Dr. Paul McAndrews

01/29/2026

01/24/2026

Topical Pyrilutamide (KX-826) is potentially a first-in-class medication for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. It targets testosterone & DHT receptors in the skin & hair follicles (DHT is the hormone involved in the miniaturization process of the hair shaft).

Pyrilutamide (KX-826) is an experimental topical developed by Kintor Pharmaceuticals. It’s in clinical trials in both China and the United States for hair loss.

In 2025, Kintor Pharma states that the long-term safety Phase III clinical trials are complete, and showed excellent safety & efficacy for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

The trials show promise, but still require further research before being FDA-approved. Presently; there are only 2 FDA-approved medications for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (the most common form of hair loss): oral Finasteride (Propecia) & topical Minoxidil (Rogaine).

As Dermatologists (the medical experts for treating hair loss), we’re always looking for better treatments with this hair loss aging process. I believe topical anti-androgens like Pyrilutamide hold significant process in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

For more info, visit:
Hairgrowthdoctor.com/pyrilutamide-for-hair-loss

01/19/2026

Dr. Paul J. McAndrews was recently asked to return to the Board of Governors of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery as the new Voting Past-President, and be the Chair of the Ethics Committee.

The ISHRS is dedicated to achieving excellence in patient outcomes by promoting the highest standards of medical practice, medical ethics, and research in the medical hair restoration industry.

Dr. Paul McAndrews has been actively involved in the ISHRS since 1997. He has served as:

🏆 Chairman of the Live Patient Viewing
🏆 Chairman of the Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston
🏆 Chairman of the Advanced Board Review Course, multiple times
🏆 Treasurer, 2018-2019
🏆 Vice President, 2019-2020
🏆 President of the ISHRS, 2020-2021
🏆 Immediate Past President, 2022
🏆 Chairman of the Ethics Committee, 2026

Dr. McAndrews is grateful & honored that the Board of Governors chose him & asked him to come back as a voting member of the ISHRS BOG. The respect of his medical peers is a direct result of his passion for quality, attention to detail and being an ethical, highly educated hair transplant expert who is a true compassionate advocate for all of his hair restoration patients.

01/11/2026

I recommend to stop smoking at least 3 weeks before & 3 weeks after a hair transplant procedure.

Why? The first few weeks are when the newly transplanted grafts are most vulnerable & dependent on a good blood supply.

Smoking directly impairs the healing environment your new hair grafts need to survive.

🚬Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, reducing critical blood flow needed by the freshly transplanted follicles.

🚬 Carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces oxygen delivery, creating a low-oxygen environment that delays tissue repair.

🚬 Smoking increases platelet stickiness & systemic inflammation, worsening the chance of poor graft survival & infection.

🚬 Smoking can accelerate androgenetic alopecia (genetic hair loss) in the surrounding native hair.

Undergoing a hair transplant is the perfect time to address your overall health by stopping smoking altogether.

I remind my patients of the benefits it will have to their “hair health” with both their existing hair and their new transplanted hair.

It’s a New Year for a Healthy New You!

12/30/2025

Many of my patients are physically active, train regularly, or have been exposed to anabolic steroids, testosterone therapy, or other hormone-altering substances.

They’re often worried because they noticed sudden thinning or shedding, and want to know if steroids are to blame.

Steroids do not create hair loss, but can significantly accelerate hair loss in people who are genetically predisposed.

Male & female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is genetically determined. If you are predisposed to this diagnosis, your hair follicles are sensitive to androgens, particularly DHT.

Overtime, DHT causes progressive miniaturization of the hair follicle, leading to thinner hair, shorter growth cycles, and eventual permanent hair loss.

Can steroid related hair loss be prevented? In many cases, yes! Medical therapy aimed at reducing DHT activity, improving follicle health, and stabilizing hair loss can significantly slow or halt hair loss progression.

Patients using testosterone or with a history of anabolic steroid exposure should be evaluated medically, rather than relying upon gym advice or online forums.

For more medical advice, visit:
Hairgrowthdoctor.com/steroids-hair-loss/

12/23/2025

Minoxidil isn’t magic, it’s science! Let’s break it down.

