Month: October 2007

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Hair Loss InformationHow Does Finasteride Work? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a medical student and was wondering how finasteride works to give people a fuller appearance of hair.

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In the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology July 2006, Volume 55, Dr. Vera Price summarized the action of finasteride as follows:

“Long-term finasteride treatment led to sustained improvement in hair weight compared with placebo. Hair weight increased to a larger extent than hair count, implying that factors other than the number of hairs, such as increased growth rate (length) and thickness of hairs, contribute to the beneficial effects of finasteride in treated men.”

This is important, because what she implies is that the miniaturized hairs reverse. That is why it is so important to map out the scalp for miniaturization. The degree of miniaturization prior to starting finasteride (Propecia) gives us a baseline metric to determine the value of the treatment. I have seen people with miniaturization in the 80% range, reduce substantially to almost normal levels (under 20% means that you can not tell miniaturized hairs from vellus hairs). This is why everyone taking finasteride should be evaluated prior to starting the treatment.

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YAS and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello! I have been on Yasmin for 6 months and am noticing hair thinning. I spoke to my OBGYN and she decided to put me on YAS. I am a little reluctant to start “YAS” because I know that it is the sister pill of YASMIN. My question is, is hair loss also a side effect of YAS. My physician didn’t seem like my hair loss was a big deal, however, I am freaking out when I see CLUMPS come out in the shower!!! Thanks so much!! Kinds Regards

The progestin (progesterone-like hormone) in Yasmin is very similar to spironolactones, which are used for the treatment of hair loss. Alteration in a women’s hormone levels can affect both hair growth and hair loss. Birth control pills contain estrogen and may result in a hormonal imbalance. If you are losing hair from the use of YAS, then just switch to a sister type pill (get it from your doctor). Discontinuing these hormones can also impact hair loss.

Now if this is all confusing, welcome to the club!

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Regrowing Arm Hair After Shaving – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi I am 20 years old and I started shaving my arms when I was 17 or so. I have stopped that all together and was wondering if my arms will ever look like they used to because I am letting the hair grow back? Maybe they will through the hair regrowth cycle. Can you tell me about how long this process will take. Thank you so much

Shaving your body hair (in your case arm hair) will have no long term effect. Give it about 6-8 months to normalize, as that is the general hair cycle of body hair.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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I’m Not Balding, But I Have Low Iron – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hey I saw my doctor the other day and told them i was getting light headed and said it was because of not enough oxygen to the blood which is a result from iron. And I just saw coincidentally that iron has a huge effect on hair. Ive had a iron deficiency for a few years it seems. I am not balding but you think after all of those years it has put a unreverseable effect on my hair? Can I salvage some of my hair that hasn’t been nourished right? thank you

The degree of iron deficiency is not related to hair loss on a one-to-one basis. Everyone is different. If your iron is low, see your doctor and get it back to normal. It does not appear to be a hair issue.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Hair Loss and Cymbalta – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I believe my hair is falling out from taking Cymbalta. I believe hair loss is a side effect of Cymbalta. Is it not? Though I am not on lithium or any other drug I am experiencing dry scalp and breaking out (pimples) on top of my head. My hair loss is on the top of my scalp from hairline to crown.

Will this come back? I am now taking HGH to help with it. Are there any other steps I can take to stop this and actually regrow what I have lost?

Thanks

Hair loss is listed as a rare side effect of Cymbalta (duloxetine HCI), and unfortunately I do not have enough experience with reversal of the hair loss from this drug. With the advice of your doctor, you can stop the drug or try an alternative to see the impact on your hair. You hair should be mapped out for miniaturization to be sure that one knows what is going on and if the hair loss corresponds to a genetic pattern.

For the readers that are wondering what Cymbalta is: Cymbalta is used for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP).

A full list of side effects can be found at WebMD.

