Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a medical condition that causes hair loss at the scalp. Alternatively called male pattern baldness, this condition is most likely to impact individuals with a genetic predisposition. A variety of environmental factors have also been attributed to this type of hair loss.

With AGA, hair loss often occurs in an ‘M’-shaped pattern spanning the crown but can also present as thinning at the temples or general loss of volume across the scalp.

Androgenetic hair loss is often associated with elevated levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at the scalp. DHT binds to androgen receptors within hair follicles, terminating the hair growth cycle prematurely. This negatively impacts hair quality and results in hair loss.

Individuals with a genetic predisposition are at greater risk of experiencing premature hair loss when DHT levels become elevated. Some individuals may also have a component of higher androgen receptor concentration in the scalp, which may contribute to hair loss even when DHT levels are within the normal range.

Yes; however, early intervention is critical for best results. Reversing hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia (AGA) becomes more challenging the longer it goes untreated. This is related to progressive miniaturization of the hair follicles, which is driven by genetics and a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As the follicles get smaller, without intervention, the chance of growing a thick hair from that follicle decreases. Certain drugs have been known to slow down or even halt this miniaturization process. If the follicles are not fully miniaturized, there is a possibility that regrowth with new hairs can occur. It is important to consult with a doctor to determine if you have AGA and discuss what treatment options are right for you.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) reported that around half of all men will have some degree of androgenetic hair loss by 50 years of age. Caucasian men are affected by androgenetic alopecia (AGA) most frequently, with up to 80% of men in this demographic experiencing some degree of hair loss in their lifetime (NIH). AGA is thought to be less common in Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Asian men, although more conclusive data is needed.

40-50% of adult women will experience hair loss resulting from increased androgen activity at the scalp (NIH). The incidence of AGA in non-binary individuals is unclear and further research should be conducted.

Although men are most likely to suffer from androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in adulthood, women and nonbinary individuals can also experience androgenetic hair loss following puberty.

As early as possible, but it’s never too late to try treatments for androgenetic alopecia. Reversing hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia (AGA) becomes more challenging the longer it goes untreated. This is related to progressive miniaturization of the hair follicles, which is driven by genetics and a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As the follicles get smaller, without intervention, the chance of growing a thick hair from that follicle decreases. Certain drugs have been known to slow down or even halt this miniaturization process. If the follicles are not fully miniaturized, there is a possibility that regrowth with new hairs can occur. This is why the earlier the treatment, the better chances of stabilizing further loss and possibly promoting new growth.

There are tools available to help you determine the extent of your hair loss. The Hamilton-Norwood scale is a visual guide that can help you assess the severity of your androgenetic alopecia.

You should consult with a doctor to review the extent of your hair loss, identify the cause and determine whether treatment might help.

Results can vary greatly from person to person depending on the medical treatment, active pharmaceutical ingredient, method of drug delivery and also based on the extent and pattern of hair loss, and on how early treatment is initiated in the course of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Finasteride is the most clinically effective drug approved for the treatment of AGA and has FDA approval at a dosage of 1mg/day taken orally. Finasteride targets androgenetic hair loss by reducing levels of an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at the scalp.

A recent literature review concluded that both topical and oral finasteride increased hair count and quality at the scalp in men with AGA. Some individuals responded to finasteride treatment in as little as two months, although in most cases, the therapeutic effects of treatment were seen around six months. As with any pharmaceutical drug, individual responses to finasteride treatment may vary.

During your initial consultation, your prescribing physician will determine if a medication is needed and what medication will suit you best.

To obtain a prescription, you will need to sign up for a XYON account and complete a consultation with a prescribing physician. The prescribing physician will then determine the most suitable options for your hair loss. Not everyone may be eligible for a prescription.

All prescriptions are valid for twelve months, but the medicine will be dispensed every three months (quarterly). You will be notified each time you are due for a quarterly refill. At this time the card on file will be charged and our partner pharmacy will ship your next quarterly supply of treatment directly to your door. Upon the expiry of your twelve-month prescription, you will be prompted to complete another short consultation with a prescribing physician who can provide a new prescription, allowing you to take advantage of another twelve months of XYON member benefits. Your renewal consultations will be shorter than your initial consultation.

The Topical Finasteride and Dutasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel formulation, is a unique compounded medicine that will require a new prescription. You can determine suitability by starting a no-cost consultation with a prescribing physician through the XYON platform.

If your physician is interested in prescribing treatments through XYON, they can reach out to help@xyonhealth.com for further information on this process.  

Upon the expiry of your twelve-month prescription, you will be prompted to complete another short consultation with a physician who can provide a new prescription, allowing you to take advantage of another twelve months of XYON member benefits. Automatic billing and shipping will be set up through your XYON account and will not require updating unless billing and shipping information changes.

