December 2007 – Page 12

December 4, 2007

In the News – Drug Lengthens Eyelashes – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Lumigan The Wall Street Journal reports –

Doctors and patients alike have noticed that eyelash growth is a side effect of a glaucoma drug called Lumigan, sold by California drug maker Allergan Inc. That phenomenon has set off a race among cosmetics companies to create new eyelash treatments that contain either bimatoprost — the active ingredient in Lumigan — or other so-called prostaglandins found in glaucoma drugs.

Read the full article: Drug That Lengthens Eyelashes Sets Off Flutter

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December 4, 2007

I Feel Like Propecia Has Disconnected Me From My Genitals – Balding Blog

Hey doc, I am 61 and I have been taking propecia for a year and a half. Three quarters of the time I have been taking 1/2 a pill. This is because I felt like down there I felt disconnected. My privates just don’t feel like it used to. Also I feel like my breasts have gotten bigger.

I don’t want to lose my hair but it seems like my hair has progressed to get thinner and thinner. The diameter of the hair really is thinning. I don’t want to stop taking Propecia cause I’m afraid to stop. It even seems like I should take the whole dose instead of the half dose. It seems everyday I am questioning my taking this pill but like I said I’m afraid to stop. I didn’t start noticing losing any hair until I was about 56 when it really started to thin. Do you think at the age of 61 Propecia is really necessary? By the way I have fair coverage on my head except on the crown it’s really thin and the last year the rest of the top had thinned noticeably.

Can you recommend what I should do. Thanks Doc for this forum.

My best recommendation is for you to see your doctor (the doctor who prescribed you the medication) and address these significant issues with him or her. Breast enlargement is a rare side effect associated with Propecia. It is reported that 0.5% of men taking five times the dose of Propecia will experience such breast enlargement or tenderness. These side effects are reversible once you stop the medication.

I would question the value of Propecia in a man of your age, so the more basic question here is whether you really need it.

December 4, 2007

Bald Spot from Dirty Clippers? – Balding Blog

Hey doc. im an 18 year old male. I cut my hair almost once a week to were its bald but not skin bald, I use hair clippers and about two months ago i started getting a bald spot that grew from a pea size to a quarter size and its starting to really worry me.I went to a clinic and asked a doctor and she told me that it will grow back and she dont know what it came from but, I wasnt sure if she was telling me the truth or just trying to get me out of the way. I dont know what its from im thinking its from the clippers because they were kind of dirty, and then rescently I got another one but alot smaller, is it from stress or from the dirty clippers? thank u doc.

Clippers Without seeing you and examining you myself, I really can’t render an opinion on your particular case. When bald spots appear, this could signal many dermatological conditions such as alopecia areata, fungal diseases of the scalp (infection), etc.

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December 3, 2007

Creatine and Hair Loss in 18 Year Old – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My son is 18 and was taking creatine on and off for 2 years. He is heavy into football and was weightlifting in preseason. LAst spring we noticed he was losing his hair. HE stopped the creatine in May.

We have been to his pediatrician in July and she thinks it will grow back. However itis now late Sept. and he is still losing some hair. I brought him to a dermatologist and he said use Rogaine and propecia. They are too expensive, plus the rogaine is not a routine I think he will use ona regular basis.

My question is this…Have you heard much about creatine and weight lifting in regards to hair loss? We are a pretty hairy family, but his Dad has a receding hairline.

Thanks

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Hair loss has been reported with use of creatine as one of the rare side effects. There is not enough sophisticated research on its rate of occurrence, but every now and then I see patients on creatine with an increased rate of hair loss (see Creatine and Hair Loss).

I recommend starting any patient with proven male pattern hair loss on just one medication and follow it for at least 6 months before adding another one. We usually perform microscopic evaluation of the scalp to check for miniaturization of hair before starting any of these medications. After 6 to 8 months, patients need to be evaluated with another miniaturization study to determine if another medication should be added if the first one has not been helping to decrease the level of miniaturized hair.

Most of the patients don’t need to be on two medications (minoxidil and Propecia), especially if they are not willing to take multiple medications for the rest of their lives. While using both can sometimes be quite helpful, stopping either medication will result in the loss of any benefits you received from that stopped medication. It is a big commitment to stick to both, particularly if you get results from just the one.

December 3, 2007

Hair Loss InformationDermatologists Here Don’t Know What Miniaturization Mapping Is – What Can I Do? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr Rassman, with respect to the miniaturization mapping, it seems that many of the dermatologists I’ve visited in Canada don’t know what it is or if they have heard of it they think it’s hogwash. What’s a guy with MPB to do in this situation? I REALLY want to find out how much and where the miniaturization has occurred on my scalp! Is there another method beside using the densimeter to get an accurate assessment of my balding?

