Embarrassment, depression, and pessimism seem to rule the mindset of most hair loss sufferers.  This editorial written by the founder of HairlossTalk.com addresses some of these emotions, and gives a look at why you should be hopeful. Gain a new perspective on hair loss.

Its a big deal to you, and that’s Okay

“Screw em!” … one of my balding friends says to me.

“Its a big deal to me, and it would be a big deal to them too. Who cares what they think.”

It saddens me every day I read new posts on my forums. People so upset.  So depressed.

As crazy as it sounds, hair loss actually is a condition that can send people into such a torrent of despair that you’d think it was a life threatening disease. No doubt you’ve heard people make fun of it for that exact reason.

What’s your Diagnosis. Hair Loss?

“Relax! It’s not like you’re DYING”.  What’s your diagnosis?  Hair loss?   Go home.  You’re fine.

You just want to tell them to shut up and stick their head in a toilet, don’t you? I know the feeling.  They don’t get it.  Then for about 3 seconds you feel embarrassed.

“Wait a second… why am I whining like a baby? I could be dying of Leukemia”.

That lasts about 3 seconds, and then you’re depressed again.  Amazing how that works.  Well there’s a reason why it makes you feel like you’ve got no stamina for life, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of it.

Hair Loss is Not a Death Sentence, But…

You don’t have to be dying to be strongly affected by something.  Look at it from another point of view.  Tragedy can come in many forms, and everything is relative.  To a little kid who wants a cookie, not having a cookie can bring him emotional pain that is equivalent to a thousand spankings.

Why? Because in his simple life, that’s a major thing. We don’t fault him for it either do we?

In an otherwise healthy person’s life who has everything going for them, hair loss can be an extremely detrimental, unwelcome, and unexpected sudden roadblock.

Chicks Dig Balding Guys?

To someone who does not have cancer, is finding someone special really that strange of a priority?  And being keenly aware that they’ve got to look good to accomplish that?

Some users on HairLossTalk are still in high school.  Others are still in college, competing for acceptance among peers, or fresh out of college and trying to land their first jobs.  Or maybe they’re 25 … or even 35 and have to compete in their profession to make a living and put food on the table.

For an otherwise healthy person who truly believes their chances at happiness are at risk because of a “deformity” like baldness … cancer may seem like an equivalent.  Put another way:  everything is relative to what else is going on in your life.

If cancer comes your way, you will deal with it, and your priorities will change accordingly. But right now?  The fear of being alone forever, or losing your self esteem, confidence, and possibly the edge in your career can be a devastatingly scary possibility.

For that person, the thought of going bald may be the biggest challenge they know, and they have absolutely no reason to be ashamed about looking at it that way.

Wanting to Look your Best:  Vanity?

Some may tell you that you’re being vain.  Or that your focus on your hair is a sign of weakness.  But you’re no more vain or weak than they are for buying the latest trends in clothing.

You’re no more “weak” than someone who hits the gym 14 times a week because they want to get “swoll”.  Everybody tries to look their best.  And hair loss in both men and women is a serious style issue.  And it should be treated that way.

Losing your hair has some other very deep effects on people though.  Over time, the loss of hair can age your appearance significantly faster than normal.  But even in the first week of thinning hair, your own view of yourself can be “aged” by decades.

How I viewed myself at age 25 when I started losing hair.

I remember being utterly terrified to fill my Propecia prescription at the pharmacy.  Embarrassed to even talk to the pharmacist.  What a humiliating and depressing experience.

In my mind I associated hair loss with aging.  I’d barely finished being a kid and here I was next to the the 80 year old picking up his prostate medication.  And we were taking the same damn drug.  Finasteride:  used for both hair loss and an enlarged prostate!

Doing something about it is considered embarrassing. But that perspective is wrong!  People want to look their best. You don’t owe anyone any explanations. You don’t have any reason to feel stupid.

In fact, statistics state that nearly 65% of them will deal with the exact same problem before they hit age 55 anyway.  They’re going to remember you, and probably feel bad for giving you a hard time.

Hair loss is one of those things you just “don’t get” until you experience it.  So lets try to change your perspective a little bit.  Because there are some good reasons to be optimistic in the face of this nightmare.

Lucky to be Losing Hair

Anyone ever tell you that you’re lucky?

I bet you never thought of yourself as lucky. Well you are. You’re doing something about your hair loss.

Look at the majority of other people out there. What are they doing about their hair loss? Most likely nothing. They’ve bought into the stereotype that nothing really works, so why bother.

Either that or the snake oil companies out there (99% of the ads you see) have got them so disillusioned that they figure why bother. Don’t you wish you could just go throw rotten tomatoes at them? Join the club. They do so much damage.

Take Charge of Your Situation

So consider yourself lucky. You actually have resources available to you that have been built with a heart to help, and by people who care about solid science that want to point you to treatments that will actually give you a fighting chance.

This is a good thing.

I see many people comment that God is punishing them. Well again, look at it another way. You’re dealing with something that sucks.  And Someone, somewhere out there, has guided you to this page, right here, and right now.

As a result you’re one of the few people on this planet who actually found these resources and will likely be one of the few people on this planet who will keep their hair because of it.  Sounds more like God is helping you find a way through this.

Most guys don’t believe anything works, and wont ever try the treatments. Instead they’ll end up suffering the sadness of losing their youthful appearance, and possibly all their hair.

You wont. You’ve got one up on them. Consider yourself lucky that you’re starting this soon, and because of it, many of you younger guys will have all your hair for another 10 years minimum.

Having run this site now for 18 years I know quite a few people who would be bald, but have maintained their full head of hair for nearly 20 years on a proven hair loss treatment regimen.

You’re not unlucky at all.  You’re here.  Right now.

The Life-Long Hair Treatment Regimen Issue

“This sucks. If I start Finasteride or Minoxidil I’m going to have to take it for the REST OF MY LIFE!”.

It’s funny how the brain works, isn’t it? When you’re facing something that seems like its going to strip the very youth from under your feet, right in the prime of your life, all you can do is think negatively!

One of the most commonly encountered “depressing thoughts” is the realization that you’re going to have to use a hair loss treatment for the rest of your life.

“Its a life Sentence!!!” … We’ve all thought it.

Look at it another way. Its really not so bad. Every day for the rest of your life you will brush your teeth to avoid tooth decay and keep your teeth from falling out.

Treating Hair Loss is Just One More Thing

Every day for the rest of your life you will take a shower to avoid skin conditions, diseases, and infections that could ultimately kill you.

