Month: April 2006

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Other Than Propecia And Rogaine… – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hello dear doctor
I have been on propecia and rogaine for 1 year but 20 days ago I started to have systemic sides ,problems caused by minoxidil and my doctor told me to stop using minoxidil
I asked him to recommend me something else inseat of minoxidil or at least to keep my hair healty cause propecia works very little on me for mpb but he said he does not know the answer so I wanna ask you same question cause you have experienced as I found out in internet and I wanna know if I can use aminexil and sod (copper peptides)for whole life time as in minoxidil

thank you very much indeed for your precious helps

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What is your age? What were the symptoms you are complaining about with Rogaine or Propecia? As you already are under a doctor’s care, then you should be asking that doctor to manage you or switch to another doctor. Your questions raise more questions than I feel comfortable answering through the internet without much more information.

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Hair Is Getting Finer With Rogaine and Propecia Use – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr Rassman,
I have been using Rogaine and Propecia since June 05 (except when I stopped taking propecia for a month in november). After not shaving my head for two months, I noticed that I had grown significant amount of hair in Novemnber. However, in January I realized that my hair overall was getting finer. Now it’s April and I am back to where I was last June if not worse sice the hair I have left is finer.I have been very compliant with the meds. Do you have any suggestions?

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There is no guarantee that either of the medications will work or last. This is a statistical process and if you take both Rogaine and Propecia, chances are that you’re statistically better off. Without examining you, it would be impossible to put meaningful medical logic to your situation. There is only so much I can do over the internet.

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Weight Loss, Microsoft Diet, and Slimy Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,
Recently I noticed that my hair has a slimy feel to it when it gets wet, and then it will dry as if it has gel in it, very hard. I have always lost hair in the shower, but it seems that this is increasing with the slimy hair problem. Another symptom that I’ve had is extreme scalp itch, but no more than normal dandruff visible to be the cause of it. I have recently spent a great deal of time in the swimming pool, but no one I’ve been with is experiencing similiar problems. Also, I’m taking Adapex for weight loss and wonder if this might have some correlation with my symptoms. I’ve tried researching my slimy hair and came up with a process used on wigs called decutilization, where layers of the hairs cuticle is removed for some reason. However, I can’t find anything to do with my own hair having this problem or how to fix it. A friend suggested that my hair had lost it’s acidity, but home remedies and ion hair strippers have not helped. Please help me figure this out. I want to solve the problem so my normally soft healthy hair will return. Thanks so much.

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MicrosoftThe need to have luxurious hair is a quest that many people have and that is why the TV ads fill the airwaves with shampoos and conditioners, potions and lotions that are focused on people who do not like the texture of their hair or the dryness of it (or in your case the slimy nature of it). Hair does change texture with time and stress. It also changes if we expose it to the sun (drying it), chlorine from a swimming pool or other things. As we get older, hair clearly changes its character and its thickness and these two are absolutely related. I looked up Adipex and found references to a drug called Phentermine which is sold without a prescription. In the look-up, I also saw a link to this drug and hair loss with the Microsoft Diet on Google, and I got excited that Microsoft has found some magical cure to weight loss which I could tell my readership. Now is that getting us somewhere or isn’t it? I wonder if we can download a cure for hair loss from Microsoft if we buy into their diet (see Microsoft Diet working for many in Seattle. I hate to point out my sarcasm, but that was a joke.

There is no doubt that weight loss can cause hair loss if the weight loss is aggressive and if there is any vitamin or nutritional deficiencies associated with the weight loss process.

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Natural Food Contaminants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Many, many times I have answered questions from this audience reflecting that ‘natural food’ or ‘natural ‘herbs’ may not be safe. From my readings I found this reference to Green Tea, a valuable suggested antioxidant with possible cancer properties. Clearly, all of these product are not created equal so this is just a warning for those of you who think that natural is always safe (let alone effective). There is never a guarantee that the products that you buy actually contain what you are buying. To get what you think, you need to be sure that these products are using ‘Good Manufacturing Processes” (GMP) and known term of art for quality manufacturing. The following piece comes from the ConsumerLab.com Newsletter:

CANCER PREVENTION SUPPLEMENTS (GREEN TEA, LYCOPENE, AND SELENIUM) JUST RELEASED — Certain foods and nutrients are associated with reduced risk of cancer. Many of these are anti-oxidants, scavenging free radicals that can otherwise damage cells. Supplements containing three popular ingredients — green tea , lycopene or selenium — were purchased and tested.

