Month: July 2007

Posted on

Generic Minoxidil vs Rogaine? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I had a question about the effectiveness of generic rogaine. My hair has recently been thinning (I assume as a result of genetics since my doctors can’t find any other reason). I noticed that the Wallgreen’s brand of rogaine is a lot cheaper so I’ve been using that. So far after 3 months I haven’t seen any difference. Do you think generic rogaine is as effective as the name brand (they appear to have the same ingredients)? Thank you very much doctor! I really appreciate it.

Block Quote

The generic minoxidil and Rogaine do have the exact same ingredients. I do not see any difference between the two and their effectiveness should be the same provided that the concentration is the same, and they are using the same inert ingredients. The foam form seems to be better, because of distribution and penetration of the skin.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationEvening Primrose Oil – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 37 year old female. In February/March I suffered from an acute sinusitis and was on 3 treatments of antibiotics and 2 treatments of steroids. About 3 months later my hair started shedding (diffused) at a rapid pace (100-150 hairs a day) and has been continuing for almost 6 weeks. I have started taking Evening Primrose Oil and other supplements that help hair growth. It dose appear as if new hairs are growing, but I can tell my volume is not what it used to be. I have had 2 blood tests – TSH (2.13) and Ferritin (18.7). My doc said both were normal. Any other test I should request? I am assuming that my acute illness has caused my hair loss, if so how much longer will my hair be falling out? Anything else I should do?

Block Quote

It is normal to lose around 100 hairs a day. You may notice more hair loss at one time or another in your lifetime and this is normal. As long as you are healthy with a normal physical exam, you can take some comfort in knowing that your hair will likely grow back. It is more about being patient and letting time take it course.

With respect to evening primrose oil, I have never heard of it for use in hair loss. If you seem to think it has been helping, then I see no harm in continuing it.

Posted on

Switching from ScalpMed to Generic Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was unable to access your link that campares Rogaine to ScalpMed. The link is broken. Therefore, my question to you is this: Is the only ingredient in Scalp Med, (when mixed with “Vitadel” which is simply minoxidil) that actually effects hair growth Minoxidil? I suspect that all these similar products are merely inactive ad-ons since the only common ingredient ALL the products have is that they must be mixed with minox.

Is that so? In other words, if the product works for me-and it does so remarkably, would I see the same results by simply using the $20 a bottle minox and not spend the extra $100+ on the Scalp Med or Follicare, etc.?

I’d be very grateful if you could clear this up for me as I love the results but simply cannot afford their prices anymore. And stopping using will cause the new hair to fall out. Also, do
you think that a DHT blocker is important and/or effective in combo with minox? I look forward to your kind reply. Thanks much.

ScalpMed, as we stated before, does not have any scientifically proven ingredients besides minoxidil and I do not see any reason why minoxidil should not be as effective, possibly even better.

There has been some research done on topical DHT blockers (mostly by Japanese researchers), which shows effectiveness of these products. I guess I would like to see more research on larger groups of patients before recommending them to my patients on a regular basis.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Is DHT Essential For Genital Function? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is DHT essential for proper genital tissue structure/function?

(more detailed: could lack of DHT lead to decreased AR expression in penile tissues & nitric oxide production… leading to tissue changes, ie fibrosis/collagen deposition which cause such shortening/lack of bloodflow?)

I know there is relevant posts to this issue where you dismissed finasteride in relation to a change in penis + testicle size but i thought it was important to bring forward my case to show that there is definately some relation with finasteride and penis size *in a flacid state*, aswell as testicle size. I am a 20 and a half yr old male who has been on propecia since about 19.

id like to point out im not saying that my penis has actually reduced in physical size due to finasteride, but in its flacid state it now resides alot different to how it use to – doesnt hang as much, looks like ive come out of a cold shower – which in turn gives the apperance of a smaller penis.

what ive experienced:
– testicle/scrotum shrinkage. they are no longer hanging as low as they use to, they are now tight and pulled very close to the body. scrotum could almost be described as empty and wrinkly
– reduction of how penis resides in flacid state. In the flacid state my penis is ALOT smaller then usual. penis doesnt “hang” nice and soft and move around loosely as it once did when to flacid. penis is now retreated /retracted as if in cold water, its almost withdrawn and seems it is lacking circulation/blood flow. penis once hung lower than the bottom of my testicles but is now actually pushed up and forward by how tight the testicles now are, and how reduced the size of flacid state is.

i found another person who experienced similar side effects to me. he stated he experienced:
– penile/scrotum shrinkage, loss of length/girth
– loss of morning/spontaneous/nocturnal erections
– empty/wrinkly scrotum
– penis constantly retreating as if in a cold pool
– loss of sensation/numbness to both penis shaft and scrotum, both feel lifeless/not pleasureable
– penile tissue changes: narrowing, curvature, darkening, emergence of numerous varicose veins along shaft

now i have not experienced the severity of his symptons, or his loss of size during erections, but it is quite alarming there are others out there who have experienced this issue and there isnt any warnings out there regarding this alarming side effect

after reading through several links below, one must question – is it possible that lack of DHT leads to decreased AR expression in penile tissues & nitric oxide production… leading to tissue changes, ie fibrosis/collagen deposition which cause such shortening/lack of bloodflow???

the links:
http://finasteride.jconserv.net/viewtopic.php?t=146
http://www.asiaandro.com/1008-682X/5/33.htm
http://finasteride.jconserv.net/viewtopic.php?t=346

thanks for any input you can share on this topic!

