tom@mhuxd.UUCP (GLINOS) (01/31/85)
> Yes, that sounds right, minoxitin was to treat high blood presure, not > arthritis pain. Having suffered from alopecia arieata for a few years I think I can shed a bit of light on this subject. According to my dermitologist and my own experience. 1) The correct drug is called minoxidil and not minoxitin. It has been used for reducing high blood pressure when taken internally. Past studies have shown that it may promote hair growth or slow hair loss when applied externally as a solution. (It was observed that people who were in hospitals and were given minoxidil were growing excess hair...as well as avoiding their heart attacks). 2) I've used minoxidil for about a year. First at a 2% solution and currently at 3%. My results have been mixed. It doesn't actively promote growth but it does appear to slow my hair loss. 3) A pharmecutical firm at present is in the planning stages of formulating a 5% cream for sale. (The mixtures I've mentioned above have to be specially mixed by a pharmacist and is relatively expensive ~$70.00 for a 9oz bottle) 4) At a recent medical convention a statistical study of commenly used techiques for curing "balding" have shown that when a patient finds something that does work for him the odds are even that within 5 years he will be back at the same stage as he started at. (sigh) The one thing that works well for me are shots of steriods and pedrizone (a tablet that contains cortizone) but once I stop taking the stuff my hair starts to fall out again. It also had other weird side-effects. Warning: this stuff is dangerous and there are known long term risks. A good dermitologist will tell you that there is no known cause for "balding" and one cure is as good as another. Remember, always see a doctor!.
gary@rochester.UUCP (Gary Cottrell) (02/01/85)
In article <1182@mhuxd.UUCP> tom@mhuxd.UUCP (GLINOS) writes: > >A good dermitologist will tell you that there is no known >cause for "balding" and one cure is as good as another. > >Remember, always see a doctor!. It seems to me the best cure for balding (easy for me to say) is to accept it. gary cottrell (allegra or seismo)!rochester!gary (UUCP) gary@rochester (ARPA)