TREATING HAIR LOSS WITH CHLORINE DIOXIDE

The Chlorine Dioxide Miracle: Safeguarding Health with Safe and Effective Applications

This excerpt is from my book, "The Chlorine Dioxide Miracle: Safeguarding Health with Safe and Effective Applications." If you're interested in chlorine dioxide therapy, you can purchase the book here: https://clo2miracle.com/

It should be noted that this chapter specifically addresses androgenetic alopecia, a condition that will eventually affect 50% of men and 10% of women. Aging is an inevitable process for everyone, and for some, it begins with hair loss. Given that aging is a medical challenge, so too is hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia accounts for 90% of all cases of hair loss. The fundamental cause of this condition is the cumulative effect of androgens on hair follicles, leading to a disruption in the regenerative process and the inability to produce healthy hair follicles. In essence, androgenetic alopecia is a manifestation of aging.

In China, about 2 in 10 adult men and 1 in 20 adult women experience hair loss, resulting in an estimated 65 million men and 15 million women affected, totaling 80 million individuals. Of these, 50 million have visibly noticeable hair loss. In the United States, approximately 3 in 10 adult men experience some form of hair loss. There are an estimated 40 million men and 12 million women in the United States alone who are dealing with hair loss to some degree. By the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will have experienced the effects of male pattern baldness.

5.1 The Cause of Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, is a common type of hair loss influenced by genetics and hormones. The main causes of androgenetic alopecia are believed to be:

(1) Hormonal levels: Androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), play a crucial role in androgenetic alopecia. DHT, a derivative of testosterone, causes hair follicles to shrink, shortening the hair growth cycle and eventually leading to follicle atrophy, preventing the production of normal hair.

(2) Age: As individuals age, hormonal levels change, and the risk of developing androgenetic alopecia increases.

(3) Lifestyle and health: Although androgenetic alopecia is primarily caused by genetics and hormones, other factors such as diet, stress, and certain health conditions can also influence the progression of hair loss.

In my opinion, the conversion of androgens to DHT can block the hair follicle regeneration process. Specifically, DHT creates obstacles in the transformation of hair follicle stem cells into follicle cells, disrupting the regeneration process and causing the follicles to shrink until they disappear.

Studies have found that hair follicle stem cells are still present in balding areas, so the loss of these stem cells is not the primary cause of hair loss.

There are two possible ways that DHT can block the hair follicle regeneration process: 1) Similar to how DHT can enlarge the prostate in men, it can also cause the sebaceous glands near the top of the head to enlarge and proliferate, squeezing the living space of the hair follicles and preventing normal hair follicle regeneration; 2) After the hair follicle goes through the cycles of growth, degeneration, and rest, the body should provide appropriate signals to the hair follicle stem cells to initiate the regeneration process. The accumulation of DHT can interfere with or block this signal transmission, thus hindering the differentiation of hair follicle stem cells into follicle cells.

Regardless of the mechanism, the outcome is the same: sebaceous gland cells occupy the space meant for hair follicles. The balding areas not only produce excessive oil but also lose the physical space necessary for hair follicle regeneration, making the process even more difficult.

5.2 The Essence of Androgenetic Alopecia

l  Androgenetic alopecia is a manifestation of aging, and generally, the severity of hair loss increases with age. Men with longer lifespans rarely experience premature hair loss; this type of hair loss is akin to common age-related skin phenomena like wrinkles and is not considered a disease. It affects appearance but has little to no impact on health.

l  The only discomfort for patients, aside from the aesthetic impact, is an excess secretion of scalp oil due to sebaceous cells invading the space once occupied by now-lost hair follicles.

l  Since androgenetic alopecia is an expression of aging, and modern medicine has limited means to counteract aging, treating this type of hair loss is challenging.

l  Androgenetic alopecia is not hereditary. Due to the inability of modern medicine to treat it with drugs, and the inevitability of human aging, many people mistakenly categorize it as hereditary hair loss, a fatalistic viewpoint.

l  In theory, hereditary diseases can only be treated by altering the genetic DNA. However, androgenetic alopecia can be effectively treated with hair transplant surgery.

5.3 The Difficulty of Treating Androgenetic Alopecia

Firstly, we must consider how to create the physical space for hair follicles. The lengthy process of hair loss involves the shedding of hair follicles and the gradual invasion of that space by sebaceous gland cells. To regenerate hair follicles, simple physics dictates that space must be provided. Creating space near the normal scalp is a complex and challenging task.

Secondly, the process of initiating hair follicle stem cells to regenerate hair follicles must be considered. Modern medicine typically uses various cytokines to stimulate stem cells for regeneration. Special stem cells require specific cytokines for stimulation, and as of now, no broad-spectrum stimulant has been discovered.

Thirdly, since hair loss is a localized manifestation of aging, caused by the cumulative effect of various factors over time, and since humanity currently has no effective means to combat age-related diseases, developing anti-aging methods is incredibly difficult.

