February 2007 – Page 6

February 20, 2007

I Didn’t Know Weaves and Wigs Would Make My Traction Alopecia Worse! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 38 yr old black female. My hair started thinning in the crown about 10 yrs ago. I started braiding it to keep out the chemicals. About 3 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with traction alopecia. Had never heard of it before. I started wearing weaves and wigs to cover up the ugliness. I never realized that this would make my situation worse. Now the balding has spread to the top and front of my head. Is it too late for a hair transplant that would work. The hair on the sides and back is relatively thick, but it seems so unhealthy. At the rate I’m going I feel like I should just shave my head bald and call it a day. I feel so ugly. I did see a dermatogolist for the diagnosis, but I never got any advise on what I should do to help the situation. Can you recommend anyone to see on this side of the country??

Block Quote

If you are diagnosed with traction alopecia, you need to keep your hair short with no weaves and wigs. After stopping the insult, you should wait for at least six months and see if your hair regrows. In many cases, traction alopecia may cause permanent damage to the hair follicle and may not reversible. Repeating the evaluation of your hair after this period of time will show the areas of permanent hair loss. At that point, a hair transplant specialist can evaluate you for further treatment options if the hair failed to grow back. Then, if you are using a wig, be sure that it is converted to clips to prevent the transplants from developing traction alopecia.

February 20, 2007

Oily Scalp Help – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doctor, i have a oily scalp. How do i deal with that. I excercise regularly and my fitness is very good.. But how come i cant get rid of the oily scalp. I even shampooed daily.

Block Quote

People with oily scalp should use shampoos that are promoted for oily scalps. You need a stronger detergent in the hair shampoo and that is what makes the difference in shampoos. Daily washing is a good idea to prevent buildup of sebum.

February 20, 2007

Why Do Older Men Get Bushy Eyebrows? – Balding Blog

Is there a medical answer for why whenever men get older they loose the hair on thier head and thier eyebrows get bushier?

Eyebrows I believe that the explanation of this is related to the effects of DHT. Included are other “benefits” such as:

The appearance of nose hair
The appearance of ear hair
Increase in body hair
A more coarse beard

You can’t just select one of these secondary sex characteristics probably caused by DHT, but I have seen a couple of patients who took finasteride (Propecia) and found that they lost some or all of their chest hair. They did not report the impact on their nose or ear hair, however.

February 20, 2007

Shouldn’t I See My Hair Receding If I Am Balding? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have always had a high forehead, but I’ve had two comments in the last month saying I’m growing bald. My hairline has always definitely been higher by my temples, but I’m now unsure if it’s getting worse. When I lift my hair to show my hairline though, I don’t see any thinning. Shouldn’t this be a gradual process where I could actually see the hair receding or doesn’t it work that way? Also, my dad and all of his brothers are completely bald, but they all showed signs by the time they were 20. No one on my mom’s side is bald. Would that mean if I was balding, it would be in the same pattern as my dad and his family? I’m almost 26, should I be balding at the same age as then and same rate?

You need to determine if you are developing a maturing hairline. You should also get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to determine if you are really balding. Recession is different that maturing a hairline and you need to understand the difference. If you do not show miniaturization, the it would be safe to assume that you are not now presently balding.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

February 20, 2007

Procyanidin B-2 and Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctor Rassman –
I was surprised to read in an earlier blog concerning Procyanidin B-2, that you were “impressed” with this approach (given that it is not FDA approved). I do understand that the ingredients are natural and no side effects occurred during clinical studies. My question is this: Would taking the Procyanidin B-2 in conjunction with Propecia be harmful or cancel out any results of Propecia? Obviously, if the two combined act synergistically, then why not give it a shot? Lastly, do you think it is worthwile to try?
Thanks!

Any full understanding of Procyanidin B-2 and Propecia is not available in the literature. There is nothing to suggest that Procyanidin would not work with Propecia, so I would try it if you have the ‘adventure’ in you. The problem, of course, is that if it works you have no clue to which of the two is actually working.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

February 20, 2007

How Can Lasers Kill Hair AND Grow Hair? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doc…what’s your lay person’s take on laser therapy?? Seems odd you can use a laser to remove hair and also try grow it…sorry to bug you, just emailed you not too long ago…anyhow, they’re advertising lasercomb on tv, thought I’d ask what you thought of it…

To be honest, I am having difficulty believing that the comb works. A few passes with a comb through your hair each day brings hair back? My brain tells me not to believe it. The lasers that kill hair are different so look at them as a totally different product with a commonality in name.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

February 19, 2007

Does Miniaturized Hair Imply a Form of Alopecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

In this answer you stated; “it is normal to have some miniaturization or thinning in the very front edge of your hairline“.

and in this answer you stated: “The maturing hairline is as thick as the juvenile hairline, as long as there is no genetic hair loss in the actual hairline (no miniaturization). Sometimes, the mature hairline is thinner (at least it seems that way to me as I look at my mature hairline), but that is just a feeling.”

