September 2006 – Page 6

September 21, 2006

Revivogen vs Propecia – Balding Blog

I stopped using propecia about 4 months ago because, after about a year, I started to experience sensitivity in my testes. I will say that my hair loss totally stopped, but I couldn’t handle the pain. So, about 2 1/2 months ago, I started the revivogen/tricomin pack, and I had been experiencing large amounts of shedding! Every morning in the shower there’s hair everywhere. Revivogen states that some shedding is expected for the first month and that it’ll stop, but the future doesn’t look promising. Should I get off of it? If propecia worked exceptionally well as a DHT inbitor, shouldn’t revivogen do the same?

Propecia (finasteride) is a known DHT blocker while Revivogen is not main stream for DHT blocking and there is minimal science to back up the claims for DHT blocking in that product. I have heard about pain in testicles just recently with Propecia. Sounds to me like you are going to lose a lot a hair by the choices you’ve made. Four months is about ‘no man’s land’ with regard to going back to your state from before you stopped the Propecia. If I were you, I would go back on the Propecia and then if the hair loss reversed, consider reducing the dose if the pain in your testicles continued. You are (I believe) right that the hair loss “future doesn’t look promising”.

September 21, 2006

I’m a Dermatologist and I Say Rogaine/Propecia Are Worthless – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Does Dhea cause hair loss? If it does, when it is discontinued can the hair grow back or is it too late. Also can Retin A be used by itself to regenerate hair loss? Also can topical melantonin have any value. As a dermatologuist, i can tell you that rogaine and propecia are close to worthless.

DHEA can cause hair loss. When it happens in men, it often triggers or accelerates the genetic hair loss and in men, this is often not reversible. Retin A can not regenerate hair, nor can topical melatonin.

Your comment about the value of both Propecia (finasteride) and minoxidil does not reflect my thinking nor my clinical experience. I have seen people completely reverse on Propecia — see Propecia Patient Results (with Photos) for one example.

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September 21, 2006

Estradex for Androgenic Alopecia? – Balding Blog

I have just been diagnosed with AGA and given some Estradex. This is very costly and i’m wondering if I could get the same effect by using Minoxidil and taking a high oestrogen pill, or a pill that helps inhibit Androgens? Also, do you believe Estradex to be more effective than using Minoxidil alone? My fear is that it may just be an overly priced lotion. Thankyou

I do not understand or appreciate what Estradex is, so I can not comment on it. As you were prescribed this by a doctor, ask that doctor. Androgenic alopecia, also known as AGA (female genetic hair loss), needs to have an extensive evaluation. Have you had it? See previous Female Hair Loss posts for more.

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September 21, 2006

A View of New Rogaine Foam – Balding Blog

A note from a blog reader:

I just tried the Rogaine Foam and found that it dries very fast and helps makes my styling easier. I don’t particularly like the lemon smell that they put to it, but the odor does go away in a few hours. I think that you need more of it than with the recommended dose that is used for regular Rogaine.

I thought this might be interesting for those that have used minoxidil in the past, but do not like the mess of the topical liquid. I have no experience with the foam, but if others out there have used it, please feel free to post your thoughts about this product.

September 20, 2006

Cycling Finasteride to Avoid Side Effects? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Two questions,

I started on 1mg propecia a month ago experienced sides in a week, started 0.4 mg propecia have experience sides again. After reading the study on your webpage that said 0.05 mg was good enough and propecia could be dissolved in ehtanol, would it be advisable for me to dissolve a 5 mg tablet in 500 ml of vodka and drink 5 ml everyday?

You said finesteride stays in you hair follicle for a month but your blood for a day, could I just cycle propecia to avoid sides, one week on three weeks off?

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I never suggested that ethanol be used. I generally do not like to recommend anything except for the FDA prescribed dose for finasteride, but have shown information that is reflective of my educated readership. If you want to drink vodka, I would tell you that you should do what you want, but do not tie it to your hair loss or your hair treatments.

I really do not understand the cycling you are talking about. I think part of what you are saying is that there are sexual side effects that you are trying to get around by changing or reducing your dose. If that is what you are saying, go for it.

