What is an oral hair growth treatment? What is a hair-growth treatment? There is a high possibility that there is a difference between men's and women's use.

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May 14, 2020November 15, 2021

People suffering from thinning hair or hair loss should familiarize themselves with the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of hair growth agents and oral medications before using them.

This article will provide a detailed explanation of the characteristics of the drinkable pills and their differences from hair growth pills, so please refer to it.

Characteristics of Medication-Type Hair Growth Products

There are four major characteristics of hair-growth agents that can be taken by mouth. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

AGA treatment

Medication-type hair growth tonic is an AGA treatment that suppresses the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that causes hair loss.

Since AGA is closely related to hormones, it is more difficult to improve symptoms with ointments, and a high level of effectiveness can be expected from a drinkable type of hair growth medication.

A doctor's prescription is required.

Since oral hair growth tonic contains "pharmaceutical ingredients," it must be prescribed by a doctor.

Propecia" is a well-known oral drug approved in Japan, but it cannot be purchased at drugstores.

Compared to hair growth agents that are applied to the scalp, the swallow-type drug has the disadvantages of "requiring a visit to a hospital" and "high cost not covered by insurance," but the high efficacy of the drink-type drug is recognized for AGA treatment. People suffering from severe hair loss or thinning hair should consider seeing a doctor.

Can be purchased through private importation.

Although there are only a few types of hair-growth medication available in Japan, many types are approved and used overseas. Even if you live in Japan, it is possible to purchase medicines from overseas through personal importation. However, compared to topical medications such as applications, oral medications tend to have more side effects. Personal importation is not a recommended method because of safety concerns.

Minoxidil oral medications are not recommended.

Although minoxidil is considered to be highly effective, only some topical drugs containing minoxidil have been approved in Japan, and no oral medications have been approved yet. Minoxidil was originally used as a hypotensive agent to treat high blood pressure, and has been shown to dilate blood vessels and normalize the hair cycle.

However, minoxidil is not approved in Japan, and minoxidil side effects have been reported, so minoxidil should be avoided.

Introduction of commonly found oral medications

There are many oral medications that are known to be effective for AGA, but some are approved in Japan and some are not

Propecia

Propecia contains an ingredient that inhibits 5a-reductase (class I), which is necessary for DHT production. This oral medication was developed by Merck & Co. in the U.S. and is famous for being the world's first "physician-prescribed AGA oral medication. It has been on the market in Japan since 2005, and many people take it for AGA.

A generic "finasteride" is also available.

Minoxidil tablet (Minotab)

Minoxidil is known as an ingredient effective for thinning hair. There are two types of minoxidil, one for oral use and the other for external use.

Minoxidil was originally used as an oral medication for high blood pressure, but since its effect on hair loss and thinning hair was also recognized, it is now used overseas as a treatment for alopecia.

The minoxidil tablet is more potent than the application type and has a reputation for being very effective for hair growth, but oral minoxidil has not yet been approved in Japan.

Therefore, minoxidil tablets can only be prescribed by an AGA clinic or mail order site that imports the drug from overseas. However, various side effects have been reported with the use of minoxidil tablets, so we recommend that you consider taking them carefully.

Minoxol.

Minoxol contains the same ingredients as Rogaine (application type), which contains minoxidil. Because it is a generic drug, it is priced at a level that allows those who want to "try out" the oral medication to start.

Although it is a generic drug from overseas, a Japanese national was involved in supervising the development of the drug, and its quality is characterized by its consideration for the Japanese market.

Pantogar (for women)

Pantogarl is used as an oral medication for thinning hair in women.

There are many types of thinning hair in women, including diffuse alopecia, postpartum alopecia, and traction alopecia, and Pantogarl is an effective oral medication for diffuse alopecia and postpartum alopecia among them. The active ingredients include vitamin B1, calcium, keratin (a protein), and L-cystine (an amino acid). Although it is a drug, the composition of its ingredients is similar to that of a dietary supplement, so there is little concern about side effects and it can be taken with peace of mind.

Avodart

Avodart is an oral medication whose main ingredient is dutasteride. This drug is approved in more than 100 countries for the treatment of "benign prostatic hyperplasia" (BPH), but it has also been used for the treatment of AGA because of its effectiveness in treating AGA. However, it is not approved in Japan and is not generally available for purchase.

Zagallo

Zagarlo is an oral medication that inhibits both Class I and Class II 5a reductase enzymes, which are necessary for DHT production. Its generic name is "dutasteride capsules". In Japan, it was approved in 2015 and sales began in 2016.

It is prescribed for people who do not get much effect from treatments such as Propecia and for people with thin frontal hair.

Expected effects and benefits of the oral medication

There are three effects of the oral medication: promoting hair growth, preventing hair loss, and making hair thicker. Let's take a look at each of them in detail.

Hair Regrowth Promotion Effect

The medicines have the effect of stimulating blood flow, allowing nutrients to reach the hair matrix cells and, as a result, enhancing hair growth. Hair follicles are composed of hair matrix cells and hair papilla cells, and the activities of these two cells have a significant impact on hair growth.

