in some of the subjects but for the last
couple of years of the study all the
subjects got 3% minoxidil twice per day
so the dosing in the study was more
complicated than it had to be and
unfortunately it is an old study from
1990 so 5% topical binox wasn't even
used because it didn't exist yet however
the results were consistent with the
other study I just presented that lasted
for 96 weeks as this graph shows the
monoxido effect on hair counts peaked
within the first year and then gradually
diminished over time
however the results still remained much
better than the before monoidal results
even after 5 years the authors concluded
quote we found that hair regrowth with
topical B oxidal tends to Plateau at
about 12 months of treatment with a
slight decline in this new growth by 2
and a half to 2 and 34s years with
followup now to 4 and a half to 5 years
we have found that continued use of
topal B oxidal is associated with a slow
decline in the 12-month hair counts but
continued maintenance of non velous hair
regrowth well beyond that of Baseline
line unquote that's consistent with the
process of andreic alopecia gradually
continuing over the years unfortunately
this study did not have a control group
but the results do suggest that
minoxidil alone continues to provide a
significant benefit over at least 5
years so minoxidil has longlasting
benefits there's no doubt about that and
we've seen that it augments the effects
of fin asteroid on hair growth too so
any limitation with man oxidal long-term
efficacy is easily corrected so long as
V oxidal is used with finasteride so so
so long as a five air inhibitor is being
used minoxidil will never stop working
and it will never stop promoting hair
growth now you might be asking whether
adding minoxidil to dutasteride will
also enhance dutasteride effects like it
does with menide well surprisingly there
is very little scientific data on using
topical minoxidil along with dutasteride
and I think that's mostly because
dutasteride and finasteride are already
very similar drugs so if minoxidil
enhances the effects of finasteride
which it clearly does then there's no
reason it wouldn't do the same thing
with dutasteride if anything monoxido is
likely even more efficacious when used
with dutasteride since there will be
even less scalp DHT to contend with so
if you're feeling hair greed and you
think greed is good then there is no
reason members of the dutasteride master
race who take 0.5 milligrams of
dutasteride per day shouldn't enhance
their already superb results with
topical minoxidil and that includes the
members of the dutasteride exalted race
who are taking the most effective hair
loss treatment ever created 2.5 Mig of
dutasteride per day or if you are
satisfied with your status as a
finasteride peasant but still want more
hair without having to actually join the
dutasteride master race the minoxidil is
the obvious choice topical minoxidil and
oral finasteride is considered the gold
standard in the hair loss Community for
a very good reason and that is because
it works extremely well and all the
scientific evidence shows this finally
even though I've gone over this a
million times already I know that I have
to address this because this comes up
pretty much every time I make a video
about minoxidil the reason why minoxidil
works is not because it increases blood
flow to the scalp the exact way Min oxal
works is still unknown but we know it
works differently from finasteride which
is why the two drugs have a synergistic
benefit when they're used together the
most likely mechanism probably has to do
with Minoxidil opening up a specific
potassium channel in the hair follicles
that stimulates hair growth if the
mechanism of hair growth with Minoxidil
were blue flow though then other drugs
that increase blue flow like calcium
channel blockers alpha blockers or ACE
inhibitors would also cause hair growth
but none of them do and if some of them
even can cause hair loss as a side
effect but to summarize all of this 5%
topical minoxidil is the best hair
growth stimulant that currently exist if
you use it by itself as a monotherapy
for anic Alopecia you will get an
improvement in hair growth that will
Peak after about a year of continued use
if you continue to use it alone you will
gradually lose ground because the
underlying process of anren gpia is
still going on and man oxidal can't stop
that if you stop minoxidil completely
you will eventually get back to a point
where your hair would have been if you
had never started it to begin with so
that doesn't mean minox monotherapy is
useless on the contrary it can actually
be a very good choice for teenagers
under the age of 18 who are balding but
their doctors are not willing to write
them a prescription just yet because of
their age by using minoxidil that will
buy your hair enough time until your
doctor will write you a prescription
however the best hair loss stack is a
combination of either finasteride or
dutasteride with topical minoxidil that
will allow you to maximize and maintain
your gains indefinitely so yes Min
oxidal does work forever but only if
you're using it with a 5 a inhibiting
drug which let's face it every hair loss
sufferer should be using anyways so
there are other hair growth stimulants
in the pipeline many of which I've made
videos on but for now if you want the
best hair growth stimulant that is
currently available then go ahead and
add 5% topical minoxidil to your daily
routine you only have to use it once per
day and it will be a highly effective
adjunctive therapy to whatever 5 a
inhibiting drug you're currently using
so regardless of whether you're a
finasteride peasant or part of the dutas
Master race minox will definitely give
you significantly better results than
using a 5 AR inhibitor alone many people
are satisfied with the results from
using just a 5 a inhibitor by itself and
that is perfectly fine finasteride can
definitely be an effective monotherapy
for most people but if you want more
than that then minoxidil should
definitely be your next decision all
right thank you all for watching ha loss
witchers I'll see you all next time God
bless
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