After meeting and speaking with many of the dermatologists and health care professionals attending the AAD Conference, the following are important points to consider in determining whether women, as well as men, should view HairPrime® as a possible solution to their thinning hair or hair loss problems given that there are only two FDA approved treatments for hair loss:
Regardless of the hair growth claims by Propecia® and Minoxidil®, no product grows hair. If it were so, then hair should grow on the palms of your hand and the bottoms of your feet when the product is applied. Hair grows on its own from a healthy follicle. Products may only improve or enhance the environment, health and condition of the follicle to allow the hair to grow.
- HairPrime®, like Propecia® and Minoxidil®, only creates a better environment for growing hair. HairPrime® is effective using natural botanical extracts whereas the other two are synthetic. But most important is the fact that women are warned not to use or handle Propecia® and the additional strength Rogaine® with 5% Minoxidil® is indicated for men only.
- Minoxidil®, originally intended to treat blood pressure, was found to have side effects which were positive on hair growth...HOWEVER, it does not block the effects of DHT (the cause of androgenetic alopecia®, commonly known as "male pattern baldness", which effects both men and women), thus the hair growth cycle is shortened. If the hair cycle is shortened, the hair will fall out after only 3-5 weeks growth, rather than the normal healthy growth cycle of 3-5 years. Thus, Minoxidil® may stimulate new hair growth, but it does not extend the hair growth cycle to allow the vellus hair to convert to a non-vellus/terminal, melanized, mature hair. [People who use Minoxidil® to stimulate hair growth may find that using HairPrime® will contribute to the longer term life of the hair by converting the new growth hair to terminal hair.]
- DHT has been identified by researchers to cause the premature completion of the growth phase of the hair growth cycle leading to the conversion of hair follicles from the terminal form (which produces mature, pigmented hairs) to the vellus form (which produces fine, short, "baby" hair). Thus, "thinning hair" results from the inability of the hair to live and grow to full maturity and "hair loss" logically results because the hair growth cycle is shortened causing the hair to fall out prematurely.
- Propecia®, employing Finasteride® (a drug originally developed in Proscar® to treat the prostate), is claimed in research to inhibit 5 alpha reductase Type II, thus blocking the conversion of testosterone into the androgen, DHT. HOWEVER, because 5 alpha reductase Type II is found mainly in the genitalia tissue and Propecia® invasively inhibits its activity, the possible side effects of PSA masking and possible loss of libido in men are logical. BUT MORE IMPORTANT, it poses a serious threat to women of reproductive age as research has indicated that a deficiency in DHT may cause the inability of a male fetus to form sex organs. Furthermore, women after menopause may be effected by the increase in testosterone levels because the conversion of DHT is blocked.
- Thus, if you dismiss the clinical effectiveness of HairPrime®, as published in a dermatologist peer review publication, The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, then women have only the choice of growing short, baby-fine hair that may last only 3-5 weeks with the use of 2% Minoxidil®.
- HairPrime® is unique in that it is a SAFE, PROVEN, NATURAL TREATMENT that WOMEN AND MEN can use to convert vellus (fine, short, "baby") hair to non-vellus/terminal (mature, full-grown, pigmented) hair because of its 5 alpha reductase inhibition like activity which is TOPICALLY APPLIED. As a topical application, HairPrime® may seem cumbersome as it requires commitment, time and compliance to achieve satisfactory results; but after satisfactory results are achieved (as achieved by 80%-90% of those that have used HairPrime®), maintenance is much less time-consuming and the effects are long-term, not transient. HairPrime® is less invasive and less systemic than Propecia®, although Propecia® may be easily ingested in seconds with effective results for men.
- Although on average there is a milder expression of hereditary hair thinning in women, the emotional impact is often more devastating to women than men. Men (from Yul Brenner to Telly Savalas to Michael Jordon) have been able to transform their baldness into a fashion statement whereas women have not had the same opportunities of emotional escape. Yet, most of the marketing and development of hair loss treatment products are focused on men. Our informal survey of women who have used HairPrime®, even those who have achieved satisfactory results, reveal that women are so self-conscious about thinning hair that they will not participate in clinical tests or give testimonials, especially where it exposes their results in public forums. This is indeed a phenomenon as over 50% of our HairPrime® customers are women.
- HairPrime®, with your assistance, could be the leader in addressing hair thinning/loss issues of women. Women, on average, prefer to avoid invasive drugs in favor of natural treatments. If women use ethical natural products with success, men may benefit in adopting the women's approach to regaining aesthetic appearance as is the case where men have adopted the use of skin care products that were previously only used by women.
To summarize, the key is not so much as to grow (new) hair, rather it is to allow hair (whether new or old) to continue to grow healthy to full maturity. Thus, we prefer to say "HairPrime® Promotes a Healthy Environment for Hair to Grow" rather than claiming that it grows hair.
I hope that this scientific distinction regarding "Conversion To Terminal Hair" that we have delivered at the IBC Scientific Conference (Short Hills, NJ - Feb,1999), the 57th American Academy of Dermatology Conference (New Orleans, March 1999) and at the Society of Cosmetic Chemists' Annual Scientific Seminar (Chicago - May, 1999) is clearly conveyed for your understanding and consideration.
Your consideration and effort to bring understanding and opportunity to our unique product is deeply appreciated.
Yours truly,
Robert Jew, CEO
(C) 2000 Universal Biologics, All Rights Reserved.
IMPROVED PRODUCT WITH RECENT PRESENTED STUDY SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION BY
Professionals Treating Women & Men - Attending the
American
Academy of Dermatology Conference in New Orleans - March, '99
HAIRPRIME® SYSTEM FOR THINNING HAIR
"Conversion of Vellus Hair to Terminal Hair":
A Closer Focus on the Success of HairPrime®