Anybody tried applying Minoxidil? Just found a study that sounds interesting to me as Minoxidil seems to stimulate elastin production in smooth muscle cells.
QuoteMinoxidil was found to inhibit the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the proliferating phase, but not in the quiescent phase. Treatment of proliferating or quiescent cells with minoxidil resulted in a dose- and time-dependent stimulation of elastin synthesis specifically. Maximum stimulation (fourfold) occurred in cells treated with 1 mM minoxidil for 48 h. The stimulation of elastin synthesis was accompanied by a proportional increase in elastin mRNA level, and it was partially prevented by a K+ channel blocker (tetraethylammonium) and completely prevented by high K+ salt (0.1 M). Minoxidil had no significant effect on the extent of prolyl hydroxylation in newly synthesized elastin. These results indicate that minoxidil stimulates elastin synthesis at a pretranslational level by a mechanism unrelated to cell proliferation but one that may involve K+ efflux. As a pharmacological agent capable of stimulating elastin expression, minoxidil would be a useful drug for the treatment of abnormal elastin metabolism.
Minoxidil stimulates elastin expression in aortic smooth muscle cells. - PubMed - NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7979390)
There are some hair products which contain Minoxidil. So it would be easy to get and propably easy to apply.
On a side note, I've read today that Vitamin C downregulates elastin production and increases collagen production, so I think it could do harm to take excessive amounts of Vitamin C. ( Ascorbate differentially regulates elastin and collagen biosynthesi... - PubMed - NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8995268) )
germike:
If my memory serves me right, Monoxidil is/was used for treating hair loss in the USA. It was used by many men who later reported ED as well as Peyronies Disease symptoms. They suffered for many years before it was deemed detrimental to their sexual health and was discontinued. It may be a ''partner'' to Finestaride too.
Hopefully, other members may have more knowledge about this and correct me if I am wrong about the above notes about Monoxidil.
Old Man
Finasteride is what causes all of those issues......Minoxidil, known by its tradename rogaine, is pretty benign.
Minoxidil works because it eats away collagen and hair-loss is due to perifollicular fibrosis.
For the same reason, I would expect that applied on the glans Minoxidil would be beneficial.
But...
1) it should be dissolved in a better solvent without alcohol
2) you should be extremely careful with its dosage since I suspect that minoxidil may give priapism
So minoxidil is not bad? Only is dangerous finasteride? I was taking minoxidil a few times in some years ago.. do you think it could have something to do with my ED or is it innofensive?
Don't know if reliable or not but I read about people reporting ED issue related to minoxidil.
As bizzarre as it might sound, I thought it would be harmless if not beneficial
I have never read it is dangerous.
From Wikipedia:
Quote...is widely used for the treatment of hair loss.
and then side effects:
Quote...minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as "shedding"
Contradicting, no?
From WebMed:
Quote...solution and foam are used to help hair growth in the treatment
QuoteMinoxidil belongs to a class of drugs known as vasodilators. It is not known how minoxidil causes hair growth
I read other sources, ED was not mentioned anywhere. But I didn't read everything on the web.
James
@James1947: minoxidil and other hair loss treatments may cause hair cycle synchronization amongst all follicles where applied. Hence when all the follicles finally get into telogen, you'll shed a lot of hair. It's normal. It grows back.
Thanks for the explanation Pey Ron
Now is clear :)
James