If you look at those things in the negative light, you could say “I’m a slave to toothpaste for the rest of my life!” … but you don’t. Its just brushing your teeth.

A shower could be viewed as “Having to stand for 30 minutes under hot water and rub junk all over your body EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!”. Sounds almost comical to think that way doesn’t it.

But that’s exactly what we do when we think of hair loss treatments. You guys who have found that Propecia does the job all by itself?  You’re just popping a pill, just like a multivitamin, to help keep your hair healthy and keep it from falling out. No different than brushing your teeth.

You ladies who are using Rogaine to try and kick start some growth?  You’re doing a little something more each day. You’re actually going to look better because of it.

Everyone’s got their thing. As we age, we have to do new things that will help maintain our health. No doubt grandma and grandpa have at least 3 prescription meds they have to take every day just to keep from getting sick. Everyone on the planet has to do something.

You’ve just got your things, and one of them happens to be preventing hair loss. It’s not so bad.

Right Here.  Right Now.

So you thought I was going to tell you that losing your hair is awesome for some reason you’d never considered before.  You’re not dumb. So I won’t attempt to patronize you.

What I will say is this:  you are among the first men and women in the history of the human race who have a fighting chance at never going bald, when you otherwise would have.

Let the significance of that sink in.

They say when someone hands you lemons, make lemonade with it.  This is a perfect analogy.  Nothing is enjoyable about a lemon.  But you can be thankful that you’re alive in 2017, and able to take advantage of all the options out there, to keep the hair currently on your head.

At Least You Weren’t Born in 1936.

It isn’t the ideal situation.  And I’m certain you’d trade it for that douchebag with a full head of hair any day.  But at least you’re not the guy in 1840 who could do literally nothing about it.

There are projects currently in the research pipeline that are promising, and potential revolutionary cures on the horizon slated for 2020 or 2021.

We’ve got your back, have been at this since 1999, and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

You’re on a website that was made by a guy who has one concern, and one concern only:  giving you the best chances of success possible, based on science, and data.

The One thing you Can Control:  Your Body

So get buff.

I recently got into a conversation with the guys on the forums here on HairLossTalk.  They were discussing how much it sucks to be losing hair.   The conversation is always centered around:  “Should I treat it?  Or should I shave it and go on with my life?”

The response is typically the same:  “None of us are here because we’re so good looking that we can just shave our heads and go on with life.”

So here’s the thing.  Think of all the dudes you know (or have seen) who are huge.  Muscled, buff, beasts.  Next time you see one, pay attention to their face and head.   The craziest thing is that most of them are NOT attractive guys at all.  And many are straight up cue-balls.

But you will see them with some of the hottest girls in the gym, without fail.  There is a lesson to be learned here:  Even if you ARE on treatments, and you DO have a shot at keeping your hair or even regrowing it – you can’t control what happens.  But you have total control over how your body looks.

And you’d have to be one seriously ugly sonofabitch to be built like this dude (below) and not pulling tail left and right.  Even with the worst hair on earth.

Distract Her by Getting Swoll

People – and women specifically – are more interested in the whole package.  You may not be able to control what happens to your hair, but the only thing stopping you from looking like this dude, is time and effort.

How has Baldness Affected you?

Listen, I’m not going to blow hot air up your skirt.  This situation sucks.  More than most situations have ever sucked.  But there are things you can do.

I’m interested in your thoughts and comments.  So please post them below in the comment box.  You don’t have to register to participate, so just let your opinions flow.  What’s it been like losing hair?

What have you done about it?  Have you thought about hitting the gym and just focusing obsessively on getting “huge” ?

Any advice you’d give to people reading this tonight who are just feeling defeated and hopeless?

The post Losing Your Hair? Its Really Not So Bad… appeared first on HairLossTalk.

Here’s everything I could find on the science behind Spironolactone.  I’d done vast amounts of research on the compound itself and the specific topical formulation before purchasing S5 Cream for personal use.

Inhibition of CYP17A1 Enzyme

Topical Spironolactone inhibits DHT activity in the scalp via the same two mechanisms as Ketoconazole albeit with much greater potency: androgen receptor antagonism and inhibition of the CYP17A1 enzyme.

It also has three additional pharmacological mechanisms:

1. Progesterone Receptor Agonism (which results in anti-gonadotropin effects)
2. Indirect Estrogenic effects (which increase the level of sex hormone binding globulin) SHBG binds to Testosterone and hence lowers free Testosterone levels, therefore lowering the amount of free Testosterone converted to DHT.
3. Weak 5α-reductase inhibition.

These last two lesser-known mechanisms of Spironolactone are supported via these studies and links:

• A prospective randomized trial comparing finasteride to spironolactone in the treatment of hirsute women
• The effect of Spironolactone on genital skin 5 alpha-reductase activity
• Hormonal treatment of acne in women
• PMID: 7829618, PMID: 4033118, PMCID: PMC2923944

Lowers T and therefore DHT

Additionally these resources:

http://www.dermnetnz.org/treatments/antiandrogens.html

http://www.jcadonline.com/2012/03/o…ased-on-current-data-and-clinical-experience/

http://www.jcadonline.com/2009/12/hormonal-treatment-of-acne-in-women/

This makes Spironolactone the only medication indicated for Androgenic Alopecia that has a pharmacological profile that includes three Antiandrogenic mechanisms:

1. Androgen Receptor Antagonism
2. Androgen Synthesis Inhibition via Enzyme Inhibition
3. Gonadotropin Suppression

Spironolactone has been used by people with acne for a long time, for the same reason it’s beneficial for hair loss.  One of the primary causes of acne is skin-level Androgens.  Local inhibition of androgen activity is exactly what Topical Spironolactone does.

Is there Data supporting Topical Spironolactone?

Oral and Topical Spironolactone Therapies in Skin Androgenization

“The most important clinical studies using Spironolactone as an Antiandrogen drug either by oral supplementation or topically, are referred.  As far as the topical use is concerned Spironolactone seems to be highly effective with absence of systemic effects. Local mild side effects were present in a small number of patients.”

From Wikipedia:

“Spironolactone is an antagonist of the Androgen Receptor (AR) as well as an inhibitor of Androgen production. Due to the Antiandrogenic effects that result from these actions, it is frequently used off-label to treat a variety of dermatological conditions in which Androgens, such as Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), play a role. Some of these uses include Androgenic Alopecia in men (either at low doses or as a topical formulation) and women, and hirsutism, acne, and seborrhea in women. Spironolactone is the most commonly used drug in the treatment of hirsutism in the United States.”

