Let me get this straight....

[NeedHairASAP]

Just dreamin for a moment "I walk into a clinic, get an injection. 3 months later my follicles are in overdrive ....I'M BACK"

not soon enough... something tells me that things are not good


If nothing good comes of histogen were down one more. they were suppose to present yesterday in alaska... no updates from anybody who was at the convention yet

[EXprettyboy]

3 and a half years ago I realized that I could not tolerate any more hair loss, So I decided action had to be taken. It is a big commitment because you can't stop once you start. The earlier you start the better, more hair can be saved.

Lots of people will tell you that propecia or a DHT blocker is essential. BUT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS EVER GOING TO MESS AROUND WITH MY MAN HORMONES OR RISK IMPOTENCE.

So heres what I actually do:
> Rogaine extra strength. I probably spray on way to much. (...as a result I believe I suffered a side affect I've not heard anybody else complain of, back hair/ beard heavier and even hair above the beard, nasty = laser hair removal)

> Hairmax laser comb daily. A lot of work for little result. I am about to build a full laser helmet because I think this treatment works if you get sufficient laser light. Like full scalp saturation for 20 minutes twice a week, as opposed to a few seconds with 5 diodes.

>Resveratrol and curcumin, I started to take these supplements for other reasons but they definitely improved my hair.

> Nizoral shampoo once every other week. any more frequently it drys my hair out.


That is all for treatment but I have a multitude of grooming methods to maintain the cosmetic appearance

> American Crew Fibre, A great clay styling product, gives a thick matt finish
>Thickening shampoos that swell the strands of hair (lock, stock and barrell RECONSTRUCT shampoo)
>Lots of conditioner
>VO5 hot oils
>Satin pillow case
>Don't wash your hair everyday
>Let your hair air dry don't towel dry or blow dry
>Avon Advance Techniques Intensive repair and serum
>Keep the back and sides tight and have a conservative hairstyle


And finaly : excercise, Eat right, sleep well and don't smoke or stress

If you do all this your hair will probably stay the same as it is now, maybe improve for a few months and then stablize, If you don't then you might thin out. (I started losing it before my friends and took action whilst never saying a word. Some of them are pretty bald now, but I'm more or less the same)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU ASKED, WELCOME TO NOT ACCEPTING HAIRLOSS

[Pate]

3. Aderans, seem confident they will be able to clone follicle cells and reinject them, they call it 'ji gami'. I don't know if this will be as natural looking as replicel but beggars can't be choosers. Am I right in thinking 2014 is the anticipated public launch date??

From my understanding, Ji Gami is actually very similar to Replicel. Both are aiming for follicular neogenesis but both realistically expect regeneration of existing follicles to be a major effect. ARI's results so far show some apparent new follicle growth and they claim results similar to Propecia for about 70% of their trial patients (presumably with the difference that this regrowth is either permanent or at least long-term). Regardless I think they should look similarly natural, particularly the growth from rejuvenated vellus.

4. George Cotsarelis, discovered wounding growth windows for wnt proteins years ago and founded follica. Last year discovered baldies still have hair stem cells in their scalps, which just need a kick start. (Yale researchers have found certain fat cells could be the signallers). I would love to see these guys do somethin' because, the results would be an actual expression of your own dna blueprints. It would be the shape of your own hairline, because it's your own stem cells being activated. Cotsarelis always says maybe within ten years. (well at least he's honest)

Yeah, Follica seems to be still be in the research stage. So while they might not be coming up with trials or results, they are making some extremely important discoveries that are being published (so all can access them and make use of them), like the stem cell discovery you mentioned. I'm glad someone is doing this because it allows others to build on their results. You can bet the guys at ARI and Replicel were all over Cotsarelis's stem cell paper when it came out, looking for ways to tinker with their own product to ensure it takes advantage of the new science.

5. Intercytex and berlin technical university have generated a follicle from stem cells, they may be able to repeat this in the scalp. I don't really know the science on this one or the timeframe. Anybody??

As someone said, Intercytex is dead and sold their tech to ARI. The Germans are the ones who are looking at possibly growing a bank of follicles that can be transplanted, sort of like a HT with unlimited donor. It's these guys about whom the worry has been expressed that if they form the follicles directly in the scalp they might not grow in the right direction.

Anyway have I missed anything? Is there any other Massive company on the verge of making history that we know of?

