Looking for a product boasting Minoxidil 8%, Dutasteride 0.3%, Spironolactone 0.075%, Tretinoin 0.01% or retinoic acid 0.001%, Ketoconazole 2%, and Hydrocortisone 1%? You're in luck. But before you jump on board, consider the following.

We strongly advise against using a product with such a blend for several reasons:

1. The Dutasteride concentration at 0.3% is excessively high. For comparison, the commonly used topical finasteride concentration stands at 0.1% (equivalent to 1mg finasteride per ml). Dutasteride is a more potent DHT blocker with a longer half-life than finasteride. 1.0ml of 0.3% dutasteride solution contains 3mg of dutasteride, a dosage far beyond the needs of 99% of users.

3. The addition of 0.075% spironolactone to the solution is ill-advised. Spironolactone isn't stable in a solution with minoxidil and gives off a potent, unpleasant odor, making the solution user-unfriendly.

3. Ketoconazole 2%: While FDA-approved for use in shampoos that briefly contact the scalp, there's no evidence demonstrating its benefits outweigh the risks when used long-term in leave-in solutions. Potential side effects include scalp irritation, dryness, and hair breakage issues.

4. Hydrocortisone 1%: While added to soothe the scalp and reduce irritation and inflammation, it's crucial to note that hydrocortisone is a hormone. Long-term safety studies for its use at 1% are lacking. Prolonged application over large areas of the body or under occlusive dressings can result in skin thinning and increase susceptibility to bruising. Furthermore, systemic absorption can lead to adverse effects like adrenal suppression, Cushing's syndrome, or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression.

For these reasons, we highly recommend considering the simpler and more user-friendly  Essengen-6 Plus, which contains 6% minoxidil and 0.05% finasteride. Based on our experience, Essengen-6 Plus is effective for over 90% of people who respond well to treatments with minoxidil, finasteride and/or dutasteride, regardless of concentration. In other words, if you see positive results from a product with 8% minoxidil and 0.3% dutasteride, there is greater than 90% chance that you would achieve similar outcomes with Essengen-6 Plus.

Why opt for a stronger, more expensive product when you can get the same results with a milder solution? A milder formula not only reduces the risk of side effects but also costs less.

If you prefer stronger options, we offer alternatives like Maxogen-Y  (7% minoxidil, 0.3% finasteride, 2% ketoconazole, and 0.2% biotin),  Maxogen-X (7% minoxidil, 0.15% finasteride, 1.5% azelaic acid, 0.025% tretinoin (aka, retinoic acid), and other ingredients), and FinoDuta (6% minoxidil, 0.1% finasteride, and 0.1% dutasteride).

Our advice is to use the mildest solution that works effectively for you, rather than opting for the strongest and most expensive products.