A lot of people theorize that a topical Finasteride would be able to act locally without systemic side effects.  This is the same thinking backing Spironolactone as a topical.  We know its highly effective orally.  It’s really as simple as that.

Finasteride

Process of Elimination:  Focus on the Data

Spironolactone has been specifically prescribed by doctors for women with androgenetic alopecia (the same type of alopecia men get).  Men could take it orally but its too powerful and would cause significant side effects.  So topical is used instead.

The owner of HairLossTalk has personally used it for 10+ years and had no side effects.

There are a lot of snake oils out there.

And as such, there aren’t a lot of truly viable antiandrogen treatments.  There are also a lot of experimental topical (and oral) treatments that people use on the various Discussion Forums which the “established medical community” hasn’t formulated into a proper hair loss treatment.

Some Legit Treatments Aren’t FDA-approved

Unfortunately FDA approval costs literally billions, and very few can afford it.  So the intelligent approach is to identify the most potent, and clinically-backed options out there, based on the available studies.

If you follow this method, you can’t go wrong, and will optimize your chances of success.  From that perspective, Topical Spironolactone is a rock star among the myriad of questionable treatments out there.

Azelaic Acid, RU58841, Topical Finasteride, Dutasteride, Copper Peptides, Herbal Solutions that have solid science backing them, Dermarolling, and more recently, JAK3 inhibitors (a topical version of an established autoimmune drug) are being entertained for AGA.

References for Topical and Oral Spironolactone Science

References for effectiveness of Topical and Oral Spironolactone:

• Topical spironolactone inhibits dihydrotestosterone receptors in human sebaceous glands: an autoradiographic study in subjects with acne vulgaris
• Innovative use of spironolactone as an antiandrogen in the treatment of female pattern hair loss
• Treatment of female pattern hair loss with a combination of spironolactone and minoxidil
• PMID: 2972662, PMID: 20510769, PMID: 17222303,

Reference [22] on stated link: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/805516_3

There was also a post I saw on another forum by Bryan Shelton. He apparently had a hard copy of an old study done on Topical Spironolactone for Androgenetic Alopecia:

“Topical Spironolactone in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia”, R. Bianchini, G. Buzzetti, L. Colombo, Rivista Italiana di Biologia e Medicina, Vol. 6(2) (pp 129-131), 1986. 52 patients completed a year-long study in which they were treated twice daily with a 3% topical spironolactone solution in a vehicle of ethanol, water, and glycerin.

“52 patients completed a year-long study in which they were treated twice daily with a 3% topical spironolactone solution in a vehicle of ethanol, water, and glycerin. They say: “We evaluated hair density at the site treated, according to a conventional rating scale (0 = hair almost absent; 1 = hair very scanty; 2 = hair rather thin; 3 = hair moderately thin), on the basis of clinical assessment and standardized photography. These observations were carried out before, and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. The data obtained were analyzed by the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests”.

From a starting score of exactly 1.00, after 6 months it was 1.212 (they claim a probability p<0.01 for this result) and after 12 months it was 1.75 (p< 0.001). That’s about it. No hair-counts, trichograms, or hair-shaft diameters; just a somewhat subjective rating of these 52 subjects. However, they do provide before-and-after photographs of a couple of them, and there *is* some interesting hair-growth that you can plainly see; it’s similar to those Propecia pictures of good responders that we’ve all seen on Web sites.

Here are the last few comments in the study: “With S therapy, several of our patients noted regrowth of hair and its long-term administration did not produce side effects or any decrease in blood pressure. To our knowledge, use of topical S in the treatment of AA has never been reported before. In conclusion, we believe that S acts directly as an antagonist of dihydrotestosterone on target tissue. Furthermore, the present study shows the possibility of using a testosterone inhibitory drug without systemic antiandrogenic side effects”.”

Spironolactone Showed Hair Growth in Studies

FAQs about S5 Cream:

S5 Cream has been fully tested by an independent lab and results have been made available here.  Besides, you can tell if the stuff is legitimate simply by its notorious odor.

Being a drug thats molecular structure contains a sulphur atom; it has a mercaptan-like odour, often described by many as a very subtle (and tolerable) egg smell.

I personally can confirm that S5 Cream has this specific odor, although you can tell it’s been masked with limonene, resulting in a bit of a combination smell.

It should be worth mentioning that while DHT is the pinnacle cause of androgenic alopecia, it is currently unknown whether other androgens have a pathological role. What we do know as of now is even those who are taking finasteride or even the potent dutasteride, some still inexplicably continue to lose hair.

When a male with androgenic alopecia is castrated, and said hair loss ceases to continue, this serves to suggest that other harmful androgens possibly have a lesser pathological role.

With this in mind, androgen receptor antagonists such as ketoconazole and Spironolactone offer peace of mind due to the fact that in addition to preventing DHT from binding to the androgen receptor, they also will prevent any other potentially harmful androgens from doing so as well.

Share Your Thoughts Below

What’s your Take?

What’s your take on the data backing Topical Spironolactone?  What frustrations have you experienced in general, trying to find a treatment that has science backing it?

Share your thoughts below in the comments area.   You don’t need an account, and your personal information won’t be shared with any third parties.

The post The Science Behind Topical Spironolactone S5 Cream appeared first on HairLossTalk.

Hair loss conferences are the place where the most important information coming out of research, is often presented.

It’s where the major companies and teams working on the newest treatments and advances in the industry get together and share their progress over the past year.

Likewise, there is no better place to sit down and talk with the researchers themselves, and get an in-person interview.

Last year one of our users “Hellouser” attended the World Hair Congress conference which was held in Miami, and did an incredible job of gathering the information presented, and getting interviews with the teams.

Nearly 40 presentations, interviews, and information from the attendees.

10th World Hair Congress

This year we’re going to step it up a notch.  Hellouser is (with your help) going to head to Japan and do it all over again for the 10th World Hair Congress conference.

But this time, we’re going to put all this information together here on HairLossTalk in a usable, understandable form.  Articles, updates, and information directly to your inbox if you are subscribed (or you can browse the site if you prefer).  Videos and abstracts, and much more.

The costs associated with sending a Canadian to Japan are extensive, but we’ve already got over $600 in donations (probably oudated by the time you read this!), so your help is very much needed!  Please consider contributing.

Donate Today!

The current goal is about $5,700 but we’re hoping for even more, so we can send 2 people (probably yours truly) to the conference so we can really do this right.