You've covered the main ones, there have been mentions of a couple of others but I don't recall any that were significant. In the meantime, since you don't want to take Propecia, keep an eye on Androscience's ASC-J9 and Cosmo's CB-03-01, which seem to be the only two topical anti-androgen drugs actively being pursued. Unfortunately both companies are focusing on acne before hairloss for some reason. Possibly because they know nobody will grow a full head of hair from them (will mostly stop further loss), whereas acne should have visible effects. On the plus side we may be able to get the acne treatments off-label although that's likely to be a cream rather than a lotion. In any event both these drugs should offer better results than Propecia (blocking both DHT and T) without systemic effects.

Even if Replicel and Histogen are successful there may still be a role for these new anti-androgen drugs to stop DHT attacking the new growth - particularly with Histogen which doesn't actually do anything to overcome the DHT issue.

Exciting times all around, it's just damn frustrating that even in the best case scenario we're looking at probably 2015. Histogen maybe a year earlier.

[EXprettyboy]

Pate, Thanks for the clarifications, I appreciate the Information.

The reason I wasn't sure ji gami would be as natural as replicel is because in the interview replicel ceo dr Hall says the cup sheath cells give aligned growth but the papilla part is discarded because it gives clumpy growth that does not grow at the right angle. I thought aderans were using papilla for some reason or maybe something other than cup sheath cells. But now I understand that they may in fact be doing something similar to replicel.

George Cotsarelis, great guy, never talks shit and shares his findings, a man of integrity, I agree.

topical anti androgens? would that not have the same side affect? it's still an anti androgen, or maybe because it's applied locally it only affects the scalp. If it's in the blood stream though it's the same no?


2015....2015..... Maybe sooner, wait and see how the FDA get on in that lawsuit about their jurisdiction with that biotech company, or maybe they will allow marketing after a succesful phase 2, or perhaps a japenese early release?


And anyway...There is something we've not stopped to consider in all this commotion.... The prospect of a viable hairloss cure becoming a reality in the next 3 years or so has crept up on us so fast that we have the luxury of the folowing problem for the first time in history:
The cure will be here before you can afford it! I am now motivated to get that money together... Before I thought that pursuing money would still leave me without hair, but with these revelations I'm ready to get down to business. By the time I have the money the treatment will be ready

[Pate]

The reason I wasn't sure ji gami would be as natural as replicel is because in the interview replicel ceo dr Hall says the cup sheath cells give aligned growth but the papilla part is discarded because it gives clumpy growth that does not grow at the right angle. I thought aderans were using papilla for some reason or maybe something other than cup sheath cells. But now I understand that they may in fact be doing something similar to replicel.

You are right about the difference in the target cells but the basic methods are similar in that they are autologous processes to multiply DHT-resistant cells and then reinject them. In either case the rejuvenation of existing hair follicles shouldn't change direction.

topical anti androgens? would that not have the same side affect? it's still an anti androgen, or maybe because it's applied locally it only affects the scalp. If it's in the blood stream though it's the same no?

Not if you choose the right anti-androgen. Ideally you want one that is active dermally when it's applied but is metabolised or otherwise breaks down when it enters the bloodstream. So you put it on your scalp, it penetrates the hair follicle, does its stuff, then when it gets into the bloodstream it quickly becomes inactive, so no systemic effects. Both ASC-J9 and CB-03-01 seem to fit this bill. Funnily enough neither of them are newly discovered drugs, and there are plenty of others (RU 58841 is one) but nobody has tried to commercialise them before.

Just make sure you wash your hands carefully before you start messing around downstairs.

And anyway...There is something we've not stopped to consider in all this commotion.... The prospect of a viable hairloss cure becoming a reality in the next 3 years or so has crept up on us so fast that we have the luxury of the folowing problem for the first time in history:
The cure will be here before you can afford it! I am now motivated to get that money together...

Well... Replicel is publicly listed, so you could buy a few shares in it and then if they get a working product your shares should easily cover the cost of the procedure.

(I'm kidding there - investing in a company like Replicel is only for people who can afford to lose what they put in!)

[TheDude]

I'd say countless great men in history never reached their potential because of balding weakening their self esteem.

I agree for the most part except this point..

I too am in a similar position.. young and at the point of no return..

BUT if something like going bald is going to destroy your life then the only one to blame is you.. we have no options really, drugs and ointments that scarcely work or surgery thats only successful for some and really expensive..

The only real option is acceptance (as hard as i know it is). Those that are going to make successes of their lives.. are going to do so bald or not.. AND there are many examples of this..

