Month: February 2007

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Hair Loss InformationTeenager with Low Iron, Dandruff, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor,

Hi I’m a 16 year old boy attending my last year of high school. The problem is that I’ve noticed my scalp is thinning. My hair has always been quite thin but its getting REALLY thin now. I’ve taken a blood test, and the doctor said that I had low Iron. Could that be the problem? I’m taking iron pills and eating right to get my iron level up again. Besides from thinning hair I am also noticing that I feel dizzy sometimes, and my stamina has really gotten bad.

I’m really concerned about this, because my hair thinning is quite noticeable, you can even see my scalp with enough light.

I should also point out that I have greasy hair and that its infected with dandruff.

I have bought some special kind of shampoo to improve my hair loss state, so we’ll see how that goes.

My question is: Do you have any advice for me? What should I do? Should I buy any specific products?

Thanks in advance

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Sounds like you need a relationship with a good doctor who can make your diagnosis (rule out male patterned balding which does happen to 16 year olds). Low iron is absolutely a cause of hair loss. Dandruff is not a cause, nor is dandruff an infection. We replace our scalp skin regularly as old skin get shed (dandruff when the shedding is more rapid) and new skin grows from below. You can wash out the dandruff with shampoos that are designed to get the flakes out.

For a diagnosis, you need to get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to rule out genetic balding, which would show a normal donor hair area and thinning elsewhere. Low iron should show miniaturization of the hair all over the head.

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Is Hair Usually Thinner Around the Temples? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 21 year old male and have noticed that if pick up my hair around the temple regions of my head, more scalp is visible than if i do it nearer the middle of my head. I dont seem to have a receeding hairline (maybe developing a mature hairline though). However i have noticed that many girls and young children have the same sort of idea on their head (scalp more visible around temple areas if hair is standing up) So my question is, Is the scalp generally more visible aroud the temple than it is in the middle of your head for example? Thank you.

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The hair density above the ears is often less than the density elsewhere (like that of the back of your head). When people develop Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA), it is often seen first in the sides above the ears because the density there is as much as 30-60% less than in the scalp elsewhere. The answer to your questions is to have your hair mapped out for miniaturization, and if you have genetic balding or DUPA, it will clearly show up.

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Taking Propecia After Morning Exercise – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I go to the gym 5 days a week starting at 6:45am in the morning till 8:30am. I do a workout which involves weights and cardio. I also take a protein supplement called whey.

I just want to know if it is wise to take propecia AFTER the work out at 9:30AM. I am really use to this time now. Also I heard that propecia decreases hormones and as a result will not help you improving in body building. Is this true?

Thanks for your help

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Really, you can take it anytime. I generally recommend taking it upon waking up, first thing in the morning. Testosterone levels peak in most men in early morning. Blocking the formation of DHT should not impact bodybuilding.

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Forelocks and Widow’s Peaks (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 21 years old and I think that I’m thinning. I have a prominent widow’s peak. My father (his white haired front view is shown here) and my grandfather both have balding (like the picture you showed of Dave Letterman on February 2nd, but the ‘pancake’ size area in the middle remains strong on both of them). I expect that I will keep my ‘pancake’ just like my father and my grandfather, but if I lost it, could it all be transplanted (including mywidow’s peak)? Can you tell me from my picture if I am losing my hair? I took a picture of it for you to see.

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A widow’s peak can be created with a hair transplant. Many people (including me) think that it is a sexy look for people with narrow faces, and it works in a transplant when the surgeon is artistic. Some people have a widow’s peak with the hair direction pointing to the side instead of pointing front. This ‘cow lick’ in a widow’s peak is a bit more difficult to reproduce, but it can be done if the widow’s peak is eroding even with a ‘lick’. For an example of what I mean, see the photo below — click to enlarge.

 

The unusually good picture sent by this man (below) shows thinning behind the forelock and I took the liberty to create a zoomed version of the photo to show the difference in densities under magnification (click to enlarge).

 
His father’s hairline shows that the forelock is strong and I suspect the widow’s peak is a family trait (see photo below — click to enlarge).

 
Referring back to the son’s photo, I think that you can see this young man has reduced density and miniaturization when comparing the central part of the scalp (just behind his forelock) to the forelock. It looks like this young man will bald behind his forelock, possibly more balding than I think that his father shows now, but the strong forelock and widow’s peak may hold even if the hair around it falls out.

