Dualgen-5R
Price
$32.00
Option
MAIN FEATURES
  •  Professionally formulated  hair regrowth product with 5% minoxidil, retinoic acid (tretinoin), azelaic acid, ABNTM complex, and caffeine.

     The additional minoxidil enhancer (retinoic acid, or tretinoin), DHT blocker (azelaic acid),  and follicle growth stimulator (caffeine) to 5% minoxidil makes this solution much more effective than minoxidil alone.

     Non-greasy, clean, fast drying, odoless

     Can be used for both men and women. 

     

MAIN INGREDIENTS
  • Minoxidil 5% (i.e. 3 grams of minoxidil in bottle, i.e. 50mg/mL)

    Azelaic acid 5% (i.e. 3 grams of azelaic acid in bottle, i.e. 50mg/mL)

    ABN complexTM 0.8%

    Retinoic Acid: 0.025%

    Caffeine: 0.001%

    Delivery vehicle (Ethanol, Propylene glycol, Purified Water)

    (Want to have a product with high strengh of minoxidil 8% with topical finasteride 0.1% and retinoic acid (tretinoin)? please check out Maxogen-X

    If you want to make your own minoxidil solution with retinoic acid, you can check out the  0.3% topical retinoic acid solution. )

     

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS
  • Water, Propylene Glycol (low amount), Alcohol, Aloe gel

     

     

HOW TO USE AND SPECIAL NOTES
  • It is recommended to use this product twice a day with 8 hours apart between the two applications.  It can be used in conjunction with other stronger solutions (such as DualGen-15 or DualGen-10). 

     

    Note:  The four products containing  5% Minoxidil, 5% Azelaic Acid are called Dualgen-5 NO PGDualgen-5 With PGDualgen-5 Fast Dry, and Dualgen-5R.  The first 3 products have identical effective ingredients (see the Main Ingredients section of the respective product), and the effectiveness of these 3 products is similar to each other. The difference lies in the solvent vehicle, gentleness to scalp and drying speed. Dualgen-5R is different from the other 3 in which retinol is replaced with retinoic acid, making it the strongest hair regrowth solution among the four products.

    Dualgen-5 NO PG: Most friendly to sensitive scalp. Dries slowest among the 3 products.

    Dualgen-5 Fast Dry: Dries Fastest. Friendly to sensitive scalp.

    Dualgen-5 With PG: Medium drying speed. Medium friendly to sensitive scalp.

    Dualgen-5R: Medium drying speed like Dualgen-5 With PG. Strongest hair regrowth. Not suitable for sensitive scalp.

PRODUCT IMAGE
  • minoxidil with retinoic acid

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  •  

    1. What is Retinoic acid?

    Retinoic acid (see structure on the image above) has been used for decades as Retin-A® in the treatment of acne. More recently it is widely used as a treatment for fine wrinkles in the skin.  It works essentially as a chemical peel by altering the follicular epithelium (the outer layer of skin) so that it doesn't keratinize (form a hard compact layer).

     

    2. What are the other names for Retinoic acid?

    Retinoic acid also called tretinoin, all-trans-retinoic acid, Vitamin A acid, Retin-A®, Atralin®, Avita®, Renova®, Tretin-X®Do not confuse it with Isotretinoin (brand name Accutane). Isotretinoin to Tretinoin (retinoic acid) is like someone's left hand to right hand structurally. They look almost identical, but you can never overlap them. 

     retinol vs tretinoin

     

    3. Why is retinoic acid added to minoxidil?

    A: Minoxidil has to be absorbed by the scalp in order to be effective. Minoxidil itself cannot penetrate the scalp . That is why delivery vehicles such as propylene glycol (PG) or glycerin or dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) is used in all minoxidil products. The addition of retinoic acid can further help minoxidil penetrate the skin and reach hair follicles and thus enhance the effectiveness of minoxidil. 

    According to a study by Shin et al, when 5% minoxidil is mixed 0.01% retinoic acid (tretinoin), it can be used once a day and achieve equivalent results as 5% minoxidil twice daily usage. (See the study at the end of this blog).

     

    4. How can I make a minoxidil solution with a diffrent retinoic acid strength?

    A: You can use our 0.3% retinoic acid solution to easily make a minoxidil solution with retinoic acid a concentraion different than  0.025%.

     

    5. What are the common side effects of Retinoic Acid (tretinoin)?

    The most common side effects are scalp itchiness, skin peeling, redness, dry skin, flaking or dandruff of the scalp. Retinoic acid also makes the scalp sensitive to sun burn.

     

    6. How can I reduce the side effects of Retinoic acid?

    a). Use retinoic acid at night.

    b). Avoid using the product after a hot shower.

    c). Use the product progressively to let your scalp build tolerance. You can start with once every other night, then move to once every night, and finally increase to twice a day.

    d). Add steroid such as 0.01% Fluocinolone or 0.1% hydrocortisone or to the retinoic acid minoxidil solution.

    e). Use ketoconazole anti-dandruff shampoo such as Hair Covet Restoration shampoo.

     

    7. Will I have shedding when starting Retinoic acid? 

     A small percentage of people may experience an initial increase of hair loss (shedding) at the onset of treatment similar to the use of minoxidil. However, the shedding resolves with time. (Read minoxidil shedding here)

     

    8. Why is retinoic acid recommended to be used at night? 

    Retinoic acid is degraded by strong light, so there is no benefit to using it during the day, when the bright light will render the medication ineffective.

     

    9. Can I still use minoxidil solutions with retinoic acid, if I like to be out in the sun or get a lot of sun exposure on my job? 

