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In recent years, telehealth has become more and more prominent, taking over the Internet and offering more affordable, more convenient remote solutions to a variety of health issues, including men’s healthcare. This makes this sector of medical aid more accessible, especially as many popular telehealth offerings make use of licensed doctors and physicians.
One such company is Keeps, which specializes in male hair loss. Keeps Reviews are often positive, making it seem like an appealing option to men who are seeking ways to help reduce the severity of their hair loss, prevent a more serious onset, or even encourage healthier, thicker hair regrowth.
- But is Keeps a trustworthy company?
- Are its medications sure to be effective for most men?
- Is the price really reasonable?
- How does it work?
- Here are our Keeps reviews!
What Is Male Pattern Baldness?
Androgenic alopecia is the scientific term for male pattern baldness. It causes receding hairlines, crown hair loss, and general hair thinning. There are many potential causes for male pattern baldness, with a large primary factor being family history or genetics.
Research indicates that most forms of male pattern baldness is related to or caused by androgen imbalance. Androgens are male sex hormones that perform a wide range of functions, one of which involves the regulation of healthy hair growth. Male pattern baldness occurs when these androgens become overactive.
More accurately, there is one specific type of androgen most commonly linked to androgenic alopecia, and this is DHT (or dihydrotestosterone). DHT is produced from testosterone, which is in turn made in bodily tissues, the prostate, and the testes.
It is a fully necessary hormone that is responsible for the maintenance of male sexual characteristics, but, again, in excess, it can be more harmful than helpful. In individuals who have genetic connections that make them prone to androgenic alopecia, the DHT binds quickly to the follicles of the hair.
To better understand how androgenic alopecia works, think of it this way. All hairs on the body go through a specific growth cycle involving growth, shedding, and regrowth. In male-pattern baldness, this doesn’t happen effectively. The cycle in question becomes progressively weaker, causing the follicles to shrink. This eventually leads to overall thinning of hair, and the finer, shorter hairs continue to shrink over time until the hair follicles have completely closed.
Most male pattern baldness inherited from family doesn’t come with any side effects. Other forms of baldness, however, can be side effects themselves of much more serious conditions, of medications, or of other concerns that you can speak to a doctor about.
In order to diagnose androgenic alopecia, doctors usually perform a medical examination in order to officially rule out other serious causes. They then examine the hair loss pattern to match it up to the right condition.
Before getting started with any form of male pattern baldness treatment, however, you must note that there has not been any discovered cure for male pattern baldness. As such, medications and treatments may not be able to fully stop or halt the progression of your alopecia, only slowing it down. In other cases, great results from treatment are possible, but they are not permanent and will reverse if you stop using medications or treatments.
What Is Keeps?
Keeps is a men’s haircare website specializing in the treatment and prevention of male hair loss. It was founded by a pair of friends, Steve Gutentag and Demetri Karagas, who met in college. A decade after becoming friends, Steve apparently began to show signs of thinning hair, and the pair wanted to find an affordable, working solution to combat male pattern hair loss. When they didn’t find any convenient options, they decided to found Keeps.
Keeps focuses on reducing hair loss and even preventing its advancement through the use of convenient telehealth – a modern and simple solution that promotes ease, cost-effectiveness, and direct results. The company claims to only sell FDA-approved, science-backed products, and it works with qualified, licensed doctors who individually review cases in order to determine the best possible treatment.
Keeps’ main promise is an effective treatment with good quality and low cost, which they say that they can provide due to a supply chain that they have built while cutting out the middleman.
Keeps Doctors
Keeps has two main advisors. The first is Dr. Jerry Shapiro, a highly experienced Professor of Dermatology and hair dermatologist. As one of the top experts in his field, he has authored 3 books and 150 research papers in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Shapiro works at the NYU School of Medicine.
The second advisor is Dr. Antonella Tosti, a Professor of Clinical Dermatology and hair disorder expert. As a world-renowned expert, she has more than 600 publications in the scientific community, a hair disorder named after her (yes, really!) and more famous related works under her name. Dr. Tosti works at the University of Miami.
But these two advisors are not the only doctors who work with Keeps. Keeps connects its patients to licensed physicians, assigning one to you who can look over your symptoms, concerns, and information and provide treatment plans remotely via prescription. The first consultation “visit” you have with a doctor is free of charge, and the following “visits” cost $5 each.
Treatment plans begin as soon as you receive your products. Around 4-6 weeks after their arrival, Keeps will contact you to ask about treatment progress. You can also reach out to Keeps’ care specialists regarding concerns and questions.
Keeps Method
The method and process for Keeps is fairly simple. You can start by taking a simple questionnaire, if you so choose, that will ask for information on your hair loss concerns and lifestyle and provide an option to upload photographs. You can then choose to let a doctor decide what treatment is best for you based on that.
However, the real first step in the Keeps process is choosing your plan. Each plan is FDA-approved, and after you choose it, a licensed doctor will be connected with you, and they will ensure that the treatment is suitable. Plans include:
1. Thinning Hair
Finasteride and Minoxidil. Daily prescription tablet and topical treatment. This combo provides the best results for those seeking to boost hair regrowth and reduce hair loss, making it ideal for those with overall thinning hair.
