June 2006 – Page 17 – Balding Blog

June 2, 2006

Travel to California Is Too Expensive to See You! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr Rassman,

I have read with huge interest your blog/articles and links. I have a hair-loss problem and live in the UK. I am convinced that your clinic and FUE techniques are the best solution to my problem. I believe I would score as a type 6 pattern and accordingly may need more than one session. Being based in UK and having to travel to California several times would make it cost-prohibitive for me, I believe even with your 5% travel discounts.

Most of the UK surgeons in this field seem to me to be much less experienced and professional with only a few of them offering FUE.

Do you have colleagues on the East Coast of the US and/or clinics you could recommend in eg. Florida where inexpensive flights from UK are frequent these days.

Kind regards

Block Quote

You may want to consult with Dr. Robert Bernstein in New York.

June 2, 2006

I Want to Sue My Dermatologist – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have noticing balding since I was 13 years old, but no one seemed to believe me for many years of it. At age 15, I saw a dermitologist who told me that I was not balding. At age 18, I finally convinced my mother to take me to a better dermitologist who confirmed that I indeed was balding, and prescribed me Propecia. Honestly, it’s to a point which I can no longer walk around like a normal human being. I am in such deep depression and will be unless the situation gets much better. Keeping the hair I have isn’t enough and a hair transplant isn’t afforadable. Am I in the position to sue my old dermitologist (and win)?

Block Quote

I understand losing hair in your teenage years can be devastating, but if you were dealt a genetics card of male pattern hair loss, there is not much you can do. Of course there are medications such as topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, but they are not generally prescribed for men under the age of 18 because few doctors recognize that teens can experience genetic balding just like young men can. With a parent’s cooperation and understanding what is going on inside and outside the head, I would consider prescribing Propecia for someone much younger than 18. There are also hair transplants available but at the age of 18 you can not possibly know that your final hair loss pattern might be so that a hair transplants done without a good solid prediction of your future as it fits into a personalized Master Plan for you, would not be a good idea. Add to these problems, that teens often do not have the maturity level or the finances to follow through with a surgical solution, and hair transplants make for possibly a worse situation than doing nothing.

You need a good diagnosis, confirmed with objective measurements to know that is going on. If you are indeed in “such a deep depression” because of your hair loss, perhaps you may consider seeing a psychiatrist over a dermatologist, but at the least a doctor who is caring who you can bond with. Depression is a real problem for anyone fixed upon some body deformity, real or imaginary and it should be cared for by a professional.

June 2, 2006

Chicken Pox and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 23 year old girl and have patches of severely thinning hair on my crown. I started losing my hair at the age of 20. Prior to that I had very thick and long hair but it has thinned very rapidly for reasons I am not sure of. My grandmother on my dad’s side is bald and I am afraid that I might have inherited that from her. However, I also had chicken pox when I was 21 years old and lost a lot of hair then. It never completely grew back after that. Also, I have applied aurvedic hair oil all my life, so does having an oily scalp cause thinning? I also have acne, so is it hormonal? How will I know what exactly is wrong with me? Please help. Thank you very much.

Block Quote

First, you need to have a complete medical work-up, because hair loss in women is often a side symptom resulting from some other problem. Female hair loss is inherited and some women report relatives with similar histories at similar ages, but first assume that the problem is one that has a cause which might be fixed. It is a difficult problem to address, because there are very few medical treatments available for female genetic hair loss, but if (for example) you had a thyroid problem causing the hair loss, then it needs to be addressed before expecting changes in the hair situation. If your hair loss condition is affecting your life, you should want to consult a good doctor who understands hair loss, but first any doctor can do the test defined elsewhere in this blog.

Chicken pox may have been a medical stress that may have caused you to lose hair or to accelerate a genetic pattern inherited as discussed above. Oily skin and special shampoos and hair products, however, are not generally associated with hair loss.

June 2, 2006

Scarring Alopecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I am a twenty year old female who have been diagonised with scarring alopecia after going to a dermatologist in regards to my hair breaking off in the center of my head. About a year and a half ago, after I took out the braids I had in my hair, about two of my braids that was located in the center of my head came out. I figured this happened because my hair might have been braided to tight so I didn’t worry to much about it. Well a few months later I got my hair braided again and when I took my braids out this happened again. After a months of waiting for my hair to grow back which it didn’t it just spreaded and became so noticeable that I had to get my hair cut to length of the bald spot, at this point I decided it was time to see a dermatologist.

At my first visit he couldn’t see if any thing was wrong with my hair because I don’t have total baldness, just in the area where my hair came out at it is thinner and dryer than the rest of my hair. So, he suggested to do a biopsy and the results of biopsy was that I have scarring alopecia. The PA gave me my results and told me that there is nothing I can do,but I plan on seeing another dermatologist. My questions to you is what you think I can to do to help my hair grow back or what can I do to stop it from thinning and is there any treatments for scarring alopecia.

Thank you very much for taking the time out to read my question!

Block Quote

Stop braiding your hair.

The classic scarring alopecia diagnosis reflects an autoimmune process and it may occur from a wide variety of medical conditions, but what you are describing sounds like traction alopecia from the braids and scarring reaction to it. You need to get some insights into the biopsy that was done. Go back to your dermatologist and have that conversation with him/her. For more information click here.

June 2, 2006

Using a Combination of Laser, Vitamins, Propecia, and Shampoos – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr Rassman,
i have joined a program of preventing a hair loss, and i am using a combination of products ( low level laser comb, scalp scripts, vitamins, propecia, and a shampoo ). now i cover 6 month period of using these products and i have seen some results on the back of my head.i have a thinning hair at the front of my head (not too much). anyway at front no particular results. they say from this center that i need at least another 3 months in order to see good results at the front of my head. What is your opinion about this problem , and why is taking so long to see results at the front of my head? is that normal?

thank you.

