Hair loss represents for many people a considerable aesthetic damage. Of the many possible causes, androgenic alopecia is by far the most common as it affects 50% of men and 25% of women.

Origin of androgenic alopecia

Androgenic alopecia corresponds to a gradual drop in hair Of hereditary and hormonal origin. There are 2 aspects to the origin of this alopecia:

• ANDRO = hair loss comes from an abnormal reaction of the hair to androgens (male hormones that are also present in women).
• GENIC = this abnormal reaction is related to a genetic predisposition.

In summary, androgenic alopecia can be said to be an oversensitivity to male hormones due to heredity.

Androgenic alopecia was long thought to be related to overproduction of testosterone. That's why bald people were attributed with above-average virility.

It is currently known that this is not true: it is not an above-average testosterone production but rather an increased sensitivity of hair follicles to male hormones.

This pathology is therefore not a hormonal disorder but an abnormal functioning at the level of the scalp skin.

Testosterone is converted under the influence of an enzyme, 5α -reductase, to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)which will stimulate the sebaceous glands. These increase their production of sebum which will stagnate in the hair follicle and gradually clog it. The scalp thickens and prevents the blood vessels from properly nourishing the bulb.

Another negative action of DHT is that it shortens the period of the hair life cycle which is about 4 years for a man.

Stimulated by the male hormone, the hair's life cycle lasts only one to two years.

These 2 phenomena combined will cause weakened hair to fall out before it reaches its maximum length and give way to new growth that will also have a shortened lifespan. The 15 or 20 hair cycles expected for a lifetime will be used up much more quickly, in about 15 to 20 years instead of 40 to 50 years, without the scalp being able to create new bulbs. All of this explains why each new hair will always be thinner and shorter than the previous one with a gradual evolution to a fuzz and then finally to baldness.

Androgenic alopecia in women

It is less frequent and less marked than in men and never ends in total baldness. Women can develop androgenic alopecia at any age but especially around or after menopause.

In women, hair loss begins with a widening of the parting at the top of the skull as hair becomes thinner and less numerous. Thus, the woman does not have bald patches; rather, she notices degeneration of the top of her head.

Treatment of androgenic alopecia

Classical treatments

1. Minoxidil (Alopexy, Alostil, Regaine)
   This is an old hypotensive drug whose side effects were the unwanted hair growth on the temples. Applied topically, it prolongs the life of hair patient, allowing him to increase his volume and length. There is no increase in the number of hairs but rather in their volume. It takes six months to see generally unspectacular results. Side effects include palpitations, hypotension, and scalp irritation.
2. Finasteride ( Propecia)
   The treatment only works in48% of cases and the side effects are impotence and libido disturbance.

Follon products: a revolution in medical cosmetology

It is known that male hormones (in both sexes) are the cause of the development of androgenic alopecia according to the following sequence:

sebum production ► Testosterone ► 5α -reductase ► DHT ► decreased life cycle ► ALOPECIA

That's why researchers have imagined being able to control the production of these hormones but only at the local level (the skin). The solution is to find a substance that can block the action of the enzyme 5α -reductase.

After several years of research and many laboratory experiments, they concluded that a complex of phytosterols with β-sitosterol as the primary substance could become a very active and at the same time completely harmless agent for inhibiting sex hormones locally at the skin level.

The phytosterol complex will act by blocking the activity of the 5α-reductase enzyme in the scalp. This will result in a decrease in the conversion of testosterone to DHT and therefore a dramatic improvement in androgenic alopecia.

Follon Dye

The Follon Tincture is a topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia that incorporates the medical innovation of local sex hormone inhibition using patented phytosterols. It also includes the. Sabal serrulata (DHT inhibitor), tussilage (local anti-inflammatory), mallow (antiseptic plant for prevention of local infections), retinol(Vitamin A for hair repair), biotin (for hair growth), and Zinc (anti-seborrheic role)

Mode of Use :

Do 6 to 10 sprays 2x/day (morning and evening) on clean scalp and hair (not oily). The hair can be dry or wet. Massage slightly the product into the scalp. In people with severe baldness, it is recommended that the dye be sprayed especially on the border between the existing hair and the bald area.

Follon Capsules

It also contains the phytosterols complex and urtica dioica extract again to block the local action of DHT. The fenugreek which greatly improves microcirculation at the hair root. Folic and pantothenic acid, Vitamins B2 and B6 are classic adjuvants used to promote hair growth.

Mode of Use :

2 capsules per day away from meals (30 min. before or 1h.30 after).