As we’ve started the fundraising quite early in the year, if we reach the amount needed, any extra will go towards sending that second person to help with the organization and collection of information to be presented here on HairLossTalk.com.

This will allow us to get all presentations.

You can see the current discussion going on related to the GoFundMe:  https://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/threads/official-hellouser-to-kyoto-hair-congress-2017-fund.105184/

GoFundMe Proceeds Breakdown:

I personally worked with Hellouser to try and scope out the costs for the trip.  This is what he came up with:

“Proceeds will be used to cover travel, lodging and attendance fee for the congress itself. In total, it is expected that funds required will need to be roughly $5,000 CAD.

 

“Flights from Canada to Japan (round trip) is expected to cost roughly $1,500 + tax, approximately $1,000 CAD for entrance (2015 WCHR fee’s were $850 USD, so a little over $1,100 CAD) and some kind of hotel for about 6 or so days necessary at $300 CAD and finally $300 for travel between Tokyo and Kyoto (train ride).

 

“Traveling to Japan can be incredibly exhausting with direct flights from Toronto to Tokyo lasting 13 hours alone or up to 34 hours with stop overs on cheaper flights.

 

“Include travel and wait times to the airport, getting to the train station in Tokyo, train ride to Kyoto (bus is not feasible as this would be an overnight ride) and of course getting to the hotel in Kyoto.

He has since stated that he will work to bring the costs down as much as he is able, but I think with 67,000 subscribers we can easily reach this goal, and hopefully surpass it so a 2nd person can go.

You all have my commitment to bring you a boatload of new information if we succeed.

Comments or questions?   Post them in the comments box below.  No registration needed to post.

The post Send Hellouser to 10th World Congress in Japan appeared first on HairLossTalk.

Have you ever wondered if its really possible to regrow your hair with the currently available treatments?  Well here’s some proof that they work when used properly, and consistently.

And this person regrew his hair on Finasteride alone.  Don’t believe it?  We’ve got the pictures to prove it.

Yea.  This Stuff Actually Works.

To be completely honest, the entire reason I started this website back in 1999 is because I ran into a couple guys who had regrown significant amounts of hair using a combination of antiandrogens, androgen blockers, and growth stimulants.

In fact, in writing this article I dug back into my archives and found the first two that motivated me to make this site:

This guy was using the kitchen sink approach.  Finasteride as his foundation, with Revivogen MD and Tricomin as his “adjunct” products.  As with everyone who sees success, he was patient through the sheds, and gave it 24 months.   These were his pictures at about the 18 month mark.

Jon Ross

But it was Jon Ross that really blew me away.  His regimen?  Something that would be come to known as “The Big 3”.  In fact one might credit Jon Ross for teaching me the ingredients to what HairLossTalk would eventually call “The Big 3”:  He used (1) Finasteride 1mg (2) Minoxidil 5% and (3) Nizoral Shampoo.  And he gave it a solid 2 years.

Floored would’ve been an understatement.  He looked 20 years younger.  The very concept that guys who would’ve otherwise gone bald, didn’t have to, seemed revolutionary to me, and sharing that message to the world is why HairLossTalk was created.

Introducing:  Chris

Here’s yet another success story.

The pictures I’m going to show you convey his progression from 2 months on finasteride (left picture) to his results at 12 months.  The great news is that finasteride typically does not top-out results until the 2-year mark, so the gains Chris has seen in his first year are still quite preliminary.  And impressive.

In fact, the majority of the first year on most proven treatments involves a heavy readjustment period that can last months.

There is often a preliminary shed with any legitimate product that tends to begin at the 2 month mark, and can last up to 6 months or more.  When you’re using antiandrogen treatments, an additional readjustment period for hormone levels also comes into play.

Even Treatments that Work, Take Time

Hair cycles last months.  This is why the process of losing hair takes years.

Accordingly, regrowing hair takes a long time, as each new crop of hairs cycles into growth phase, free of the previous androgen affliction.

Most people bail on treatments long before they’ve had a chance to truly work.  I personally did not see a cessation of shedding on Finasteride until the 11 month mark.

Needless to say, I was on the verge of suing Merck for false advertising when a whole new crop of hairs sprouted up.  Chris clearly saw results much more quickly.

Whether your antiandrogen approach includes the powerful S5 Cream, S5 Plus Cream, the more natural Revivogen MD, or the clinically proven Propecia, these treatments must be given a chance to work.  A minimum of 1 year of consistent use.  Optimal results are not seen until the 24 month mark.

The Importance of Taking Pictures

In the left picture you’re about to see, Chris intentionally messy’d it up after a shower.  He wanted to see how his hair would look “naturally” to really expose the thinnest areas.  He intentionally didn’t comb it back because he was taking his baseline photo, and seeing his hair at its worst was the goal.

If you are just starting on a treatment regimen, I can’t stress the importance of taking pictures enough.  The amount of games your mind will play with you over the next 1-3 years will be crazy, and photographs will keep you grounded in reality.

Especially during shedding periods, your mind will convince you that you have lost massive percentages of hair compared to Day 1.  You are going to need a reality check, and pictures can provide that.

It’s recommended that you do exactly what Chris did.

Get your hair as wet as possible, and make it look its absolute worst.  More importantly, make sure you are in the most well-lit area possible.  Outside is better than any other setting.  And have a friend or family member hop on a chair and take as many PERFECTLY focused photos as possible from all angles.

So How Did He Do it?

As you can see, most of Chris’s loss was around the hairline and temple areas. The right picture is after 12 months on finasteride (Propecia) only.  And that’s the most impressive part.

Propecia (along with most antiandrogens like S5 Cream) is used primarily to maintain hair counts, and prevent further loss.  A very small minority of Propecia FDA Trial participants saw significant regrowth.  Most guys need to use growth stimulants in addition to finasteride to get those kinds of results.

12 Months on Finasteride Alone

Chris is only 20 years old.  Some theorize that the younger you are, the better results you’ll see on treatments like Propecia, but that’s an unverified assertion.  He began losing his hair at age 17, which is extremely young.  As Chris mentioned in a recent post:

“I never really noticed the recession until it got pretty bad. The trait did run in my moms side of the family. Hair has been a huge part of my look and identity, so I naturally wanted to save it. When I finally mustered up the courage to see the dermatologist (I was 19), he recommended finasteride and minoxidil. After a lot of hesitation and nervous feelings about fin (side effects), I decided to try it.”

Kitchen Sink or End-To-End?

He managed to regrow quite a bit of what he’d lost.   Most of the regrowth occurred in the temple areas, which is promising news for guys who have the horseshoe recession pattern.

