Let’s explore the benefits of compounded treatments for hair loss!
When trying to find a solution that helps us combat hair loss, we all want to find the most effective products. There are many different treatments on the market, and it can be challenging to choose the right one. But have you ever heard about compounded products for hair loss?
What Is a Compound Medication?
Drug compounding combines or alters different chemical and pharmaceutical ingredients to create a custom formula. Compounded medications are used to treat many different conditions.
For most of modern history, practically all medications were compounded. You would get a prescription from a physician, take it to a pharmacy, and the pharmacists (also known as “druggists”) would mix ingredients to create the product. As more and more formulations became available through mass production in the 1950s and ‘60s, compounding became less popular. However, there has been a resurgence in recent years due to the limitations of massive drug companies and their one-size-fits-all approach to producing medications.
The method of compounding medications is still used frequently, and with many medical conditions, a compounded medication is the first choice for some physicians, including the treatment for hair loss.
The Benefits of Using Compounded Medications for Hair Loss
Different Medications Can Be Added to the Compound
When we’re looking for an over-the-counter hair loss treatment, we typically only encounter a few different formulations, and that’s it. But this lack of diversity could mean missing out on more effective combinations that could maximize results.
What Are Examples of Compounded Medications?
Finasteride and minoxidil are two of the most well-known treatments for alopecia (the fancy medical term for hair loss), and can be used on their own or in combination with others. But adding other components — such as tretinoin and fluocinolone — can make them even more effective for regrowing hair while decreasing the chances of side effects.
Tretinoin, or all-trans retinoic acid, has been shown to promote hair growth when combined with minoxidil, even in people who have had significant androgenetic alopecia for many years. On the other hand, fluocinolone is a topical steroid that can also improve hair regrowth since it reduces irritation on your scalp.
Dosages Can Be Customized to Increase Effectiveness
Compounded medications are often created to have a more potent dosage than other products, making them more effective in some instances.
For example, a higher concentration of compounded minoxidil increases the chance of hair growing back more quickly. This way, we can be sure that we’re reaping all the benefits of minoxidil without having to go through the hassle of trying to find a product with the best dose.
And if you’re allergic to a specific ingredient often found in other formulations, a pharmacist can mix a new formula that doesn’t contain it. You’ll still be able to have access to treatments while reducing the concern of an allergic reaction.
They Provide Access to Discontinued Products
Have you ever loved a product that was suddenly discontinued? Because we have! It can be frustrating to find a product that works great for us, only to find out it’s no longer available. Luckily, compounding pharmacies make it possible to have access to the most effective hair regrowth treatments, even if they’re no longer on the shelves.
They’re Absorbed Quickly Through the Skin
Our bodies can absorb medications through different mechanisms, and in the case of hair loss treatment, topical absorption is one of the most effective routes of administration.
Compounding makes it possible to create different topical hair loss treatments. This route also decreases systemic side effects since only a tiny amount of the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream.
The FDA does not regulate individually compounded formulations as tightly as mass-produced medications (although the active ingredients are regulated the same for both), which is why it’s so important to make sure to get your compounded medication through proven and trustworthy pharmacies.