Block Quote

DHT is very important in the first trimester of pregnancy when the testicles and penis form. If DHT is not present (mother on finasteride or born with a defect where the fetus does not make DHT), then a hermaphrodite will probably develop. For more on hermaphrodites, see:

It is true that being exposed to DHT blockers before puberty can negatively affect the development of the male external genital system and other secondary male sex characteristics (beard and body hair even after puberty). DHT is essential for development and growth of the male genital system before they are completely mature and reach their final size. Our current understanding is that the use of finasteride after puberty when the amount of testosterone is very high with corresponding high DHT levels, should not impact these secondary sex characteristics and will still allow the penis and testicles to reach their maximum size. There is not much information on the use of this drug in young teenagers and I suspect that prior to the age of 16 when balding may start in a select number of boys, the decision to use finasteride is easier the further into the teens the person is.

You have referred to a study done on 3 groups of young rats. This study has shown that a lack of either testosterone or DHT can affect the growth and development of the external genital system negatively.

In the studies done on humans, there was no report of similar or any other negative changes on the external genitalia in adult men or boys in their late teens. I have been recommending and prescribing Propecia to a good portion of my patients, and as of yet have not heard any such complaints with regard to impact on penis size once the penis has grown to its final adult size. You have to remember that this medication has passed all clinical phases and was proven effective and safe for treatment of male pattern baldness (in adult males). If you are still concerned with the changes in your genitalia, you can see a urologist to make sure you don’t have any other medical problems that have been causing this issue.

Posted on

Losing Hair in the Middle of Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doctor. I asked a silly question once before about genetics that you wisely didn’t answer (because it was stupid). My question today, however, is hopefully less dumb. I am 20 years old with thick brown hair. I have no history of baldness in my family minus a couple of great uncles on both sides of my family. The problem, however, is that I seem to be shedding a lot of hair in the front of my head. After shampooing my head or brushing my hair I seem to lose about 5-10 hairs just from the front of my hairline. What’s also weird is that the hairs only seem to fall out from the middle of my hairline (at the widow’s peak), and not at the temples, which is where baldness or thinning should be occurring (at least in my family history). The hair shafts seem to be just as thick as the rest of my head, and when I part my hair to check for thinning, the hair density in front actually seems thicker. I know that it is normal to lose about 100 hairs a day, but this type of shedding doesn’t seem to be occurring anywhere else on my head. Any advise? Thank you for your time.

Block Quote

Hair shedding is not always an indication of permanent hair loss or future balding, as most people lose 100 to 150 hairs every day. I would say that microscopic evaluation of the scalp and hair (a miniaturization study) is probably the most accurate method of predicting the future hair loss in male pattern baldness. Having increased miniaturization (over 20%) in any area of the scalp should be considered as a sign of future hair loss in that particular area.

Some people lose their widow’s peak and very frontal 1-3 cm of their hairline due to maturation of the hairline, which is not necessarily balding (see Maturation of a Hairline — Moving From Juvenile to Mature). So if you are only thinning in the frontal 1-3 cm with no evidence of hair loss or miniaturization elsewhere, it may just be hairline maturation and that will stop when your new hairline is reached.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationSwollen Testicles from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi doc,
i read lots of your posts regarding testicular pain when on propecia, but could not find the one on swollen testicles.I have been taking the pill for a week now and both of my testicles are
swollen.Though there is no pain.I am very much scared and even considering to stop the drug.Kindly advise. is it normal and will go away over time as i continue using the drug or should i
stop taking the pill.did you come across these type of cases in your patients.

your comments would be of immense help to me.I will talk to my doctor also.

Block Quote

Every now and then we do see patients with complaints of testicular pain or swelling. According to the results of the research on this topic, the rate of these side effects in patients who are taking Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is exactly the same as those on the placebo. If you are experiencing these side effects, you have to see your doctor to rule out other conditions that can cause those kinds of symptoms. Some of these medical conditions may be serious and need urgent evaluations such as incarcerated hernia or torsion of testicles. You can restart the medication if everything is OK and obviously missing a few days of finasteride is not life threatening.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationIs MPB Universal Across All Races? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doc, I have 2 questions. Firstly, does mpb always starts on receeding hairline followed by diffused thinning of the scalp? I have some degree of diffused thinning on top of my head, it’s
a beginning phase. But I have no receeding hairline, so I don’t know whether there’s a possibility that I could have AGA? Also, I had been in depression for years but I never took any
medication. Or could it be telogen effluvium? My second question: is the pattern in mpb universal across all races? I’m asian so I don’t know if that changes anything. Thanks in advance!

Block Quote

MPB does not always start with a receding hairline. It is impossible to tell you what you have without a physical examination or a miniaturization study or a good medical history and interview. Sure, you might have AGA or telogen effluvium… or you can just be imagining it!

Male pattern hair loss does not discriminate by race or ethnicity. Being Asian does not change anything, but with that said, the American Indian (not his ancestors who came from Alaska) have no balding. The American Indian who came north from Central America has balding just like all other racial groups.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationGefitinib Grows Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

Have you ever heard of a drug called Gefitinib? P.A. Burt observed a few years ago that a patient treated with the drug who had been bald for many years experienced sudden robust hair growth. I know of one other anecdotal report in which a patient experienced terminal hair growth at the tip of his nose. Aside from this, I’m not able to find any other infromation on the drug. I wonder what its safety profile and mechanism of action would be, especially when administered concomitantly with finasteride. Cool, huh?

Block Quote

Gefitinib is a drug for the treatment of certain cancers. I am surprised that a cancer drug would grow hair, mainly because cancer drugs usually “kills” cells (especially cancer cells). If it actually grows hair, I am sure we will hear more about this drug. I would take caution in the fact that cancer drugs have many unpleasant side effects.