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Comments by a Dermatologist About LaserComb – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

After the recent FDA approval of the HairMax LaserComb, there have been many brief articles written based upon the press release that the product’s manufacturer had sent out. Most articles I’ve seen have been essentially disbelief that a product like this could’ve been approved, while other articles were simply rehashing what the press release stated.

The following comments regarding the HairMax LaserComb were written by a well known dermatologist. He asked that his name not be used, but agreed to let me post this:

“I think it is the physician’s responsibility to inform the patient about the proven value of any treatment, regardless of any stamp of approval, be it perceived or real, from any organization. This product has had some “approval” in Canada for some time, yet it does not receive any acknowledgment or significant medical approval by practicing physicians, and certainly not by dermatologists whose credibility would be potentially significantly damaged by such commercial endorsement. I think we all recognize that there is still no good study to substantiate or prove the validity of this treatment modality. Promoting this product without the strength of good science puts any physician in a category where public perception might be that ethics and science are colliding with monetary gain and marketing advantage. The decision to advocate this therapy at this point in time where the support for its validity is at best weak, can have consequences. I don’t believe it is sufficient for physicians to hide behind the notion of FDA approval in order to legitimize this modality.”

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Thinning on Top, Sides, and Back of Head – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi

I am a 23 year old male. Over the last 6 months my hair density has decreased to about 40% on top of my head (mpb zone), but also the sides and back (to maybe 70%). I went to a doctor 2 months ago who diagnosed me with mpb because of observed lower density in mpb zone, she did however not look for miniaturization (I asked her later about this). I have been on propecia since then, and may have noticed an increase of shedding, but this could of course also be due to accelerated loss.

I didnt realize the sides and back were thinning until recently. Another observation: The hairline in back of my head has always contained a lot of short 3 cm hairs. These hairs have started to fall out extremely fast, it comes out 6-9 by just pulling them slightly.

My questions:

1) Does this sound like DPA, DUPA or something else?
2) Can propecia cause shedding in sides and back?
3) Will a DUPA patient have any benefit of hair cloning (whenever is comes out)?

Thank you

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It might be DUPA, and mapping out your head for miniaturization will show miniaturized hairs in the sides and back reflecting over 20% of the hair population if it is DUPA (Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia). Propecia should have no impact on the permanent hair in the sides and back of your head, so even if Propecia caused temporary shedding and hair cycling, there will be no impact on the permanent rim of donor hair. Hair cloning is still a pipe dream at this point, but if it were here today, one would clone the non-DUPA hair so it would be a reasonable alternative to becoming bald.

Be sure that what you have is actually DUPA before you get depressed. It may simply be other causes of hair loss, so be sure that you also get a medical workup for other causes of hair loss (e.g. thyroid disease).

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Reader Comment – Beware of Laser Treatments! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a comment on laser treatments. I went to a supposed hair restoration clinic in Minnesota and they used the low level light. They had a saleswoman who was very persuasive and guaranteed results in three months. I did this cause I was scared of propecia and wanted something more permanent. Well after six months my hair continued to fall out. I told them I would like to stop and be refunded and they refused. So beware of this supposed technology

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Comments like this emphasize the old adage, ‘Let the Buyer Beware’.

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Hair Transplant Growing Slow After Taking Avodart – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a hair transplant 8 months ago and the doctor told me that my growth is slower than normal as my hairs are shorter than he would have expected. I am taking Avodart. Could this medication have an effect at slowing my hair growth?

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We really do not know a great deal about Avodart and what it might do to a new hair transplant. In theory, transplanted hair from the back and the sides of the head should not be impacted by Propecia (finasteride) or Avodart (dutasteride), but one might make an argument that Avodart is very strong and could be prolonging the telogen cycle for hair growth. In theory, it might also prolong the growth cycle when it start growing. Frankly, this is all speculative, but an interesting theory for an interesting question.

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What Do You Recommend for the Frontal Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What do you recomend for the front Line. I am on Propecia and Roggain right now. Will those medications help me?

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If you are genetically balding, then Propecia (finasteride 1mg) should work to slow down or stop the hair loss, even in the frontal hairline. It depends upon where you are with your balding pattern. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization, which will show where you hair loss may be going. Once you know where your hair loss is going, then you can make decisions about Rogaine or Propecia (or both). They both have value, but a doctor needs to tell you the value and what to expect.