Management of hair loss (alopecia): Minoxidil

Hair loss

Hair loss is generally not a bad thing when you reach a certain age and most men seem to cope with it perfectly. However, when you are at a young age and when you already suffer from hair loss, this can be stressful. Young adolescents with baldness is a weird sight, and this can cause problems in social life.

Most common cause for hair loss is the generic factor. This cannot be prevented or reverted, which is frustrating for the young person.
Note: don't wait too long before you do something about it if you want to, your hairs may not come back, only a small fraction if you're lucky.

Minoxidil

Luckily, science always finds a way. The molecule minoxidil has been found to stimulate hair growth and stop hair loss. It was first used as a vasodilator to lower blood pressure but was shown that it also has the side-effect, namely anti-hair loss.

It is applied topical on the scalp, a solution of 5% with a puffer, applied once or twice a day.

However, once treatment is stopped, the hair loss will continue to occur about 30-60 days after last application of the solution. Research also shows side effects could include headaches and acne. As a sidenote: it appears to be extremely toxic for cats, so keep it away from them!
Further research is needed to help balding people, but for now, this molecule has helped A LOT of people around the globe.

Chemical aspects

The molecule itself is quite big.

The molecular mass is 209,251 g/mol
IUPAC name: 6-Piperidin-1-ylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine 3-oxide
Formula: C₉H₁₅N₅O
Structure: see below.

For more info I advice you to ask a clinician, pharmacist or your doctor.
Or consult

Comments

Alkylhalides: Introduction

Alkylhalides: an initiation Background information Alkylhalides are compounds (in this case salts ) that consist of an alkyl group and an halogen (seventh row in the table of Mendeljev). Alkylhalides have good leaving groups , these groups are the atoms (or the atom) that will be substituted or eliminated during elimination or substitution reactions on the molecule. This fenomenon is caused by the polar bond formed between the halogen and the alkyl group, making the halogen more afferent to be attacked (substituated / eliminated) by a nucleophile. Nucleophile substitution reaction ( SN2 reaction) A nucleophile 'attacks' the alkylhalide, the leaving group - in this case the halogen - will be taken of the compound and will be replaced (SUBSTITUTED) by the nucleophile (hense the reaction its name). This reaction however is characterized and depended by several factors including: the solvent in which the reaction is taking place the reactivity or acti...

Coca-Cola: Life - myth or truth?

"Coca-Cola Life" Recently the Coca-Cola company released a new beverage: the Coca-Cola Life drink. It should contain less sugar than the normal Coca-Cola drink; a part of the sugar is replaced with the recently approved sweetener from the Stevia plant (stevioglycosides). It's being sold as a 'natural' drink, but those stevioglycosides are as natural as the chemical sweetener aspartame found in Light and Zero drinks. However it is true that the amount of sugar is much lower (being reported as 33%, some say it's around 20%); yet approximately still 3-4 sugar cubes / 33 cl can (5-6 in a normal can). I bought it myself and found that the flavor has not really changed from the original Coca-Cola, however it does taste more "flat" - but definitely true it yourself. The outside of the can has the colour green. I personally do not associate this "healthy - natural" colour with Coca-Cola, but it's growing on me. In sum...

The proteasome [1]: a crucial structure of protein degradation

The proteasome Proteins are constantly being synthesized and at the same time being degraded in each cell of our body. One of the most known mechanisms of proteolysis (= protein degradation) is the degradation done by lysosomes. However, an other important mechanism is degradation by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). First of all, it is needed to understand that a cell maintains its protein concentration by a constant turn-over of proteins: when there is a lot of synthesis of a certain protein, this certain protein will also be degraded by a higher level, and vice versa. A protein that has to be degraded will be marked by a polyubiquitin chain which consists of 4 or more ubiquitinmolecules. This protein will be transported to a 26S proteasome. This structure in the cell is built by a 19S part and a 20S part. The 19S part mainly serves as a recognition and binding structure for the polyubiquitinated protein, and the 20S part will destroy the protein. Once attached to the...

Pharmacist Blog about what I encounter and find useful/interesting

Search This Blog