Follicare and Avacor

Hello Dr. Rassman. I’m 31. Family history of hairloss on the male side. What is your opinion or take on the hair loss products: “Follicare” and “Avacor”. I was thinking about trying them. Tried Rogaine in the past, didn’t like the itchy scalp as a result. Also tried Propecia, but got tired of waiting and was worried about the side effects. I would appreciate your opinion.

Your fortune cookie should read: “Patience is a virtue”. Propecia is the only FDA approved drug that grows hair. You need to wait 6 months to 1 year to see its effects. If you tried Propecia and experienced no side effects, stop worrying. If you are concerned about hair loss, you should be evaluated by a qualified doctor.

Avacor has minoxidil in it as your active ingredient, which probably grows the hair that is reported. You can buy it for much less money under the generic name minoxidil.

As for Follicare, it supplies a topical spray, shampoo, and minoxidil. Seems like you’re paying lots of money for the pretty packaging. At least they sound honest about what is included in their products, and provide a buyer beware page on their site.