Month: October 2006

Posted on

Scared to Lose My Hair with Chemotherapy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m a 22 year old girl who will be starting chemo the first week of November ‘07. While the thought of treatment is really scary, what’s scaring me the most is knowing that I’ll be losing my hair outwardly looking ill. I’ve been doing a huge amount of research on any ways to retain my hair during treatment. I keep ending up hitting a product called Thymu-Skin. I can’t find any sites that discuss if there are any side effects to using this product while on chemo.

Can you please help me out with this? I’d really appreciate it!!

thanks

Chemotherapy does not necessarily mean you will lose hair. Hair loss depends on the specific drug used in chemotherapy. Your doctor who will be overseeing your chemotherapy treatment should be able to answer all of your questions and tell you how chemotherapy will affect your health and hair. The good news is that if you lose your hair, it will probably come back strong after the growth cycle is invoked.

To my knowledge, there is no FDA approved product to prevent hair loss from chemotherapy. With respect to ThymuSkin, I have heard of this product from patients and readers like you. Most accounts of its success/failure are based on anecdotal accounts. Despite the claim of ‘research’ and publications, they are rarely in peer reviewed mainstream journals and even if it is, the design of the study needs to be scrutinized for biases in the research. A theme that often echoes here on BaldingBlog is that it is a “buyer beware” market.

Of note, the ThymuSkin website seems to account the expertise of Dr. Morton Walker. Dr Walker is a doctor of podiatry medicine (D.P.M.) I am confused how a foot doctor came to be an expert in hair loss and the thymus.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Percentage of Patients That Actually Have Shock Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
In a follow up to the shock loss posts what are the percentages of patients that actual suffer a degree of loss. I realise that everyone is different in terms of age and miniturisation but what are the overall figures for those on propecia and those not on it.

I am 26 have been on propecia for 4 months and have a degree of miniturization but would like the front of my hair restored as it looks terrible.

What are the risks? high?

I would suspect that with 4 months of Propecia under your belt, the odds are in your favor (80/20) for preventing shock loss. If at the time you started taking the drug the hair loss was very active, then the risks rise slightly, but are still in your favor (better than 50/50). Just a guess of course, as there is no data to reference, other than my years of experience in this field.

I have experience from the days when I was doing hair transplants prior to the availability of Propecia on the market (8 or so years ago). The young man undergoing rapid hair loss, when having a hair transplant, would accelerate his rate of hair loss in almost 100% of cases (these are men in their 20s). As the person’s age increased into their 30s and 40s, the shock hair loss reduced in most men who stabilized their hair loss, because they lost much of what they were going to lose. Men in their 40s and 50s rarely experienced shock hair loss.

Posted on

My Dermatologist Says Amantadine, Aricept, and Adderal Are Causing My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,

I am a ‘young’ 50’s woman who has lived with Sjogren’s for 20 yrs. along w/the medications to control its symptoms. I’ve had fairly normal hair loss until the last 5 yrs. Since then, the loss has increased at an alarming rate. The biopsy revealed chronic TE. My dermatologist thinks it’s due to 3 of my meds; amantadine, aricept & adderal. I’ve taken these meds forever. I’m going to ask my Rhuematologist to change them. Meanwhile, he told me to discontinue the minoxidil because he doesn’t think it works, but I thought it was helping w/the shorter hair along the face, but… is there anything that helps with the itching that goes hand-in-hand w/the minoxidil? That is almost unbearable on top of the itching from the TE.

When you get a symptom like chronic itching when you are using a medication like minoxidil, your body is telling you that it is not good for you (it could be that you are allergic to the medication). Sounds like you have good doctors, so focus your questions to those who are treating you. Hair loss is complex in your situation, as it coexists with your other problems and treatments.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Hair Loss from a Haircut? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m 42 and I’ve never had any problems with my hair.Infact there is no history of hair loss in my family.I had my hair cut with thinning shears 3 times within a two month period(this was 9 months ago)My hair never grew back on the top as thick as it was before. Is it possible the repeated thinning haircuts could still be affecting my hair?

The haircut may have shown you hair that is on its way out. This miniaturized hair often does not grow, so when you cut it, it just hangs there until it eventually falls out. Thinning the hair with scissors should not impact healthy hair.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Hair Dye Allergy Caused Hair Loss — Will it Regrow? – Balding Blog

Hello,
About 6 months ago, I started to dye my hair black (it is naturally blond – what can I say;) ?) Anyway, I’ve just discovered that I am allergic to PPD and have stopped using the hair dye. My now last treatment (which was a week ago and the reaction was really bad) has caused me to lose hair. Its not breakage, as the whole hair including the root, comes out. Its not what I would consider very severe as it is not coming out in clumps, but it is certainly very noticable, especially when I wash it as I have a nice size “wad” I have to take out of the tub.

Is this something, that hopefully, will subside soon, and what are the odds of that hair growing back?

Thanks for any help you might be able to offer
Calendar

If you hair loss was from a local allergic reaction to a hair dye, then it should grow back. Typically, you will have to wait 3-6 months, but you may have to wait as long as a year to find out.




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Female Hair Loss Doctor in Los Angeles? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 39 year old female. I have been experiencing hair loss over the past two years. I’ve seen two different dermatologists and was told the hair loss was due to teleogen effluvium . I’ve also had blood work done. Everything came back normal. My scalp is itchy all the time and it’s very oily. I did have dandruff for a while but it’s gone now from using over the counter dandruff shampoo, like Selsun Blue and Head and Shoulders. How long does teleogen effluvium usually last? I really want to see an expert in female hair loss and see if it is genetic female hair loss and check for miniaturization. Could you please recommend a good doctor? I live in the Los Angeles area. I appreciate your time and your help. Thank you.

We are doctors in Los Angeles. I hope that we are good ones and we certainly do miniaturization mapping as part of our routine treatment. I look forward to meeting you. You can call 800-NEW-HAIR to setup an appointment, or visit this page if you’d like to be contacted to setup a consultation.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

How Would Hair Multiplication Grow Hair In the Right Direction? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been reading many articles on Intercytex recently suggesting that a ‘baldness cure’ is on the way. I am aware that it may be a fair few years away until it becomes a possibilty, but I had a technical question that might be of interest. I know that the company’s aim is to inject hair inducing cells into the skin. This sounds great in theory, but how would they create a crown, seeing that hair in that region of the scalp grows in different directions? How do you think problems such as that could be overcome?

Block Quote

Over a decade ago, Dr. Walter Unger reported that a group in England was successful in cloning hair in mice. The mice then had the hair injected into the skin and as the hair grew, all of the mice died from massive infection. It was as you said, the direction of the hair went every way possible and the bacteria in the vicinity went wild, causing infection and abscess formation, eventually killing the poor mice. According to that report, the research was abandoned. I will see him this week and ask him for a follow-up of that problem, hopefully getting information to give you are more focused answer to your question.

Posted on

Weight Gain from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am have had surgery and love the results. I do have a guestion however, I am taking proscar 1/4 tab per day and it seems I have gained weight that has not been easy to control… I know workout and eat right… but will this drug cause weight gain…

I do not believe that weight gain is a described side effect of Propecia or Proscar. You should explore other causes for your increased weight.

Posted on

I Had a Hair Transplant Almost 2 Weeks Ago and Am Very Worried About the Outcome – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 28 years old male. I had a hair transplant 12 days ago of 1890 grafts. My question is that all my scabs have not come out yet. I try to run water every day through my hair and shampoo it with head and shoulders citrus breeze. The scabs in the front of my head are coming out but at top portion are coming out one by one. I am noticing a black dot followed by little white bulb kind of thing with my scabs. Sometimes the white part is like very dry and hard like a bulb at times. There is however no pain. I am wondering if these are grafts. I am really scared and I don’t want to even touch the scabs. Please let me know if there is a possibility that the grafts dry up and are just falling off. I am very anxious am waiting for an answer to know if my hair transplant was a success or failure.
Thanks

The little scabbing is normal and it can take some weeks to go away (usually 1 to 2 weeks) if the washing has not been properly done. You should see the doctor who did your hair transplants and address these concerns to him/her. You should always have a strong patient to doctor relationship so that these concerns can be addressed one on one. In an ideal world you shouldn’t have to seek out a site like this to ask a question about your post operative report, although I am pleased to do it, for it educates my readership. Doctors have the obligation to educate their patients and give attention to the person’s needs (psychological or physical). Good luck.