February 2007 – Page 9

February 14, 2007

Anything I Can Do Now to Increase My Scalp Laxity for Future Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

You have mentioned before that one of the determining factors in a successful transplant candidate is that candidate’s scalp laxity. I am not in need of a transpant at my current state of hair loss, but I can foresee myself needing it some time down the road. Is there anything I can do TODAY to maximze the number of grafts I can get TOMORROW?

A good hair transplant doctor can tell you if your scalp is tight. If it is not, then there is no need to do exercises that may increase the looseness of your scalp. If it is tight, you can put your hands double clasped behind your head and slide the skin up and down. Most people have about 1/2 inch of skin movement, those with tight scalps have less than that. With this exercise done 3-6 times a day for a few minutes at a time, I have seen the scalp laxity go up.

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February 13, 2007

Hairs Per Square Inch Seems Lower on Sides and Top of My Head – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

22/male. My individual hairs don’t seem to be thinning all that much (meaning the diameter) except the overall thickness i.e. hairs per square inch has drastically lowered especially on the sides of and top of my head. Is this just a normal part of my body changing? In addition the spot of hair that juts out on the right side of my head (near the temple) is turning more into like peach fuzz but it is not quite like that on the left side. Are these the signs of MPB, I’m confused and worried. Thanks

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It is impossible to answer your question without a formal physical exam and microscopic assessment of your scalp area by area. What you are describing does not particularly sound like a pattern consistent with MPB. The sides of the head are often less dense than the back of the head in non-balding people. There are other conditions such as diffuse alopecia areata (as an example) that may cause asymmetric hair loss in different parts of your scalp. You should see a qualified doctor who can perform a miniaturization study and density measurement to obtain a good diagnosis.

February 13, 2007

Son Was Born with a Bald Spot on Side of His Head – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My son was born with a 2″ diameter bald spot on the side of his head (near top). He’s 5 years old today and still has the spot. I’m concerned that this spot will soon be the object of curiosity and teasing by his classmates. What’s the best way to help him with this little difference? Is he too young for transplants?

Small bald areas such as a birth mark or a scar can easily be addressed with hair restoration surgery. Hair transplants or expanders may be appropriate for him.

From a long term perspective, the surgeon who fixes this must also take into account (since he is a boy) whether he will ever be affected with male pattern (genetic) hair loss when he is older. While looking at his father/mother/grandparents may offer a clue, it is difficult to predict male pattern hair loss at such young age since the genetics don’t follow predictable patterns. At best, he should have a formal consult with a qualified surgeon.

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February 13, 2007

Left Corner of Hairline Maturing Faster Than Right Corner – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

dear docter,
I am an 18 year old male who noticed a “somewhat” maturing hairline. I took the measurements you stated and the front part of my hairline and right corner match (1-1 1/2 in.) My concern is my left corner is possibily thinning. When i push up the left corner of my hair i see some thinned hairs and some scalp because the hair weaves in oppisite directions when i push it up. I am concerned if the left corner will continue to thin and shed and lead to MPB thank you docter

We do not bald symmetrically and it is not unusual for one side to go faster than the other. The same is true for the maturation of the hairline — initially more on one side than the other. Eventually the slower side will catch up. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to get a diagnosis and find out if you are balding or just maturing your hairline.

February 13, 2007

DHEA in Multi-Vitamin – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I saw on your site that DHEA can trigger baldness. I did not realize the multi-vitamin I took had it. If I stop taking the vitamin, can I stop the new baldness (if indeed DHEA caused it) or am I doomed forever for those few months I took the vitamin?

Stopping it won’t hurt. I doubt that your short run with DHEA will cause long term effects, but what you lost may not come back.

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February 12, 2007

Using DermMatch and Couvre with Seborrheic Dermatitis – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr Rassman

I’m considering to try “Dermatch” and “couvre” . My concern is that i have a chronic seborrheic dermatitis condition on my scalp . Do these two products have a negative effect in conditions such as mine ? Let me also tell yoy that i shampoo daily using Nizoral 2% , ,a salycylic acid shampoo( Node Ds) and occasionaly Betadine.

I would deeply appreciate it if you could mail any reply

Thank you very much for your time

There should be no problem with the use of both of these cosmetics with seborrhea.

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February 12, 2007

Sores on Back of Head – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

In the last 6 months my dad, age 62, has developed sores on the back of his head. They get very sore and drain some kind of puss that smells and he just keeps getting them. It starts around the occipital bone area and goes up to the parietal bone area. I have discovered one bald area about in the middle of parietal area, which has only occurred in about the last 2 months.

