Viviscal - who's used it ?
Posted by Big L on March 05, 2004 at 12:38:53: Previous Next
I just read Mick's post further down re this product. I'd never heard of it and I've just had a search around on the Internet and not managed to find anything negative about it (I used search words like failure, dangers, negative, side-effects etc.) I'm usually extremely sceptical of anything like this but Mick's hair does look good on it (if he's the Mick I'm thinking of).
So is Viviscal just another bunch of crap designed to fleece money from balding fools or does it actually work ?
I'd like to hear some comments from anyone who's used it - I might just buy some if I hear some decent stuff !
Thanks
Laurence
What I Read
Posted by Rokker on March 05, 2004 at 14:03:12: Previous Next
In Reply to: Viviscal - who's used it ? posted by Big L on March 05, 2004 at 12:38:53:
If I remember correctly, Viviscal was shown to help with some forms of patchy balding in men and women. However, it was far less effective than the mainstream products available at lower prices. It also does nothing for hair growth rate.
If you're having issues with balding, especially if it's patchy, you can use Viviscal. Keep in mind that only a small majority, something like 55%, showed substantial results. If you already have plenty of hair, it's been advised not to use Viviscal, just as you shouldn't use propecia or any other related product.
Bottom line is that if you have MPB, it's okay to give it a shot. It may or may not work for you. If you have a full head of hair, avoid it.
It's been awhile since I saw the report on the study that was conducted, so I can't say any more than I just did.
Re: What I Read
Posted by jack styrer on March 05, 2004 at 15:02:12: Previous Next
In Reply to: What I Read posted by Rokker on March 05, 2004 at 14:03:12:
hi, only one person replied to my interest in
propecia. my hair is thinning on the crown but
thick on sides, back and ok at front,. i am 23.
Do you know of people who have used propecia. its
statistics seem good and side effects only affect
1 in 50 takers. It seems to have come out in
late 90s, now its2004 i would have thought there'd
have been more thorough knowledge of its impact.
Any advice welcome!
Cheers, J.
Re: What I Read
Posted by High Priestess on March 05, 2004 at 19:18:14: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: What I Read posted by jack styrer on March 05, 2004 at 15:02:12:
I had an old boyfriend on simple Jojoba shampoo for 9 years. He had a thick mane of wavy golden locks with no receding hairline.
His brother two years younger was almost completely bald from hair loss.
I don't know if it was the constant use of jojoba shampoo or just luck.
His family had pattern baldness in all the men. What do you think?
Re: What I Read
Posted by jack styrer on March 07, 2004 at 11:18:48: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: What I Read posted by High Priestess on March 05, 2004 at 19:18:14:
can't imagine that jojoba was capable of that on its own! It might have helped but more likely he was just lucky. His family's genes
are obviously a key factor but studies don't show that family history
is the key ingredient in all cases, just in the majority of them.
J.
Re: Viviscal - who's used it ?
Posted by Nick on March 06, 2004 at 09:44:46: Previous Next
In Reply to: Viviscal - who's used it ? posted by Big L on March 05, 2004 at 12:38:53:
: So is Viviscal just another bunch of crap designed to fleece money
from balding fools or does it actually work ?
Actually I used it many many years ago before Lotus came out with
a better product.....123. (123 was what excel should have been)
Re: Viviscal - who's used it ?
Posted by Victor on March 06, 2004 at 15:21:53: Previous Next
In Reply to: Viviscal - who's used it ? posted by Big L on March 05, 2004 at 12:38:53:
I think the main negative thing about it is the cost relative to the benefits. It's basically made from mysterious fish/marine products and has marginal benefits but is very expensive. Some report success with it, but I have a feeling this is mostly a placebo effect.
No placebo
Posted by Mick on March 07, 2004 at 11:24:37: Previous Next
In Reply to: Viviscal - who's used it ? posted by Big L on March 05, 2004 at 12:38:53:
I surely wouldn't consider over 10"/year a placebo effect (our minds can "will" faster hair growth? Now that would be something ;-)
I've also had much less daily fall-out.
I first read some articles about some models and actors using Viviscal to speed their hair growth. I am usually very skeptical, but I thought I would give it a try. It takes about 3 months to first start seeing results, but then....wow.
I'm sure not everyone would have the same results. Victor is correct about the cost. The cheapest I've found is from iherb.com (I order 4 months supply at a time).
Re: No placebo
Posted by Victor on March 07, 2004 at 13:04:02: Previous Next
In Reply to: No placebo posted by Mick on March 07, 2004 at 11:24:37:
: I surely wouldn't consider over 10"/year a placebo effect (our minds can "will" faster hair growth? Now that would be something ;-)
Maybe you misunderstand the placebo effect. You cannot relate it to any sort of magnitude. The fact is that the placebo effect is extremely powerful. It's so powerful that the efficacy of drugs cannot be proved without ruling out the placebo effect.
Certain drugs, like zinc lozenges, remain controversial in relation to whether their effectiveness is due to a placebo effect. Those in favor of a placebo explanation point out that a blind study is not really a blind study because of how hard it is to mask the taste of the zinc. And in this case, you can't simply swallow a pill. The zinc is meant to bathe the mucous membranes, hence the lozenge.
In any case, 10"/year is not extraordinarily fast. I know of people whose hair grows twice that rate with no drugs.