I really hope that some type of treatment/cure comes along but until then, (I) personally am going to focus on the things i can change and keep the hope for the rest.

[Ronin]

Well said mate! Life's never been fair, but it's up to us to make a difference where we can!

[EXprettyboy]

Yeah I'm not saying that balding prevents you from succeeding, I'm saying it is a drain on the self esteem and confidence. Thats not something we can choose not to feel. we can act tough and get on with it, but regardless it is a burden. Emotionally strong men can overcome it, But what if your self expression requires you to be not distracted by this issue??

I said it's a shame that talented and great men in the past undoubtedly did not reach their potential because of their self esteem being chipped away at.

Read some of the posts on this site ...these guys are hurting. Maybe you and footballer Wayne Rooney and surfer Kelly Slater and actor Jason statham don't give a **** about it and are unperturbed BUT most of us are drowning in self pity and shame. We devote every minute to trying to muster the strength to live 'normally'. But then we're at a party and we're consumed by self consciousness and fear. And even if society did get over it, I don't think I could!!

Can you imagine for a moment if this was cured.... A whole legion of men ready to express themselves without any distraction or without having to overcome any inner demons or fear, or self esteem issues IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

I intuitively know that that first generation of redeemed former mpb victims are gonna be a ferocious bunch. Renewed vigor and and confidence will drive them to do extraordinary things. Emotions that they had blocked off 'forever' will overwhelm them. They will have gotten through a certain death of Identity and be reawakened to LIFE! Nobody else will understand. The strength we will derive from this difficult period will make us overcome anything. That first wave of desperate men will be free again, and they will be a formidable breed. They will be hungrier and more determined than other men. New confidence and freedom will spawn creativity, unstymied expression and AMBITION.

For later generations it wont be an issue. MPB will never be enough of an issue to drive men to edge like this again. They won't get it either. It will be an easily resolved flaw, that people don't think about twice.


But for the meantime, I have to tolerate being an easy punchline, and the young girls automatic last choice, and the victim of my own inner deprication.


I just spent the day walking around town to find a ****ing nice hat to wear to college to hide my Achilles heel in the first day of college tommorow. I'm ashamed of balding. I'm also ashamed of my Vanity. I used to feel good, I was reasonably attractive, I was free to express talent. Now I'm the balding guy, my energy is wasted trying to maintain my hair count and trick everybody into not realising!.

[67mph]

Brilliant post exprettyboy!

I agree with everything you just typed up.

Hey, just make sure you stay on the forum whilst your at college yeah, i reckon you've more good stuff to say.

...anyway your college days - good luck mate!

Regards,
57mph

[stillinHS1994]

I wuld have to agree that was a great post....and your right about later generations. My future children will never understand the the toll balding took on their fathers and grandfathers etc. Self confidence. It will be a quick fix for them. They're damn lucky.

[Samiam]

Yeah your right I always say If I was 40 and this started, at least I will have had my twenties..... but I ****in didn't!

Heres a quick account of this nightmares progress:

Adolescence : great shiny curls, Hair was one of my best assets.

mid teens : Starting to adopt 2 side fringes to hide slight recession, not an issue of major concern.

late teens: Receding hairline, Unmanageable weakening hair, looks suffering, insecurity developing

Early twenties : crap hair, actual areas of thinning, Medicines initiated, Depression and anxiety about hair a big issue

now : Still have hair, (messy norwood 2) but only because of meds, if I stop there would be a big shed and I would be a norwood 3 with thinning). Emotionally worn out by this issue, periodic bouts of depression. hanging on.
"

this just depressed the **** out of me...........

[EXprettyboy]

....It depressed me too ....HAhaha

[Samiam]

How often were you having sex or masturbating between your late teens and now?? just wondering if sex could play a role

[EXprettyboy]

..... Very frequently, .... But are you for real man? I'm not shocked by the invasive question, I'm pretty open about things. What I am shocked by is that you would actually think that would have any impact on hairloss.

Look, people go bald because of a sequence of code in their dna that eventually gets expressed as DHT sensitive hair follicles.

So if I was a monk and didn't interfere with myself I could still end up with a shimmering scalp, and if I was a nymphomaniac porno star I could be rockin an afro, all depending on that one piece of genetic code.

So my young baldrick, jerk off to your hearts content.

[Samiam]

I'm not saying it causes hair loss, I'm just wondering if maybe those who are genetically pre-disposed to it could slow down the process at all by abstaining from sex.