why nizoral?

[Silent Method]

I dont need to. I think a lot of bros are wasting their funds....

Bro, you have to understand that this is just the sort of attitude that make responsible users of anabolic drugs cringe. If your not even willing to research your own inquiry, you have no bussiness forming an opinion one way or the other.


Here's an old post of mine - Nizoral Shampoo: Hair Preservative and ACNE FIGHTER!


Nizoral Shampoo: Hair Preservative and ACNE FIGHTER!

Recently, I've been researching methods of fighting the side effects I experienced with my last cycle. Namely acne and hair thinning. The subject of Nizoral shampoo is often brought up regarding hair loss. In my search within this board, I have found much of the information about Nizoral is conflicting or inacurate. I found the following article extracts to be quite usefull regarding this subject. Take note of the fact that besides the antifungal proporties of ketoconzole (Nizoral's active ingredient), it also exhibits antiandrogenetic properties which, aside from receptor downgrade, induces a direct sebum inhibiting effect. The implications for possible use as an anti-acne medication (as some of you have already done) are obvious.



quote:
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Nizoral

Originally Nizoral was only available by prescription as an anti-dandruff shampoo. The active ingredient in Nizoral is Ketoconazole, and is now available over the counter with 1% ketoconzole, as opposed to the 2% in the prescription formulation.

It has recently been shown that the benefits of Nizoral far exceed that of dandruff relief. It has long been known that Ketoconzole in the 2% solution has had some benefit for people suffering from androgenetic alopecia. On March 4, 2001 at the American Academy of Dermatology Meeting, scientists working for McNeil, makers of Nizoral, revealed that the 1% version provides similar benefits.

An anti-dandruff shampoo like Nizoral should be used anyways by men and women who use topical treatments such as Rogaine because it relieves any itchiness or dryness as well as dandruff.

Nizoral costs approximately $10 for a 4oz bottle and is available at any drug store.

Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Contains: Ketoconazole (1 %)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Acrylic Acid Polymer (Carbomer 1342), Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Quaternium -15, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrochloric Acid, FD&C Blue No. 1


Studies

March 04, 2001 - American Academy of Dermatology Meeting - Washington DC - Scientists working for McNeil, makers of Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo, presented the findings of a study done on 1% Nizoral shampoo which has good news for hair loss sufferers. It has long been known that 2% prescription Nizoral has beneficial effects on Androgenic Alopecia (MPB). It however has been unclear whether the same benefits can be obtained by using the non-prescription 1% version.
In the study presented (see below), one hundred male volunteers with mild to moderate dandruff and somewhat oily scalp, were using, in a double-blind fashion, either a 1% Nizoral shampoo or a 1% zinc pyrithione shampoo, 2-3 times a week for 6 months.
Analysis of the different parameters set up in the study shows that the hair diameter gradually increased with Nizoral use (+8.46%) over a 6 month period, whereas the diameter showed a trend to decrease with zinc pyrithione use over the same period (-2.28%). The sebum excretion rate was reduced with Nizoral (-6.54%) while it increased with zinc pyrithione (+8.2%) over the same period of time. The number of hair shed over a 24-hour period was reduced by 16.46% with Nizoral and 6.02% with zinc pyrithione after 6 months. Finally, the percentage hairs in anagen phase increased by 6.4% and 8.4% respectively during the study time.

The results are similar to a previous study done on 2% prescription strength Nizoral where it was shown that use of 2% Nizoral yielded a 7% average increase in hair shaft diameter similar to what was achieved by the control group using 2% Minoxidil and a non-medicated shampoo.

So for any hair loss sufferer, this research clearly indicates that using 1% or 2% Nizoral 2-3 times per week, will have positive effects on hair growth as well as controlling dandruff. It is still unclear at this time whether it's the anti-fungal properties or the anti-androgenic properties of Ketokonazole (active ingredient in Nizoral) thats responsible for the hair thickening effects, however because of the decrease in sebum rates as well, it is the authors opinion that the results are due to the anti-androgenic properties of Ketokonazole.


The effects of chronic use of 1% ketoconazole or a 1% zinc pyrithione shampoo on the general health of hair and scalp.

G. Piérard 1and G. Cauwenbergh2
1. Dept Dermatopathology, University of Liège, Belgium; 2. Skin research Center, Johnson &Johnson , Skillman, N.J., USA

Hundred male volunteers with mild to moderate dandruff and somewhat oily scalp, have used, in a double-blind fashion, a 1% ketoconazole shampoo or a 1% zinc pyrithione shampoo. The test shampoos were applied 2 to 3 times weekly for a total period of 6 months. Several parameters that affect the general health of hair and scalp were assessed at start, and after 1, 3 and 6 months. These parameters included the percent of hairs in anagen phase, the diameter of the hairs, sebum excretion rate at the hairline, and the number of hairs shed in the 24-hour period prior to each assessment. At the end of the study, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the cosmetic acceptability of the test shampoos.

