Exercise and Hair
Exercise and eating the right foods are the keys to a healthy lifestyle. We all know that. But how does exercise affect your hair health, hair loss, or hair regrowth? The answer might surprise you.
In general, exercise can help you maintain a healthy head of hair, and even help your body regrow hair. Regular exercise increases general health and circulation in your body. Increased circulation can stimulate growth in hair follicles. Also, exercise helps reduce stress in your life, and reduced stress helps with overall scalp health, according to Livestrong.com. So, if you exercise regularly, you are doing yourself—and your hair—a favor, right?
The answer might not be so simple.
Too much exercise, or overexertion, is actually bad for your hair. Excessive exercise causes a state of chronic stress in your body, according to author and nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman. Chronic stress is a leading cause of telogen effluvium (TE), a condition that causes premature resting and shedding in hair follicles, according to the American Hair Loss Association. In addition, eHow.com explains that extreme bodybuilding and other extreme exercise activities can produce more dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes baldness in men. Conversely, mild exercise, like regular jogging or cardio, can help reduce DHT.
However, there is one form of mild exercise or cardio to think twice about if you are conscious about your hair health: swimming in pools. Most pools contain chlorine. The chlorine is there to keep the pools clean, but it can cause your hair to become dry and eventually break or shed. If swimming is your favorite form of exercise, you can avoid chlorine damage by wetting your hair with non-chlorinated water before getting in the pool (i.e., a locker room shower), so your hair absorbs the normal water, rather than the chlorinated water. Also, get out every 30 minutes or so and rinse the chlorinated water out of your hair. Wear a swim cap, and wash your hair after swimming with proper hair care products.
Another thing to keep in mind about exercise is that it causes you to sweat. Salty, heavy sweat build up on your head can cause faster shedding or other damage to your hair. The Harvard School of Public Health advises that you can combat this damage by using mild, pH-balanced shampoo and moisturizing protein conditioner at least once a week. Avacor offers both Thickening Shampoo and Volumizing Conditioner to help combat hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. Avoid using hot hair tools as well, such as blow driers and curling irons.
The bottom line: exercise regularly, but avoid over-exercising or extreme exercise activities, and take good care of your hair with the proper hair care products. If you are eating healthy and exercising regularly, but still experiencing hair loss, consider using Avacor Physician's Formulation, an FDA-Approved hair re-growth product clinically proven to revitalize hair follicles and help you grow back hair.
Photo courtesy of Menscosmo.com
The Importance of FDA-Approved Hair Products
We've all seen the term "FDA-Approved." But, do you know what it means? The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal government agency in charge of keeping the American public safe by regulating food, drugs, and medical devices. When a product or item is FDA-Approved, it has been rigorously tested and thoroughly inspected, and found to be both effective and completely safe for people to use or consume.
So, how does this relate to your hair?
Well, if you are experiencing hair loss, interested in hair restoration, or just curious about the process, you will undoubtedly encounter a wide variety of products to help stimulate hair growth. Many of these products are not FDA-Approved, which should be an automatic red flag. In other words, if a product is advertised to treat a medical condition, such as hair loss, but it does not indicate anywhere that it is FDA-Approved, then you should avoid using that product. You may be taking a major health risk using a product that is not FDA-Approved to treat any medical condition.
Avacor Physician's Formulation® is an FDA-Approved hair restoration product clinically proven to revitalize hair follicles and help you grow back your very own hair. The FDA has carefully tested and inspected how the product is manufactured, what ingredients are used, how much of each ingredient is used, how the product is stored and packaged, and how the product is administered. In other words, all aspects of Avacor Physician's Formulation production, including each ingredient, the bottling process, and the recommended dosage, have been deemed completely safe and effective for consumers to use for the treatment of hair loss, according to the FDA.
