Month: September 2006

Posted on

Itchy Scalp, Hair Loss from MS? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 45 year old female who is diagnosed with M.S. (relapsing & remitting). My scalp has, over the last few months, become itchy followed by overall hair loss (no patches) and there is no dandruff – could it possibly be linked to the M.S.? Is there anything I can do to help the situation. I mentioned it to my doctor who said it was probably my age and there was nothing I can do about it.

Block Quote

ChickenThis could be a chicken and egg situation. We know that Multiple Sclerosis causes paresthesia (numbness, tingling, or burning) and this may cause you to scratch it. Scratching it can cause hair loss. So in one of the scenarios, the MS can be the underlying cause of a process that leads to hair loss. There are many other things that can cause thinning hair, so you might want to see a dermatologist for an assessment of the hair loss.

Posted on

Early 20s, Desperate for Hair Treatment that Works – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve just recently discovered your website but have found it very informative. I am 23 and have a family history, on both my mother and father’s side, of male pattern hairloss. I too have been suffering, and in the last three months my hair loss has accelerated to such a degree that the hair on the front and top of my head is becoming increasingly thin, and my hair line is dramatically rising. I have recently started using Kirkland minoxidil (having used Rogaine whilst at university but then stopping as I couldn’t afford it) but not only is my scalp flaking a lot, but I am also losing a lot of hair on a daily basis. As I’ve only used it for under a month, do you think I should persist with the treatment as I have a years supply?

I have also recently bought dutasteride on the internet, having used propecia for 3 months but with no affect, only spots on my forehead. I realise that it takes longer than three months for the tablets to work but do you think I should see if the Dutasteride works as I am awaiting a two month supply in the post, or go back to propecia? Ultimately my hair loss is getting me down a great deal and being that I am so young and as this treatment is quite expensive, would it be better to save up for a hair transplant, and if so do you have any contacts in the UK that are not only reliable but might also be able to give me some impartial and helpful advise. Thank you so much in advance for your response as you can see my hairloss has left me really sad and I would really appreciate any advise you can give me. Many thanks again

Block Quote

There are many, many young men in a situation similar to yours. I can’t say for sure what you should or should not do, as you are not my patient — but my general advice would be to give the Propecia more than 3 months (8 months is my minimum trial period) to see any benefits. Especially at your age with early hair loss, Propecia tends to work better than minoxidil. I do not recommend dutasteride, not only because it stays in your system far longer than Propecia, but also because there have not been enough studies (to my satisfaction) that show any long-term effects the drug may have in a younger person, such as yourself. To find a doctor in the UK, I’d suggest looking at the ISHRS site’s physician search. Good luck.

Posted on

My Hairline Is Diagonal – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I am 19 years old and have a thick head of hair. There is no thinning present whatsoever. However, when i pull my hair back to look at my hairline, i notice that it goes in diagonally, not quite at 45 degrees but still noticeable diagonally (perhaps the mirror exaggerates how diagonal it is), the right side more so than the left as well. I have shown my mum, grandma and sister, and they have said that my hairline is normal and not receding. I know its hard to tell without seeing it, but are they right and is this type of hairline normal or is it a receding hairline. Like I said, when my hair is not pulled back, I have a thick head of hair and you would not notice that I had this type of hairline.

Block Quote

This clearly bothers you. I suspect that there is some maturing of your hairline at 19, which is common in men. You could send me pictures with your eyebrows lifted high (a good digital photograph) and I will give you an opinion. Please reference this blog posting when/if you send photos. Thanks.

Posted on

WHY Does Shedding from Hair Loss Medications Occur? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hey, Doc. I’ve been taking Avodart for the past 3 months and have been experiencing what can only be described as a “shed”. While I’ve seen other posts and answers here regarding shedding, I’ve never seen you delve into why it actually happens. Can you enlighten? Thanks.

I do not know why it happens. It seems to happen more through the reports on this blog site than I have seen in my own practice. As I do not have experience with Avodart (dutasteride), I can only assume that any ideas I might have will be a common thread to Propecia (finasteride). It has been suggested by some doctors that shedding can be explained, because acceleration of a hair cycle occurs. Hairs in the growth phase are pushed into a telogen phase (which means that it will have some shedding). The suggestion then is that the growth phase comes in stronger. This is the idea of others, so I am just passing what I hear, not what I know as fact.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Removing Chest Hair Permanently – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, I’m thinking of removing my chest hair permanently. To be frank i’m a bit scared of laser treatment. What i’m thinking of is waxing, will the hair be permanently removed after multiple waxing sessions? Or it would grow thicker and darker???

Thanks

Chest hairIn the movie “The 40 Year Old Virgin“, the main character (played by Steve Carell) has his chest hair waxed to do a little grooming for the ladies. Your question reminded me of this scene — which I read was not movie magic, but was really the actor having his chest waxed for the first time in his life. Can you remember what he was saying as they ripped off the wax from his chest? His facial expression in the picture on the right has a subtle hint.

