Month: December 2007

Posted on

Elavil and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr.

How risky is Elavil (Amitriptyline) for hair loss? Is it the same risk factor as the SSRI’s or more risky? Also, how would you weigh the risk/benefit of using a drug like Elavil (or another similar drug)-vs- living with the anxiety?

Thank you for your time.

Block Quote

Both Elavil and the SSRIs can cause hair loss as a side effect, although it is not common. There is almost always a concern for side effects from any medication, but the most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic balding. Therefore, we can not predict if these drugs are causing hair loss in your situation. I would definitely recommend that you bring up these concerns with your doctor. Before you stop taking any medication we strongly urge you to speak with your doctor.

Posted on

I Want to Transplant from My Head to My Chest! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman, I have couple of questions, first questions is, how much does it cost to have hair transplanted from you head to your chest. 3 inches above my umbilical area and down is very hairy,but above that area is completely hairless, it looks like I been shaving. The other question is, does it hurt. Do you have to make an incision or it is done with needles. Will the hair stay forever in that area and will continue to grow. Please respond ASAP I am really serious about having that done. Thank you

Block Quote

Hair can be transplanted from the head to the chest. We actually do this type of procedure for women that want more pubic hair (usually those who lose their pubic hair with aging). The costs are directly related to the area covered and the number of grafts placed at the site. It would run between 500-1000 grafts to cover the area that you defined. The hair will grow long (like on the scalp), so you may have to cut it. If your hair is coarse, it may not look right, but finer hair should do fine. Pain is minimal (like a typical hair transplant), although it does depend on what you consider painful.

Posted on

Propecia and Blood Pressure Pills – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

nice site. my question is i would like to go on propecia but i take an anti blood pressure pill in the morining and a depression pill around dinner time, is it safe to take propecia along with these drugs and when should i take propecia along with these drugs ?

thank you.

Block Quote

You should take the finasteride whenever you can remember to take it (no more than the daily recommend dosage, however). I would hope that you take your Propecia once a day and your blood pressure and antidepressant pills when they are scheduled.

Posted on

Are Hair Characteristics a Factor in Genetic Balding? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

It is my understanding that hair characteristics (e.g. thickness, color, etc) are resultant from the properties of the hair follicle. Therefore, can hair characteristics be considered a factor in determining the likelihood of someone developing genetic balding? For instance, if one has hair like that of a non-balding relative, would this be considered a factor?

Block Quote

Nope. Hair characteristics (thickness, color, wave) are result from genes. Male pattern baldness is also a result from genes. However, they do not correlate.

Posted on

Ceramic Hair Straightener and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I’m 19 years old and I am wondering whether ceramic hair straighteners (overuse) can cause hair to fall out. I had long hair and i used it almost daily without heat protection and I wasn’t exactly incredibly careful when I was straightening my hair. However I have recently developed a small thinning area on my crown, actually teh hair all over my head has thinned. I have therefore cut my hair short and have started taking specially extra potent vitamins recommended by my dad who is a pharmacist and so somewhat knowledgeable. How long would new growth take?

I am worried actually that I might just be going prematurely bald due to bad genes as well as the fact that from teh age of 15 i noticed a lot of hair fall however it is only now (my hair is/was extremely thick) that it has become noticeable.

Block Quote

Ceramic hair straightenerDamage to hair with heat from curling irons, ceramic hair straighteners, etc, can potentially make your hair brittle and cause loss due to heat damage, but it should not cause balding. If your hair grows back it can take as long a one year, as hair goes through cycles of growth.

Vitamins do not grow hair.

If you are female, I highly doubt you will go bald at the age of 15 from using a ceramic hair straightener. There may be a rare instance where you may have other medical conditions that you may not be aware of that is causing your hair loss. In that case you need to see your primary care doctor for further work up.

If you are male, I also highly doubt you will go bald at the age of 15 from using a ceramic hair straightener. If you are balding, it may be due to genetic male pattern hair loss, as it starts at the onset of puberty.

Posted on

Allergic Reactions to Propecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What are the sever allergic reactions some people have to propecia? I have taken propecia for 2 years and then stopped for 3 years. I just started taking again, is it possible for me to have a severe allergic reaction after having no troubles the 1st time? I am not choking or having a reaction or anything, just curious.