These two answers confuse me since it seems that you in your first answer suggests that it is normal with some thinning in the very front, but in the second answer, it is NOT normal with some thinning in the very front. If this is not a contradiction I suppose the juvenile hairline also have some normal thinning at the very front?

I would be really greatful if you could clear these things up…

Best Regards

Block Quote

Miniaturized hair means that the hair shaft is smaller than a normal (terminal hair) shaft. If you look at a follicular unit, you will see some vellus hairs (shorter and finer) and occasional thinner hair shafts, which when they are not present in substantial quantity, may be normal. As these smaller hair shafts are found all over the head, one must draw the line as to what may constitute a ‘medical condition’ that reflects genetic balding or other forms of alopecia. I have arbitrarily determined that any miniaturized count out of a population of normal hair shaft ‘terminal’ hairs, should be under 20%. When the thin (miniaturized) hair counts exceed 20%, I assume that this is a medical condition. In the frontal line, many people have thinner hairs, sometime exceeding 20% (in the first 1/2cm). If there is no miniaturization above 20% behind this first 1/2cm, then I would call this the soft look that God gave us to produce a transition from bare forehead to thick hair.

All hair shafts are not equal. In people with coarse hair, thicker hair shafts must be offset by finer frontal hair shafts and we actually see finer hair at the edge of a frontal hairline (first 1/2cm or so). The same is true for everyone, but the phenomenon I am talking about is most evident in the coarse hair person.

I hope this helps.

February 19, 2007

Spina Bifida and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My 24 year old son, with spina bifida (mylomeningocele) has suddenly, started aggressively going bald. I’m stunned, there is no hair loss like this on either side. My father had a full head of hair, his bio father and grandfather had crown loss after the age of 50.

Could this be related to his spina bifida? I’m very upset. It’s not enough to be a young man paralyzed, but he also has to be bald??

Block Quote

Balding impacts almost 50% of men in their lifetimes. Even when there is no obvious family history, the genetics can skip generations. He should be treated like any young balding man. Get his hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out if he has the genetic pattern balding process going on. A diagnosis is critical. The best treatment for genetic hair loss is Propecia (finasteride 1mg) daily. He needs a Master Plan for his hair loss. The Spina Bifida in conjunction with balding may make for more stress, and stress is clearly something that accelerates the rate of hair loss in young men.

February 19, 2007

Taking Dutasteride While Starting a Family – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor,

I have been taking Dutasteride to reduce hair loss in the past 3 years. I just got married recently and planning to have children. Could you please tell me will I have problems with having children or my baby may become defect because of my sperm containing dutasteride. Should I stop taking dutasteride for a period of time before starting to have children?

Thanks

Dutasteride (Avodart), as mentioned on this site many times before, is not FDA approved for treating male pattern baldness. However, if you are on dutasteride for any other reason and are planning to have children, you can do so by discontinuing the medication for at least 6 weeks before that. I say 6 weeks, but Dutasteride has been reported to have a long half life (5-6 weeks) which might mean that the drug is in your system far longer than the 6 weeks estimate I just gave you. We really do not know the answer.

Although not studied on humans, animal studies show reduction in both ejaculate volume and sperm count using high doses of dutasteride. After stopping this medication on rats, its fertility effect is reversed in all animals, while sperm count needed 14 weeks for full recovery.

Just be aware that pregnant women should not handle the medication. It can be absorbed through skin and may affect the baby. If the drug stays in the sperm, in theory, it could impact sexual development of the baby.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

February 19, 2007

Speeding Up Regrowth from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have read that you say it takes 8-12 months to clearly see the new hair growing from propecia use. If the hair is kept shorter like half an inch, will you see new growth sooner.

thanks

There is no way to speed up the impact of finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine), but the impact can be appreciated better if your start off with 1/2 inch hair and then observe the change over time.