July 2007 – Page 8 – Balding Blog

July 16, 2007

Taking Levothyroxine and Lupron — Minoxidil Is Making My Hair Loss Worse – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) I am in my 50’s and my hair is thinning in the front & top causing major anzxiety! I was on 200mg of levothyroxine for 3 years and still shedding hair. Now my doctor reduced to 175 and said I was on too much RX although I felt great. For the last 8 yrs I have been shedding hair so I don’t think it was the dosage. I have major stress seeing so much hair loss – males in the family are bald – is that going to happen to me?? I do not take any other medication however, I recently was put on Lupron for a possible hysterectomy. I don’t know what to do. I am taking minoxidil but it looks like it makes my hair fall out even more. What lab tests should I get? What should I do? —depressed in DC

You should have this conversation with your doctor. Anxiety with AGA does not bode well. Add to that medications that are known to have some hair loss side effect, and the problem is compounded. My heart goes out to you.

July 16, 2007

Is Minoxidil Affected By Temperatures? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, I had a question concerning Rogaine. Can Rogaine become unaffective if it’s left in harsh temperatures. I travel a lot. I drive in hot cars, and take airplanes oversees, leaving my luggage in the luggage bay. Will harsh conditions ruin Rogaine? Thanks for your time. Thank you doctor. This blog is great!

There are warnings about storing minoxidil. It is suggested that you store at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (between 20 and 25 degrees C) away from heat. Heat may cause it to lose value, so hot cars in direct sunlight can not be a positive for storing the medication.

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July 16, 2007

In the News – Antibiotic Could Prevent Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

“Toshiyuki Sakai said his team had found “alopestatin” reduced hair loss by 70 percent when used on rats also given etoposide anti-cancer drugs.” The focus here appears to be for those using chemotherapy, but who knows where it will take them as they explore this technology. The article goes on to say that there are no clinical tests currently underway.

Read the article — Antibiotic could prevent hair-loss

July 16, 2007

How Much Stress Can Trigger Male Pattern Baldness? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I have a few questions:

On average, how much stress is necessary to trigger the balding process in men who have MPB? For instance, I was REALLY stressed out for 3 days about something (to the point where I thought I might have a heart attack). Is this the stress you’re talking about that can trigger MPB?

Is there a delay in the time between the stressful event and the hairloss? I read somewhere that there was a delay of 3 months.

If I’ve been taking Propecia for 8 months now, will that prevent the hair loss caused by the stress that occurred about 1 week ago?

Any insight would be appreciated thank you.

Different people react to stress differently. I once saw a man a day after a big heart attack and he was very nonchalant and didn’t appear to be stressed that he almost died a day earlier! I can assume that he handles stress much differently than you do. To answer your question more specifically, there is really no gauge of stress, but rather your perception of what “REALLY” constitutes your stress level.
By the ongoing theme in your questioning, I can speculate you are a very particular about this stress issue. You should also keep in mind that hair loss from MPB will occur with or without stress, as it is in your genetic programming. There is no definitive timeline of stress and the lag time of hair loss.
Again, I can see you are obsessed about a stressful event. You are taking Propecia for the treatment of male pattern balding –- and not stress-related balding. If emotional stress is an issue for you, you may consider seeing a doctor for your stress related issues, as this is really a medical/psychological problem.

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July 13, 2007

When Can You Predict Balding? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

HI DR… When can you kinda predict when you final pattern will be… what age ???? Please let me know sir.. thanks

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There is no real age that hair loss is guaranteed to start by, so I can only talk averages. Most men who are going to be very bald, will be there before they get out of their 20s, and often see considerable thinning in their early 20s with considerable miniaturization through the areas that are going to be bald. It is this miniaturization pattern that suggests the final pattern, but in some people, the process is delayed into their 30s. Most men are finished with the large part of the balding process by the time they are in their 40s, but on rare occasions, a few may start at this late age (less than 5% of all men start balding late in life).

July 13, 2007

Hair Loss InformationDilantin and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been on Dilantin (phenytoin) tablets for a long time since a seizure following neurocisticircossis ten years ago. I don’t have any problem now but have not stopped the medicine yet. The doctor said you can stop it, but to avoid the risk of a seizure you may continue with one tablet (100mg) a day. Of late, I have been losing hair. I noticed it when I started losing facial hair. My moustache and the hair on the left part of my chest had started greying early, ie. some 8 years ago. I am now 43.

Could Dilantin be the reason for the hair loss? How can I prevent it?

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Hair loss has been reported as rare side effect of Dilantin. Because of the infrequency of this side effect, it is warranted to consider more common possibilities such as male or female pattern baldness before blaming the hair loss on medication. The other important factors that should be considered before making the diagnosis are: family history of baldness and miniaturization status of your hair. You need to be evaluated by a good hair specialist before coming to the conclusion of stopping your medication because of its possible side effect. People on Dilantin need to get their priorities straight if they are losing hair possibly from their medication and get advice from the doctor prescribing it.

July 13, 2007

Hair Loss InformationDoctor Says Nerve Damage Is Cause for My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

33 yr old female. At the beginning of April 2007 I noticed app a 1-inch area to the left of my part that had lost hair. Completly and it has a red tint to the scalp. The only thing I can remember causing this would be sleeping against a corner of a wall for a period of time. My doctor seems to think it is nerve damage and says it most likely won’t grow back. Do you find this to be true and what would cause the redness? Thank you for your help.

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There is no way for me to give you an opinion without seeing you. I have never heard of nerve damage causing hair loss.

July 13, 2007

Unusual Norwood Class 7 Hair Loss Pattern (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Norwood Class 7 This patient is a full Class 7 pattern of balding who has kept the forelock for his 60+ years. Recently, he started to lose the frontal hair, worse in the corners. He was happy with the man he watched in the mirror every day, up until he started to lose his hair. I thought that I would share his appearance with you. This is clearly an unusual genetic variation of the Class 7 balding pattern. He has had no hair restoration work.

Click the photos to enlarge.

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July 13, 2007

Hair Loss Information » Soy Isoflavone Concentrate – Balding Blog

Equol is a very interesting discovery.

I was wondering if taking a pill that I saw on GNC.com could have some similiar benefits? The name of the pill is….

Natural Brand™ Soy Isoflavone Concentrate.

Could taking this help in ways similiar to taking equol? thank you.

I really do not know of benefits that are claimed on the internet. We are all wanting some magic cure to our balding problem but as I have said over and over again: this is a buyer beware market.

July 13, 2007

Hair-Growing Hat from 1924 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Perhaps we should revive this hair growing hat? It seems to fit in with other products out there that people are buying. It should be made to look more modern, though…

HA! Ridiculous!

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