Unfortunately, some consumers continue to be tricked into buying "snake oil" products, or hair loss treatments not approved by the FDA. These products can cause unhealthy and unwanted side effects, such as acne, scalp hair loss, menstrual irregularities in women, irritability, and aggression, according to Dr. Ray Sahelian. The FDA also indicates other side effects of hair growth products that are not FDA-Approved include low blood pressure, heart palpitations and other cardiac symptoms, hair discoloration, sensitivity to sunburn, itching, rash, irritation, or stinging skin. "Snake oil" products are a waste of time and money. They also taint consumer's opinions of the entire industry, making consumers skeptical of all hair loss products, including the legitimate ones. Additionally, they can add more emotional stress in your life when you buy the product and it doesn’t work, and/or causes health problems.
The good news is that the FDA is starting to crack down more on snake oil salesmen and punishing people with fines and/or jail time for trying to sell hair regrowth products to consumers that are not FDA-Approved. However, consumers still need to be aware of the product they are buying.
The active ingredient found in Avacor Physician's Formulation is Minoxidil. Currently, the FDA has approved Minoxidil in two different strengths: 5% for men and 2% for women. The Avacor product has Minoxidil levels that adhere to these requirements. If the levels were anything different than the 2% and 5% required by the FDA, the product could not be advertised as FDA-Approved, and could be recalled by the FDA at anytime.
In January of 2012, the FDA issued a press release announcing the recall of some hair regrowth products because they were unapproved new drugs, and had high levels of Minoxidil that could cause health hazards to consumers. These products had Minoxidil levels between 10 and 15%. If you are currently using a hair regrowth product, be sure to check the Minoxidil level, and consider switching to Avacor's FDA-Approved Physician's Formulation, as well as other hair care products: the Avacor® All Natural Nutricap containing the active ingredient Saw Palmetto, which is widely thought to be a DHT inhibitor; Boost! by Avacor®, which is specially formulated to thicken hair from the very first application; and our Scalp Detoxifying Shampoo, which removes dirt and oil from the scalp, ensuring effective delivery of the Minoxidil to the scalp when applied after using the shampoo. Rest assured that all our products are manufactured in facilities that meet the highest safety and quality standards today. Furthermore, all our products are safe to use, and have been formulated to either help you grow a natural, full, healthy head of hair, or to maintain healthy, clean, and stylish hair.
Minoxidil Mini-Series: Part 5 – Benefits, Limitations, and Side Effects
This post will conclude the Avacor® Hair Regrowth Blog's five part “mini-series” on minoxidil, the first FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. Earlier episodes of the mini-series covered the early history of minoxidil, clinical trials showing its efficacy in treating androgenetic alopecia, and its approval by the FDA as a hair regrowth treatment. In this final segment we will highlight the benefits, limitations, and side effects associated with minoxidil.
Benefits of Minoxidil Treatment
Minoxidil products, such as Avacor Physicians Formulation® and Rogaine®, have helped thousands of men and women stop their hair loss and begin regrowing hair.
Several clinical trials have proven that minoxidil is able to prevent hair loss and regrow hair, with investigators observing hair growth in anywhere from 30-60% of patients (for details see our previous post on clinical trials). These studies also suggest that even if patients do not achieve noticeable hair regrowth with minoxidil treatment, they can at least stop losing hair and maintain their baseline hair count.
Minoxidil is the only hair regrowth medication that has been approved by the FDA for both men and women, unlike finasteride (Propecia®) which is only approved for use by men.
One of the other benefits of minoxidil is that it has not been associated with the sexual side effects experienced by some patients taking finasteride (Propecia®), such as decreased arousal and erectile dysfunction.1 For a description of the side effects that have been associated with minoxidil, keep reading for the section below on “Reported Side Effects of Minoxidil.”
Minoxidil’s Limitations
There is no magic cure for hair loss, so it is important to begin any hair regrowth regimen with accurate information and reasonable expectations. Minoxidil will not work for everyone; its effectiveness is limited to certain types of hair loss and the degree of hair regrowth experienced by each person will differ. In addition, minoxidil requires a consistent, diligent program of use to achieve maximum results.
