
06-10-2008, 07:00 AM
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Senior Member
Guru Real Hair Club Member
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 384
Last Online: Yesterday 10:02 PM
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Emperor,
I have been reading and going to meetings for years and have never heard Rogaine (minoxidil) described as an anti-androgen. I think you have mixed it up with finasteride. We know that minoxidil is a vasodilator and may increase blood supply in the skin. In fact, some surgeons stop it a few days before surgery to avoid excessive bleeding. I don't, and have never been impressed bleeding was increased with it being used right up to the time of surgery. Also, we know it has an effect on potassium in the cells, but most of its action is relatively unknown, and some have simply described it as a "growth factor" for hair, although in reality it is much better at preventing hair loss than in actually growing hair. It probably works best in growing hair when used in conjunction with finasteride (Propecia), as it is synergistic with the other medication.
Mike Beehner, M.D.
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