September 2006 – Page 2

September 28, 2006

Hair Loss InformationSuggestion for 19 Year Old with Thin Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I am 19 years old, I have experienced hair loss since about 16. My receding hairline is getting really bad, and i have a bald spot thats just getting bigger in the back. The entire top of my head is also thin now. It is extremely embarrasing and depressing. I feel like I always have to wear a hat. I have been using Rogaine extra strength for about a year now, and its not working, but im afraid to discontinue since I may lose even more hair. If I try to style it, it comes out in large amounts (at least 10-20 hairs), so i dont anymore. My parents are telling me this is normal, but my dad didn’t start losing his hair till his mid 30’s. Im also afraid a doctor visit will be too costly ( I pay for my own college and parents wont help with doctor bill if I go). Please give me some suggestions. Thanks

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You are playing with fire with regard to your hair loss. First, find out what is wrong with it by getting your hair mapped out for miniaturization and establishing a diagnosis. If you see me (in California), I will not charge you for the visit and I will map out your hair for miniaturization as well. If you are not able to see me, you can find a doctor in your area by using the physician search at ISHRS.org. Some doctors offer free consultations, but not all. With a diagnosis, you can have either peace of mind or a treatment plan with a Master Plan for your future hair loss. From that point, you’ll have a better understanding of what your future holds (in terms of your hair loss) and what your options are.

September 28, 2006

Wife Losing Hair Daily After Stopping Birth Control 18 Months Ago – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My wife has been losing handfuls of hair for about the last year, pretty consistently on a daily basis. About 18 months ago, she stopped using birth control, and we thought that might be the cause. However, now a year later, we don’t know what’s happening. My wife has very dark brown, thick hair, but it has thinned significantly. Some seems to be growing back, but not at the same rate she’s losing hair.

At first, I thought it might be a form of Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss based on what I read about it.

She’s been to a few general practitioners, gynocologist and dermatoligist. None of them have really offered any help. Based on this brief description, a) what do you think the issue could possibly be, b) what kind of doctor should we be looking for that can actually give some answers, c) are there any nutritional steps we can take that would make a difference?

Thanks

I would want to have her hair mapped for miniaturization, because this might tell us if she has genetic hair loss that was precipitated by the birth control pills. Before recommending what to do, I would want to know what her hair looks like in every part of her scalp. Some doctors in the field of hair transplantation will map out her scalp, so look to the ISHRS.org’s physician search and call some local doctors to ask if they do hair mapping.

September 28, 2006

Magic Shaving Powder – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I once used a product by softsheen carson “magic shaving powder” on my head as to go bald for the summer but ever since i used the product, i have a small patch in frontal area of my head that grows thin. its like v-shaped patch. please advise

Magic Consider two possiblities:

You always had that V-shaped patch, but never noticed it before because your hair was longer. After going bald (with the “magic powder”) it is more apparent now that it is growing back in.
Magic Shaving Powder has real magical properties (not good ones of course) that you have not anticipated.

September 28, 2006

Hair Gel and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

You responded to a post saying “good commercial” hair gel does not cause hair loss. Ok, what about cheap ones? And what is your conclusion based on, can you provide me with any studies supporting this position? How has this “myth” survived for so long, other than how most do in general – stated differently, what do proponents of this accusation base their claims on and why are they wrong?

Thanks in advance

OK, you got me on language and meanings. “Good and cheap” commercial hair gel should not cause hair loss. Otherwise they would be sued and go out of business or possibly go into a hair removal business. There is no medical study I am aware of to support my claim — it is just my opinion. I never knew there was a myth about gel and hair loss. I use gel everyday, as do millions of people.

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September 28, 2006

Confusion About Generic Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr.

This is a follow up question to the statement you just posted about generic 1mg finasteride. You mentioned a little while ago that Dr. Reddy’s lab received the right to make generic 1mg finasteride and that you called to find out when it would be available and said it may take a “couple of months” to get it out. Now you just said that the patent hasnt expired with Merck and it would take years. Im a bit confused now?