Despite his doctors advice, he decided to take a more conservative approach and use only 1 proven treatment as his foundation.  Finasteride.  This is an approach quite a few guys (especially younger ones) prefer to take.

While the kitchen sink approach is appropriate for people with Chris’s extent of loss, younger guys who are hoping to maintain their hair for decades will often use the “end-to-end” approach.  Starting small, with one treatment, and giving it a solid year before adding anything else.

If, like in Chris’s case you get outstanding results on just 1 product, you’ve just bought yourself as much time as that treatment continues to work, and can wait to add something else.  In fact, you’ve likely bought yourself several years, and get the peace of mind knowing that even if this one stops working, there are still other options out there which you can add later.

In his own words:  “I did not want to use topicals. I just liked the simplicity of taking a pill.”

Timeline for Hair Regrowth

Around 3 months is when he FIRST started seeing results.  This is significantly sooner than most, who often begin their first Propecia shed at the 3 month mark.

At 3 months, Chris was already where it took me 11 months to get to:  he saw little hairs sprouting along his temples and hairline. Needless to say, this is one of the most exciting elements of reversing your balding.  The day you see the sprouts coming in.

This actually does happen, and thanks to the synchronicity of hair cycles, they’re often all the exact same length when you discover them.

Around 5-6 months is when Chris noticed the hairs began coming in thicker, and around 8-9 months, he started seeing larger quantities of hairs “coming back to life”.

By the time 12 months had arrived, he was looking great.  “My whole head of hair honestly just looked much better. There was better density, shine, color, and just texture.”

Shedding on Finasteride Treatment

Chris experienced two shedding periods, which is typical.  For him they were mild, if not almost unnoticeable, but they occurred around the 3-4 month period, and right around 9 months as well.

Despite this, he says he doesn’t think he ever noticed any abnormally large amounts of hair falling out during the course. When his hair would fall out, it was most noticeable in the shower.  On average he’d count about 15-20 hairs, with sometimes periodic increases.

“I think the biggest thing is focusing on the quality of hair that is falling out. I noticed within my first 6 months of treatment, the hair that was falling out was brittle, mangled, lighter and short. The hair falling out now (12 months) is much darker, thicker, and stronger feeling that before. If you are going through a shed, don’t panic…. it just means the drug is going to work!”

Chris is right.  If you’re not familiar with the concept of shedding on effective hair loss treatments, we encourage you to read up on it.

A Little Perspective on Propecia Side Effects

If I had a dollar for every friend these days who “heard” that Propecia would ruin them sexually (or worse), I’d be rich.  Thanks to a lot of opportunistic lawyers, and an extremely vocal minority, Propecia’s reputation has been tarnished.

Even the largest website on the topic of propecia side effects has been around 11 years and hosts only 4,000 members.

Lets look at that a little deeper.

According to Merck sales data between the years 2000 and 2008 alone, they had nearly 1.75 billion in Propecia sales.  That’s just brand name Propecia, over only 8 years, and just in the United States.

It doesn’t include Finasteride users worldwide (which the website mentioned above does), nor does it include sales data since Propecia was released.  The FDA gave the green light to Propecia in 1997, so it has been on the market 20 years.

In 8 years they did 1.75 billion in sales.  Assuming a typical sales price of $60 for a 1 month supply, and assuming each person purchased did at least a 1 year regimen of Propecia (12 months), that means there were nearly 2.4 million Propecia users in that 8 year period.

Over a 16 year period we can assume 4.8 million users, and over a 20 year period – 6 million users.  And that’s just the united states.  Does it then become 16 million or more if we go worldwide?

16m people using Propecia for 20yrs & the largest site dedicated to Propecia side effects has only 4000 members.
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That’s 0.025%

Chris’s experience isn’t surprising:

“The ONLY side effect I have gotten so far is slower beard growth. I know this for a fact because it takes me almost twice as long to grow it out than before on the drug. I have had ZERO issues with my junk and my chest. My body hair has remained the same growth since before. I also workout almost everyday and have been putting on muscle at the same rate as before. Mentally, I haven’t felt any changes as well.”

Why Was Chris Such a Good Responder?

There could be many reasons why this drug worked well for him, but he believes the two most influential factors were his individual genetics, and intervening “early”.   “I didn’t wait long.  I started the drug two years after I really started losing hair and I saved the hair that was still visible but miniaturizing.”

Did he regrow hair from sleek bald areas of his scalp?  He says he’s not totally sure.  He has a feeling those areas probably still contained hairs that hadn’t fully “died”, and he was able to revive them.

A Word of Encouragement

“To anyone going through MPB, just know that there is hope. Despite what some may say, I’m proof that you CAN get good results from Propecia alone.  Just decide on a regimen and stick to it.”

“I honestly believe if I experienced this hair loss later in my life (late 20’s to 30’s) it really would not have had much effect on me psychologically or socially.  But when it happens to you in college, I just feel that kids should get the liberty to at least live out their college days with nice hair. But I know that is far from what actually happens. Try not to look at your everyday and analyze it, as that will only make you more anxious.”

Some examples of clinically-backed antiandrogen alternatives:  Revivogen MD, S5 Plus Cream, S5 Cream, Kourosh DHT

Some examples of clinically backed Growth Stimulants:  Tricomin Spray, Laser Comb, Trichoceutical, Minoxidil, Toppik

If you have any questions for Chris, please post them in the comments area below.

The post Is it Really Possible to Regrow Your Hair? This Guy Did. appeared first on HairLossTalk.

Just a quick note to all current (and future?) S5 Plus Cream users.  Up until this point we’d published that the contents of S5 Plus Cream were as follows:

Spironolactone 5%
Alfatradiol 0.05%
Tempol 3.5%

This is in fact how the solution was created, but after some time, it became apparent that in order to maintain the solution in its glorious, lustrous, absolutely perfect texture (which they worked for weeks trying to perfect), the amount of Tempol needed to be reduced to 0.8% (basically 1%).  In fact, even when 3.5% Tempol is introduced to the solution, it degrades itself to about 0.8% due to the preparation methods.

I confirmed with resident bio-chem expert “Swoop” (aka Swooping) as to whether 1% versus 3.5% would have any significant effect on people’s hair status, and it was an unequivocal and clear “no”.  Not a lot of Tempol is needed to do its job, so all is well.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

We also discussed the protective effects ascorbic acid plays on preventing the degradation of Tempol during heating and preparation, to help stabilize it.  So there’s a possibility if they add Vitamin C to the solution, they’ll end up with a higher Tempol content after heating.

