At Home Hair Treatments – Medicines & Supplements

Nutrafol for Men & Women

Nutrafol combines gender-specific and hormonally-accurate, scientifically-proven ingredients to help hair grow back fuller, thicker, more densely, shinier, softer, stronger, and longer. This product contains a naturally-derived plant-based supplement mix that includes 20 different ingredients including forms of vitamin E, saw palmetto, curcumin, ashwagandha, and hydrolyzed marine collagen. The men’s formula has recently added Saw Palmetto for DHT support, and that’s exactly the sort of nuance and specificity that makes this product so effective.

In clinical trials, of the women using Nutrafol Women’s Formula for 6 months, 80% saw better hair growth overall and thicker hair growth¹

Research continues to show us that healthy hair growth requires a delicate balance of several systems, including nutrition, genetics, hormones (including stress-related cortisol), low inflammation, gentle styling, proper hair care, and scalp health. Nutrafol addresses all of the factors a supplement can in order to cover as many bases as possible, and that’s what we believe makes it so effective, especially compared to the average hair growth supplement which is usually targeting one or maybe two of these.

There is a separate women’s balance for menopausal women, but our office tends to prescribe the men’s version in this case, because it is stronger.

Nutrafol is the only supplement we’ve ever seen do studies on efficacy in menopausal women and men and women of different ethnicities (inlcuding African American, Asian, Hispanic Caucasian, and Non-Hispanic Caucasian participants), two groups that are often under-represented in studies in general. In both cases, the results were outstanding.

For the study involving all ethnicities, the results showed:

• 84% of pre-menopausal women of all ethnicities saw stronger hair with less breakage and thicker hair²
• 81% of men of all ethnicities saw more scalp coverage²

For menopausal and post-menopausal women, the study results showed:

• 80% of menopausal women saw less shedding after 3 months of use³
• 76% of menopausal women saw thicker hair after 6 months of use³
• 100% of menopausal women saw a visible improvement in hair growth after 9 months of use³

Viviscal Pro for Men & Women

The key ingredients of Viviscal Extra-Strength formulation are AminoMar C™ marine complex, Equisetum arvense sp. (horsetail), containing a naturally occurring form of silica), Malpighia glabra (acerola cherry) which contains Vitamin C, Biotin and Zinc (men’s only), three vitamins we know can be lacking in the diet and contribute to lackluster, thin, and unhealthy hair.

Viviscal is significantly less expensive than Nutrafol, but covers fewer of the potential underlying causes and it not fully natural or plant-derived. Our physicians will help guide you between the two to choose the best choice for your needs.

Viviscal Pro has two distinct formulations, one for men and one for women. We do tend to recommend the male version for women who are beyond menopause.

Ketoconazole (Nizoral) Shampoo

Ketoconazole, (Nizoral) shampoo is available over-the-counter at most supermarkets and big box stores. Just be sure to check the strength as some formulations are weaker than others. It is not yet FDA-approved to treat hair loss because it was originally developed to treat fungus and yeast infections, and now that the drug has become available widely (and cheaply), there is little money to be made from a new FDA clearance (something that is very expensive to obtain). But new studies do suggest that Ketoconazole both effectively treats the Pityriasis (also called Malassezia) fungus that commonly inhabits the scalp and reduces the androgen hormones that are responsible for hair loss in men (no studies have been done on women thus far)¹⁰.

One study in 1998 compared ketoconazole shampoo 2% to the proven hair loss drug minoxidil in men with androgenic alopecia and concluded that hair density, size, and proportion of anagen follicles were improved almost similarly by both ketoconazole and 2% minoxidil regimens¹⁰.

Minoxidil (Rogaine) – Specialty Formulation 82M

Available over-the-counter, minoxidil foam and shampoo is often greasy and unpleasant to use – which is why we have a specialty pharmacy compound M82 for our patients.

Minoxidil slows or stops hair loss, and for some patients it may help create the right environment in the scalp for hair to start re-growing itself. This process is slow compared to other options, taking at least 6 months to start seeing any results, and longer for the full results it may provide for you.

Minoxidil is the only drug to have received FDA approval (proven safe and effective treatment) for both male pattern balding (androgenic alopecia) and female pattern hair loss.

Possible side effects of Rogaine, or Minoxidil, include scalp irritation (which is generally reduced or eliminated by using the 82M formulation) and unwanted hair growth on the adjacent skin of the face and hands, which can be greatly reduced by carefully washing hands and any areas of accidental spread during application.

Finasteride (Brand Names: Propecia, Proscar)

Finasteride, or Propecia, is one of only three treatments approved by the FDA (reviewed and found to be safe and effective) for treatment of male pattern balding (androgenic alopecia). This prescription pill medication is used by men and some women who are beyond menopause. This treatment works best for men under 60.

This medication works by blocking a potent form of testosterone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by about 70%, which attack hair follicles and cause hair loss in men. One study showed you could expect about to stop loss and expect a 30% improvement in regrowth with continuous Finasterid use⁹, which is less effective than Dutasteride^5,6,7,8.

In one study, finasteride stopped hair loss in 83% of men with male pattern baldness who took it for two years⁴.

Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets due to risk of birth defects in male babies.

Oral Dutasteride (Brand Name: Avodart)

Dutasteride has been found in several studies to induce hair regrowth in men more rapidly and to a greater extent than even the highest approved dosage of finasteride^5,6,7,8, due to its ability to more completely shut down the DHT production in the scalp.

This drug has also been used to help shut down hirsutism (excessive hair growth in the face and body) caused by hyperandrogenism due to persistent adrenarche syndrome in women. And it is sometimes used off-label to treat women with hair loss, but this needs to be managed by a physician who understands the nuances and hormones at play in that individual.

Women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets due to risk of birth defects in male babies.