But problems were detected in three green tea products : Two were contaminated with lead and another contained only 71% of its claimed level of EGCG, a key compound in green tea. One selenium supplement contained only 38% of its ingredient .

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Transplanting the Back Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

can transplants be done in the temple areas and also in the area right above the back hairline?

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Yes, transplants can be placed in the temples. As for the “back hairline”, I am assuming that you are talking about the area just behind the frontal 1 inch of hair. If that is the case, yes, I have performed such transplants on many people filling in the forelock area for a fuller appearance. If you are referring to the crown (back top of your head), then again, yes this area can be transplanted as well. Look at the photo gallery to find out what you are looking for: Hairline photos

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I Don’t Want My Hair To Recede To Reveal My Transplant Scar – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have had 2 transplants since 2000 and have noticed that I am losing more hair at the back of the head. My concern is that the scars left from the surgery will eventually be exposed if I continue to recede. I would say that they it is 2 to 3 inches away from the first scar. Is there anything I can do to conceal the scar? Is it time for another transplant?

Thanks

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As long as the scar is in the mid region of the permanent zone, I don’t think that the scar will be revealed. That is assuming that the scar width is not excessive , though most wide scars can be managed with a corrective procedure. It’s difficult for me to even try to conclude where your recession will end since I haven’t seen photos or met with you, so you may want to get a second opinion and even a third to better determine if your scar will possibly be exposed in the future and what can be done about it.

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Propecia Stopped Working After Years – Time for Avodart? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have wrote to you before about Propecia losing it’s effectiveness for me after 6+/- years.

I have had just about every blood test done which were all in a normal range. Thyrioid is OK.
The only thing that appeared high was my Estrogen/Estradiol levels.

Last stop was an Endrocinologist who thought the level was a bit high but not horribly high.

The problem is my hair is just coming out daily. I can pull on it and get a shed. Wash it and get a shed. Nothing is slowing down the loss.

My question is, should I try Avodart since nothing else seems to be working.

I am 40 and basically a healthy guy.
But I am desperate as well.

Is it normal for all of the top to just go in such a short amount of time (6+/- months)?

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Hair loss is an ongoing process with or without using Propecia. However, hair loss may slow down or temporarily stop once on Propecia. Avodart appears to be a longer acting drug in the same class as Propecia. I am not certain if it will be better than Propecia. I need to see more data before recommending you to try it, but without the FDA’s approval, I am not willing to recommend it yet. Despite the theory behind Avodart, there is no concrete study out there to prove that this drug is better than Propecia.

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How Long Does Minoxidil Stay In My Body? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,
I have been taking 2% topical minoxidil since late December 2005. I have ALWAYS taken more than the recommended doses. I would estimate at first 2-3 times the amount, later on 4-5 times the amount. By mid March I noticed my sex drive was really low and and I had a harder time getting and maintaining an erection. I read online from the Mayo Clinic that too much absorption of topical minoxidil can lower sex drive and performance. I have stopped taking it for a week and sexually I’m better, but not quite normal. I also still have some heart palpitations. Could you please tell me when my body will “clear-out” the excess minoxidil?

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Some drugs are metabolized fairly quickly, while others can take a long time before they are eliminated. We quantify this with the use of the term “half-life.” The half-life of a given medication is how long it takes for the body to get rid of half of the dose. When the patient is taking a medication on a regular basis, there is an ongoing process of drug absorption in the form of each dose of the drug and, concurrently, an ongoing process of drug removal with the drug’s metabolism and clearance. Eventually, there comes a point when the amount of drug going in is the same as the amount of drug getting taken out. We call this “steady state.” It takes somewhere between 5 and 6 half-lives for a medication to reach steady state. Thus, medications with short half-lives reach steady state relatively quickly, while those with long half-lives take a long time to reach steady state. Minoxidil has a blood half-life of about 4 hours, but I can not determine how long it hangs around the kidney, heart, or other organs when it is out of the blood. Most of the good studies are on oral administration of the drug for treatment of high blood pressure and here is what I read on RxList.com: “The extent and time-course of blood pressure reduction by minoxidil do not correspond closely to its concentration in plasma. After an effective single oral dose, blood pressure usually starts to decline within one-half hour, reaches a minimum between 2 and 3 hours and recovers at an arithmetically linear rate of about 30%/day. The total duration of effect is approximately 75 hours. When minoxidil is administered chronically, once or twice a day, the time required to achieve maximum effect on blood pressure with a given daily dose is inversely related to the size of the dose. Thus, maximum effect is achieved on 10 mg/day within 7 days, on 20 mg/day within 5 days, and on 40 mg/day within 3 days.” This may be more than you asked for.

