Hair Advantage™ uses Loniten its topical solution, a blood pressure medication which is actually Minoxidil. This is the same drug which is the primary active ingredient in Rogaine™.

Copy this link into another browser window to verify:
(http://drlaboratories.com/men/products.jsp)

Then scroll down to: Step 2.) Natural Cosmetic Scalp Cleanser -
"Hair Growth Treatment that is made with Loniten"

Moreover, any drug, including the drug Loniten (Minoxidil) is not considered "natural". The makers of HairAdvantage™ also state that their product grouping is safe, yet read these warnings from the FDA web site about the drug Loniten / Minoxidil:

You may go to the FDA web site for information about SERIOUS medical WARNINGS specifically about Loniten - Minoxidil. Type LONITEN into the search box and press "GO".

Hair Advantage™ uses Loniten Minoxidil in its topical solution. This is the same drug which is the primary active ingredient in Rogaine™.

How does Hair Advantage™ work? Although no side by side studies have yet been undertaken, some facts can be stated with a reasonable degree of certainty. For instance, although researchers do not know for sure exactly how Minoxidil works in treating hair loss, it is generally understood that it operates in a fashion unlike that of commonly used DHT blocking ingredients. As such, it is generally accepted among researchers that it does not stop the synthesis (creation) of more harmful DHT in the body, nor does it block DHT which already exists in the body from getting into the scalp and hair follicles.

Minoxidil was originally developed as a blood pressure medication. When it is applied to the scalp topically, it may have the effect of dilating blood vessels in the scalp. Although clinical research has not yet shown exactly what effect this blood vessel dilation has, it could result in helping to sustain hair follicles which have been weakened by DHT. The problem is that meanwhile, the harmful DHT is still being produced in the body and is also still getting into the scalp and hair follicles and causing the hair in those susceptible hair follicles to become thinner and shorter throughout their growing cycles.

Does Minoxidil work on the front receding hair line?

The makers of Rogaine™ have indicated on their web site (www.rogaine.com) that Minoxidil is formulated to work only on the top/crown portion of the scalp, the area that doctors call the VERTEX. Accordingly, they state that it is not intended for frontal baldness or receding hairline.

The FDA states the same thing: Use of Minoxidil 5% solution is "to regrow hair on the top of the scalp (vertex only, see pictures on side of carton)." Additionally the FDA states "Minoxidil 5% solution is not intended for frontal baldness or receding hairline." To verify this information, read this Drug Facts Label data sheet published by the FDA on Minoxidil.

Hair Genesis™ helps both men and women to strengthen and revitalize their hair and to regrow hair on all areas of the scalp: not only the top - crown area, but also the front receding hairline area and the back area (where Minoxidil-products such as Rogaine™, generic Minoxidil, Avacor™, Hair Advantage™ and others do not work effectively or at all.) Click here to learn more about how HairGenesis works.

Hair Genesis™ is the only Non-Drug hair growth / hairloss treatment remedy with proven results backed by independent, peer-reviewed, published FDA-Regulated research. 

How effective is Minoxodil for Hair Growth?

Clinical studies by the makers of Rogaine™ (the first hair growth treatment to use the drug Minoxidil) have shown that only about 1 out of 4 men and about 1 out of 5 women will experience re-growth of their hair, and then it is only very moderate regrowth. And those that do see such limited growth, must continue to use the Minoxidil product on-going, or their hair will fall back out again within three to four months after stopping usage of it.

According to the FDA Drug Facts Guidance for Industry (scroll down to page 2 - Other Information), the accepted percentages of success in hair re-growth in using Minoxidil, based on clinical studies is:
- 26% of the men reported moderate to dense re-growth and 33% had minimal re-growth; this was after four months of use.
- 19% of the women reported only moderate re-growth and 40% had minimal re-growth; this was after eight months of use.

Minoxidil must be used twice a day, every day, continuously

According to clinical studies by Rogaine™, Minoxidil must be used twice a day, every day, continuously. It works better on those who are younger and whose hair loss is recent, according to clinical studies by Pharmacia and Upjohn.

