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 Dr. Lee is the founder and owner of Regrowth LLC, a company based in Los Angeles and dedicated to the treatment of hair loss. He has been developing innovative products and treating hair loss sufferers for the past 16 years. Dr. Lee is the creator of the Xandrox line of hair loss treatments.
Important Note: Due a busy schedule, Dr. Lee cannot answer any new questions at this time; however, he will be providing high quality answers to questions he receives from his own practice exclusively to Morphollica.com regularly
[name not provided]
2004-12-18
Retinoids associated with hair loss
Considering the proven association of retinoids with hair loss, why
are retinoids used in hair growth preparations?
You’re absolutely correct. Retinoids can cause hair loss. For
example, it is common for patients who are taking Accutane to experience
hair loss. In high concentrations, retinoids can be detrimental to both
skin and hair. On the other hand, relatively weak concentrations of
retinoic acid (0.025%) can stimulate hair growth. For example, excessive amounts of vitamin A (which, like Accutane, is a
retinoid) will cause hair loss, bone pain and liver toxicity. On the
other hand, proper amounts of vitamin A are essential to good health and
good hair quality.1,2 With all medications, proper usage is directly related to proper
dosing. There is an applicable maxim taught in medical and pharmacology
schools: “The only difference between a medicine and a poison is
dosage.” 1. Terezakis NK, Buzzano GS. Retinoids: Compounds Important to Hair
Growth. Clinics in Derm. 1988;6: 129-131 2. Sporn MD, Roberts AB, Roche NS, et al. Mechanism of Action in
Retinoids. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986;15:756-764 Richard Lee, M.D.
Regrowth, LLC
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