Men's Scalp Solution

• Increased hair growth
• Improved hair health
• Increased hair thickness
• Decrease in hair loss

Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance and requires a valid DEA number from the prescribing provider for fulfillment.

Potential Side Effects

• Irritation, redness, or itching at the application site.

Precautions

• Men with a history of hormone-sensitive conditions should use this product with caution.
• Although rare with topical scalp applications, the presence of hormones may result in systemic absorption, potentially causing mood changes, altered libido, or other hormone-related effects.
• Monitor thyroid function in patients with pre-existing thyroid conditions, as liothyronine may affect systemic thyroid hormone levels.

Men's Scalp Solution consists of azelaic acid, liothyronine, progesterone, and testosterone.

Azelaic acid reduces DHT levels in the scalp, a hormone known to contribute to hair loss by causing follicular miniaturization. Additionally azelaic acid boosts catalase activity in hair follicle stem cells, supporting their proliferation and function. Azelaic acid also up-regulates gene expression to help initiate and maintain the anagen phase (growth period) of the hair cycle.

Liothyronine, a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3), has been shown to down regulate transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2), a cytokine known to trigger the transition from the anagen phase to the catagen (regression) phase. By inhibiting TGF-β2, liothyronine may help prolong the anagen phase, thereby preventing premature hair follicle regression and supporting sustained hair growth and hair density.

Progesterone may help prevent hair loss by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, a primary driver of hair follicle miniaturization. Decreased localized DHT levels within the scalp helps prevent miniaturization and may prolong the anagen phase. Progesterone may also help balance scalp sebum production, reducing inflammation and clogged follicles associated with DHT.

Testosterone works synergistically with progesterone and azelaic acid via inhibition of its own conversion to DHT. DHT is a significantly more potent androgen, exhibiting a much higher binding affinity for androgen receptors, which contributes to follicular miniaturization and subsequent hair loss. By limiting this conversion, testosterone remains in its less potent form and can function as a weak agonist at androgen receptors within hair follicles. This weaker interaction helps preserve follicular health and may prolong the anagen phase of the hair cycle.

Q. Will liothyronine in the medication impact the body's (systemic) levels of thyroid hormones?

A. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can adversely affect hair growth. This stems from the high energy demands of the scalp to fuel hair in its anagen phase (growth) making it sensitive to slight variations in thyroid hormone levels. Low thyroid levels results in hair that is prematurely pushed into the telogen phase, making it thin, dull, and brittle. As such, thyroid function should be assessed at baseline whenever a patient presents with hair growth complaints. However, the liothyronine applied topically to the intact skin of the scalp results in high penetrability and concentration of the drug in the target skin tissue, with nominal absorption of the drug into systemic circulation. Topically applied liiothyronine may boost mitochondrial energy metabolism of the scalp and prolong the anagen phase (growth), without disrupting systemic thyroid balance.

Amirfakhryan E, Davarnia B, Jeddi F, Najafzadeh N. Azelaic acid stimulates catalase activation and promotes hair growth through upregulation of Gli1 and Gli2 mRNA and Shh protein. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2020 Sep-Oct;10(5):460-471. PMID: 32995324; PMCID: PMC7508322.

Safer JD, Fraser LM, Ray S, Holick MF. Topical triiodothyronine stimulates epidermal proliferation, dermal thickening, and hair growth in mice and rats. Thyroid. 2001 Aug;11(8):717-24. doi: 10.1089/10507250152484547. PMID: 11525263.

Grymowicz M, Rudnicka E, Podfigurna A, Napierala P, Smolarczyk R, Smolarczyk K, Meczekalski B. Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 28;21(15):5342. doi: 10.3390/ijms21155342. PMID: 32731328; PMCID: PMC7432488.

Paus R, Ramot Y, Kirsner RS, Tomic-Canic M. Topical L-thyroxine: The Cinderella among hormones waiting to dance on the floor of dermatological therapy? Exp Dermatol. 2020 Sep;29(9):910-923. doi: 10.1111/exd.14156. Epub 2020 Aug 28. PMID: 32682336; PMCID: PMC7722149.