RU58841 for hair loss prevention

  • Androgens are the male hormones in charge of sexually related development.

    The most well-known androgen is testosterone. Another androgen is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a metabolite of testosterone.

    Around 5% of free testosterone in the serum is converted to DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to the more potent DHT. DHT plays a role in a man’s development, but in adulthood it can cause problems for men with sensitivity to alopecia. In the scalp, it has shown to be the culprit for pattern hair loss.

    When testosterone is converted to DHT, some of it reaches the hair follicles where it binds to androgen receptors located on the dermal papilla cells and triggers a cascade of events inside the cell to miniaturize the follicle.

    With each successive hair growth cycle, the hair strands will become shorter and thinner. Prolonged miniaturization will eventually kill the follicle, and can never be regrown.

    The adverse effects of DHT on hair growth will not be immediately obvious. Male pattern baldness is a slow, gradual process. Usually hair loss isn’t noticed until 50% of the hair is gone.

  • Traditionally Finasteride (Propecia) has been the primary drug for hair loss. It’s an oral prescription medication and must be taken daily. Finasteride works by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme responsible for converting Testosterone to DHT. It’s typically taken in a 1mg/day dose.

    But Finasteride also has several shortcoming for a hair loss regimen, most significantly:

    1. Finasteride only reduces DHT by about 65%, and sensitive men still see hair loss even while taking Finasteride. Higher doses can reduce DHT further, but with the trade-ff of significantly increased side effects.

    2. Finasteride doesn’t block Testosterone itself which is also a contributor to hair loss, although a smaller factor compared to DHT.

    Finasteride can also comes with many side effects, including:

    • decreased sex drive.

    • trouble getting or keeping an erection.

    • ejaculation disorder.

    • increase in breast size and tenderness.

    • skin rash.

  • Minoxidil works by increasing circulation on the scalp. This can help a hair follicle grow temporarily.

    Minoxidil does NOT target the root cause of hair loss, however - DHT and androgens in the scalp. Many individuals make the mistake of starting their hair loss regimen with minoxidil, a critical mistake. A hair loss regimen should ALWAYS target DHT in the scalp.

  • RU58841 is a topical anti-androgen. It counteracts the effects of DHT by binding to the androgen receptors at the hair follicles, so DHT isn’t able to. The process of miniaturization never initiates, and the hair undergoes its normal growth cycle.

    RU58841 also prevents other androgens from attaching follicle such as Testosterone, or anabolic steroids.

    RU58841 also aids in cellular recovery by allowing time for damaged follicles to transition back to a normal anagen phase.

    Since RU58841 is topical and does not block the production of DHT in the body, the levels of DHT in the blood are not affected.