Losing locks? Don’t wig out just yet.
Scientists may have found a hair loss treatment that works better than the top drugs already on the market.
The key is that it’s not one drug but three — and it looks like they may be better when they work together.
According to NYU Langone, more than 80% of men and nearly half of women experience hair loss at some point in their lives. At present, there are only two FDA-approved treatments for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), commonly known as pattern hair loss: minoxidil and finasteride.
However, results for regrowth with these treatments have been spotty at best. The efficiency of finasteride ranges from 31% to 66%, and minoxidil averaged only 38% effectiveness for hair regrowth.
And both carry a risk of scary side effects.
To address the battle of the bald, Triple Hair Inc. has developed a topical treatment regimen, TH07, that combines finasteride, minoxidil and latanoprost.
Latanoprost is approved as an eye drop to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension; however, it has been shown to stimulate eyelash growth, intensifying thickness, length, and pigmentation.
Minoxidil (sold commonly under the brand name Rogaine) pushes hair into the growth phase of the hair growth cycle and restores inactive hair follicles. Hair growth typically occurs after the medication has been used for several months and lasts only as long as the use is continued.
Finasteride, commonly sold under the brand name Propecia, limits DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that prevents hair follicles from absorbing nutrients, leading to shrinking follicles and, ultimately, hair loss.
In a recent trial, men with light to moderate AGA were randomized to receive topical treatment once daily for 6 months with TH07, 0.1% finasteride, 0.03% latanoprost, or 5% minoxidil.
The majority of participants treated with TH07 reported moderate hair re-growth and were more satisfied with the appearance of their hair than those treated with only minoxidil, finasteride or latanoprost.
In the TH07 treatment group, 52% of patients demonstrated dense hair growth, and 30% moderate growth.
No growth was observed in most of the subjects in the finasteride, latanoprost and minoxidil treatment groups.
“The topical administration of TH07 resulted in improved efficacy in the treatment of AGA compared to treatment with each of the ingredients administered separately,” reported study authors.
Better yet, those treated with TH07 reported no side effects, sexual or otherwise.
On its own, finasteride is associated with a host of negative side effects, including erectile dysfunction, reduced sperm count, and depression.
The medication is also associated with post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) — a condition in which someone experiences severe side effects after they stop using finasteride — and for some men it has completely upended their lives.
“TH07 offers an option to meet the unmet demand for safe and effective treatments for AGA, as this new drug combination has the potential for hair growth with very little potential for side effects,” the authors added.
The team recognizes that limitations of their study include a small sample size, an all-male sample, and a limited treatment window. They maintain that longer clinical studies are needed to establish the advantage of the TH07 combined treatment.