5.4 The Mechanism of Using Chlorine Dioxide to Treat Hair Loss

When examining effective hair growth techniques, such as hair transplant surgery, the simplest concept for providing specific space for hair follicles is the artificial creation of wounds. Research has shown that the healing process of artificial wounds can generate new colonies of hair follicle stem cells and produce new hair. In hair transplant surgery, it is observed that the follicles in the transplanted area can regenerate after removal, and the hair in the balding area falls out completely after a three-month shedding phase post-transplantation, indicating that the regrowth in the balding area is not related to the transplanted follicles. The artificial wounds created by punching holes are the key to follicle regeneration in hair transplant surgery. The wisdom of the Chinese people and the extensive exploratory experience of Traditional Chinese Medicine also offer an effective hair growth method, which is tapping the scalp with a plum blossom needle. Currently, Traditional Chinese Medicine hair growth clinics, regardless of the herbal medicines used, commonly employ plum blossom needle tapping as an auxiliary method. In fact, tapping with a plum blossom needle is the only method that might be effective for hair growth. This is because tapping creates numerous artificial wounds in the balding area, and even without the conditions for stem cell stimulation, new hair follicles may regenerate during the healing of these wounds.

Directly targeting damaged or aging tissues with chlorine dioxide can promote the regeneration of healthy tissue through two mechanisms: firstly, chlorine dioxide eliminates damaged and aging cells, providing specialized space for the growth of new tissue, which may involve the formation of micro-wounds and associated pain; secondly, chlorine dioxide mimics intracellular signaling molecules (ROS), stimulating the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of stem cells, which aids the healing process of micro-wounds. Guided by these specific spaces, the surrounding normal stem cells regenerate new, younger, and functional tissues through proliferation, migration, and differentiation. By clearing aging cells and making room for new tissue formation, the new tissue replaces the damaged one, thus curing diseases or restoring a youthful state to tissues.

Under my guidance, thousands of people have treated hair loss with relatively high concentrations of chlorine dioxide solution. In this series of applications, we have observed the following characteristics of chlorine dioxide treatment for hair loss: new growth can be seen within approximately 5 days; in areas not completely bald, there is a shedding phase during use, characterized by existing hair, starting with the finer strands, falling out rapidly before new growth occurs; in completely bald areas, new hair growth is delayed, possibly appearing only after 1-3 months; regardless of the degree of hair loss, using chlorine dioxide requires over a year to potentially achieve a recovery that is visually
indistinguishable from a non-balding condition (Figure 6).

While chlorine dioxide has shown significant hair regrowth effects, it does not stimulate hair growth as rapidly as hair transplant surgery. Consequently, many individuals discontinue treatment after just a few days. However, consistent use, like in my case over 5 years with approximately 50 intermittent applications, has led to noticeable new hair growth breaking through what was once a smooth hairline. Typically, hairlines are smooth, even for those experiencing hair loss. A jagged hairline suggests that new hair has regrown, likely as a result of using chlorine dioxide (Figure 7).

5.5 Hair Loss Treatment Protocol

A. To prepare chlorine dioxide:

Weigh out 100 grams of sodium chlorite powder (80% purity, with the remaining 20% being sodium chloride) and dissolve it in 900 milliliters of deionized (or distilled) water. Heat the mixture to about 50 degrees Celsius until the solid is completely dissolved, then cool it to room temperature to produce an 8% sodium chlorite solution.

Weigh out 200 grams of citric acid (analytical grade, 99.9% purity) and dissolve it in 800 milliliters of deionized (or distilled) water. Heat the mixture to about 50 degrees Celsius until the solid is completely dissolved, resulting in a 20% citric acid solution.

Mix equal volumes of the two solutions prepared above and wait for about 5 minutes to obtain an acidic chlorine dioxide saturated solution (approximately 20000-30000 ppm or 20-30mg/mL).

B. Storage of chlorine dioxide:

Chlorine dioxide easily evaporates from water, so it is generally recommended to prepare it on-site for immediate use. If a larger quantity is prepared and needs to be stored for an extended period, it is advised to keep it in a glass bottle inside a refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius.

C. Method for treating hair loss:

Apply the acidic chlorine dioxide saturated solution directly to the balding area using a cotton swab, and continue to apply for about 5 days. Then, cease application; this constitutes one treatment cycle. The next treatment cycle can begin after 25 days, continuing for another 5 consecutive days. Repeat this process until the hair has been restored to a satisfactory level.

5.6 Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Loss Treatment

•     Can I be treated for seborrheic/hereditary hair loss？

Seborrheic or hereditary hair loss, commonly known as androgenetic alopecia, was indeed a difficult condition to treat before. However, hair transplant surgery has become very effective, making androgenetic alopecia curable. With our pioneering chlorine dioxide hair growth technique, this type of hair loss can now be effectively treated. Chlorine dioxide works quickly against androgenetic alopecia, and with long-term use, it can cure hair loss. It is also cost-effective and convenient to use.

•     Why does chlorine dioxide work so quickly?

