The hair growth cycle, thinning in men and women, approved and off-label hair treatments, and skin topics such as tretinoin, GHK-Cu and hormonal acne.
Other topics: Weight Loss · Daily Wellness · Sexual Health
9 articles
Tretinoin is a prescription retinoid FDA-approved to treat acne, and one low-strength cream is approved to help soften fine facial wrinkles. Expect dryness or peeling and possible early breakouts, with acne improvement usually taking 6 to 12 weeks.
Read articleTopical minoxidil labels say results may appear at 2 to 4 months for men and 3 to 6 months for women, and the AAD suggests 6 to 12 months to judge. A brief shed early on is common, and benefits last only with continued use.
Read articleSpironolactone is a blood pressure medication that dermatologists prescribe off-label for hormonal acne in women. A 2023 trial found it improved acne more than placebo by 24 weeks. Pregnancy must be avoided, and potassium matters for some people.
Read articleThe most common cause of thinning hair in women is female pattern hair loss, a hereditary condition that often begins in midlife. Shedding after childbirth or illness, thyroid problems and anemia can look similar, so diagnosis comes first.
Read articleHair shedding a few months into weight loss is usually telogen effluvium, a temporary shift in the hair growth cycle triggered by rapid weight loss or stress. It typically settles once the trigger passes, but iron, thyroid and nutrition are worth checking.
Read articleFor pattern hair loss, the FDA has approved topical minoxidil and oral finasteride (men only). Spironolactone and oral minoxidil are used off-label, and compounded topical blends are not FDA-approved. Here is how the categories differ.
Read articleShedding roughly 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Here is how the hair growth cycle works, why shedding rises and falls, and which changes are worth a provider visit.
Read articleGHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper peptide with strong lab and animal data on collagen and wound repair. Human evidence for skin is limited to small, short studies, and controlled human trials for hair loss are lacking. It is not FDA-approved.
Read articleFinasteride lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles in male pattern hair loss. It is FDA-approved for men only, takes three months or more to show benefit, and carries label warnings on sexual side effects, mood, PSA testing and pregnancy exposure.
Read article