By Ben Jennings

Indonesian startup Newman’s uses online medicine to tackle sensitive health issues in men. But the question is, does it really work? 

If I had a penny for every new hair loss line I saw, I'd be a very wealthy man right now.  Hair loss treatments hit the market regularly, most come and go unnoticed, and very few of them work.

Newman's is the latest hair loss medicine line that seems to be causing a bit of commotion on the market. The line of treatments includes four products; a supplement, and three topical solutions, including a shampoo.

The question I always ask myself is; What ingredients do these treatments contain, and are they going to be effective for treating baldness?  I don't often let my hopes get the better of me, because when it comes to hair loss treatments (and I've seen a fair few over the years), the vast majority of them just don't work, or have very little effect.  That's the brutal truth of the matter.

What is Newman's hair loss medicine?

Newman’s was founded by Elsen Wiraatmadja, Alfred Ali and Anthony Suryaputra, motivated partly by their own experiences with hair loss in their twenties.

This Indonesian startup company is using telemedicine to help patients get care for stigmatised health issues. The startup launched in February 2020, with prescription hair loss treatments and plans to expand into other verticals, including erectile dysfunction.

Now, where have I heard that before? It seems that offering online hair loss and erectile dysfunction treatment prescription plans is a common trend at the moment. Other companies, like Hims and Manual, offer the exact same service as Newman's do. The only difference is the branding.

What are the Newman's hair products? 

First up, we've got the tablets. Newman's offer an online prescription drug, Finasteride. Now, as you'll probably know, Finasteride is an FDA approved hair loss treatment for male baldness. It can help with hair loss, but it does come with negative aside-effects - the worst being erectile dysfunction.

I find it a bit contradicting that a company can sell Viagra, yet also sell a pill that treats hair loss which can actually cause erectile dysfunction. But that seems to be the norm these days, and many companies do the exact same thing.  In fact, this is a common set-up: pick out the two biggest concerns in men (hair loss and erectile dysfunction), and make money on it.

Finasteride can be prescribed online or offline, and so too can Viagra. This has been the case for many years now. There is absolutely nothing new or revolutionary about the Newman's products or the service they offer. I'm not trying to slander the company. All I am saying is that this brand is the same as so many others out there on the market.



This point is backed up by the next treatment we'll look at in the Newman's line. Minoxidil. Minoxidil is an FDA approved topical treatment for baldness in men (5%) and women (2%).  Again, this treatment is available to purchase under so many brands, Regaine/Rogaine being the most well-known.  Minoxidil is all the same - there is no Minoxidil that is better than another Minoxidil. It's just simply a case of finding what brand is the cheapest.

Much like Finasteride, Minoxidil also comes with negative side-effects, including weight-gain, headaches, soreness in the ankles, and even excess hair shedding, would you believe!

Next up is the topical serum, Ketoconazole 2%.  Ketoconazole, sold under the brand name Nizoral among others, is an antifungal medication used to treat a number of fungal infections. Applied to the skin it is used for fungal skin infections such as tinea, cutaneous candidiasis, pityriasis versicolor, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis.

Although a popular treatment for hair fall, there has not been enough sufficient evidence to suggest that Ketoconazole can in any way help tackle or reverse male pattern baldness. Again, there's nothing different or revolutionary about this treatment. It seems, to me, that Newman's has branded another product with an already established reputation as a popular hair care solution. 

And finally, we have the Shampoo. With Saw Palmetto being the main ingredient, it's pretty clear what they're trying to do here. Saw Palmetto has, in some studies, shown to help block the formation of DHT (the cause of hair loss).  The problem is, it hasn't shown to do this when applied onto the scalp. 

Saw Palmetto can be effective for stopping baldness, but only when it is consumed orally as a pill/tablet.  There has been no scientific research that has shown any shampoo to treat hair loss effectively. If you ever see a shampoo brand claiming it can treat hair loss, it's a lie. There simply isn't one at this moment in time. 

Is it worth investing in Newman's Hair Loss Treatment line? 

Firstly, I should make it clear that the Newman's products are not necessarily bad, or some sort of scam. The paint I've made throughout this article is that the line doesn't offer anything new.

Finasteride, Minoxidil, Ketoconazole, and Saw Palmetto (in shampoo form), are all readily available to purchase, and have been available to buy for many years already. The Newman's treatment plan is no different to the Hims or Manual treatment plans.  It's just the same treatments under a different label. 

When it comes to a good hair loss treatment, I always look out for certain criteria.  Firstly, I want something that's different. Newman's only offers what is already available, so, to get me excited, I'd look out for a new treatment that is actually new. I don't want to invest my hard earned money on a treatment that has existed for years. 

Secondly, I always look for treatments that offer a safe and natural alternative to the harsh drugs. Treatments like Finasteride and Minoxidil can cause horrible side-effects, and so the natural thing to do would be to try and find a treatment that comes without the risks. 

Most men (and women) who suffer from baldness, will generally favour a treatment that is safe and risk-free. Natural treatments aren't medically approved, but, there are some on the market that can help prevent hair loss and promote healthy hair growth. 

What would I do? Well, I've always avoided the types of treatments that Newman's offer, as I care too much about my health to compromise on it. I have always gone for natural treatments, like multi-vitamin hair supplements, and naturally formulated topical oils and serums. 

If you want my advice, I'd tell you to avoid treatment plans like Newman's, Hims, Manual, and the rest of their ilk, in favour of safe, natural solutions. The bottom line is, there isn't a cure for hair loss, so, rather than put your health at risk, you may as well try and treat the problem safely and naturally.