Block Quote

A severe allergic reactive would be, as your describe, choking and throat swelling that could lead to death. Many drugs and foods can cause allergic reactions, but I have never heard of the aforementioned severe reaction with finasteride (Propecia/Proscar). The most common side effects of Propecia are:

  1. increase or decrease in sex drive
  2. decrease in fluid ejaculate at orgasm
  3. breast tenderness

These side effects are reversible if you stop taking the medication, as the finasteride only lasts in your blood stream for about a day.

Posted on

My Doctor Is Giving Me Testosterone Shots, But I’ve Read That Hair Loss Might Happen – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My doctor but me on testosterone shots a couple of months ago ( every 2 weeks ) do to my testosterone levels being low. The shots have helped my sex life not sure yet if it has helped my energy level. I have a full head of hair, I shaved it 10 years ago and my own mother did not like the way it looked ( the shape of my head ) so it is important to me to keep my hair, the doctor said it would not be a problem if it does not run in My family, but have been reading on the internet of people saying they have lost alot of theres on the shots.

If I am going to lose it I am willing to stop the shots. If I continue the shots and start to lose hair and stop will the hair loss stop? What is a good way for me to gage if I am having more than normal hair loss. I am in my late 40’s male.

Block Quote

Yes, you have a risk of hair loss with testosterone shots if you carry the genes for hair loss. While it may be somewhat reassuring that male pattern baldness does not run in your family, the gene (or genes) for hair loss is not readily predictable and as such, you have a risk for androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) even if your father or grandfather is not bald. It is all depending on whether you carry the gene(s). As with all medications and general things in life, you must consider the risks versus the benefits of what you are doing. And you should have had this discussion with your doctor.

Posted on

Restoring Pubic Hair in a 70 Year Old Woman – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

what can you tell me about restoring pubic hair in a 70-year old female?

Block Quote

At NHI, we’ve transplant hair to the pubic area in many women for whatever reasons they have. In a society where most young women are trying to shave or wax or laser off their pubic hair, we see older women requesting pubic hair transplants, as hair in the public area may tend to disappear with age in some women. As such, we do about 3 to 5 cases a year.

The last patient we performed pubic hair transplants on was a 60+ year old lady. She just called me a few weeks ago saying that the hairs have grown in and she is very happy with the results.

Posted on

Bald Spots Appearing on Face and Scalp Over the Past Month – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

About a month ago I noticed two spots of hair not growning on my face and then a week later another on my cheek. Now I have a small spot on the bad of my head missing hair also. My girlfriend thinks it’s because of stress. What do you think it is?

Block Quote

You need to see a good dermatologist. Amongst the things that the doctor will evaluate is the possibility of alopecia areata or ringworm (the two most common causes of what you are talking about). It is not reasonable to expect me to make a diagnosis over the internet from a few lines of description.

Posted on

From Anorexic to Bulimic to Losing Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I used to have extremely thick and curly hair when I was younger. When I was 15 I was anorexic and my hair thinned, but when I got over it, it all grew back. Then I became bulimic when I was 16, and abused laxatives until I was 17. It was only when I cut down on the laxatives and then stopped taking them completely when I started losing hair again. It’s more obvious this time too. The back of my hair is extremely thin with bald spots, and also near my ears. I started eating well, lots of protein, and I’m taking a multivitamin in case of missing vitamins or minerals. It’s only been about 3 weeks that I’ve been eating well again, but it’s still thinning, just a bit less. Do you know what could have caused the hair loss, or if it’s too early for me to know if it’s going to stop or not. What can I do? I’ve had a blood test for anemia, thyroid disorder and diabetes, but I’m only going to find out the results in about a week.

Block Quote

Yes, weight loss can cause hair loss and sometimes it comes back, while other times it does not. I can’t say for sure what the cause of your hair loss is, however. It sounds like you need to be managed by a good doctor, in person. I can’t tell you much more without an exam and medical history. I’m glad that you’re taking better care of yourself now. Please see a doctor about this.