2. Receding Hairlines
Finasteride. Daily prescription tablet of 1 mg. This plan is most suitable for individuals who are experiencing a hairline recession or thinning, including around the vertex or crown.
3. Crown Thinning
Minoxidil. Daily foam or daily solution of 5% strength. This plan is great for those with thinning in the vertex and crown, promoting longer, thicker, and more abundant hair growth in these areas.
4. Other Plans
Keeps may also prescribe other plans that are slightly customized to suit your needs if none of the abovementioned plans work for you.
You likely have an idea of what plan you think you need. Now, head onto the site and fill out your email and name, and you’ll see the price points of each plan. You will then create an account with Keeps. Once this is done, remember that optional questionnaire we mentioned earlier? It’s compulsory now! You may have chosen a plan, but a doctor still has to confirm that it will work for you, and that questionnaire will give them the information they need.
After sending in your order, you fill out mailing details and then answer a quiz that is full of health questions. They are similar to what a doctor would ask in an office consultation and provide physicians with the information they need to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your plan. The questions are simple but require honest answers.
Once you’re done, a doctor looks over the provided details. If the plan is approved by them, all you have to do is wait. The treatment arrives at your door for half the standard pharmacy price, being delivered every three months.
You can opt to cancel the plan or adjust it as needed, and progress tracking is relatively easy. There is also always some assistance available through Keeps if you have further concerns or questions.
There are a few other things you should take note of. One is that Keeps requires that you submit a government-issued ID when ordering from them. This is so that doctors know for certain that they are treating the right person, and also so that state regulations are followed accurately.
All doctors who work for or with the Keeps Medical Group are background-checked. The telehealth process is completely legal and Keeps’ exact process was devised hand-in-hand with law and medicine experts alike. However, a doctor from Keeps that is assigned to you is not a replacement for a primary care physician, as they are here to help treat male pattern baldness only.
Keeps Products
1. Finasteride
Consumption method:
- Oral medication
- Once a day at approximately the same time
- Taken with food or without food
- Should not be handled by women if broken or crushed
- Do not take extra doses or double doses if you miss a dose
- Affects hormone levels
While taking the medication, do not:
- Donate blood (and ask first if you can do so after stopping)
- Take PSA tests for prostate cancer without informing the doctor; it can interfere with test accuracy
Finasteride is a medication designed specifically for treating men’s male pattern baldness. It is unsuitable and unsafe for use by women. It is essentially the generic form of a medication known as Propecia, which you will likely have heard of if you’ve been looking into men’s hair care for a while.It is typically recommended for receding hairlines.Changes and improvements typically begin to show at a minimum of 3 months of daily consumption. Regular consumption after the improvements may prevent further hair loss and maintain better hair. Stopping consumption usually causes all effects to revert within a year.
You should not take the medication or consult a doctor first if you:
- Have kidney issues
- Have liver issues
- Have/had prostate cancer
- Have allergies to finasteride or its ingredients
- Are breastfeeding
- Are attempting to conceive
- Are pregnant
Rare serious side effects (contact a doctor if you experience them):
- Breathing difficulty
- Allergic reaction symptoms
- Swelling or itchiness
- Rashes
- Severe dizziness
- Testicle pain
- Nipple pain or leakage
- Urinary difficulty
2. Minoxidil
Use method:
- Liquid solution
- Applied to scalp twice daily
- 1 ml applied per dose
- For external use only
- Ensure dry scalp and hair before usage
- Do not wet hair for four hours post-application
- Shampoo unnecessary prior to application
- Follow usage directions
- Do not take extra doses or double doses if you miss a dose
- Do not use on sunburned or cut areas
Minoxidil is a form of medication designed for those with genetic forms of male-pattern hair loss, designed to promote the growth of new, healthy hair. It is applied topically as a medication to the scalp and comes in a variety of strengths. Women can use minoxidil, but cannot use those of higher strengths.
You may know minoxidil is Rogaine, as Rogaine is its brand name. Regular usage is required in order to promote hair regrowth properly, and you will likely notice that your head sheds hair faster at first as the minoxidil works to rid old hair and replace it with new, thicker types. Usually, you will see results in 3 to 4 months, if you use the product regularly. Stopping consumption usually causes all effects to revert within 3 months. If hair doesn’t grow within 4 months for you, you should speak to a doctor for advice.
Common, non-serious side effects:
- Headache
- Itching
- Irritation
- Redness
- Unusual hair growth
- Changed hair texture
- Changed hair color
Rare serious side effects (contact a doctor if you experience them):
- Rashes and itchiness
- Blisters
- Foot or hand swelling
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Fainting
3. Minoxidil Foam
Use method:
- Foam
- Applied to scalp twice daily
- Half a capful per application
- Massage onto scalp before washing hands
- For external use only
- Ensure dry scalp and hair before usage
- Shampoo unnecessary prior to application
- Follow usage directions
- Do not take extra doses or double doses if you miss a dose
- Do not share the foam with others
- Do not use more than directed
- Overdose requires immediate emergency care
- Do not use on sunburned or cut areas
This is a foaming version of minoxidil. Minoxidil is a form of medication designed for those with genetic forms of male-pattern hair loss, designed to promote the growth of new, healthy hair. It is applied topically as a medication to the scalp and comes in a variety of strengths. Women can use minoxidil, but cannot use those of higher strengths.