In any case, just wanted to do a little “PSA” to everyone as they continue moving forward to perfect the cream.  So now the percentages for S5 Plus Cream are:

Spironolactone 5%
Alfatradiol 0.05%
Tempol 0.8%  (basically 1%)

Read more About the S5 Cream Products

Not sure what S5 Cream is, or why its so awesome?  Here are some helpful links:

• New Topical Spironolactone Treatments for Hair Loss
• Interview with Dr. Lee on merits of Topical Spironolactone
• S5 Cream Product Reviews
• S5 Plus Cream Product Reviews
• The Science Behind S5 Cream
• How to Apply S5 Cream to a scalp with thinning hair

Ideas or Suggestions?

If you have any requests, ideas, or suggestions for topical compounds that might have benefits for hair loss, please post your comments in the comments area below.  I’ve heard a lot of ideas bandied around like Minoxidil + Spiro, and some others.

Get the conversation going – and I’ll make sure to direct the manufacturer here to see if they can make some of them.

You don’t need to set up an account, and you can probably use a fake email – unless you want to get alerts about replies.

The post S5 Plus Cream – Tempol Content Reduced for Stability appeared first on HairLossTalk.

RepliCel’s RCH-01 is on the forefont of innovation in the pursuit to cure hair loss.  Whether it was James Hong growing replicant eyes within his character’s icy lab in 1982’s “Blade Runner” or Star Trek: Voyager’s “Dermal Regenerator”, fiction has often played with the concept of regenerating tissue or growing entire organs from the cellular level.

However, the field of regenerative medicine is ever closer to turning what was once the musings of science fiction writers into a fact of daily life.

At the front-lines of this cutting-edge research stands Vancouver’s “RepliCel Life Sciences Inc.“, a regenerative medicine company using cells taken from a patient’s own hair follicles for the purpose of treating Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness), aging skin and even chronic tendinosis.

Success with the company’s autologous-cell therapies will inevitably be a game-changer for the aesthetics market as well as sports medicine.

RepliCel RCH-01

In 2012, the company began a Phase 1 trial with RCH-01, the code name of their product for the purpose of treating male pattern baldness.

Replicel Device

The procedure works by obtaining a small punch biopsy from the back of the patient’s head as the hair that grows on the scalp there is generally resistant to balding.

From this sample, cells called “dermal sheath cup cells” are extracted from the base of the follicle. These cells are then multiplied in a growth medium and are ready for injection after a period of about two weeks.

The goal of the treatment is for these healthy cells to migrate to thinning areas, revitalizing the hair that grows there as well as bestowing the thinning hair with the healthy hair’s immunity to balding.

It is also hoped that this procedure will induce the formation of new follicles entirely; repopulating bald areas. The scientific basis for this procedure stems from research first carried out in mice by Drs. McElwee and Hoffmann in the early 2000’s.

RCH-01 Phase 1 Trial Results

In March of 2017, five years since the trial began, RepliCel was at last able to present the data readout from RCH-01’s first-phase trial. Some quotes to summarize the findings:

“No serious adverse events were reported over the entire 60.5-month follow-up period of the trial. Local injection tolerance was confirmed with only a few minor scalp irritations reported around injection sites that resolved quickly soon after injection. Furthermore, histopathological evaluation of injection site biopsies taken six, 12, and 24 months after injection did not reveal any pathology that was suggestive of tumor, granuloma or foreign body formation.”

In short, it is safe.

Replicel Phase 1 Results

“The top 10 participants reported at least a 5% or greater increase in hair density at six months post-injection with an average increase of 11.8% (as reported in the May 17, 2012 announcement). This group demonstrated a sustained response at 24 months which averaged a 4.2% increase over baseline hair density. While there was a high degree of variability in hair density between individual participants at 24 months post-injection compared to baseline, an overall stabilization of hair loss was observed among all the patients treated per protocol.“

The last line of that quote is particularly interesting, as it means this product could be, if nothing else, a superior, perhaps permanent, alternative to Finasteride with no (presently) known side effects.

Finasteride, along with Minoxidil, is just one of two FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia.

However, the drug is known to have some nasty side effects in some patients — said to be as low as 2%, though some recent studies suggest it could be higher —and can lose its efficacy over time.

While most patients in the RCH-01 trial saw an increase in density over baseline, how much of an increase they saw varied widely, with the top responder seeing a 20% increase in 24 months.

As such, more data will be needed to determine how and exactly why some individuals saw a greater increase in density than others and ultimately how much of an increase in density is possible. However, it won’t be long before these questions will be answered.

Shiseido RCH-01 Phase 2 Trials

Japanese cosmetics giant — among the oldest and largest in the world — Shiseido, purchased the exclusive license to RCH-01 for use in the Asian continent back in 2013.

They are presently in a second-phase (testing for safety and efficacy) trial and data from this trial is expected in late 2018. Also, unlike phase 1 (a single, high-dose injection), phase 2 will see a number of injections at set intervals.

Depending on the results, protocols and what Shiseido decides is the appropriate course of action, the product could be granted conditional market approval that same year or very soon after given Japan’s recently revamped laws regarding stem-cell therapies.

So long as the product is safe and has a certain degree of efficacy, it can be granted conditional market approval after two clinical phases instead of the usual three.

In 2016, the United States introduced a somewhat similar law called “The 21st Century Cures Act”. This means that Japan is the only country in which RCH-01 may see release before 2020.

Replicel Pipeline

Shiseido also purpose-built a facility for the development of the product, but the actual treatment will be provided in partnership with Japanese hospitals.

RCS-01 and RCT-01

The benefits of this transfer of hair cells are not limited to treating hair loss, though. RCS-01 and RCT-01 are regenerative therapies for skin and tendon damage that rely on a very similar method.

Fibroblasts, the active cells of connective tissues, are extracted from a sample of hair follicles obtained via punch biopsy, as with RCH-01. These fibroblasts are then injected into UV-damaged, aging skin or tendons afflicted with tendinosis with the hope of restoring the connective tissues and collagen to restore function and elasticity.

In fact, as much as 80-90% of visible “aging” can be attributed to damage inflicted by UV rays from the sun. Just take a look at this truck driver (Bill McElligott) who spent most of his career with one side of his face to the window.