Only Works for Certain Types of Hair Loss
The only types of hair loss for which minoxidil has been approved by the FDA are male and female androgenetic alopecia. Some studies have reported positive results for a small number of patients with alopecia areata, but the benefits have not been consistent enough to recommend widespread use of minoxidil for this condition.
Men: Minoxidil 5% topical solution, (such as Avacor Physicians Formulation® for Men) is only recommended for men with male pattern hair loss, and is not intended for treating frontal baldness or a receding hairline. Despite a conference presentation by the lead investigator of several early minoxidil trials suggesting that it is also effective in the frontal hairline area,2 the supporting data do not appear to have been published in any peer-reviewed journals or evaluated by the FDA. Patients using minoxidil should not expect to regrow hair in any areas other than the top of the scalp.
Women: Minoxidil 2% topical solution, (such as Avacor Physicians Formulation® for Women) is only recommended for women with female pattern hair loss (general thinning of hair on the top of the scalp). Minoxidil products are not indicated for hair loss that is sudden, patchy, or associated with stress or childbirth.
Minoxidil may not work for patients whose hair loss is too advanced. A general visual guide that shows the degrees of thinning hair for which minoxidil is most effective can be found on Avacor's product packaging.
Needs to be Used Consistently
In order to achieve the best possible results with minoxidil, it is essential to apply the topical solution regularly and consistently. The best way to do this is to commit to making it part of your daily routine, even if it's not your favorite part of the day. An analogy for this would be brushing your teeth: while no one particularly enjoys the act of brushing their teeth (at least that we are aware of), most people find the benefits are worth the little bit of time each day.
Like all good things, regrowing hair takes time. You may need to use minoxidil for at least 4 months before you see results, although you may begin to notice the effects as early as 2 months.
Continued use is necessary to prevent hair loss from progressing. One of the longest studies of minoxidil for male pattern hair loss (5 years) found that patients who continued to apply minoxidil twice per day were able to maintain nonvellus hair regrowth well beyond their baseline hair counts.3 Patients who stop using minoxidil will likely not maintain hair that has regrown during the course of treatment and will begin losing hair again.
Reported Side Effects of Minoxidil
More than 20 years after minoxidil was first approved for treating hair loss, the list of commonly reported side effects remains fairly limited. However, there are some rare side effects that should be watched for and taken very seriously.
Some of the most common side effects are:
• Localized scalp reactions or skin irritation (i.e., dryness, itching, redness and mild burning)
• GI discomforts (e.g., mild heartburn, nausea, constipation and diarrhea)
• Hair growth in other body areas (i.e., face, arms, back)
If you experience any of the following rare side effects, you should discontinue use immediately and consult your physician:
• Dizziness, light headedness, faintness, headaches
• Sudden unexplained weight gain, water retention
• Rapid heart beat or chest tightness/discomfort
• Swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue
In addition to these side effects, some people have experienced changes in hair color and/or texture.
If you have heart disease you should talk to your doctor before using minoxidil. Minoxidil may be harmful if used when pregnant or breast-feeding, should not be used by children under the age of 18, and should be kept out of reach of children at all times.
Conclusion
Thanks again for checking out the “Minoxidil Mini-Series” here on the Avacor Hair Regrowth Blog. We hope the information we have collected here has given you a better understanding of the history, benefits, and limitations of minoxidil and that it will help you choose the best course of action for regrowing your hair.
If you have any questions or would like to see more information on a particular topic, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!
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1. Irwig MS, Kolukula S. Persistent sexual side effects of finasteride for male pattern hair loss. J Sex Med. 2011 Jun;8(6):1747-53. Link to Pubmed
2. Olsen EA, Whiting DA, Miller JJ. Increased Frontal Scalp Coverage and Frontal Hair Regrowth with 5% and 2% Minoxidil Solution. Presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 61st Annual Meeting, March 2003.