Forty-four ketoconazole users and forty-three zinc pyrithione users completed the 6 month study period. Analysis of the different parameters shows that the hair diameter gradually increases with chronic ketoconazole use (+8.46%) over a 6 month period, whereas the diameter shows a trend to decrease with zinc pyrithione use over the same period (-2.28%). The sebum excretion rate is reduced with ketoconazole (-6.54%) while it increases with zinc pyrithione (+8.2%) over the same period of time. The number of hair shed over a 24-hour period is reduced by 16.46% with ketoconazole and 6.02% with zinc pyrithione after 6 months. Finally, the percentage hairs in anagen phase increased by 6.4% and 8.4% respectively during the study time. Except for the percentage of hairs in anagen, which showed no difference between the two groups, all other parameters were significantly different in favor of the ketoconazole shampoo.

Both shampoos have been shown to be good anti-dandruff ingredients. Assessment of parameters than can affect the health of hair and scalp, suggests that both ingredients show distinct differences in the way they affect the scalp; indicating that ketoconazole increases hair diameter and reduces scalp oil, whereas zinc pyrithione seems to yield opposite effects. This suggests that, besides their effect on the lipophilic yeast Malassezia spp, ketoconazole and zinc pyrithione act though quite different mechanisms. An overall analysis of hair diameter changes as a function of changes in sebum excretion rate suggests that a reduction in scalp oiliness seems to result in an increased hair diameter. This suggests that, in people with oily hair, regular use of ketoconazole shampoo may result in overall hair fullness.
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[ryce]

Bro, you have to understand that this is just the sort of attitude that make responsible users of anabolic drugs cringe. If your not even willing to research your own inquiry, you have no bussiness forming an opinion one way or the other.

Perfect!!!!!!!!!!!

I will call his mom and recommend no TV- cookies and cartoons for a wee

 

[ryce]

Bro, you have to understand that this is just the sort of attitude that make responsible users of anabolic drugs cringe. If your not even willing to research your own inquiry, you have no bussiness forming an opinion one way or the other.

Perfect!!!!!!!!!!!

I will call his mom and recommend no TV- cookies and cartoons for a week

 

[buffdoc]

It's frustrating when some of us spend a lot of time and energy preparing posts or posting research for the general benefit of the ppl on the board, and then to have someone come on w/ an attitude, talk trash, and then, worst of all, disappear into the ozone and refuse to respond on a thread they themselves created.
So again, justwannagetsome, I call on you for a response: rational and measured, no doubt. We justwannahearfromyou!

 

[justwannagetsum]

well I suppose I just looked through a pharmocolgy textbook and the PDR and didnt find anything suggesting it has anti-androgenic effect. Idid a search on this board and found a lot of people suggesting it and not seeing anything backing it up (maybe i never made it to the research part). I used it for months and didnt get any good results. and I saw Mike PT's post and it made me wonder if this wasn't a myth that people perpetuate with nothing to back it up (as can happen, no?)
So I guess I ruined a lot of peoples' day here because there are some angry posts... I am sorry...

So again, justwannagetsome, I call on you for a response: rational and measured, no doubt. We justwannahearfromyou

Thats clever doc, justwannahearfromyou.

 

[buffdoc]

well I suppose I just looked through a pharmocolgy textbook and the PDR and didnt find anything suggesting it has anti-androgenic effect. Idid a search on this board and found a lot of people suggesting it and not seeing anything backing it up (maybe i never made it to the research part). I used it for months and didnt get any good results. and I saw Mike PT's post and it made me wonder if this wasn't a myth that people perpetuate with nothing to back it up (as can happen, no?)
So I guess I ruined a lot of peoples' day here because there are some angry posts... I am sorry...

So again, justwannagetsome, I call on you for a response: rational and measured, no doubt. We justwannahearfromyou

Thats clever doc, justwannahearfromyou.

Appreciate your response. Scientific "backup" can be a misty and ill-defined thing (see my post on Scientific evidence).
I do know that one of my hair replacement mentors, John Cole, MD, probably one of the 10 best in the world, recommends Nizoral to al ot of his patients, that and minox/finast. Those are the ONLY 3 he mentions, and he's done lots of hair. I use it myself, based on his rec, not on the studies per se.

 

[justwannagetsum]

I have read about oral minoxidil and while a heart medication should probably not be taken for hair regrowth, I wonder if anyone here has a personal experience with it. A study on one site i read (cant remember) said something like 80% of patients in their study on oral minox regrew substantial hair. ( a poor site quote i know) Maybe this should be a new thread.

 

[rjl296]

I use Nizoral fo dandruff - is there anything cheaper that works well

 

[justwannagetsum]

DHS zinc shampoo is about 12$ a bottle but that will last 4 months. It is good for dandruff and I use it for hairloss because I beleive it reduces scalp inflamation caused by androgen induced overactive sebaceuos(sp) glands. I have no research to back this up
...

 

[Silent Method]

Interesting read from dermadoctor.com.