RCS-01 Phase 1 Trial Results

The results of RepliCel’s phase-1 trial for RCS-01 are the company’s most compelling to date:

“The study was neither powered for, nor was expected to show statistically significant results of efficacy. However, the nearly two-fold increase in gene expression of collagen-related biomarkers in the skin, after a single injection of RCS-01, was so profound, that the results are considered statistically significant.”

RCS-01 Proposed Results

The release goes on to state that the injections showed positive impact on ten different biomarkers that peer-reviewed science correlated with visible aging.  Dr. Hoffman says:

“The promising results demonstrate the potential of RCS-01 to promote skin rejuvenation. An increase in collagen markers of this nature would be expected to translate into clinically measurable and aesthetically visible effects … In my opinion, this is the first example of a treatment potentially capable of rejuvenating UV-damaged skin.”

If Dr. Hoffmann is correct, such a product will almost surely be the company’s flagship treatment. The anti-aging industry is poised to rise to a value of 216.52 billion USD by 2021.

RCT-01 Phase 1 Trial Results

RCT-01 saw promising results from its phase 1 as well, with ultrasound showing “marked improvements” in tendon structure; “something rarely seen in patients with this condition”, according to Dr. Ross.

In fact, two patients in particular saw “select measures of near-complete recovery in function”.

This therapy again uses fibroblasts taken from the hair at the back of the patient’s scalp, but the cells are injected into tendons with the goal treating Achilles Tendinosis, a condition that degenerates and inflames the Achilles tendon and is common in athletes.

The treatment would also see use in similar tendon problems such as tennis/golfer’s elbow and rotator cuffs.

While the complete efficacy of these treatments remains to be seen (and it will be some years yet before they would be available to the public anywhere in the world), the initial trials show much potential.

Thanks to the cells in the hair on the back of your head, you just may be looking younger and getting that golf swing back before too long.

Discussion

• What do you think about the potential for this methodology in treating/curing hair loss?
• Do you have more hope in RepliCel’s project or moreso other projects?
• What treatment approaches do you plan to take to buy yourself some time until they’re available?

Any other thoughts or comments?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.  You don’t have to sign up for an account and can use a pseudo-email address (unless you’d like alerts about replies).

The post Replicel: How Follicles Are Revitalizing Hair Growth and More appeared first on HairLossTalk.

Yes.  Both the S5 Cream and the S5 Plus cream were independently tested by a lab both for the presence of the expected active ingredients, and the exact concentrations of those ingredients.

Expected concentration of the active ingredient Spironolactone in the basic S5 Cream product is 5%.

Expected concentrations of the active ingredients in S5 Plus Cream were:

• Spironolactone 5%
• Alfatradiol 0.05%
• Tempol 0.8%

Is S5 Cream Legit?

After we received several emails from people asking about this, and also seeing several posts on the discussion forums conveying doubts (turns out, people are just suspicious in general), we had the products tested.

Jars were randomly selected from a shipment that was sent to our warehouse without the manufacturer knowing, and directly shipped to the testing lab.

S5 Cream Ingredients Tested

S5 Cream Ingredients Tested – Lab Results (PDF)

S5 Plus Cream Ingredients Tested

S5 Plus Cream Ingredients Tested – Lab Results (PDF)

The post Have S5 Cream & Plus Ingredients Been Tested for Legitimacy? appeared first on HairLossTalk.

Hair loss research projects lately are focusing on a sort of hybrid treatment / hair transplant model whereby curing hair loss would consist of a cellular harvesting, multiplication, and growing of new follicles for implantation into desired areas.   This differs from typical treatments in that it doesn’t seek to grow hair via chemical means, on the scalp itself.

It could be considered the next generation hair transplant technology however.  HairLossTalk recently spoke to TissUse, a company seeking to improve upon existing hair transplant methods.  Their goal is to reduce the invasiveness of the procedure as well as increase the number of available hairs for implantation.

Currently, the gold standard methodology for hair transplantation known as strip excision, requires the removal of a flap of skin from the back of the head.  This strip of skin typically provides about 8,000 hairs for the procedure.

TissUse is seeking to instead isolate cells from existing follicles, and “multiply” them externally to produce upwards of 10,000+ neopapilla, which have the potential to form new follicles.  They are seeking to do this with only 30 punch biopsies.

This massive reduction in surgical effort, healing required, and increased donor hairs is the main improvement their research hopes to achieve.  Proof of Concept in clinical trials is the next milestone toward clinical application and commercial use.

HairLossTalk’s “Swoop” reached out to TissUse with a handful of “Science” related questions, as well as “Commercial” (product) related questions.

TissUse Interview – Science Questions

HLT:  What are the major roadblocks you have faced in the research so far? Are there still any problems to overcome before engaging in clinical trials?

Model development has been completed and proof of concept could be shown in pre-clinical studies. We also established a GMP compliant manufacturing process for production of Smart Hair Transplants (SHT). TissUse as a company is focused on the development and sale of our Multi-Organ-Chip technology for predictive substance testing. We are therefore looking for third parties who are interested in investing into the SHT technology to initiate the necessary clinical trials. In this regard, we are also looking at other funding opportunities.

HLT: Previous research groups have struggled with retaining gene expression of the dermal papilla. Can you elaborate if this is a concern for TissUse?

It is true that dermal papilla cells once cultivated in vitro for prolonged periods of time will undergo changes (our data actually suggests they move to a more undifferentiated mesenchymal stromal cell type as they can then be differentiated along the adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lines). This change is also reflected in the loss of inductive hair growth capacities. However the inductive capacity as well as the specific genotype of the dermal papilla cells can be regained by re-establishing the natural 3D architecture of the dermal papilla. We do this by generating our so-called neopapilla using a special cell culture technique. These neopapilla very closely resemble the dermal papilla in vitro.

HLT: To what extent do you think the newly created follicles will mimic the donor hair follicle in terms of gene expression and visual traits?

We only compared gene expression pattern of the in vivo dermal papilla with our SHT neopapilla so far. Our in vitro microfollicle model shows many similarities in gene/protein expression to the native hair follicle. A true comparison between donor hair follicle and SHT induced hair growth would only be possible during clinical trials. The same holds true for visual traits.

HLT: What is the expected number of maximum hair follicles can be created out of the donor sample?

We are currently calculating with a multiplication factor of 300, meaning we are aiming to generate 10.000 SHT out of 30 FuE biopsies.

HLT: On your webpage it states that the “SHT” would require a “one man team”, can you elaborate on this?

This refers to the procedures taking place at the hair restoration clinics. Basically the surgeon just needs to extract 30 FuEs at the beginning f the procedure. It is then shipped to the GMP manufacturing unit where the dermal papilla cells are isolated, expanded and the SHTs are generated. They are then shipped back to the clinic where the surgeon can implant them into the scalp of the patient.