I have given my opinion many times on alternatives to the only two medications that are known to have value (Finasteride and Minoxidil). I am not sure if the other treatments really work from a medical point of view and there is no proof for me to endorse any of such productsn,because there is no clinical science to show that it has been medically proven. But if it works for you than you may want to continue it.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

June 2, 2006

Transplanting into Donor Scar – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,
I had surgery with NHI back on 01/24/2002, no problems, then had more grafts placed by a surgeon closer to home about 1 year after. Having been a trauma nurse for 6+ years, I told him to please be very careful around the donor area as there was not much elasticity. Post op had very bad infxn and after 10 days of oral abx I now have very large scars at the donor areas behind both ears and have to wear my hair long to cover these scars.

Since this is already heavily scarred, can anything be done to place hair here?

Yes, I know, I should have just gone back to you to get my second one done. Thanks

You are more than welcome to pay us a visit and we’ll see what we can do. We can address the scar and also transplant into the donor area if that is what is needed. There may be a better solution, but until I examine you, I can not render an opinion. It is interesting to note for the readers of this blog, I have not seen an infection in the donor area for more than 10 years. As you may know, we are an accredited facility through the AAAHC and during the last accreditation process we were told that amongst accredited facilities we were in the top 1% with regard to the incidence of infection. I believe that we are the only accredited hair transplant facility in California and possibly even the entire USA. This accreditation process inflicts the highest standards on its participating facilities and includes many if not most of the hospital-level outpatient surgery facilities in the nation.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

June 2, 2006

Scalp Flaking After Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had a transplant a little over three weeks ago. The scabbing is 99% gone but it’s been replaced by quite a bit of scalp peeling. Why does this happen? I have hardly had any sun exposure on my head at all this month, so it’s definitely not a sunburn. And how long does it take to go away? I ‘ve been shampooing and showering normally and also rubbing my scalp between showers — the peeling skin is coming off (along with the transplanted hairs) but there’s still a lot of flaking left.

It is natural for newly transplanted hair to shed within the first month after the hair transplant. Your scabs will shed and some surrounding skin will also shed as well. Remember, the washing of your hair has probably changed since the transplant. Once you go back to your normal washing routine, the problem should disappear. Try using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

June 2, 2006

Head Lice and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Lice

Hello, recently i got head lice.. ive tried treating it many times but i just ordered liceX product . My questions is why has my hair been shedding great amounts on my clothes, shower etc. it was not like this last year. please help i do think its a main cause of stress.. please help asap this has destroyed me mentally and physically

You should see a good dermatologist or a general primary care doctor to treat your head lice. They can prescribe stronger medications that may not be available to you. Take care of your head lice and hopefully your hair, your mental, and your physical state will return to baseline. There is not substitute for a good doctor in your situation.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

June 1, 2006

ThymuSkin Shampoo – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

I have written in before but i have a question concering hair loss shampoos. I have been researching Revivogen and ThmusSkin Shampoos. What are your thoughts on these topical hair treatment agents? I am 22 years old and have a full head a hair and show no signs of balding but it does run in my family. Would these be effective in keeping my hair that i have? People have told me to not worry but its difficult. I would like a “security blanket” to assure no hairloss will take place. Please Help!

Thankyou

Block Quote

The following is what I wrote about Revivogen back in December, 2005:
Revivogen seems to make claims about ‘proven’ DHT blocking and ‘Doctor formulated’ natural ingredients. Kevis has minoxidil as an active ingredient. There is clear value to minoxidil, but you can buy this over the counter at substantially less money than with the Kevis formula and Revivogen has made claims that are not widely accepted although it has been around for years with some good reports by some consumers. I have made comments on non-FDA approved medications and claims about safety and effectiveness in the past (see Scalpmed and ViTrichol for examples).

With respect to ThymuSkin, their website does not disclose any active ingredient that I can find. As I have stated countless times on BaldingBlog, it is a “buyer beware” market. If you want a medical advice, the only medical treatment proven to work is topical minoxidil and oral finasteride.

Millions of people like you want their “security blanket” and spend millions of dollars annually on hair products. It is not my place to tell you how to spend your money. If you wish to try the products, keep me posted on how well it has worked or not worked.

June 1, 2006

Ingrown Hairs on Scalp After Accutane Use – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

Up until the age of 18 I had a great head of hair, no problems at all. I had acne though and couldn’t stand it so I opted to take accutane. About a month after I started I noticed my hairline receded a little and continued through my course. It didn’t recede that much so I wasn’t terribly worried. Unfortunately after stopping accutane it continued to recede slowly and now 6 years later i’ve lost a lot of hair and not only that but while my hairline was receding every single hair on my head seems to have changed and become thinner and you can see my scalp easily. Later on I aquired some scalp problem where I am getting many many ingrown hairs on my scalp and I never had that before Accutane, it really did a number on my scalp. Everyday I wear a baseball hat because of these problems and my social life is long gone. Biggest mistake of my life taking that stuff. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Block Quote

Your hair loss may be due to the Accutane use. Some people who have taken this drug also report changes in hair character and often a finer hair results. These changes may be permanent. Your hair problems may also be a separate problem reflecting male patterned hair loss. Either way, if you are continuing to lose hair and want a medical solution, you should seek a good specialist to map out your scalp for miniaturization to correctly diagnose the contribution of the genetic components for your hair loss. A good dermatologist should be able to diagnose your ingrown hair problem, which sounds like some form of chronic folliculitis.