12/16/2025

Exercise is GOOD after a FUE or FUT hair transplant surgery!

This is contrary to many non-medical experts from mega-session hair clinics with no formal hair transplant medical training on the anatomy, pathophysiology and wound healing of the skin and hair follicles.

The “no exercise after a hair transplant surgery” is absolutely incorrect and goes against all documented medical studies. Exercise has several positive effects on the healing of the skin & hair follicles:
💪🏾 Enhances Bloid Flow & Oxygenation
💪🏾 Stimulation of Angiogenesis
💪🏾 Anti-Inflammatory Effects
💪🏾 Immune System Support
💪🏾 Molecular Regulation

As a board-certified Dermatologist specializing in Hair Transplant surgery, I know exercise is good for the healing process of the skin and also good for the patients mental well-being immediately after a hair transplant surgery.

For more information, visit:
Hairgrowthdoctor.com/exercise-after-hair-transplant

12/14/2025

Thinking about finasteride? Here’s what to know!

12/09/2025

Is Clasoterone the Miracle Cure for Hair Loss?!

Topical Clascoterone is potentially being a first-in-class medication for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (most common form of hair loss). If approved, it will be the first new therapeutic mechanism for androgenetic alopecia in almost 30 years!

Currently, the only FDA-approved treatments for androgenetic alopecia are:
1. oral finasteride (Propecia)
2. topical minoxidil (Rogaine)

Clascoterone in a 5% solution is in FDA-trials for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, as it targets testosterone & DHT receptors in the skin & hair follicles. By blocking DHT receptors, there would be a slowing of hair miniaturization as a patient ages.

As Dermatologists (the medical experts for hair loss & hair restoration) we’re always looking for better treatments for hair loss. Besides finasteride & minoxidil, or a hair transplant by a qualified surgeon, Clascoterone holds significant promise for Dermatologists treating androgenetic alopecia.

🔬Read my medical blog at HairGrowthDoctor.com for more detailed scientific information.

12/09/2025

The best hair transplant doesn’t look like one at all. Dr. McAndrews achieves natural-looking hair transplant results by following the example of nature itself.

The McAndrews Method respects hair - its tendencies, its integrity, and its inherent design.

The McAndrews Method consists of 3 important attributes with every patient:
✅ Informed decision
✅ Artful precision
✅ Unparalleled results

Dr. Paul J. McAndrews creates a result that looks great now, and more importantly, later.

12/01/2025

Yes, if the entire procedure is performed by a qualified surgeon who also performed the entire consultation, and is formally trained in the science & art of hair transplants.

Hair transplants are based on a simple concept: donor dominance. This means the tissue will keep its genetic tendencies from where it originated. Hair follicles from the back & sides of the scalp are usually genetically programmed to produce thick hair for a patients lifetime. These good genetic hair follicles are transplanted to the balding areas to keep producing thick hair.

Hair transplant failure comes down to the non-qualified surgeon, technician, or cheap hair transplant clinic.

For more medical factual information on hair transplants, call for a personal physician consultation.

📞 877-Hair-Doc

11/24/2025

The best age for a hair transplant is when the patient is emotionally mature, understands the progressive nature of their unique hair loss, and the limitations with the supply & demand of their good genetic hair bank.

I’ve performed hair transplants as young as 20-years and as old as 94-years. They were both good hair transplant candidates because they understood the progressive nature of androgenetic alopecia with realistic goals.

I’ve had patients in their 60’s who are not good hair transplant candidates because they’re unrealistic about their expectations.

Treating androgenetic alopecia is a journey as the patient continues to age. The younger a patient begins experiencing hair loss, the longer their journey will be. It’s vital that:
🔖1. an ethical doctor helps his patients comprehend this
🔖2. a trained physician has the foresight to be much more conservative the longer the journey is

It’s critical to research the qualifications, the training, and the ethics of the actual hair transplant physician. A hair transplant is a medical surgery, and the surgeon must be:
💯formally trained in both the medical specialty of dermatology (the experts in hair loss) and the surgical art of hair restoration.

Anything less is not sufficient to ensure a good hair transplant result, regardless of the patients age.

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