Alopecia sufferers may have a new drug to look forward to

Males suffering from male pattern baldness also known as alopecia have been benefited greatly in the last couple of decades with new technologies and hair loss drugs that for the first time in history provably halt hair loss and re-grow hair. The three FDA approved medications which are also proven to halt hair loss and grow hair are: Propecia or finasteride, Rogaine or minoxidil and Avodart or dutasteride. Interestingly, all these medications were originally developed to treat other health conditions. Propecia and Avodart for BPH (prostate enlargement) and minoxidil to treat high blood pressure. Each of these new drugs, while in their testing phases, demonstrated an unexpected effect. They all grew new hair in men suffering from alopecia

Not long ago , a new drug has emerged that quite possibly could be the next in the line of drugs originally developed to treat other health disorders , but discovered to also grow hair. Bimatoprost is a drug that was developed to treat glaucoma. Bimatoprost to treat glaucoma was approved and is marketed as Lumigan. After extensive testing it was shown that Lumigan patients were also seeing an unintended effect of growing thicker and fuller eyelashes. Soon, bimatoprost was FDA approved to grow thicker and fuller eyelashes and is now marketed for that purpose as Latisse .

Latisse (bimatoprost) is a medication engineered from fatty acids created to bind to prostaglandin (PG) receptors. PG receptors are present in hair, particularly in the dermal papilla and outer root sheath of the hair follicle. Even though the precise way bimatoprost works is not known , it is believed to affect the growth of hair follicles by increasing the ratio of hairs in the growth phase of the hair cycle and increasing this phase. so , there is strong speculation that bimatoprost could be succesful in turning the fine, colorless vellus hair in the bald region of the scalp into normal, pigmented terminal hair.

The prostaglandin-analog Bimatoprost, the active ingredient in Allergan’s Latisse, has been FDA-approved to increase eyelash growth. New research shows that scalp hair follicles contain prostaglandin receptors. Can Latisse Lumigan bimatoprost treat hair loss? Is it the new rogaine/minoxidil for people with scalp hair loss? Only time and additonal studies and testing will tell.

In spite of this, some men have decided to buy latisse and test it themselves on their balding scalps. Let it be said, that it is not advisable to utilize any drug for a purpose that it was not developed and tested for without first getting professional advice from you doctor . Lumigan or Latisse (bimatoprost), like most prescription drugs , does carry the risk of negative side effects. For example, Bimatoprost may produce a gradual increase in the amount of brown pigment in the iris, due to increased melanin content of the melanocytes. Users should stop taking Bimatoprost and get medical assistance if they experience any signs of an allergic reaction including experiencing redness, swelling, itching or pain in or around the eye, discharge from the eye, increased sensitivity to light or vision changes.

A reliable Internet site to check often for news and information about the latest hair loss medications is propecia-proscar.com.