Thanks!

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Hand-held microscope I can’t force doctors to use microscopic evaluation of the scalp to determine degrees of miniaturization, but the mapping is certainly the best way to determine degrees of hair loss, rather than having your doctor essentially just eyeballing the problem. Perhaps you could/should print out our this page — Miniaturization and Hair Loss – More Than Meets the Eye — and give your dermatologist a copy of it.

You might even suggest your dermatologist buys a pocket hand-held microscope (see photo at right for an example) so that he/she can can make a diagnosis. Between the hand microscope suggestion (which runs about $8-15 and is sold at Radio Shack in the US or various online stores) and the sheet of paper you will bring your dermatologist, he/she should be appreciative.

December 3, 2007

I Had 3 Procedures and Now I Want to Shave My Head – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have had 3 procedures over the past 9 years. My total transplant count was in the range of 5000 grafts. I have had very poor results in terms of density.

I am ready to shave my head and have seen photos showing what I should look like with ashaved head. I am happy with the look. I know that my donar scar will be visbible but I am ok with that. My question is regarding the liklihood that my recipient area will be detectable as having had grafts when shaved bald. I have no visible scarring there that I can see but am still concerned about this. Can you or anyone else offer some guidance/comfort so that I can proceed. This has been an enormous daily battle for me for many years. I have considered going to a hair transplant specialist and asking for some type of magnified examination of my recipient area, but other than than Im not sure how to know. I have hair up there but its too thin too really work with. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

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I really cannot give you much assurance, since I haven’t seen your hair transplant or your scars. Some hair transplants may leave some degree of scarring in the recipient area that may be detectable when you shave your head. To be honest, the only way to tell is to go for it — but before you do this, you should sit down for a face-to-face with a doctor who is experienced in this type of problem and examine your options in detail, one on one. I would be pleased to do this with you and it is may even be worthwhile for you to come to Los Angeles where I will personally evaluate your situation. Considering all of the money you paid for what you describe as poor results, the cost of such a trip is nominal.

December 3, 2007

Any Long Term Finasteride Studies? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi D0c.

Lets say I’ve been using finasteride for 6 months and then quit do to sides.

I have a tricky one for you, right here! Is it possible that the androgen receptor located inside the follicle might increase it’s binding activity if the synthetic enzyme inhibitation
suddenly stops?

Any long-term studies on finasteride soon to come?

Thanks Doc, always a pleasure.

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Although I love hearing new theories, I don’t believe you are correct.

The drug finasteride at the 1mg dose has been on the market for nearly 10 years and there have not been problems reported other than the ones that I have discussed extensively on this blog and Merck has discussed in its publications on the drug. Whether new studies are currently being performed, I don’t have the answer to that.

December 3, 2007

Is Dettol Decreasing My Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi,
well doc,i just wanna say is dettol (chloroxylenol) good for hair or not…?i know its a cleansing agent but a few days back i mixed it with my shampoo(sunsilk) and washed my hair with it,i repeated it for several days and noticed quite a good decrease in my hair loss…is dettol safe for hair,i think it is because i havent faced any problems with using it rather a decrease in my hair loss but what do you say about it….?

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Dettol From Wikipedia: “Dettol (also called parachlorometaxylenol, or PCMX) is the name of a commercial liquid antiseptic belonging to a product line of household products”…

Although diluted dettol on the hair is reportedly a home remedy in some countries for getting rid of dandruff, I don’t see how it can possibly halt hair loss.

December 3, 2007

Each Week, I Take Avodart for 2 Days and Propecia for 5 Days – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello doctors.

First let me thank you for the great consultations you’re providing. My question is regarding the use of Avodart and Propecia together. Do you think they would interact negatively if I use propecia 5 days and Avodart 2 days every week? (or any such arrangement)

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That is not the recommended dose of Propecia (finasteride 1mg) or Avodart (dutasteride 0.5mg). You are really experimenting with this regimen and I do not know what positive or negative effects that would have. I think that you are overtreating your hair loss and with the Avodart you run the risk of a decreased sperm count.

December 3, 2007

Minoxidil Is Regrowing My Juvenile Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 23 year old male I have been using 5% minoxidil for 2 months. I’m noticing an increase of hair in my face as well as my juvenile hairline. I’ve read in previous posts that minoxidil isn’t supposed to work on this type of hair. My questions are that if I’m seeing increased hair in my face does this most likely mean it is also working in my scalp? Will I eventually loose the hair that is regrowing in my juvenile hair line and do you think this hair will grow long enough?

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I do not know! It may, but since I do not have the luxury to examine you in person, I couldn’t begin to guess. That being said, I don’t believe minoxidil will completely regrow your juvenile hairline… particularly in only 2 months.