Nizoral Shampoo for Hair Loss
Doctors have known for a long time that Nizoral shampoo, in prescription and non-prescription strength, works well for controlling dandruff. But at last year´s meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, a group of scientists suggested that over-the-counter Nizoral might also be useful as a hair loss remedy.

The researchers compared Nizoral A-D Shampoo, containing 1% ketoconazole (the active ingredient), to another shampoo containing 1% zinc pyrithione. Zinc pyrithione is the active ingredient in dandruff shampoos such as Head & Shoulders. They found that Nizoral increased hair thickness and decreased hair shedding, whereas the zinc pyrithione shampoo had the opposite effect.

Their presentation didn´t make a big splash then, and it has faded into obscurity since. That´s probably because what they presented were the results of a preliminary study--the results have not yet been duplicated in other studies by other researchers--and perhaps because the scientists who did the research were under the employ of McNeil pharmaceuticals, the company that makes Nizoral.

Still, it´s not all flimflam. The study met the basic standards of good research: It was a randomized, double-blinded study. That means the researchers used a random process to decide who would use Nizoral and who would use the zinc pyrithione shampoo. Also, the study participants didn´t know which shampoo they were using, and neither did the researchers, until the results were in. Both of these measures are important in conducting a scientific study because they help eliminate any bias the researcher s or the study participants may have, which could skew the results.

Here is how the study was done:

Forty-four men with "mild to moderate dandruff and somewhat oily scalp" used Nizoral A-D Shampoo two or three times a week for six months, and 43 men with the same scalp problems used a dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione just as frequently over the same period of time. Both shampoos had the same percentage (1%) of the active ingredient in them.

At the beginning of the study, the researchers looked at the health of the men´s hair and scalp. They counted the number of hairs growing on the scalp. They also measured the diameter of the hairs, and how many hairs fell out over a 24-hour period. They took these measurements again one month into the study, then again at three months, and one last time at six months.

The researchers found that the men using Nizoral had about an 8% increase in the thickness of their hair. The men using the zinc pyrithione shampoo had no such increase. In fact, their hair decreased in thickness by about 2%. The men who used Nizoral also shed fewer hairs over a 24-hour period than the zinc pyrithione shampoo users did. The Nizoral users shed about 16% fewer hairs, whereas the zinc pyrithione users shed about 6% fewer hairs.

The Nizoral users, however, had fewer hairs growing on the scalp at the end of six months than the zinc pyrithione users did. That means fewer of their hair follicles were in "anagen phase."

Not all the hair on your head grows at once. At any given time, some hair follicles are dormant, while others are actively pushing out hair: They´re in the anagen phase, which lasts about two to six years. After a short transitional phase, the dormant phase, or "telogen" phase begins, lasting about five to six weeks. When a follicle goes back into anagen phase, the hair that had been growing from it falls out, and a new hair begins to grow.

In the study, both the Nizoral users and the zinc pyrithione users had an increase in the number of hairs in anagen phase. The Nizoral group had about 6% more, whereas the zinc pyrithione had about 8% more.

These results may seem to prove that Nizoral A-D works against hair loss, but they really don´t: They merely suggest it. Scientists might be able to get a better idea of how well Nizoral works as a hair-loss remedy if they were to do a placebo-controlled study. That means one group of people would use Nizoral A-D, while another group would use a shampoo that contains no medicine at all.

One 1998 study showed that prescription-strength Nizoral, which contains 2% ketoconazole, worked just as well as minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) in men with androgenic alopecia (male hereditary balding). Both medicines increased hair thickness and increased the number of anagen-phase hair follicles on the scalp. But the researchers were guarded about the meaning of these results, saying that more rigorous studies on larger groups of men should be done.

The most certain results come from placebo-controlled studies done in more than one place, on groups of people that fit a wider profile (not just men with dandruff, in the case of the Nizoral A-D study). This is what´s known as the "gold standard" for medical research--in scientific terms, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. This is the kind of study that the US Food and Drug Administration wants to see before it will approve a medicine for a particular use.

Nizoral A-D Shampoo has met the FDA´s standards as a dandruff treatment, but you will not see the shampoo advertised by its makers as a hair loss remedy. It would be illegal for them to do so, because that has not been proven.

The only medicines scientifically proven to regrow hair in some men with hereditary balding are minoxdil and finasteride (brand name Propecia). Even so, if you´re willing to accept the Nizoral A-D study at face value, you may want to try it for yourself.

While you´re thinking about it, however, do consider that it may cause some side effects, like pimples on the scalp, or itching and dryness. You should also ask your doctor about it if you´re taking any other medications, and you shouldn´t use it if you´re allergic to any of the ingredients.

There´s no guarantee that using Nizoral A-D will give you a thicker head of hair, but you´ll probably have less dandruff--assuming you have dandruff. If you´ve never had problems with dandruff, then you´re just buying an expensive shampoo for unproven benefits. Nizoral A-D costs about $10 for a 4-ounce bottle, compared to about $2 for a 16-ounce bottle bargain shampoo.