Sorry for the confusion. It was confusing for me as well. After doing more research and personally calling a Merck (makers of Propecia) representative, the story is that Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is still under patent protection. The confusion came from the FDA, which gave permission to allow generic Propecia on the market, but with patent monopoly controlled by Merck, the legality to sell it is in the hands of Merck. At least, this is how it was explained to me by Merck. If things change and generic Propecia becomes available (legally) in the US, I’ll certainly post about it here.

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September 27, 2006

Hair Loss InformationMatthew McConaughey’s Hairline… Revealed? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I knew his hair looked too perfect for it to be real. I mean even a hair transplant wouldn’t bring back ALL your hair you had back when you were your teens. And Matt seemed to get ALL his hair back in such a short amount of time. So, it is safe to say matt is wearing a gold old hair peice. Matts hair looked to perfect for it to be his. If everybody could get hair like his through a transplants (assuming he had some work done), everybody would be getting a hair transplant and you would be on of the richest men in America. LOL. Am I correct? I am not saying transplants don’t work but I have seen people with hair transplants and they just don’t seem to cover up a whole lot. That is why so many people are probably just shaving their heads because they know you have to keep on spending a lot of money on transplants to get your so called “desired look” and even then there are still balding spots that are visible. And don’t get me started about propecia. I think it is honestly BS. E-mail me and let me know what you think. Please, post this on your web-site. The pictures at least.

Article at – PerezHilton.com

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Since this site’s first blog post on Matthew McConaughey, we seem to be taken up with all of the focus on his hairline. I am not into sensationalism, even though I have elected to share what has been sent to me. I do respect a person’s need for privacy, yet there seems to be no let-up on the probing about Mr. McConaughey’s hairline. Many women think that McConaughey is the best looking man in Hollywood and one would ask if that opinion would persist if his hairline was kept ‘au natural’. Some members of our culture do judge the book by its cover.

One of the local doctors here in the Los Angeles area let the word out that he had done McConaughey’s hair transplant. Was it because McConaughey has done such a good job at presenting the perfect hairline image? I even commented privately to my staff that the claim that this doctor did McConaughey’s ‘transplanted’ hairline could be believed because work of great quality is often done by the best hair transplant surgeons in the business.

Based upon the photographs at the link the blog reader sent, then compared to our first posting about this, there appears to be no change in McConaughey’s hairline from the mugshot taken in 1999. It would be in poor taste and a violation of the patient’s rights to even admit to performing the surgery without the express permission of the patient — not to mention that it would be outright fraudulent for any doctor to take credit for a stylist’s apparent hairpiece.

Update, Sept 29 2006: Another reader just sent this article that has apparently more recent photos of Matthew McConaughey, where his hairline can be seen (for those that are interested) — Splash News Online.

September 27, 2006

Hair Loss InformationCan Trichophytic Closure Technique Remove My Scar? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

As you can see in the picture I have had 2 HT strip scar procedures. I always liked to cut my hair short with a 1# guard but after 2nd HT scar (top one) I cut hair with 2 guard and it’s still visible. Right now I don’t know if I should get another HT but I do want repair work.

If I go and get the Trichophytic Closure Technique can my old scars be removed? How can this be possible?

How about body hair transplants into my old HT scars?

Will I ever be able to cut hair close again with a 1# guard?

Thank you

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No.

All cuts will produce a scar.

The worst doctor with the worst technique can operate on one patient and have a great result with minimal scarring. Likewise, the best doctor with the best technique (using Trichophytic closure, etc) can operate on another patient and have a poor result with wide scarring. In other words, everybody heals differently and some people are more prone to scarring.

Generally a Trichophytic closure technique will benefit 1mm of the scar margin. So if you have a 5mm width scar, a Trichophytic closure technique will make it look more like a 4mm scar. It is obvious that the wider the scar is, the less benefit will be obtained by the Trichophytic closure.

At NHI, we offer free scar revision to our former patients. Sometimes we are able to achieve an improvement, but as stated earlier, there will always be a scar.

Body hair transplants are not considered a standard of care in my opinion and are still controversial because of their long dormant stage and growth cycles.

