Although hair loss affects up to 50% of men by age 50 [1] and 8 million UK women [2], there still seems to be a lack of effective topical treatments to prevent baldness.
This is mainly because there still isn’t really a definitive answer as to what causes pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) [3]. Scientists believe baldness is largely due to a genetic sensitivity to DHT, worsened by poor blood flow. However, there are many other potential causes of hair loss.
Although there are many treatments that you can undergo to prevent or stop hair loss, one of the newer treatments that are gaining popularity is Stemoxydine.
If you’d like to learn more about this medication and whether it’s effective for treating hair loss, keep on reading.
Stemoxydine is a topical hair loss treatment that’s classified as a prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4H) inhibitor. The treatment is designed to promote hair growth by mimicking hypoxic conditions in stem cells [4]. Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, has been shown to stimulate hair growth by inducing the anagen (growing) phase of the hair growth cycle [5].
Stemoxydine is a P4H inhibitor, which helps to shorten the kenogen stage (the period of time between the shedding and new growth stage where the hair follicle remains empty) of the hair growth cycle – which is one of the possible contributors to hair loss [6].
In a study [7] it was found that when hair was growing under low-oxygen conditions, stem cells were more effective at creating and preserving hair follicles. So, Stemoxydine is supposed to create this low-oxygen environment to create longer and denser hair for people suffering from hair loss.
Although Stemoxydine sounds great, there isn’t a lot of scientific or clinical research that strongly supports these claims.
There have only been a small number of studies that have been conducted on small samples of men over a short period of time that have attempted to prove the efficacy of Stemoxydine.
In the studies, they did find a significant increase in hair density in men who were taking Stemoxydine, compared to those who were taking a placebo drug.[4]
These early results are promising. However there is still nowhere near enough evidence to fundamentally prove the safety and effectiveness of Stemoxydine for the treatment of hair loss.
Minoxidil is one of the most popular hair loss treatments that has been used to effectively promote hair regrowth in as little as 16 weeks.
Many people make comparisons between the two treatments, but there are many differences, including:
We’re intrigued by any product that promises to reduce hair loss and promote hair growth. After looking at all the information on Stemoxydine, we think that it could be potentially beneficial. But there is not enough evidence for us to recommend it, yet.
Stemoxydine hasn’t had approval from different advisory boards and lacks clinical trials. This makes it hard to form an opinion – so taking Stemoxydine would be at your own risk.
Although some smaller-scale trials have yielded positive results, they need to be recreated on a much larger scale to prove Stemoxydine is a beneficial hair loss treatment.
Another key thing to consider is that Stemoxydine is an ingredient in many cosmetic hair-thickening products. This suggests that it may have been formulated to make the hair appear thicker in the short term, but may not be suitable as a medication to treat genetic hair loss or male pattern baldness.
Although this may not be the perfect treatment for those who are suffering from male or female pattern baldness or hair loss, there are plenty of other alternative hair loss treatments you can explore.
From laser hair loss treatments to prescription and over-the-counter drugs like Minoxidil and Finasteride, there are quite a few options. But we’d always recommend talking to a specialist before trying anything out.
If your hair loss is extreme, it might be time to consider a hair transplant instead.
Two of the most common hair transplant treatments that men and women are choosing at the moment are Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), both of which we offer at Wimpole Clinic.
If you think that a hair transplant could be the perfect solution to your hair loss problems, or you just need some professional advice to figure out what kind of treatment is best for your hair, you can get easily get advice from our experts at Wimpole Clinic.
Our specialists are always happy to give impartial advice, so you can understand the options that are open to you.
Start with a no-obligation consultation. Speak to us about hair transplants or hair loss treatments, and start your journey to getting your full head of hair back again.
Book your free consultation with Wimpole Clinic today.
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