I think it will become almost twice as thin, but you are likely to have lost some follicles due to transecting.

__________________
2110 FUT grafts by DR. Raymond Konior on July 30th, 2012

Best HT advice I have ever heard: "Find a doctor that you need more than they need you." Author Unknown

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there was a little thing on channel 10 news in austraila on this a month back, with a few interviews, i was meaning to come here to start this thread but its already been done.

here is a little info that i found on the topic.

'In August 2012, Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania announced that they had discovered an enzyme which caused baldness. They found that the enzyme Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) was found to be present on the scalp of balding men at far higher levels than normal, preventing hair follicles from maturing and therefore stopping them from working and growing hair. Dr George Cotsarelis and his dermatological team at the University say that they are in talks with several pharmaceutical companies about developing treatments which could be available in two years.'

it is all very exciting. if this works a lot of hair transplant surgeons will be out of a job.

anyone know where to get updated info on any products/drugs being tested to block pgd2

I do not believe any company is testing it at this time.ugh

I dont know about testing via the scientific method, but has anyone tried or know of anyone who tried this: PSI NEOSH 101

I read of some people getting excellent results but loosing access to supply shortly thereafter.

I came across a few forums one being a german forum and apparently some hair loss sufferers will not wait for this new medicine to hit shelves but rather are experimenting to make topical solution of cetirizine, an anti-histamine agent applying on the balding areas.

Few research articles have claimed it inhibits the production of PGD2, the prostaglandins responsible for hair loss while increases the level of PGE2, the catalyst for hair growth. Cetirizine is preferred to corticosteroid as it does not contribute to skin/scalp thinning.

The tablets are relatively cheap and some claimed growth of vellus hair in as little as 1.5 months, and majority reporting a complete stop of scalp itch. Cetirizine stops inflammation on hair follicles.

Well only time and further research will tell how effective it is.

Thanks DL. Can you let us know if you end up finding pics of successful Cetirizine users?

Hmm ... from a biochemical standpoint, I'm having a hard time deciphering how an anti-histamine would decrease the production of a prostglandin.

Histamine is an element that acts two different ways in the body: In one set of gastric cells, it increases the amount of acid released into the stomach, and in another set of inflammatory cells (called mast cells) it regulates a degranulation process and leads to an allergic like inflammation.

Although certain anti-inflammatory elements like Ibprofen and other "NSAIDs" (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can decrease levels of prostaglandins, these block enzymes that, to my knowledge, don't require histamine for function.

Unless I'm missing something (which could easily be a possibility - hahah), this seems like it might be a stretch to me.

__________________
Blake (Future_HT_Doc)

Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

All opinions are my own and my advice should not constitute as medical advice.

This article may be useful in answering some of our questions.
Effect of cetirizine on mast cell-mediator release and cellular traffic during the cutaneous late-phase reaction.

Authors

Charlesworth EN, et al. Show all Journal

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1989 May;83(5):905-12.
Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Md 21239.

Abstract

A new H1 antihistamine, cetirizine, was studied to determine its effects on mediators and cellular infiltration during the cutaneous late-phase response (LPR). Ten ragweed-allergic subjects, who had previously demonstrated a cutaneous LPR, were examined in a double-blind, crossover study. Either cetirizine, 20 mg, or placebo was administered orally once daily for 2 days before and the morning of placement of a skin chamber overlying an unroofed heat/suction-induced blister to which was added antigen or buffer. Skin test erythema was significantly reduced by cetirizine at 15 minutes, 2 hours, and 4 hours by 56%, 40%, and 39%, respectively (all, p less than or equal to 0.01), but by 6 and at 8 hours, the cutaneous erythema was not significantly lessened. Histamine release was not altered by cetirizine treatment, but prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) production, which peaked at 3 to 5 hours, was clearly reduced by cetirizine treatment, being lower at all time points during the reaction; this was significant by analysis of variance (p less than or equal to 0.04). The inhibition was most marked during the fifth hour of the reaction when there was a 50% suppression of the PGD2 level by cetirizine (0.193 ng/ml to 0.075 ng/ml [p less than or equal to 0.03]). The most dramatic effect of cetirizine was attenuation of the inflammatory cell migration into the chamber. Eosinophil infiltration was decreased by about 75% during hours 6, 7, and 8 (p less than or equal to 0.04), whereas the number of neutrophils was reduced by the same magnitude at the same times


Most improved results are seen with users applying cetirizine topically rather than ingesting orally.

I too wonder why this cheap OTC drugs can turn out to be a treatments for AGA, perhaps on its specific function on inhibiting only PGD2 and not other good prostaglandins i.e. PGE2 as what ibuprofen does in inhibiting all the prostaglandins.

Still too early to judge though. I had undergone ht 34 days ago by dr. pong in chiang mai and now I am taking finasteride and oral minoxidil daily. Went through some major shedding on my 3rd week post op and its stabilizing now.

I started applying topical cetirizine 2 days ago and it seems to help calming my scalp itch big time. My scalp itches even without applying minoxidil so you can imagine how big a relief it is.

Thanks for sharing!

However, I wish the article was more a bit more current (1989 is far too old) and also described the mechanism a bit. Frankly, I'm still not certain, and I would review any sort of new treatment (especially one that's not overly proven) with a trusted physician.

__________________
Blake (Future_HT_Doc)

Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

All opinions are my own and my advice should not constitute as medical advice.