September 27, 2006

Hair Loss InformationDHT in Sebum – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I think its been scientifically proven that sebum contains DHT. Based on that fact I have a few questions

Can you explain the difference of DHT in sebum vs. the DHT that causes MPB is genetically senstive follicles and why DHT in sebum would not cause MPB? Im asking because I was the one who posted about worries of not washing my hair/scalp consistantly, could have caused hairloss. Its possible in a 4yr period I went up to a month w/o washing my hair with shampoo, although I did take a shower daily, so the hair/scalp did get wet.

Also I have a fairly hairy body and was wondering since I really only washed my face consistantly because of compulsions namely acne on my face,by not washing away sebum on my body caused more hair growth that I would had experienced if I washed myself well during this time? Im using the basic concept that DHT promotes hair growth on the body and hairloss on the head.

Finally is there a definitive correaltion between hairy body and MPB? I was wondering because you always talk about the differences between maturing hairlines and actual MPB, would it then be your recommendation to males to wait taking propecia or any other med for MPB until you see definite thinning on the crown and vertex vs just some recession and minuaturization along the hairline?

How common is it to see males have really prominate recession (NW2-2.5) in their 20’s but then just stabilize and not have any thinning on the vertex and crown? I think of Bush Sr. if you pull up a pic of him in his 20’s, he had definitive recession but then it just stablized and now about 50 yrs later, he basically has the same hair although alittle thinner due to aging.

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Your post is a bit troubling to me.

How did you go four years with only washing your hair maybe once a month with shampoo? That sounds like a hygene issue.

I believe your logic is a bit flawed. Male pattern balding is associated with DHT, but DHT is NOT the only cause of male pattern balding. In other words, just because it is cloudy on a rainy day does not mean it will rain if it is cloudy. Thus, DHT is only part of the puzzle in the cause of male pattern balding. That is why finasteride (Propecia) does not always work on all patients. The cause of male pattern balding in its entirety is still not completely understood.

I do not believe there is any scientific proof that DHT in sebum is the cause of hair loss. Even if was true, it would not be the ONLY factor in hair loss. Thus the basis of your following questions is subject to a false assumption (sorry).

The difference between a maturing hairline (normal) and receding hairline (male pattern balding) has to do with the location of the recession and how far the recession goes with respect to basic proportion of an individual’s face. Keep in mind that everybody’s face is unique and there are subtle variations. To be more scientific (for an individual case) more detailed examinations (including a miniaturization study) and a complete history of the hair recession would be appropriate.

Increased body hair does not correlate well with MPB.

September 27, 2006

Hair Loss InformationDUPA and Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor,

Do men with DUPA respond to Propecia? Will it work on the area behind the hairline?

Thanks

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For the classic DUPA that I defined in the literature, in my experience, some patients will get some benefit from Propecia. If Propecia (finasteride) failed to work in a 12 month period, it might be worth trying Avodart (dutasteride), knowing that it is not FDA approved for hair loss.

September 27, 2006

Hair Loss InformationFemale Hair Loss After Plastic Surgery – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hello,
i’m a 25 year old female and little over 2 months ago i had a plastic surgery where i was completely asleep. Since then, my hair has been falling out more then it typically does. last month i got bronchitis and was given amoxicillin which did not work…the sickness progressed into pneumonia and now i am taking doxycycline. My hair is falling out much more rapidly now, but not in patches like alopecia typically does. The only visible area is at the front of my forehead. It is not very noticeable to others now, but my husband and I notice it. today i bought prenatal vitamins to help the issue but need some kind of idea whats going on. Is my sickness causing this to happen? will it grow back afterward? your advice is appreciated. thanks.

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To understand what you are talking about, I would want to know what type of plastic surgery you had. Was it facial or brow surgery that could impact the hair and scalp on your head? Some people have surgical stress, which may induce genetic hair loss in those who are prone to it. I really need more information and the opportunity to examine you as well. Generally, hair loss may return after being lost in about the time it takes to cycle hair (4-8 months). See a good dermatologist and speak with your plastic surgeon, who is probably the best source of information for you that will be specific to what he did with you.