If waxed regularly for many months or possibly some years, traction alopecia (permanent hair loss from pulling hair) may develop, but the problem with chest hair is the growth cycle, as less than 40% of the hairs are growing at any one time. To get traction alopecia of those hairs you might take more frequent treatment and over an 8 month period, you might get one hair pull per hair. Put that into a formulae and if you have 8 cycles over a five year period, is that enough hair waxing to get traction alopecia? Lots of pain, my friend.

Lasers are still the best way to do it, but you can count on at least 5 sessions. Be sure that the doctor uses the best and most up-to-date laser, as many of the ones being used are older style lasers that just do not work well. Sorry to bring you back to the thing that you did not want to include in your considerations, but it would be the fastest way to come to the solution you’re seeking.

Posted on

1 Week After Transplant, I Accidentally Hit My Head – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

i had 1200 graphs put in one week ago. after reading your blog, i wish i had done them with you. i was planning on another 1500 or so in my next procedure and i will come see you first for sure. so you will be seeing me about 12 weeks from now. unfortunately, today i was getting into my car and hit my head on inside part of my car door. ( again i am one week post op) i hit it relatively hard…when i reached to see if there was bleeding( i hit in the area of my recepient site) it was bleeding. I did not stop bleeding for about 35 minutes. Did i likely dislodge new transplanted graphs as well? The cut is about 2 inches long, not very wide not too deep. After one week am i likely to have dislodged graphs? i did not see any follicles, but you never know? your opinion?

It is difficult to answer your question without examining you in person (you’re in Los Angeles — we’re in Los Angeles). That being said, the hair grafts are generally considered permanent after the first couple of days. It is very, very difficult to dislodge a graft after they get set-up and I have seen people get lacerations of the scalp from accidents at about 1 week and when I examined them, all of the grafts were intact and in place (unless they were inside the laceration itself). If you did not see any grafts, you probably did not do any significant damage. However if you have a cut on your head, you will get an inevitable scar and hair may not grow on the scar.

If you do decide to make an appointment to have your injury looked at, please mention this blog entry to me (or to Dr. Pak, who is a contributing editor to this blog).

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationPropecia and Hair Count – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This is a reader response to my blog posting from way back in May, 2005 — When Will I Go Bald?

My question to you is the following: Per your last line [note: “There is no doubt that the hair loss will still pick up again (even on the drug) but it will be a slower process.“], even if i take Propecia, and stay on it forever, then at some point I’ll begin losing more hair anyway? Is that what you mean by your last line? Thanks.

Block Quote

Let’s say that you start off with 100 hairs prior to the Propecia (finasteride). Then with the Propecia you go up to 130 hairs after year one. You also have an identical twin brother (100% exactly the same as you), but he decides not to take Propecia. Now let’s see what happens to the hair count for the two of you…

  Hair Count – You
(with Propecia)		 Hair Count – Twin
(without Propecia)
Start 100 100
Year 1 130 98
Year 2 127 95
Year 3 120 89
Year 4 112 85
Year 5 106 82
Year 6 101 78
Year 7 98 74
Year 8 93 70
Year 9 88 68
Year 10 85 64
30 years later 75 62

 

Note that you may be coming closer together. Maybe not. Obviously, this is just an example to illustrate a point, but I hope that makes things a little more clear. Simply, Propecia does not stop hair loss completely or forever, but it does modify the course of the hair loss over time.

Posted on

Aderans Says Follicle Neogenesis Will Likely Be Available Before 2010 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I found this quote on the Aderans website. You have probably read this before.

“Follicle neogenesis, a bio engineered hair loss solution, is not many years away; in fact, it is likely that before the end of this decade patients will have access to hair multiplication technology.”

Do you belive that before 2010 we will likely have hair regeneration?

Thank you!!!

Block Quote

I have not heard much about the progress of Aderans from my sources in the industry in recent months. I imagine I might learn more at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) meetings next month. A number of years ago, I was told that it would be out in 3-5 years, and now that time has passed. Optimistic views are the way new businesses fund themselves and justify the research. There is a tendency to be aggressive when predicting timelines. I will try to report to the readership on this blog after the meetings next month.

Posted on

Propecia and Testicular Pain – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have had pain in my testicles after I started Propecia. Is there a relationships?

Block Quote

There have been occasional reports of testicular pain on Propecia (finasteride). I have had thousands of patients using this medication and this has never crossed my path as a patient complaint, but some other doctors in the community have reported this as a suspected rare side effect. One doctor reported that the pain came on with the drug and disappeared when the drug was stopped, suggesting a relationship. It could have been coincidental. Most causes of testicular pain are caused by athletic stresses and for the young men, it may have something to do with puberty.

I would stop Propecia, wait a month and start it up again. If it happens a second time, then assume that this is a side effect of this drug for you.