Retin-a?

[ugh]

How does my teenage zit fighting medication work to stop hair loss? I tried to do some research but couldn't find the method in which retin-a helps with hair loss. Is it a growth stimulant? Or an antiandgrogen?

 

[CCS]

it inflames the skin a bit so more minoxidil is absorbed. but it also is an anti-oxidant and may repair some types of damage. many retinoids are good for skin, but not all are good for hair. Accutane is very bad for hair.

 

[holly]

In this article, it says that Retin-A is capable of decreasing the number of androgen receptors by 30-40% with long time topical use.

http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol4num ... nkovi.html

 

[CCS]

Numerous factors affect the number and activity of androgen receptors in dermal papilla cells. Retinoic acid (vitamin A derivative), if used for a long time, may reduce the number of androgen receptors by 30 - 40 percent.[29] Vitamin B6 reduces by 35-40% the extent of protein synthesis observed after androgen receptor activation.[30] A polypeptide with molecular weight of 60 kDa, analogous to an intracellular calcium-binding protein called calreticulin, prevents binding of the androgen-receptor complex to DNA and also results in the production of calreticulin.[31]

 

[blaze]

Accutane is very bad for hair

In small doses its not.