3. Olsen EA, Weiner MS, Amara IA, DeLong ER. Five-year follow-up of men with androgenetic alopecia treated with topical minoxidil. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990 Apr;22(4):643-6. Link to Pubmed
Minoxidil Mini-Series: Part 2 – From Blood Pressure to Baldness
In Part 2 of the Avacor® Hair Regrowth Blog “Minoxidil Mini-Series” we will trace the path of minoxidil through the 1970s and 1980s as reports of hair growth led a potent blood pressure (BP) medication to be proposed as a treatment for male pattern baldness (MPB).
Minoxidil was first synthesized in the 1960s by William Anthony and Joseph Ursprung of The Upjohn Company (US Patent No. 3,461,461) and was initially prescribed as a vasodilator for lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension.1
A few years later, some doctors began to note an unintended effect in patients taking the drug: hair growth.
Early Reports of Hair Growth
Compared to other antihypertensive treatments available at the time, such as propranolol and hydralazine, a 1972 study found that oral minoxidil therapy (later known as Loniten®) provided a significant improvement in blood pressure reduction.2 However, the authors also observed hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) in five of the eight patients who were treated with the drug for more than two months.
Many subsequent publications during the 1970s confirmed these initial reports of increased hair growth with minoxidil, with observations such as: “side effects included increased hair growth.” 3
This effect may not have been particularly surprising since another vasodilator, diazoxide, had been associated with hypertrichosis in the early 1960s.4 Although chemically unrelated to minoxidil, diazoxide relaxes blood vessels by a similar mechanism (activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels).
“Reversal of male pattern baldness by minoxidil…”
In the early 1980s, isolated case reports began to emerge that described the “reversal of baldness” by minoxidil.5,6 One patient’s experience was particularly compelling:6
“Within four weeks dark-brown hair (the normal color for this patient) grew over the area of the scalp that had previously been devoid of hair visible to the naked eye and had made up the major portion of his scalp except for the sides and back of his head. By eight weeks these new hairs were approximately 1.3 cm (0.5 in) long. The density of hair and the hair-shaft thickness were equal to those of the areas of this patient's scalp that were normally not subject to balding.”
One prescient report of minoxidil causing “excessive hair growth” on the “temples and forehead,” which was published before the other two reports on baldness, even proposed its use as a topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia:7
“The high incidence of hypertrichosis produced by both diazoxide and minoxidil suggests the possibility that an effective topical formulation might stimulate local hair growth in early male-pattern alopecia…”
The drug’s maker, Upjohn, was already well-prepared to capitalize on the new indication that was being proposed for its drug. By February, 1979, the company had already received a patent covering the use of topical minoxidil compositions for growing hair.
The Upjohn Company Patents Minoxidil for Alopecia
“The invention claimed is: 1. A method of treating humans for alopecia…”
Upjohn was granted two critical U.S. patents covering the use of minoxidil for treating male pattern baldness:
US Patent No. 4,139,619 claimed a “topical composition” that could be used for “increasing the rate of terminal hair growth in mammalian species” and “conversion of vellus hair to growth as terminal hair.”
US Patent No. 4,596,812 claimed a “method of treating humans for alopecia which comprises topically applying to the human scalp an effective amount of a solution containing 6-amino-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-imino-4-piperidinopyrimidine and a solvent.”
These patents laid the foundation for the successful commercialization of minoxidil as a treatment for male pattern baldness, under the trade name Rogaine®.
In the next installment of the Avacor Hair Regrowth Blog “Minoxidil Mini-Series,” we will describe the clinical trials that proved minoxidil’s effectiveness against alopecia in men and women, as well as the approval by the FDA of minoxidil as the first treatment for male pattern hair loss. Check back here soon for Part 3 – Efficacy in Clinical Trials.