At the end of the twelve-month prescription, you’ll be required to follow-up with a physician through the XYON platform to ensure your circumstances haven't changed and you are still a good candidate for the treatment. The physician will then be able to issue a new prescription for the following twelve-month period.

Compounded medicines are prescribed by a physician to treat individual patients. These custom drug preparations are then formulated by specific compounding pharmacies. Compounded medicines contain pharmaceutical ingredients in combinations, concentrations or within carriers that have not been approved by the FDA and are not available for resale to the general public. In making a decision to prescribe a compounded medicine, a doctor will determine whether the patient would be better suited to this medicine versus the approved form.

Prescribing physicians will not prescribe compounded Topical Finasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel to patients under the age of 18. Please come back and open a XYON account once you are 18 to proceed with a consultation.

Once you have completed your no-cost consultation process and created your XYON account, a prescribing physician will review the information you have provided including your clinical intake form and photographs, to determine whether you are eligible for a prescription and if so, the appropriate treatment. The physician will then inform you if you are a suitable candidate for treatment and that the appropriate treatment has been prescribed to the pharmacy. If you have any further medical questions related to your hair loss, the physician can review those with you, and at that time you may ask any additional questions you have. All personal health-related information that is shared is private and only visible to you and the prescribing physician.

XYON’s digital health platform connects you with a specialist prescribing physician who will assess your individual case to determine which, if any, of the following treatments and innovative formulations, including FDA-approved oral finasteride and SiloxysSystem™ gel, would be appropriate for you and your hair loss.

Topical Finasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel

Topical Finasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel is a compounded topical medicine designed to target androgenetic hair loss at the scalp.

SiloxysSystem™ gel was formulated to deliver medications such as finasteride to the layer of scalp skin containing hair follicles with a high degree of precision.

Compounded with finasteride at up to 2.5%, this innovative topical carrier is designed to maximize drug action at the hair follicle and minimize systemic absorption into the bloodstream. This may potentially reduce the incidence of side effects associated with the oral version of the medication.

Topical Dutasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel

Topical Dutasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel is a compounded topical medicine designed to target androgenetic hair loss at the scalp.

SiloxysSystem™ gel was formulated to deliver medications such as dutasteride to the layer of scalp skin containing hair follicles with a high degree of precision.

Compounded with dutasteride at up to 2.0%, this innovative topical carrier is designed to maximize drug action at the hair follicle and minimize systemic absorption into the bloodstream. This may potentially reduce the incidence of side effects associated with the oral version of the medication.

Oral finasteride 

Oral finasteride is generally a safe and effective treatment indicated and FDA-approved for men with male pattern hair loss. It is often the first-line treatment for men who do not suffer from, or are not concerned about side effects from oral finasteride. These side effects include erectile dysfunction and low libido.

Dutasteride and finasteride both target the same family of enzymes (5-alpha reductases, 5-ARs) that are responsible for processing of the hormones (testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) in the scalp associated with hair loss. While finasteride blocks one target from this family, dutasteride blocks two. Topical dutasteride, therefore, results in a more dramatic reduction in the hormones associated with hair loss in the scalp than topical finasteride.

Each medication available through the XYON platform requires a consultation from a specialist prescribing physician and a valid prescription, all available through www.xyonhealth.com. Our licensed medical professionals consider a variety of factors before determining which medical treatment and drug dosage is right for you. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for androgenetic hair loss.

Start a consultation with a specialist prescribing physician to discuss your treatment options.

Oral Finasteride

Oral finasteride is FDA-approved to treat male pattern hair loss at 1 mg/day.

Topical Finasteride with SiloxysSystem™ Gel

Topical finasteride is currently not approved by the FDA as a treatment for male pattern hair loss in any form or concentration.

Any topical formulation containing finasteride is considered a compounded medicine. Compounded medicines contain FDA-approved drugs in forms, concentrations, combinations or indications that have not been individually approved. These customized formulations are tailored to the individual needs of patients. They may be appropriate in cases where patients have experienced side effects while taking the FDA-approved version of the drug, or if patients are concerned about the risk of side effects.

Compounded drugs such as topical finasteride must be prescribed by a licensed physician and can only be dispensed by a compounding pharmacy registered in the province or state in which you reside. 

Topical Dutasteride with SiloxysSystem™ Gel

Topical dutasteride is currently not approved by the FDA as a treatment for male pattern hair loss in any form or concentration.

In the United States, oral dutasteride is only authorized to treat a medical condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at a dosage of 0.5 mg/day. Alternate forms, dosages, or indications of this drug are considered to be compounded medicines and are not endorsed by the FDA.

Compounded medicines contain FDA-approved drugs in formulations that have not been individually evaluated for long-term safety and efficacy. Compounded drugs such as topical dutasteride must be prescribed by a licensed physician and can only be dispensed by a compounding pharmacy registered in the province or state in which you reside.