You may know minoxidil is Rogaine, as Rogaine is its brand name. Regular usage is required in order to promote hair regrowth properly, and you will likely notice that your head sheds hair faster at first as the minoxidil works to rid old hair and replace it with new, thicker types. Usually, you will see results in 2 to 4 months, if you use the product regularly. Stopping consumption usually causes all effects to revert within 3 months. If hair doesn’t grow within 4 months for you, you should speak to a doctor for advice.
You should tell your doctor first if you:
- Have no family history of hair loss
- Have an unknown reason for hair loss
- Are experiencing a receding hairline
- Have experienced sudden hair loss
- Have experienced patchy hair loss
- Have scalp inflammation or infection
- Are pregnant
- Are trying to conceive
- Are breastfeeding
- Have other medications that you want to use on the scalp
- Use illegal drugs, smoke, or rink
- Use other medications, supplements, drugs, or herbs
Common, non-serious side effects:
- Headache
- Itching
- Irritation
- Redness
- Unusual hair growth
- Changed hair texture
- Changed hair color
Rare serious side effects (contact a doctor if you experience them):
- Rashes and itchiness
- Blisters
- Foot or hand swelling
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Fainting
4. Ketoconazole Shampoo
Use method:
- Wash hands before and after application
- Apply to affected areas
- Skin should be damp
- Lather, then leave for five minutes, then rinse with water thoroughly
- Avoid getting into eyes
- For external use only
- Follow usage directions
- Do not cease usage until told by a doctor
- Do not take extra doses or double doses if you miss a dose
- Overdose requires immediate emergency care
Ketoconazole is a form of medicine that is antifungal, typically focusing on the treatment of yeast infections and fungal infections. There are other uses, however, and you can ask a doctor about them. You may also know ketoconazole as Nizoral, which is its brand name version.
Usually, you will see results within 2 weeks. If you don’t, you should speak to a doctor for advice. You may also be wondering why Keeps sells ketoconazole when it doesn’t treat male pattern baldness. Well, that’s because it does treat hair loss, but instead of male pattern hair loss, it treats balding caused by infections on the scalp or hair.
You should tell your doctor first if you:
- Are pregnant
- Are trying to conceive
- Are breastfeeding
- Have other medications that you want to use on the scalp
- Use illegal drugs, smoke, or rink
- Use other medications, supplements, drugs, or herbs
Common, non-serious side effects:
- Irritation
- Dryness
- Hair loss
- Changed hair texture
- Changed hair color
- Loss of wave treatment in hair
Rare serious side effects (contact a doctor if you experience them):
- Rashes and itchiness
- Hives
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Pain
Keeps Subscription Information
Keeps claims that its decision to make its products subscription-based is in order to prioritize results. As most hair loss prevention products for men require continuous and consistent usage to work, Keeps believes that a subscription can help people to receive their treatments continuously without needing to remember to reorder them. Subscriptions can be adjusted or refilled as needed, and they can be canceled at any time.
Checking subscriptions is as simple as viewing the right page from your account screen on the website. To cancel, you will have to send in a request via the Keeps website, or for a more direct approach, you can contact their customer service directly by phone.
While many states provide telehealth services, some may not. In these cases, you will need to visit a doctor in person to get prescriptions or have them renewed. Give your doctor the correct information to receive a prescription refill, and if it has changed, contact Keeps to have your plan altered.
Medical history changes may also affect your plan. In that case, you should contact Keeps directly to inform them of the change or tell them to your doctor.
Conclusion
Keeps offer FDA-approved medicines and medications that have been scientifically proven to help men who are experiencing androgenic alopecia (and women who happen to deal with androgen-related hair loss). These prescriptions are offered through proper licensed physician consultations, which is a significant bonus in light of the Internet’s man counterfeit sales.
As a company, Keeps is fairly new to the world of men’s telemedicine but Keeps Reviews indicate that it is already quite an active player in the industry. Numerous testimonials indicate positive results, but of course, as with any medication, what Keeps provides will not necessarily work for everyone.
If you’re seeking an affordable hair loss treatment option that can be provided remotely and conveniently with safe medical practices, Keeps may be a good choice for you. This is especially true if you have a busy lifestyle and can benefit from Keeps’ subscription plans.
At the end of the day, what Keeps offers are products that are already common throughout the men’s hair loss treatment market. They aren’t new, but Keeps’ lower prices, telehealth convenience, subscription process, and simple approach can be quite appealing. If you feel that you could benefit from Keeps’ products, there’s little harm in trying them out!