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1. Gilmore E, Weil J, Chidsey C. Treatment of essential hypertension with a new vasodilator in combination with beta-adrenergic blockade. N Engl J Med. 1970 Mar 5;282(10):521-7. Link to Pubmed
2. Gottlieb TB, Katz FH, Chidsey CA 3rd. Combined therapy with vasodilator drugs and beta-adrenergic blockade in hypertension. A comparative study of minoxidil and hydralazine. Circulation. 1972 Mar;45(3):571-82. Link to Pubmed
3. Jacomb RG, Brunnberg FJ. The use of minoxidil in the treatment of severe essential hypertension: a report on 100 patients. Clin Sci Mol Med Suppl. 1976 Dec;3:579s-581s. Link to Pubmed
4. Okun R, Russell RP, Wilson WR. Use of diazoxide with trichlormethiazide for hypertension. Arch Intern Med. 1963 Dec;112:882-8. Link to Pubmed
5. Seidman M, Westfried M, Maxey R, Rao TK, Friedman EA. Reversal of male pattern baldness by minoxidil. A case report. Cutis. 1981 Nov;28(5):551-3. Link to Pubmed
6. Zappacosta AR. Reversal of baldness in patient receiving minoxidil for hypertension. N Engl J Med. 1980 Dec 18;303(25):1480-1. Link to Pubmed
7. Burton JL, Marshall A. Hypertrichosis due to minoxidil. Br J Dermatol. 1979 Nov;101(5):593-5. Link to Pubmed
Minoxidil Mini-Series: Introduction
Of all the products sold to combat hair loss and regrow hair, only two have ever been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for regrowing hair: minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil is available for both men and women as a topical treatment, while finasteride (Propecia®) comes in pill form and is not currently indicated for use by women. Minoxidil was first approved by the FDA for hair regrowth in 1988 and continues to be one of the most effective known treatments for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) to date.
In the next few Avacor® Hair Regrowth Blog posts we will recount the history of minoxidil, from its origins as a prescription blood pressure medication to its current use as an over-the-counter hair growth treatment.
We will highlight some of the clinical trials that have shown minoxidil’s effectiveness in stopping hair loss and regrowing hair (for both men and women), explain some of the benefits and limitations of using minoxidil, and describe some potential side effects you might experience.
Stay tuned to the Avacor Hair Regrowth Blog in the next few days for Part 2 of the “Minoxidil Mini-Series”: From Blood Pressure to Baldness.
Carpe Diem: Delaying Treatment Affects Results?
A recent case report1 on androgenetic alopecia from the UK highlights the importance of not delaying treatment for hair loss.
The authors report a case of identical twins who sought medical treatment for progressive male-pattern hair loss when they were 26 years old. One of them chose to pursue a minoxidil-containing treatment regimen immediately (topical minoxidil and antiandrogens plus oral finasteride), while the other delayed treatment for one year. A photograph taken just twelve months later (Figure 1 in the article) shows an obvious difference in hair coverage. At this point the second twin chose to begin therapy.
After three years of continuous therapy, the patient who started treatment earlier achieved significantly better results than his brother who delayed treatment - 14.2% higher total hair density and over 25% higher “useful hair density” (as measured by unit area trichogram).
The authors conclude “the amount of hair that can be regrown might be affected by delaying treatment.”
While this is only a case report and not a larger study, if the experience of these twins is an indicator of a general trend, anyone experiencing male-pattern hair loss should consider beginning treatment as soon as possible.
Avacor Physicians Formulation®, approved by the FDA to regrow hair, is used topically on the scalp to retard further hair loss and to start re-growing hair. Containing the proven hair growth medication minoxidil, the Avacor Physicians Formulation® results in new hair growth in as little as 2 months, although most will experience growth after several months.
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1. Rushton DH, Gilkes JJ. Delaying treatment in male-pattern hair loss affects the therapeutic response. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2011 Mar;36(2):204-5. Link to Pubmed
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