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 Dr. Alan J. Bauman is the Founder, Medical Director and Chief Surgeon of the Bauman Medical Group, P.A. located in Wharfside at Boca Pointe in Boca Raton, Florida. His practice is dedicated exclusively to treating male and female pattern hair loss. Dr. Bauman uses state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques to help his patients maintain and/or restore their scalp hair.
James Funderburk
2005-02-08
Can you give me your opinion on my regimen?
I'm 44, and started losing my hair at age 21. I am very lucky. My oldest brother is a pharmacist for 39 years now. I freaked when I started to recede. So my brother started compounding Minoxidil tabs in a Cleocin solution with liquid Tretinoin (Retin A) added, back in 1984. He then got me involved in the Upjohn trials for Rogaine 2%, which led to FDA approval. I also found out in 1987 about a product that was working for BPH, that medication was Proscar. I got an MD friend to write me a script so I could basically make myself a "test dummy" to see if it would work with my Minoxidil. I now use Rogaine 5% w/Liquid Retin A added, and have been taking 2.5mg of finasteride a day also since 1987. I also have been doing the following for the past 12-14 years:
1) Shampoo 2x/day with Nioxin, so oil buildup will not inhibit the ability of the Rogaine/Retin A to penetrate the scalp.
2) Shampoo 3x/week with NIZORAL 2% prescription shampoo, which helps bind DHT within the hair follicle. It must be used as a 2nd lathering, not a first, and left on the scalp for 5 minutes prior to rinsing.
3) Use an IONIC hair dryer, which bathes the hair shaft in negative ions and helps prevent breakage. It also makes comb through a breeze - no tugging or pulling.
4) Use a "clarifying shampoo" 2x a week, to remove any residue or build-up from medications and styling products on scalp and hair.
5) Take NO2 tablets 3x a day, which is a precurser for systemic vasodilation of all blood vessels. I honestly started taking NO2 for my workouts, and found that my hair grows at an accelerated rate while I am on NO2. Since it is non-hormonal, and has a short half-life(4hrs), I will be using it for life. Long term studies on NO2 have just been released by a number of universities, it has a number of healthy applications.
6) 40 grams Soy protein every day. A Soy derivitive supposedly helps to counteract DHT.
7) No smoking of any kind. Smoking causes vasoconstriction, which will speed up atrophy of weak follicles.
8) Drink 1 gallon of H2O every day. After all, it is mother nature's toxin remover.
9) Exercise 4-6x a week. High intensity weight training + cardio. Approx 1.5 hrs per workout.
10) Supplements per day: 2000 IU D-alpha tocopherol vitamin E, 200 mg selenium, 2000 mg Ester C, 640 mg Standardized Saw Palmetto Extract, 100 mg R-alpha lipoic acid, Fish Oil 2000 mg, Flax Seed Oil 800 mg, B-complex, Zinc 50 mg, soy lecithin granules 1200 mg, aspirin 82mg. Plus, a liquid multi vitamin.
This regimen has slowed my hair loss to a very slow "crawl".
I know that once a follicle sheds its hair and another growth phase doesn't follow, there is about a 20 month window before that follicle is considered "dead", never to be revived. Would the Lasermax comb be a good addition to my existing "self treatment system"?
Thank you for your time.
James Funderburk
James,
You have a very comprehensive multi-therapy approach. Some of your treatments could be considered unproven (soy, SPE, etc.) but certainly I'm a big advocate of laser therapy (which also is lacking large-scale studies). The best laser therapy program is one that is physician-monitored (with an in-office hood), but I am convinced that the laser comb is a viable option (as long as you use it). Let me know if you would like me to send you a LaserComb, as we have them available. We also give you a list of tips and techniques, as well as follow-up and results-monitoring that the manufacturer does not. I also noticed that you are not using Viviscal. This might also be a good addition to your regimen, as we have had some favorable results with this supplement in our patients.
How is your hairline doing?
Let me know what questions you have.
Sincerely,
Dr. B.
doctorb@baumanmedical.com
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