Compounded medicines are tailored to the individual needs of each patient. These customized formulations may be appropriate in cases where patients have experienced side effects while taking the FDA-approved version of the drug, or if patients are concerned about the risk of side effects. The prescribing physician should review your health history and address your concerns before determining the most suitable treatment for your hair loss.

XYON’s exclusive compounding medium, SiloxysSystem™ gel, is produced by manufacturers in North America and Europe who follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The active ingredients (ie. finasteride or dutasteride) are compounded with SiloxysSystem™ gel by a leading compounding pharmacy in the United States, according to each individual prescription.

Oral hair growth treatments are absorbed at the level of the gut and circulate through the bloodstream, reducing the overall concentration of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) throughout the body. While effective at targeting hair loss, oral hair growth treatments may carry a greater risk of side effects such as decreased libido or erectile dysfunction because of its widespread effect on DHT.

Topical finasteride and dutasteride formulations maximize drug action at the hair follicle and minimize drug action through the rest of the body, potentially lowering the risk of side effects. These may be appropriate for men who have experienced sexual or other side effects while taking oral hair growth treatments, or in men who may have sexual symptoms without using finasteride or dutasteride. A recent literature review found topical finasteride treatments to be equally as effective as oral finasteride in improving hair density and quality in men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) with less of an impact on serum DHT (Lee et a. 2018). Pharmacokinetic (PK) data comparing compounded Topical Finasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel and the FDA-approved oral finasteride dosage can be found in this article.

You should apply the amount recommended by the prescribing prescribing physician which is often one pump of the gel to your scalp each morning. One pump a day is recommended to see the clinical efficacy that Dr. Hasson has demonstrated. However, the prescribing physician involved in your consultation will ultimately decide on the appropriate dosing for you based on your clinical photographs and medical history.

If you have questions about application of the treatment, please refer to the drug fact sheet included with your prescription, or talk to the prescribing physician.

Find out more about the results of patients using one pump daily of Topical Finasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel here.

After application of the topical treatment to your scalp it is recommended to wait for a minimum of 4 hours. If you would like to apply any styling products to your hair, that can be done immediately after applying the gel to your scalp. 

If you are experiencing any side effects cease usage of the treatment and seek medical attention immediately.

Any side effects that you believe to be associated with your prescription should be reported to the prescribing physician and the dispensing pharmacy.

Shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea/vomiting or loss of consciousness may indicate a severe allergic reaction otherwise known as anaphylaxis. You should seek medical attention urgently if you experience any of these symptoms.

All medicines have the potential to cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only experience minor side effects while taking finasteride or dutasteride in any form, including oral or topical.

The following side effects are most frequently associated with finasteride and dutasteride: feeling tired or weak, lowered interest in sex, ejaculation problems, trouble getting or keeping an erection, breast enlargement or tenderness.

While rare, side effects may persist even after you have stopped using topical finasteride or dutasteride. Follow up with the prescribing physician if these symptoms do not subside or persist even after you have discontinued treatment.

Consistent application of any topical medication for at least 9-12 months is recommended to assess efficacy. Male pattern hair loss is a progressive condition that worsens over time without any treatment. Therefore, the success of treatment should be evaluated in two ways: the maintenance of existing hairs and the growth of new hairs. Both are considered a sign of success with any hair loss treatment.

Additionally, it is normal to have some degree of hair shedding in the early phase of treatment (within the first 1-2 months). With continued treatment, this should decrease as older hairs are pushed out to make way for new hair growth.

If you have any questions or concerns about persistent or excessive hair loss after starting your treatment, please reach out to your prescribing physician.

All treatments offered through XYON subscriptions are not covered by public health insurance plans. If you have private health coverage, please check with your provider.

To determine the right hair growth treatment for you, begin your free consultation with a board-certified prescribing physician

Topical Finasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel, and Topical Dutasteride, with SiloxysSystem™ Gel are compounded medicines that can only be obtained through xyonhealth.com. Any medication compounded with SiloxysSystem™ gel requires a valid prescription from an independent prescribing physician.

Before discontinuing your current treatment, you will need to consult with a physician to discuss beginning a new treatment for your hair loss.

In order to complete this from your XYON account: 

1. Log into your account from xyonhealth.com
2. In your account menu, you will see the option to Change Subscription
3. Complete a new intake form for the prescribing physician
4. Once the physician has reviewed your intake form, they will advise whether the new treatment is suitable for you.

Please note that there will be an updated invoice and subscription if you are prescribed a new treatment. 

If you have obtained a new prescription and would like to cancel your current XYON subscription, please reach out to XYON’s Customer Experience Team at help@xyonhealth.com.