Procerin is one of the top selling “all natural” hair loss products on the market today and is often an attractive alternative to drugs like Propecia (finasteride)and Rogaine (minoxidil). Procerin comes in both a tablet and topical form that can be ordered together or separately depending on your hair restoration goals.

Men and women suffering from androgenic alopecia (genetic female hair loss / male pattern baldness) have elevated levels of the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in their body.   Procerin’s claim to fame is that it naturally blocks this DHT without reacting with testosterone like the drugs Propeciaand Avodart (dutasteride).  This allegedly allows Procerin to stop hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth without unwanted sexual side effects.   Procerin is so convinced their product works, that they offer a 90 day money back guarantee if you don’t receive your desired hair growth results.  But how many balding men and women have successfully restored their hair with Procerin?

In order to fully evaluate the efficacy of this product, we must further explore each ingredient to determine whether or not this hair loss treatment delivers what it promises.  Below you will find a list of ingredients and information that will help you determine whether or not Procerin is right for you.

Oral Ingredients:

The Procerin tablet includes a number of alleged “all natural” DHT blockers including saw palmetto for hair loss, zinc sulfate, pyroxidine, magnesium, and a proprietary blend of gotu kola, nettles, pumpkin seed, eleuthero root, muira puma root, and uva ursi.  Many, but not all of these ingredients are also found in the highly popular hair loss treatment Provillus.

Oral saw palmettoand nettle root extracthave been used as “all natural” alternatives to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or enlarged prostates.  Theories have thus been produced that they might also effectively treat baldness and alopecia.

Some studies suggest that Zinc when combined with Vitamin B6 may be able to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT in the skin.

Pumpkin seed oils contain the ingredient delta-7-sterine that has been said to protect the prostate by competing with DHT.  Therefore, it’s suggested that this ingredient might help reduce the risk of genetic hair loss.

Eleuthero, uva-ursi, muria puma, and horsetail are said to promote healthy hair growth, hair expansion, and a clean scalp.  However, promoting healthy hair growth is not the same as stimulating new hair growth, hair regrowth, nor does it indicate they’re effective hair loss treatments.

Topical Ingredients

The Procerin topical solution contains saw palmetto extract, gamma linolenic acid, grape seed extract, azelaic acid, avocado oil, and nettle extract.

Azelaic acid when applied topically has been conjectured to inhibit DHT.  Some anecdotal evidence suggests oral saw palmettomay inhibit DHT however; no such evidence exists for topical use.  Though nettles are typically consumed orally, some speculate nettle root extract may help fight alopecia areata when applied topically.

Possible Side Effects

One false assumption is that “all natural” hair loss products don’t have potential side effects.  Procerin reports directly on their website that reported side effects include mild stomach discomfort and from the topical formula, skin irritation.  Additionally, be sure to research each ingredient carefully as some side effects are possible in larger quantities.

Dosage

Currently there are no standards on dosages of herbal medications in the United States.  In addition, no formal clinical studies have been performed on them for treating baldness.  Therefore, the suggested daily value listed on the ingredient package is based on something other than government regulation and scientific study.

Costs

The discounted cost of the combined formula for a 1 month supply of Procerin is about $50 and is discounted when you buy in bulk.  It is also cheaper when you buy in bulk.

Conclusions and Our Opinion

Though we can appreciate the aspiration for balding men and women to use herbal products as an “all-natural” replacement for Propecia to treat androgenic alopecia, we’ve seen no third party clinical studies that support the ingredients in Procerin can successfully stop hair loss or stimulate hair regrowth.  Due to the lack of compelling evidence in these other conjectured hair loss solutions, it may be more beneficial and cost effective to spend your money on Propecia (finasteride) for men only and Rogaine (minoxidil) that has helped balding men and women worldwide for years.  For men who have experienced sexual side effects with Propecia, Procerin may at the very least, be worth trying as an adjunct treatment to Rogaine.

In women with PCOS(polycystic ovarian syndrome), high levels of androgens (male hormones) in the body may cause hair loss. DHT (dihydrotestosterone), more abundant in men, is created from a combination of testosterone and5-alpha-reductase enzymes. DHT can bind to hair follicle sites, accelerate the natural hair growth cycle, and cause hair to go into resting (catagen) sooner causing thinning hair with each cycle.

Women with PCOS are more susceptible to androgenic alopecia, more commonly referred to as male pattern baldness or genetic female hair loss. Androgenic alopecia is also the number one cause of hair loss and thinning hair in the world.Women with androgenic alopecia typically lose hair in a pattern similar to the ludwig scale,and less commonly the norwood scale.

If you suspect you have PCOS, you should consult with a physician and get tested for it. Only a physician can diagnose you and recommend a proper treatment.