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Hair Doctors in the UK Remind Me of Car Salesmen – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello, I am a 29 year old male who’s suffering from hair loss. I’ve recently been to a few consultants’ regarding hair restoration surgery in UK. Unfortunately the surgeries and the surgeons seem to be inexperienced in which I didn’t feel confident enough to go through with the surgery. Also they came across as more of sales man trying to sell me a car rather than be a respectable surgeon. I would be most grateful if you could recommend me a good surgeon, I am willing to travel to the US to get the best surgeon.

Many Thanks

Be careful not to generalize. There are immoral doctors who employ aggressive sales tactics in the United States also. There are good doctors in the UK who have good reputations and are not of the ‘used car’ variety. If you are traveling from the United Kingdom and want a hair transplant surgery in the US, you can contact Dr. Robert Bernstein in New York, which is closer than my offices in California. Dr. Bernstein was my associate for many years at NHI. Or if you don’t mind the extra 5 or 6 hours of flying time, you are more than welcome to have your procedure done at my office. If you send me your picture (which will remain confidential), my office staff can set up a phone consultation.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Clinical Trials for Avodart and Hypothyroid Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Thank you for everything that you do. I truly appreciate your passion for Hair Loss.

I have 2 questions:

  1. Do you have any news about the clinical trials that were going with Avodart as a treatment for MPB. I would think that those would be almost finished now?
  2. What are characteristics of hair loss due to Hypothyroid, and how does that type of hair loss differ from MPB?
  1. I do not know when the Avodart (dutasteride) studies on treating hair loss will be complete. It may depend upon what is found after the results on safety and effectiveness are evaluated.
  2. Hypothyroid hair loss is non-patterned (diffuse) hair loss, whereas normal male pattern baldness (MPB) will follow patterns as outlined in the Norwood Chart.

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Aminexil SP94 and FDA Clearance? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Fristly thanks everyone who is working for this site.My question is that L’oreal’ s formula “Aminexil SP94″ is really effective on hair loss.If it prevents loosing hair why FDA doesn’t recommend this molecule.

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Aminexil I’ve written briefly about Aminexil before — Aminexil vs Minoxidil.

I don’t know precisely why the FDA has not approved this. Perhaps the FDA doesn’t have the proof? To get FDA clearance, one must conclude a scientific study that is statistically relevant and it must meet all of the clinical research regulations published by the FDA.

If I had a cure for cancer, I would still need to go through the process and that cure would not be available to the public until such steps were taken. Alas, I don’t have the cure for cancer.

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Will Bleaching My Hair Effect the Use of Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 22 year old male with class 4 norwood balding. I have been on propecia for seven months now and havnt really seen any effect. However, I am going to stick it out for a year and see how it developes. My question to you is, should I decide to bleach my hair blonde, will this effect the potential of propecia working for me? I have seen loads of guys thinning on top bleaching their hair and I think it looks good.

Kind regards.

Blonde hair does reduce the contrast between scalp and hair colors and as such, does allow you to appear fuller with less hair. Of course, if you are bald in the front, dying it or bleaching it won’t help. If you have a full Norwood Class 4 pattern of balding, hair transplantation works wonders in the front, although being only 22 years old, you may not be a candidate yet.

Stay on Propecia or you will lose all that it has held on your head since you started taking it. That would be a big mistake. Be sure that the bleaching is done by a professional, because the experience with chemical burns from people not knowing what they are doing can wipe out your hair. Bleach penetrates the hair and can damage the hair shaft while Propecia effects the root of the hair where it is formed. When bleach is used and it penetrates the base of the hair follicle to such a degree that it will damage it, then not even Propecia can save the hair.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Why Would a Coin Sized Bald Spot Just Appear In My Beard? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi

I have a problem which has only surfaced in the past month and is very embarrassing as i am planning to get married in the next 3 months. On the top of my chin, the size of a 1 cent coin i have a patch where no hair is growing. I have black hair but have noticed in this patch small, thin blonde hair is growing and the skin on this patch is very very smooth. I am not on any medication or anything and am not stressed so am unsure what it is. Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks

You describe a condition that sounds like alopecia areata, but clearly it may not be as you describe it. You should see a dermatologist for an examination which would consider, amongst other things, the diagnosis of alopecia areata. For more, please see the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.