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Hair Tox®
A revolutionary new treatment for hair loss using Botox®
WHAT IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN HAIR LOSS TREATMENT?
THE COMBINATION OF DR LAUREL’S HAIR REGROW® &
HAIR TOX®
HAIR TOX® is now offered at Dr. Laurel’s PRP Bar ®, LTD., alone or in combination with Dr. Laurel’s Hair Regrow® (PRP) and promises dramatically improved results. Although the evidence is currently being accrued, including an ongoing study started in October, 2024, at the PRP, I am excited by the existing science as well as the safety and efficacy of Botulism toxin (Botox®, Jeuveau®) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in my practice over the past year. Many patients have reported the Bocox® procedure to be a “game changer.”
Dr. Laurel recommends a combined treatment with both PRP and Hair Tox® for patients with advanced alopecia under most circumstances. Either treatment alone may be appropriate for selected patients with less advanced disease. It is impossible to do satisfactory hair consultations by email or text. As such, patients are encouraged to come in for a free consultation to formulate a personalized effective treatment plan.
Growth Factor Pathways: Botulism has been observed to interact with different growth factors essential for the development and upkeep of hair follicles, including fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor. These interactions affect the growth and specialization of hair follicle cells and ultimately influence hair growth. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-B1) is known to be a mediator in the pathway by which DHT suppresses the hair follicle. Botulism toxin acts to inhibit acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction which in turn leads to a reduction in TGF-B1 which not only decreases the suppression at the follicle but may also stimulate hair growth directly.
The combination of PRP and Botulism toxin at the same time as a therapeutic option is REALLY EXCITING because it provides for substantially improved blood flow and oxygen delivery to the treated scalp musculature (and the hair follicles situated in it) over the one-to-two-month interval where the PRP is most active and up to six months in total longevity. The current science promises a complimentary improved response in hair growth with combination treatment with no increase in side effects (which are negligible).
A volunteer study at the PRP Bar is ongoing (beginning in October, 2024 until it is filled) offering promotional pricing for those who are interested in participating in the photographic study with three treatment arms: PRP alone (group established); Hair Tox® alone; Hair Tox® combined PRP.
Permanent hair loss in patients with androgenic alopecia (AGA) results from chronic progressive, microvascular insufficiency in the scalp (which contains the hair follicles). AGA is characterized by progressive miniaturization of hair follicles as the terminal hairs get converted to intermediate and then vellus hairs over time.
Oral finasteride and topical minoxidil are the only FDA-approved treatments for AGA management at the present time. However, there are multiple studies establishing the superiority of oral dutasteride to finasteride for hair loss (both orally and topically) with no increase in erectile side effects established by a large meta-analysis. Dutasteride and finasteride are 5α-reductase inhibitors, which prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT. However, dutasteride is 100x more effective than finasteride at the hair receptor and is available at essentially the same price. Because dutasteride is substantially more effective, patients currently taking finasteride should discuss a change to dutasteride with their prescribers. In addition, although it is not FDA approved, oral minoxidil at a 2.5mg dose is a widely prescribed off-label treatment for AGA that may add up to 15% to a regimen of oral dutasteride alone. Oral minoxidil is a vasodilator originally used at 10x the hair loss dose for the treatment of hypertension. Low dose oral minoxidil is well tolerated with few reported side effects.
DOUBLE SPIN PRP (Dr. Laurel’s Hair Regrow)
DOUBLE SPIN PRP IS A SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS METHOD TO REGROW HAIR. PRP treatment is not and cannot be FDA approved. That is because PRP is not a drug and therefore not FDA regulated. It is not a drug because PRP as defined is something that is removed from a single patient and removed to that same patient (only) without any substantial modification.
Like all methods, PRP treatment requires a maintenance regimen to maintain the regrown hair. Most patients with AGA have substantially more hair on a combined regimen of periodic PRP treatment with oral dutasteride with or without minoxidil.
Warning: There is no scientific evidence to support the safety and/or efficacy of the addition of anything to PRP including any and all of the current crazes—stem cell, Acell, growth factors and/or exosomes. All of these additions carry the risk of impurities, bacterial contamination, and contamination with human viruses including HIV and Hepatitis B.
Other than to dehydrate, hydrate, add emollient or lubricate, hair care shampoos and conditioners have no impact on the hair follicle and therefore do not increase hair growth. (Dehydrating products that dry hair may increase hair loss like alcohol based minoxidil and topical styling products.)
What should you expect? The blood flow will immediately increase to the treated area after treatment, as shown in the images below.
*For further reading on the studies done using Botulism toxin for hair loss treatments, please see the following articles:
