December 2006 – Page 8

December 11, 2006

What If I Take Propecia, But Don’t Need It Yet? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

If you take proscar 5mg tabs & cut it into 4’s, will it work the same as propecia ? That’s what i’ve been doing. It’s cheaper. Also, if you take this & don’t need it, could it make you lose your hair ??

Proscar is the same medication as Propecia — finasteride. They just come in different dosages.

Never take a drug that you do not need. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out if you need it and if you have genetic balding that needs to be treated. Taking Propecia when you do not need it may have some long term problem that was heretofore not discovered yet. Why take any risks?

December 11, 2006

Swelling After a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had really bad swelling three days after my hair transplant. My right eye closed completely. Is this usual?

The swelling we see three days after a hair transplant is dependent swelling, working its way down from the scalp to the face. Clearly it takes time to work its way down.

The other day, a patient called me on the evening of the third day telling me that one ear was an inch away from his head, had shifted in position and was pointing downward. I told him that I did that intentionally so that he would be able to hear ground termites in his older house. I’m joking! Actually, I found out that he slept on the side where his ear had the problem. I blessed him, told him to take two aspirin and it would be better in the morning. Indeed, by morning his ear was fine. Dependent edema!

A few years ago, we did a study on the use of steroids, with small, medium and large dosages used. As the dose went up, the swelling came down both in frequency of occurrence as well as the amount of swelling seen. At the dose we use today (40mgs prednisone daily starting the morning of the surgery and going out 4 days) swelling is rare and significant swelling is even rarer. It was so obvious, the study was stopped and the higher dose became our routine.

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December 11, 2006

I’ve Been Taking Propecia for Years, But I Notice My Hairline Getting Worse Now – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

First of all congratulations on the great web site. It’s really useful! My question is about Rogaine. I’m 32 y.o. and have been on Propecia for the last 7 years. It seems to be working OK but for the last 18 months or so I’ve noticed my frontal area may be a little worse. Should I consider adding Rogaine to my treatment or will it be useless on the frontal area? Thanks in advance for any help!

You can try adding Rogaine. Chances are, it won’t help a ton in the frontal area (it works best in the crown), but it is worth a shot. I like the idea that only one change will be implemented so you will know in about 6-9 months if the addition of the Rogaine works. As you are probably aware, Propecia will not stop the hair loss all of the time, but it always slows it down. Congratulations on staying the course. This is what every balding man should be doing.

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December 11, 2006

If I Stop Taking Propecia, Do the Benefits Disappear Gradually or Immediately? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctor,

I have one note regarding one of your lines here at this question http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/10/31/if-minoxidil-and-propecia-work-best-in-the-crown-how-can-i-save-my-hairline/ your words (the hair loss picks up again and makes up for the time the drug was effectively holding the hair there) , does that mean once you stop taking propecia your hair in the front get lost as if this hair was gained by the medicine even though if it was just restored by the medication or it would take the normal way of losing hair as if you havent taken the medication in the first place??!!

Please Clarify..!!

Best Regards..

I use the term ‘catch-up hair loss‘ which means that the hair loss will occur at an accelerated rate over the months after stopping the drug. You can probably expect that you will lose all of the benefits of the Propecia (finasteride) plus whatever hair you would have lost (had you not taken the drug) in the 3-6 months after the time you stop taking it.

If you note that the hair loss has started (after you stop the medication) and you go back on it, some of the lost hair may reverse if you react to it quickly.

December 11, 2006

I Used Lotion On My Scalp and Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Male, age: 27 – question
I naturally have a very high hair line. hair is thin and dirty blonde. it is about 1/2 inch in length now. since its winter, bitter and cold out. after my usual hot shower in the morning before i head off work, giving my head a quick dry from a towel has been leaving my scalp very tight and very itchy in spots throughout the day…so this morning after drying off i got some moisturizing lotion and rubbed it in all over in my scalp and hair, which solved the problem and made it feel at ease…problem was though it made my hair looking greasy…

i was wondering, would cheap over-the-counter creams/lotions cause clogging of hair follicles and scalp pores to hinder hair growth and to perhaps cause scalp pimples?

thanks doc

Creams or lotions can’t stop hair growth just through clogging the pores and hair follicles. You could have or develop an allergy to one of the components of the creams or lotions, and this may cause dermatitis (skin inflammation), which can effect your hair. Dermatitis could present with itching and redness of scalp skin with some swelling and eventually may effect hair growth if not treated promptly. Generally though, what you are doing should not cause you a problem, but be wise and react appropriately if it does cause you a problem.

December 11, 2006

How Bad Might My Hair Loss Get If I’m Almost 30 and Am Norwood 2? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 29 years old and I have been slowly receding at the hairline since my early twenties. Although I am still at the “Pattern II” category, I am extremely paranoid and would love to know statistically what usually lays ahead for someone in my boat. I appreciate the help.

There is no certainty, but I might guess that you will not bald. If you have no miniaturization anywhere on your scalp, then the certainty of my prediction goes up. It’s really all guessing until you have an examination. There’s only so much info I can provide online without seeing you.

December 11, 2006

Bumps on Scalp — Dermatologist Said It Was the Hair Follicles – Balding Blog

Hi, I am a female and recently I have been experiencing these bumps on my head and they don’t itch, its just that I know they are there and I want them to go away and so i pick at them and pull the hairs inside the bump out. I am on Adderall for ADHD/ADD and I was wondering if that could have anything to do with this bumps. Also I am wondering if you know what these bumps could be. I also highlight my hair, and I am wondering if you think I might be allergic to the dye or if i could be allergic to the color shampoo I use. I have been to a dermotoligist and she said it had something to do with hair follicles. Thanks for your time!

You did not ask your dermatologist the right questions. Go back to her. If she said that the bumps were hair follicles, then you might have an infection (folliculitis) which she should have treated you for. I really can not tell what is happening to you, but I would be pleased to see you at no charge and give you an opinion if you wanted to come out to my offices in California. Whatever you do, stop picking on it and stay away from the hair dye that you are using to minimize the things it could be.

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December 8, 2006

Treatment for Dermatitis in Eyebrows? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
Not only I have dermatitis on my eyebrows but my eyebrows are getting thinner. A dermatologist gave me a treatment for my dermatitis (carefully rubbing the treatment on my eyebrows) but I am too afraid to touch my eyebrows now. I rather to have an oral treatment for my dermatitis, and an oral treatment to regrow my eyebrow hairs (if there is any). Also I am planning on getting my eyebrows transplanted, though would that help against my dermatitis, and a hair transplant cost A LOT OF MONEY!!!

Topical medications work best for dermatitis. Regrowing eyebrows that are lost from manipulation can be difficult or impossible (if the hair has been lost from traction). Transplants will be exposed to the same dermatitis condition as the original eyebrow. Sounds like you need to get the primary problem under control first. Transplant only after the dermatitis is controlled.

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December 8, 2006

So If I Get Shedding from Propecia, Does That Mean It Is Working? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Doc,

I have been on propecia for three months. After my pills ran out I got a little lazy and didnt renew my perscription. In fact I havent been on the drug for almost four months. During this time I noticed considerable shedding, which I guess, reading from your blog, is to be expected. My question is though, does the shedding mean that the drug was actually working? Or is it some abnormal side-effect?

FYI I am 22 and baldness runs in my family.

Sounds like you figured it out. Please be smart and go back and stay on the drug. Discuss this with your prescribing physician.

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December 8, 2006

I Think 2-Hair Grafts Look Too Thick in the Frontal Hairline – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr Rassman! If I pay for lets say 1000 grafts, do I have the right to achieve 2000 hairs (placed in the front) if I only want 1-hair graft in the front? 2-hair grafts don’t look good in the front (by front i mean about 1 inch), it looks too thick. My hairdoctor and I have different thoughts about this! Your opinion?

Thanks and God Jul “Merry Christmas” as we say in sweden.

I generally put a wide transition zone of single hairs in the frontal line. I believe that the ‘line’ is not actually a line, but a zone where there is a transition from the bald forehead to the thicker hair about 1/2 to 1 inch behind. The thicker area should have two hairs each, but that is a negotiation between doctor and patient. Generally, if you make single hairs from two and three hair grafts, there is a hair death rate, as not all of the hair will survive the break-up of the follicular unit. Great skills are necessary to accomplish this with the greatest success rate possible. I realize you are not in the US, but if you do make it out to California or if any other readers come to one of our open house events, you can look closely at the hairlines we have created and I think you will see what I am talking about in person. Alternatively, you can take a look at the Patient Photo Gallery on the NHI website.

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