HLT: Regarding the process of delivering the neopapillae to the scalp: Do you anticipate this being an automated process performed by a device, or will it require the hand of a trained and skilled surgeon, similar to hair transplants? As a follow up to this, have you seen success injecting the neopapillae directly into the scalp with a needle, or must they be delivered to the skin with an incision?

Both delivery options are viable. However we are currently looking more into procedures performed by a surgeon using an applicator device. It is planned to inject the SHT. No incision is necessary.

HLT:  Certain individuals with advanced androgenetic alopecia experience significant miniaturization of follicles and extensive loss on the sides and back of the head. This is the typical location for donor follicles for transplants and with your therapy. As a result, these donor follicles may be extensively affected by AGA prior to the procedure. What can these people expect from your therapy?

There are currently no facts available to answer this question. However it is planned to include a range of individuals with different stages of hair loss in the clinical trials. This will allow us to more definitely assess the potential of SHT to counter hair loss at different stages of alopecia.

HLT: Studies have shown that the hair shaft thickness seems to be determined by dermal papilla size. If this is true then could it be possible to also control hairshaft thickness with the neopapillae method?

It is not planned to include different sizes of SHT in the first clinical trials. However this could be a parameter, which could be explored in more detail later on. Keep in mind however that the size of an in vitro generated 3D organoid is limited by diffusion of nutrient and oxygen to the core of the organoid. If the organoid is too big, a necrotic core will be created which leads to a lot of undesired effects in the organoid.

Nature circumvents these size limitations by vascularization.

HLT: The central advantages of the neopapillae method seem to be that it’s less invasive and allows for the access to a way higher amount of hair follicles. Current methods also fail to deliver density that matches a natural head of hair. What other advantages are you anticipating for the neopapillae method in comparison with current methods? For instance, do you expect to be able to archive a higher density or the ability to control hair color?

We expect the neopapilla to be able induce hair growth by two separate mechanisms:

1. Rejuvenation of dormant hair follicles through injection of the neopapillae at the site of the dormant hair follicle.
2. De novo creation of a hair follicle by recruiting keratinocytes and melanocytes from the surrounding tissue to the site of the injection. This is a process that would closely follow the organogenesis of the hair follicle and which we can also observe in vitro in our microfollicle model. If this 2-fold induction mechanism allows for a higher hair density has to be proven in the clinical trials by comparing SHT vs established methods.

Having the ability to control hair color would surely be awesome.  As of now our focus lies on achieving efficient hair growth with our SHT method but having a robust method in place to influence hair colour would surely be an advanced step to investigate in the future.

HLT: If someone had a hair transplant done prior to this procedure. Will the method allow to regrow hair where the transplanted hairs are?

Unknown. This has to be evaluated in extended clinical trials. However I can’t think of an immediate reason why this shouldn’t work.

HLT: We know through observations and studies that a horizontally cut hair follicle is able to regenerate itself. Furthermore, Jahoda proved with the following study http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v402/n6757/full/402033a0.html that his dermal sheath cells were able to induce a new hair follicle in the forearm of his wife. Taken these observations it seems we would be able to induce new hair follicles if we are able to correctly culture these cells. We seem so close, but yet so far? What possible reasons do you think there would be for the neopapillae method to fail?

Our neopapillae have been able to induce hair growth in vitro and in mice. However everybody who is reading up on trials in mice will recognize that the significance of achieving hair growth in mice is limited. I might be exaggerating a bit here but you can basically achieve growing hair in mice with almost every method which includes some kind of hair follicle related cell types.

The true test comes with the clinical trials and showing the efficacy of the method. There are a plethora of factors associated with hair loss in men. Each patient will be different with regard to the role all these factors will play.

So the main question is: Will the proven inductive capacities of the neopapillae be powerful enough to be effective in a broad patient population? This also includes developing a smart strategy of injecting the SHT into the right positions in the scalp. If you are not able to position the neopapillae it would highly likely be associated with a loss in efficacy.

HLT:  How do you think the neopapillae will fare when delivered into harsh conditions? Would it be able to induce hair follicles in fibrotic (scar) tissue?

Unknown. I also don’t believe it is planned to recruit respective patients for the first clinical trials. But it is certainly something we would like to explore in more detail in the future once we have successfully completed our first clinical studies.

HLT:  Would you guys be able to grow micro hair follicles using dermal papilla cells from balding scalp and test drugs/genetic manipulations on them or would those cells be damaged to grow micro hair follicles at all?

Our in vitro microfollicle model which consist of the neopapillae + keratinocytes + melanocytes (optional: endothelial cells) is specifically designed to test hair growth promoting/hair growth reducing agents. Due to availability the required cell types are derived from donor material from non-balding areas of the scalp. We did not have the chance to work with hair follicles from balding area. As you can imagine they are very hard to come by.

TissUse Interview:  Commercial Questions

HLT: Have you considered several markets or where will you start trials? Could it be quicker to market in Japan?

Our preference is to start in trials in Europe. Europe’s ATMP regulations are the strictest worldwide. While it is certainly a challenge to bring SHT to the market in Europe, once achieved it should be comparably easy to acquire market authorization in other regions.
Japans government is actively promoting cell-based therapies. Therefore it certainly is possible that the time to market in Japan could be shorter.

HLT:  TissUse seemed to have troubles with funding issues, how is the situation currently?

Please see our answer to scientific question 1.

HLT: When will the method be tested out in humans as a proof of concept study? If everything goes well, when would be the quickest release on the market so that everyone can access it?

This depends on available funding for a proof of concept. We estimate it will take at least 3 years to finalize the first clinical trials.

HLT: A bold question perhaps to ask at this point, but what do you expect to be the price for a treatment like this, can you give a rough indication?

As we will not offer the SHT treatment, we cannot really comment on this. Price will be determined by the surgeons/clinics who will offer the treatment. We know that price can be a big issue and are very sorry that we cannot give you a more definite answer.

HLT: Can cultured and amplified cells or neopapillaes be stored in cryopreservation for future use in the same individual?

We have not explored the option in detail but storing amplified cells certainly is a very viable option. In addition, a lot of progress has been made in cryopreserving more complex 3D cellular structures like cell spheroids. Therefore it is possible that storage of cells and/or neopapillae will be available in the future.

The post TissUse Smart Hair Transplants – Next Generation Hair Transplant? appeared first on HairLossTalk.