Prevention of Hair Loss

AGA medication suppresses DHT, the causative agent of AGA, which prevents hair loss and reduces the progression of thinning hair DHT is a male hormone, which in itself is not a bad thing.

However, when DHT binds to the "male hormone receptor" contained in the papilla cells, it sends out a wrong signal that causes the hair to go into a regressive or resting phase.

Hair that receives this signal will fall out rapidly, causing thinning and hair loss.

There are two types of 5a-reductase enzymes, each of which has the following characteristics.

5a-reductase (type I)

Present evenly where hairs are located

Involved in frontal, occipital, temporal, parietal, armpit, and pubic hair

People who are prone to acne and pimples often have this type I enzyme.

5a-reductase (type II) [topical application

Mild itching and inflammation

Internal medication

It is abundant from the frontal area to the top of the head and in the beard.

People with thick body hair and beards have a lot of type II.

There are two types of oral drugs: those that inhibit only type I and those that inhibit both type I and type II. Whichever type of medication is taken, it inhibits 5a-reductase so that DHT is no longer produced in the body. And since DHT does not bind to the male hormone receptors, it does not send the wrong signals to the hair, resulting in the prevention of hair loss and thinning.

In this way, the oral medication can eliminate the underlying cause of AGA. In general, many people are able to experience some effects if they continue taking the medication for 6 months or longer.

Hair thickening effect

Taking the pills improves blood flow and supplies more and more nutrients to the hair follicles. As a result, hair grows more easily and becomes thicker and firmer.

Cautions and disadvantages of using oral medicines

There are some points to note when using oral medicines. Side effects may occur, so it is important to have a doctor prescribe the medication properly.

Side effects may occur.

Propecia and minoxidil, which are well-known AGA medications, have been confirmed to have the following side effects, so it is necessary to consult a doctor if you are concerned about them.

Propecia

Swelling of the chest

Swelling of lips

Rash

Decreased libido

Difficulty with erections

Decreased semen volume

Minoxidil [Topical

Mild itching and inflammation

Oral medication

Palpitations, shortness of breath, swelling of limbs

Increase in body hair

Nausea

Vomiting or abdominal pain

Decreased libido, etc.

Since the likelihood of side effects varies from person to person, it is recommended that you have a consultation at a clinic and ask for a prescription for the medicine that is right for you.

Be careful about how to use overseas products

There are ways to obtain medicines by importing medicines from overseas or by using an agent. Although the cost is lower because there is no need to pay for medical treatment, there is a risk of receiving counterfeit products, so care must be taken. Also, although the instructions for overseas products are in English, do not take them without checking the instructions just because you cannot read them. There are many medicines that are not approved in Japan but are commonly used overseas.

Some ingredients are not recommended.

It is important to note that some AGA medications may contain ingredients that are not recommended for use in AGA treatment. For example, although Avodart is approved in Japan as a "treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia," it is not approved as an AGA treatment.

There have been reports of side effects such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and breast enlargement after taking Avodart for AGA treatment. Avoid taking drugs or ingredients that are not approved in Japan as much as possible.

Expensive (when purchased at a specialized clinic)

Since it is always necessary to go to a specialized clinic to receive a prescription for AGA medication, you will be charged a consultation fee each time you visit the clinic. In addition, since AGA medication is not covered by insurance, you will also have to pay for the medication.

The monthly cost of medication treatment is about 15,000 to 17,000 yen, and keep in mind that you will need to spend a certain amount of money to continue treatment with the medication for 6 months or a year.

Effects are not immediate.

AGA treatment with oral medications does not always produce immediate results. You should start treatment with the intention of continuing for at least 6 months, and be careful not to stop after a month or two, as this will render your treatment futile.

Use hair growth products that are applied to the scalp with minimal side effects.

If you want to improve thinning hair and hair loss but are concerned about various side effects, try Polypure EX, an application-type hair growth agent with no side effects. Polypure EX does not contain pharmaceutical ingredients and has passed allergy tests, etc., so you can use it without worrying about side effects because it is less irritating.

Advantages of using hair growth agent (Polypure EX)

Polypure EX is a hair growth agent with a reputation for being "very cost-effective" due to its high effectiveness and easy-to-continue price. The advantages of Polypure EX can be broadly divided into the following six categories.

Can be used without worrying about side effects because it is a topical drug type.

It has passed allergy tests and is gentle to the scalp and body because it causes little irritation.

Contains various ingredients that are good for hair and scalp

Fragrance-free, so you don't have to worry about the smell.

Because it is light and has high penetration into the scalp, it is easy to use before going to work or school in the morning.

Low price among hair growth agents, so it is easy to continue using for 3 or 6 months.

Although treatment using oral medication is expected to be highly effective, it has the disadvantage of being difficult to use without anxiety because side effects such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and decreased libido may occur. In addition, the high cost makes it difficult for many people to continue taking these drugs for a long period of time.

In contrast, Polypure EX, which has a reputation for high efficacy and a price that makes it easy to continue using, is a recommended hair growth agent because it is safe to use with no side effects, it is comfortable to use and fragrance-free, and it contains a wealth of ingredients that are good for the scalp and hair.