In areas not completely bald, new hair growth can be observed in about 5 days when using chlorine dioxide. This is because chlorine dioxide quickly cleanses bad cells and creates wounds; the acidic solution helps deliver chlorine dioxide to the stem cells of hair follicles, stimulating them to regenerate new follicles. Normally, wounds can heal naturally in 5 days, but with chlorine dioxide’s ability to promote tissue regeneration, it’s entirely possible for new hair follicles to regenerate in this time frame. The reason for such rapid regeneration in areas with hair is that the follicles and their spaces still exist, allowing new follicles to regenerate immediately.

•     Why is the effect slower in completely bald areas?

In completely bald areas, almost all hair follicles are lost, and their spaces are taken over by sebaceous gland cells. Even with stimulation from chlorine dioxide, new follicles cannot regenerate due to physical space limitations, resulting in slower effects. However, by continuously creating micro-wounds, physical space for follicle survival can be created, and within 1-3 months, even in completely bald areas, healthier and thicker new hair can grow.

•     Why is there a shedding phase, and can it be avoided?

Physical space remains the key to solving the problem of androgenetic alopecia. Due to space constraints, old follicles are not cleared, preventing new ones from regenerating. Natural follicle regeneration involves new follicles pushing out old ones in the resting phase, leading to new hair growth. Any effective hair growth technique, including minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia), will have a shedding phase. Even effective hair transplant surgeries show a shedding phase in the first three months. Currently, the shedding phase seems unavoidable and must be endured during hair growth treatment. The psychological impact of the shedding phase is significant. Unlike hair transplant surgery, using chlorine dioxide does not require shaving the head completely. During the shedding phase, the hair that falls out is typically long, and new hair grows at a rate of 1 millimeter every 3 days, making the shedding phase more noticeable, especially for women with long hair.

•     How can women avoid the shedding phase?

Since female hair loss is generally not as severe as male hair loss, it is recommended to use a plum blossom needle and reduce the continuous use of chlorine dioxide. For example, use it for three consecutive days, choosing one day to tap the scalp with a plum blossom needle, then stop for a week, and continue this cycle. Men can also use this method to avoid a noticeable shedding phase. For men who can tolerate the shedding phase, tapping the scalp with a plum blossom needle once a week is also beneficial.

•     The shedding phase is due to the hair being burned off, right?

The shedding phase is not due to hair being burned off. While chlorine dioxide does have a mild corrosive effect on hair, similar to the action of hydrogen peroxide used in hair dyeing, it does not burn the hair off. The reasons for this are as follows: If chlorine dioxide burned the hair, continuous use would not result in the observation of new hair growth, nor would the new hair continue to grow. However, in practice, with continuous use for 20 days, new hair begins to grow around the fifth day and continues to grow, reaching about 0.5 centimeters by the 20th day. Secondly, if the hair were burned off, the hair shed during the shedding phase would not carry the hair follicle, but in reality, most of the hair shed during this phase does have a slightly thicker follicle attached. Thirdly, if the hair were burned off, the original hair would naturally grow back, and after 1-2 months without using chlorine dioxide, a large amount of new hair growth would not be possible. Yet, in reality, after using chlorine dioxide for a period, such as 20 days, and then stopping, one can observe a significant amount of new hair growth after 1-2 months.

•     Why does hair growth take so long?

My experiments have shown that, depending on the degree of hair loss, it takes about 1-2 years to recover to a state where hair loss is not visually apparent using chlorine dioxide. Since chlorine dioxide does not need to be used continuously, the total usage time is about one year. Hair growth is challenging, and even before my chlorine dioxide hair growth technique was proposed, effective hair growth methods such as hair transplant surgery also required more than six months to achieve the goal of hair restoration. This includes a three-month shedding phase and another three-month growth period. To be precise, it takes about eight months for hair to fully grow in the transplant area. Our technology has solved two hair loss challenges: creating regenerative space for hair follicles and stimulating hair follicle stem cells to regenerate new follicles. Even so, hair loss, which is often seen as an aging issue, cannot be resolved in just 1-2 months. Considering the time it takes for hair loss to occur, which is generally 5-10 years, the tissue structure of the hair loss area is completely different from that of areas with hair. It is entirely logical that rebuilding a new tissue structure would take 1-2 years.

•     Is it necessary to use other medications in conjunction with chlorine dioxide?

I believe that chlorine dioxide addresses the fundamental issues of hair loss and comprehensively solves the problem, with long-term use potentially curing hair loss. Therefore, I do not recommend using it in conjunction with other medications. However, I suggest using it with a plum blossom needle, which can be quite beneficial for hair growth if used correctly (for example, tapping as hard as one can tolerate, to the point of bleeding).

•     What are the benefits of tapping the scalp with a plum blossom needle?

One of the challenges in treating androgenetic alopecia is how to provide physical space for the growth of new hair follicles. While chlorine dioxide can create micro-wounds, the scale and number are not sufficient for rapid hair growth. We take inspiration from hair transplant surgery, which creates larger wounds artificially, theoretically accelerating the follicle regeneration process. When using the plum blossom needle on the scalp, I recommend tapping as hard as one can tolerate, to the point of bleeding. Users need not worry about wound infection, as chlorine dioxide can sterilize and prevent infection, as well as accelerate wound healing.