I would really appreciate any information you may have. Thanks so much.

Your father needs to be seen by a physician. By his history, I would guess that he may have had an infected sebaceous cyst. A skin cyst can get infected and turn into an abscess cavity. The infected cysts usually drain on their own if not treated. Any kind of infectious or inflammatory process can cause reactive hair loss in the immediate scalp skin. In most cases, hair loss is reversible and does not need any intervention, but I have seen the hair defect permanent in a few patients. Your father needs to first ’see a doctor’, then expect to wait a good 6 months before findoug if the balding spot clears up. If there still is a bald spot after 6 months of observation, he may see a hair specialist for further diagnosis and treatment, including a limited hair transplant by the end of a year with no hair growth.

February 12, 2007

My Father Started Receding at Age 50 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I read your comment reccommending a 15 yo guy to wait until he’s 30 to see if he has hair loss then decide on a hairline lowering surgery. I am 31 and am considering the surgery to shorten my long forehead. I am not really sure if it is receding (must be really slow if it is), though my father’s did not until he is 50. Did you imply that hairline is not likely to recede (at least not quickly) after the age of 30?

Thanks a lot!

A receding hairline after the late 30s is unusual, but it happens. You may take after your father and recede later in life. Using Propecia is one thing that allows you to be more proactive about hair receding, rather than waiting for completion of the hair loss, but you must have a proper diagnosis so that you know what you are treating if you elect to do something about it. This way you can prevent future hair loss to some degrees, at least on the top and crown area, and take care of the frontal hairline with a hair transplant.

Taking medication before the process starts on the expectation of hair loss is certainly not something that I would recommend for my young readers who worry about what might happen to them. A long forehead (high forehead) is easy to treat with hair transplants and wonderful results are a reasonable target. You can see many, many patient results in the New Hair Institute Patient Photo Galleries.

February 12, 2007

Loestrin and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m confused about birth control – please help! I started taking Loestrin 5 weeks ago and noticed 2 weeks ago I’m losing lots of hair. I figure it’s due to the start of the birth control. So I’ve been reading up on it and find conflicting information. Can you tell me if I should stop the birth control or stay on it, hoping the hair loss will stop on it’s own (that’s what my doctor recommends). Does birth control CAUSE hair loss or does it HELP to keep it from happening? I can’t decide if I’m making it worse by continuing my birth control. Currently, I’m taking it, recovering from having a baby 9 months ago, and taking Rogaine per the advice of my doctor, to speed along hair growth. She feels it’s temporary and it will grow back. Any advice?

Birth control pills contribute to hair loss in some women. The decision to take it with that side effect, should be something between you and your doctor. Sometimes, other birth control pills may have less hair loss effects, but you need to discuss this with your doctor.

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February 12, 2007

Hair Loss is Causing My Depression – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had beautiful hair my entire life. I received compliments weekly on it; it was that nice. I took SYNTHROID for 6 months when my thyroid problem was only borderline and I should NOT have taken it. 99.9% of the subsequent doctors said I should not have taken it. My hair changed completely. I took the drug MAY 05 through NOV 05. It changed the texture, the thickness, I now have a see-through head of hair (especilally on top) and I am depressed. I saw 35 doctors, 2 trichologists and 1 supposed “expert” who said I was in the shedding phase and it would stop. After 16 months, he said it was “long” but would go back to normal. Not true. Has not happened. My life is not the same and I quit my job over this. I haven’t worked since. I have been taking sulfur and fish oil gels every day – the hair was holding steady but still bad until OCT 2006 when things hit the fan and the top got super thin and fallout was twice as bad. I am scared I will be bald and never have a life again. I feel like a monster. My marriage isn’t too great either due to my unceasing depression. I need to be in a study group or with a group of scientists who study hair. I cannot go on. Please…help. Thank you.

Synthroid could be a cause of hair loss. If it was the only cause of hair loss in your case, it should have been reversed with stopping the medication by now. Since you stopped taking it more than a year ago and did not grow your hair back, you must have some other factors involved and thus need a thorough evaluation.

It is proven that hair loss can increase the level of anxiety and cause depression in several studies that have performed in Europe (see PubMed – Psychological aspects of hair disease). The only thing I can recommend is a medical evaluation to have a proper diagnosis. You need to get started on appropriate treatment with a hair specialist. Diagnosis of hair loss is not always simple and it takes a great deal of patience on your part to work through diagnosis and the slowness of treating the problem. You must have a good doctor to do this with. Good luck.

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