Moreover, clinical studies on Minoxidil also show that if you ever stop using it, your hair will soon fall out again (often within 3 to 4 months or even sooner) and you will look as if you had never used it. (click on the "fall out" link above and scroll down to "How long do I have to use Women's Rogaine?")

A potential Rogaine™ user contacted rogaine.com web site by email. This is the actual reply to the customer's question about the necessity of continuing to use Minoxidil (for the rest of one's life):

"Continued use of all Rogaine™ (Minoxidil) formulas is needed to maintain hair regrowth. If you stop using Rogaine™ (Minoxidil), the normal hair loss process will start again. You will probably lose your newly regrown hair within 3 to 4 months and will look the way you would have looked if you had never used Rogaine™. Just remember your results and success depends on proper application of Rogaine twice a day, every day, directly to the scalp."

More Information

The HairAdvantage™ oral product contains saw palmetto. In comparison, the HairGenesis™ Oral Soft Gels contain not only Saw Palmetto, as well as Beta Sitosterol and other clinically-tested DHT blocker ingredients, making them potentially far more effective. To the best of our knowledge, the HairAdvantage™ shampoo does not contain any known or clinically-proven DHT blocker ingredients. However, the HairGenesis™ Revitalizing Shampoo does contain a carefully formulated composition of botanically derived DHT blockers.

Known Potential
Side Effects of Using
the Drug Minoxidil
(According to the FDA)

rapid heart beat
chest pain
faintness (light-headedness)
dizziness
sudden unexplained weight gain
water retention
swelling in the hands or feet
scalp irritation or redness
unwanted facial hair growth

Minoxidil is actually a blood pressure medication, known as a Vasodilator. It dilates blood vessels to treat high blood pressure. When applied topically to the scalp, it is still absorbed into the bloodstream and may affect an otherwise healthy individual who does not have high blood pressure and therefore has no need for such medication.

Known Potential
Side Effects and Warnings of Using the Drug Loniten
- Minoxidil
(According to the FDA)

FDA: Loniten - serious warnings
Loniten contains the powerful anti-hypertensive agent Minoxidil, which may produce serious adverse side effects. It can cause pericardial effusion, occasionally progressing to tamponade; angina pectoris may be exacerbated. In experiments, Minoxidil caused several kinds of Myocardial Lesions (wounds in the heart muscle), as well as other adverse cardiac (heart) effects.

Loniten must be administered under close supervision, usually together with therapeutic doses of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent to prevent tachycardia and increased myocaridal workload. It must also usually be given with a diuretic, to prevent serious fluid accumulation.

FDA: Loniten 2.5mg and 10mg
  Minoxidil tablets

Read the FDA web site for your self. Open a separate browser window and go to www.fda.gov
In the search box at the top left, enter: LONITEN and click GO.

Hair Advantage™ is also very similar to Avacor™ in its products: a shampoo, a topical lotion containing Minoxidil and an oral pill that contains Saw Palmetto.

Independent Reviews
about Avacor™

Newsday
Avacor For Hair Loss
"The bottom line: The claims are many and the data few, and no scientific articles are cited to support any of the claims."

Family Medicine® Column
Can Widely Advertised Avacor Grow New Hair On Reader's Head?
"Avacor is advertised as an 'all natural' product with no known side effects. That’s wrong on both counts. The truth is that -- in addition to some herbs -- Avacor contains (the drug) Minoxidil.

Ask Doc Web
About Avacor
"How does Avacor work? Or does it? The study? We see a few flaws in this study"

Wellness Guide To Dietary Supplements, Wellness Letter, March 2003:
Avacor and New Hair
"Bottom line: If you want to try Minoxidil and/or saw palmetto, you can buy them for a small fraction of what Avacor costs. Avacor’s other ingredients are all questionable, and some of the herbs may have adverse effects or drug interactions."