I wanted to ask you a question regarding the DHT component of male pattern baldness. Four weeks ago I began using a shampoo and conditioning system which blocks the production of DHT and 5AR in the scalp. I have noticed a significant amount of hair growth from a point in the rear portion of my head leading to a point just over one third of the way towards the front of the scalp. the rest of my scalp has little hairs similar to a man’s shaving stubble except at a point in the middle of my forehead which has a long patch of hair which I can comb or brush down as bangs. My question is this: It’s already been four weeks with these results and how soon should I expect to see the full results?
I am using Nioxin System 3 Scalp Cleansing Shampoo and Conditioner along with a daily multivitamin supplement designed for healthy hair, healthy skin, and healthy nails. As I said, I’ve had some definite results thus far, and am wondering at which point I should expect to see the full results?
I was not aware that Nioxin System 3 Scalp Cleansing Shampoo contained a DHT blocker, so I looked to their website. The company states that it is a “vitamin-enriched, daily leave-in scalp treatment – delivering essential botanicals, nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins onto the scalp skin and hair to help safeguard against environmental residue and DHT buildup on the scalp.”
I don’t know how to prove that it does what it claims, and the FDA isn’t required to clear these types of products before they make it to market. It certainly is not approved by the FDA for claims of hair growth or as a DHT blocker, and as a physician I will not endorse it for that purpose.
The sebum containing DHT and requiring some blocker type of topical shampoo to manage it makes no sense. The sebum is not the problem. I would not expect to see any significant benefit in days or in a month, because the hair that grows out only grows at 1/2 inch per month and therefore there is no time for benefits to show. I am not sure what you are seeing, but it is not the result of blocking DHT.