Bimatoprost may grow hair on the scalp
Males who suffer from male pattern baldness also called alopecia have been helped immensely in the last several years with new technologies and hair loss medications that for the first time in history provably stop hair loss and re-grow hair. 3 drugs have emerged which are FDA approved to treat hair loss, they are Propecia, Avodart and Rogaine. Interestingly, all these drugs were first created to treat other health conditions. Propecia and Avodart for BPH (prostate enlargement) and minoxidil to treat high blood pressure. Each of these new drugs, while in their testing phases, demonstrated an unexpected effect. They all grew new hair in men suffering from alopecia
Recently , a a novel medicine has hit the market that quite possibly could be the next in the line of medications originally developed to treat other health disorders , but discovered to also grow hair. Bimatoprost is a drug that was developed to treat glaucoma. Bimatoprost to treat glaucoma was approved and is marketed as Lumigan. After extensive testing it was shown that Lumigan users were also seeing an unintended effect of growing thicker and fuller eyelashes. Soon, bimatoprost was FDA approved to grow thicker and fuller eyelashes and has now hit the market with great success as Latisse .
Latisse (bimatoprost) is a medication engineered from fatty acids designed to bind to prostaglandin (PG) receptors. PG receptors are present in hair, particularly in the dermal papilla and outer root sheath of the hair follicle. Although the exact way bimatoprost works is not established , it is believed to affect the growth of hair follicles by increasing the ratio of hairs in the growth period of the hair cycle and extending this phase. Therefore , there is strong speculation that bimatoprost could be succesful in turning the fine, colorless vellus hair in the bald area of the scalp into normal, pigmented terminal hair.
The prostaglandin-analog Bimatoprost, the active ingredient in Allergan’s Latisse, has been FDA-approved to increase eyelash growth. New studies show that scalp hair follicles contain prostaglandin receptors. Can Latisse Lumigan bimatoprost treat hair loss? Is it the new rogaine/minoxidil for people with scalp hair loss? Only time and additonal studies and testing will tell.
In spite of this, some men have opted to buy latisse and test it themselves on their balding scalps. Take heed that it is not recommended to utilize any drug for a use that it was not developed and tested for without first getting professional advice from you doctor . Lumigan or Latisse (bimatoprost), like most prescription medications, does carry the risk of negative side effects. For example, Bimatoprost may produce a gradual increase in the amount of brown pigment in the iris, due to increased melanin content of the melanocytes. Patients should stop using Bimatoprost and get medical help if they experience any signs of an allergic reaction including experiencing redness, swelling, itching or pain in or around the eye, discharge from the eye, increased sensitivity to light or vision changes.
A reliable Internet source to check often for news and information about the latest hair loss medications is propecia-proscar.com.