    The activity of retinoic acid is be affected by direct sunlight as mentioned in the question 7. Therefore, if you are in the sun a lot, it is best to use retinoic acid only at night and in the morning use solely the 5% minoxidil. In addition, Retinoic acid also increases your sensitivity to the sun. Therefore if you apply any solution that contains retinoic acid in the morning, avoid direct sun exposure to the scalp or apply sunscreen or wear a hat. 

     

    10. What else can be added to a retinoic acid minoxidil solution?

    Topical Finasteride 0.1% (DHT blocker), progesterone 0.25% (DHT blocker), Azelaic acid 5% (DHT blocker), caffeine 0.001% (hair growth enhancer), Vitamin E 0.1% (absorption enhancer), hydrocortisone 0.1% (help reduce scalp irritation), Biotin 3% (hair growth factor). Do all these ingredients have to be included in a solution? Absolutely not. You can compare the ingredients of different products here and choose the right one for you. One good combination is 7% or 8% minoxidil, topical finasteride and retinoic acid (See Maxogen-X). Some people wish to add spironolactone, which we do not think is a good idea. Spironolactone has a peculiar odor. Most people won't be able to tolerate it. We have a topical spironolactone cream (5%) that has a low odor available (see Maxogen-S). 

     retinoic acid for hair loss treatment

     

    Article shows the addition of 0.01% retinoic acid to 5% minoxidil double the effetiveness of minoxidil. 

    Am J Clin Dermatol. 2007;8(5):285-90.

    Efficacy of 5% minoxidil versus combined 5% minoxidil and 0.01% tretinoin for male pattern hair loss: a randomized, double-blind, comparative clinical trial.

    by Shin HS et al.
    STUDY: Two groups, 15 subjects in each group. One group applied 5% minoxidil twice daily. The other group applied 5% minoxidil with 0.01% retinoic acid once in the night and a vehicle placebo in the morning. Study last for 18 weeks.

     

    RESULTS: The two groups showed equivalent results. See the complete article .

PRODUCT REVIEW

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Reviews

Verified Buyer
5
08/17/20
It works for a middle-aged woman!
I am a woman in my early 40s who had started to notice some thinning of my hair, especially around my hairline (maybe this area is just most noticeable to me!). I didn't have high expectations for minoxidil, because there really isn't a body of scientific evidence to support its efficacy for women (it may come as no surprise that most studies use men as subjects). But I my hairdresser swore by it and said that she had many clients who has great results, soooo... I made myself a guinea pig!

I am quite pleased with the results. After about six months, the hair around the corners of my forehead has filled in noticeably; indeed, there are wispies about 2 inches long poking out all around my head - more hair! I've also definitely noticed that the amount of hair that comes out when I shower has decreased - from dozens of strands per wash to few few. I intend to keep using this, and hope that it will keep menopause-related hair loss at bay.

It took a little while to get used to the dropper-style application, but now I'm a pro. I move it through my hair while squeezing gently, and if I feel it start to drip, I pause and gently rub the solution into my scalp with my fingertips.
Verified Buyer
5
01/31/22
IT IS WORKING
I have been using DualGen 5R with in the morning and DualGen 15R at night for three months now and i already have tiny hairs growing on the top of my head. I alternate with Essengen6 Plus in the morning and DualGen 15R Plus at night. Im very encouraged.
Verified Buyer
5
12/23/20
It works Fast
I am in early 30s, and I used this product in combination with finestride (Essengen-f) to stop my hair loss and make my hair to regrow in the bald areas and it really worked fast and I am satiesfied with the results.
Verified Buyer
5
09/28/20
Dualgen 5R
Amazing results. Less hair fall, thicker, healthier and fuller. Using this product in conjunction with Dualgen 10.
Verified Buyer
5
08/15/22
This Product Works!
Many years ago when was in my early twenties I started using Minoxidil Retiin A solution issued by Dr. Adam Lewenberg in NYC. 2/% Minoxidil with 0.025 % Tretinoin. The product worked and I saw results. I stopped using the product after a few years and later when I wanted to start using g it again...the Dr Who created it retired. I could not find any other company that sold this solution until I ran across Minoxidil Max! I have been using the product for about 3 1/2 months now and I now have a hair line where there was not one before. The balding areas have sprouted up longer hairs with baby hairs coming up behind it. I am now combining Dulagen 5 R to my daily regime by using Dulagen 5 R @ night. Very Please with these products.. I am excited to see my progress in another three months. It's refreshing to see a Product that actually does what is says.
Verified Buyer
5
01/29/20
Works as described
It dries quick and clean. I used it two times a day. It works much better than other minoxidil brands.
Verified Buyer
5
11/08/21
Hair loss Chlorthalidone
I started noticing my hair loss after Cardiologist put me on Chlorthalidone. I brought it to his attention and he took me off of it. At this point I place and order for Dualgen-5R. Just today I noticed that my hair is growing back. It's only been 2 months since I started using this product, but I have seen a little growth. Slowly but surely, it's coming back. Hopefully I'll have an update after the New Year.
Verified Buyer
4
10/20/23
Possibly some crown/vertex restoration. Hairline effect?
I started using this product mid July and have continued using into the current day in mid/late October (bought a second bottle) so far I've noticed an initial increase in dandruff (possibly due to retinoic acid? But no other irritation. I'm unsure if it's positively effected my hair at the hairline and I fear it's still thinning, but my crown may have improved. (I cover the entire scalp.) I use it daily at night and MM's Essengen 6 extra in the morning. My pics in the scrubs are from early August and my pics shirtless and in the Grey shirt are from yesterday and today respectively. You can be the judge.
Verified Buyer
3
03/21/21
Hairline
Hi , this lotion can to be used only on hairline once time a day? without ti use other?
Verified Buyer
5
11/15/22
Definitely working
Was in denial too long if I would have used this sooner would probably still have a decent head of hair mixing with ru and happy with results. Will be purchasing more.