If you have heart palpitations, you should be seeing a doctor about that. This is a worrysome problem, something that is far too important than to take it to a doctor like me who advises on general questions over the internet. Minoxidil may be out of your system by now and the fact that you are getting better is good, but having a heart problem needs prompt and proper medical treatment, so get it to see a doctor ASAP.

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Unsatisfied With Hair Transplant, Should I Use Laser Therapy? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,
I Recently had a Hair transplant that was performed back in July of 05. I started taking Propecia a month before surgery. I must say I am extremely dissapointed in the results of both. I feel as if the head trauma that was endured during the surgery made me lose more hair. When I inquired with the doctor he said the hairs that fell out will regrow. My hair gets thinner by the day and I dont see Propecia working from keeping the hairs I already have. My question is, there is a laser therapy used for a skin disease that also helps alopecia patients regrow full heads of hair. Is this a something I should test out? It is not covered by insurance because it would be considered cosmetic. And in the mean time, I have heard of taking daily doses of copper peptides and emu oil help the follicle and assist in regrowth of dormat hairs. Is this another route I should take? Thank you so much for your time doctor.

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First I would want to know if your expectations were set correctly. You say you are disappointed, so I ask why?

There is a suggestion in your question that your hair is continuing to appear thinner. Did you experience shock hair loss (rare with a person on Propecia, but more common in young men under 30). I do not know your age and I have no idea where was your starting point and where you are now. I would suggest that you go back to your doctor. Your doctor is vested in making you happy and making sure that what he represented to you was what you got. Your best starting point is a face to face meeting with the doctor who did your surgery. I personally love talking to my patients and although few are dissatisfied, I always feel ownership. I make unusual efforts to be sure that expectations are properly fixed to what the end product will be like and that is the main value of open house events for people like you, to avoid being disappointed, because what you see is what you are going to get. I do not think that playing around with things like lasers or other regrowth formulations have value for you now, that is, until you know what happened and why the surgery failed to meet your needs.

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Emotional 13 Year Old Girl – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi. right now, i have a perm from curly to straight. i am 13 yrs old girl and if would be cery nice of you if you would pleeeease help me. i went on a winter vacation with my family for 3 days. the second day i went to the pool with out a cap. after a while i went up to my hotel room by myself, then i blew dry my hair. after the vacation was over i went home to wash the chlorine out of my hair which were V05 conditioner and shampoo. after i washed it, i blew dry my hair some more. later in about a few weeks, every time i comb my hair a whole chunk of hair came out every single day for 3 weeks. it came from the back of my head. i just noticed when my hair dresser said it looked like a short boys hair cut and i started to cry for weeks. i did not want to go out in puplic expecially in school where my friends had good looking then i did. i felt jealous and lonley because a few had longer hair than me, straight with out a perm. and i don’t really want to show my natural hair because it’s crazy looking. so if you would pleeeeease help to grow it back faster i’ll feel much better again and take better care of a perm. thank you so much

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You sound very emotional, and that is understandable seeing as how you are a young teenager. When my daughter was your age, I saw these range of emotions firsthand. Please know that losing hair is normal (average person loses about 100-150 hairs per day) so that if you are seeing such numbers of hairs being lost, you are just seeing something that you may not have noticed before. If you are healthy and have no medical problems, then there is no reason for significant hair loss. First, you need to talk with your parents and tell them what you are experiencing. Then they may take you to a good dermatologist who can evaluate your hair to find out if the loss you are experiencing is above the normal daily loss for an adult. The best advice I can give you is to reach out and ask those who love you to help you through this experience.