There are a variety of hair loss remedy "concealer" products that are applied to the scalp and/or hair in the thinning areas to mask a person's baldness and increase the look of fullness of thinning hairs. These products such as Toppik, Couvré, and Prothik can work surprisingly well at creating the illusion of fuller hair.

Some of our member physicians advise their hair restoration patients to use such hair loss remedy products to enhance the look of fullness in their transplanted areas. These products can also be used post operatively to hide the immediate surgery.

Toppik - Toppik is an effective, safe, and easy-to-use product that completely covers up the scalp's thinning areas.

Couvre - COUVRe is safe for men and women, easy to use, and is totally undetectable to the world's toughest critics.

Caboki - Caboki is comprised of a series of charged microfibers that, when applied to the scalp, tightly bind hair shafts and create a denser, fuller appearance.

DermMatch - DermMatch is a safe and easy way to cover-up thinning areas and instantly provides the appearance of a natural looking head of hair.

Nanogen - Nanogen is one of the fastest, easiest ways to conceal thinning hair and hair loss.

Prothik - Prothik does an exceptional job of adding thickness and fullness to thinning hair while reducing the contrast between thinning hair and the scalp.

What is Traction Alopecia?

Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss resulting from the repeated yet unintentional pulling, twisting or rubbing of the hair. Traction alopecia can affect both men and women, though it's more commonly seen in women. Though it can be temporary, balding from traction alopecia may become permanent if these traumatic forces are applied to the hair and scalp repeatedly and for prolonged periods, resulting in scarring.

What Causes Traction Alopecia?

Practices that may result in traction alopecia include; wearing tight braids, ponytails or cornrows and extended use of hair extensions.  Due to the popularity of these hairstyles, traction alopecia has become one of the leading causes of hair loss among African America women.

Balding from traction alopecia can also occur from repeatedly wearing tight-fitting hats, helmets or other headgear.This is likely where the popular hair loss myth about hats causing hair loss derived, but it is important to note that, under normal circumstances, wearing a properly fitted hat will not negatively impact hair growth.

Treating Traction Alopecia

The first step in treating traction alopeciais to change the habits leading to the condition. This may mean adopting a new hairstyle or altering your wardrobe. Finally, applying a vaso dilator like Rogaine(minoxidil) to the affected area can increase blood flow to the damaged follicles and effectively speed up new hair growth. Assuming the hair follicles have not been permanently damaged, new hair growth will likely occur though it may take several months.

In cases of severe and permanent tractional opecia, the only effective method of restoring hair to the bald areas is surgical hair restoration. State of the art, ultra-refined follicular unit hair transplantation allows quality surgeons to harvest DHT resistant hair from the donor region at the rear and sides of the head. These hairs are then implanted into the balding areas of the scalp, resulting in a natural and undetectable appearance. To see which physicians we recommend and for a free virtual consult, visit the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

To learn more about how surgical hair restoration can be used to treat traction alopecia hair loss, view the following results from our hair loss forum and social community:

• Dr.Robert Dorin - 1909 Grafts on a Traction Alopecia Patient
• Dr.Victor Hasson / 3560 Grafts / One Session / Traction Alopecia / One Year

What Is DUPA?

Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) is a form of genetic hair loss characterized by diffuse thinning over the entire scalp. Unlike Diffuse Patterned Alopecia (DPA), DUPA lacks the stable permanent zone associated with other forms of alopecia.

Dr. O'tar Norwood defined DUPA in his 1975 seminole publication "Male Pattern Baldness: Classification and Incidence" as:

Diffuse, Unpatterened Alopecia (DUPA). In this type, there is a general decrease in the density of hair without any definite pattern, although it is usually more marked over the top and front. This type is common in women.

Identifying DUPA

Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia patients have a similar pattern of hair loss to DPA patients but the balding tends to occur more rapidly. DUPA patients are also more likely to achieve the “horseshoe” pattern commonly associated with Norwood class VII baldness. However, unlike other forms of alopecia hair loss, the DUPA “horseshoe” takes on a thin and transparent appearance.

It is important that patients suffering from diffuse hair loss are properly diagnosed. While DPA patients are often good candidates for surgical hair restoration, DUPA patients typically make poor hair transplant patients due to the lack of a stable zone in which to harvest donor grafts.

Treatment for Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia

Not a lot is known about the cause and treatment of DUPA. However, about half of males who suffer from this form of balding benefit from Propecia (finasteride). Unfortunately, DUPA is about 10 times more common in females for whom Propecia is not a treatment option.

Conclusion

Anyone suffering from diffuse hair loss should consult with a dermatologist or hair restoration physician for a proper diagnosis. This is especially true for balding men and women considering hair transplant surgery.