September 20, 2006

Scalp Reduction After Face Lift? – Balding Blog

(female) I read on your site about someone with hairloss after a face lift. I had the procedure also about a year ago and I am left with big long bald areas behind my temples. My question is can SCALP REDUCTION method be perfomed to remove the bald areas as opposed to a hair tranplant?

Thank you

I think that you are telling me that there is hair loss above your ears and behind the temple hairline. If that is the case, hair transplants are the way to treat it. I have done hundreds of women who have had this type of problem after face lifts and brow lifts and the results of this surgery has been excellent. Scalp reductions in this area, however, will be disasterous.

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September 20, 2006

I’ve Had a Bald Spot My Entire Life – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi I’m a 25 year old male and i have a patch of hair on the side of my head that has never grown in… It is approx 2 inches above my right ear, and it is about 3/4″ to 1″ in diamater. I am not asking about hair loss because my whole life, the spot has been there. I can’t get my hair cut certain ways as this spot makes me very self-conscious. My question is: Would i be able to benefit from a hair transplant even if there was no hair in that spot to begin with? As far as I know, there has never been hair there

This sounds like an ideal case for hair transplantation. So the answer is simply, yes. Follow the rules set up here on how to select a hair transplant doctor. With today’s techniques, you won’t even know that you even had a bald spot with the right surgeon and team.

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September 20, 2006

Doctors Refuse to Transplant Me — What Should I Do? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

went to more than 6 institutes and all of them refuse to do the natural hair transplant because i’m not completly bald. and in new york they told me that my donor area is not strong or not enough. what should i do? would bio fiber be the solution?

Certainly you do not have to be bald to get a hair transplant, as most of our patients show clearly in the NHI Patient Photo Galleries.

There are conditions that may impact your donor supply, either a very low density or a disease called Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) which may make hair transplants a poor solution for you. Without examing you, I can not tell you why the doctors turned you down, but that is a good question you should ask them. See the ‘Managing the Patient with Diffuse Androgenetic Alopecia, Definition and Types‘ section in Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning? for more information.

September 20, 2006

Did Jamie Foxx Have a Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I would like to know the difference between FUE and FUT and scarring between them. Also, looking at the actor Jamie Foxx, it seems like he has had a hair transplant. I see him having really short hair or shaved head, so his scar would be visible. What would you recommend to reduce the scar? Also, looking at this website, there is a difference in his hairline. It is low and perfectly lined so would you do a procedure on someone to give them that exact perfect symmetrical hairline or would you say no because it does not look natural? Is it the doctors decision or patients choice??

ConcreteLoop.com

Jamie Foxx Follicular unit transplantation means that the grafts occur in their natural unit anatomy and are transplanted that way into the recipient area. FUE is a harvesting mechanism and should be taking out the grafts as follicular units so that they are completely natural (that may not happen, however). Strip harvesting is the second harvesting mechanism and may or may not yield FUT, depending upon decisions by the surgeon and his team.

With regard to Jamie Foxx and hair transplants, the site you sent me does present some very interesting photos. There is a difference in his hairlines over time so it is possible that he did have a hair transplant. If these photos are to be believed (I am not disputing them, but I do not know the source), then it does appear that his hairline is quite a bit lower now than it previously was. Maybe there’s another explanation — his hairline could naturally be very low and he shaves it higher to achieve a different look at different times. I really don’t know, though. The perfection of his hairline may be the result of styling control that he exerts, but as a good hair transplant is undetectable, I can not tell from these photographs.

An interesting thread about this was on HairLossHelp about a year ago (found via Google) — here.

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September 20, 2006

Any Advice on How to Ween Off Avodart? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

dr. rassman,

i’m a 23 year old male with MPB. i’ve been on avodart for about 18 months (0.5 mg/day) and have noticed little results. i’m not sure, however, if the medication has slowed my hair loss and to what degree. i want to swap back to propecia for health/safety reasons..but i’d like to avoid a huge shed. any advice for how to make the swap? should i ween off the avodart?

I am using judgment, not experience in answering this question. As Avodart (dutasteride) has a 5 week half life and stays in your system for months, I would stop it cold, and start taking Propecia after a month. You can actually start Propecia (finasteride) earlier and as long as you do not get side effects (sexual side effects in particular) the double dosing should have no negative effect.

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