Dr.,
Do you believe that applying minoxidil topically can appreciably lower blood pressure, even by just a few mmHg?
Yes, it can. Minoxidil is a blood pressure lowering medication if you take it orally. Topical application, when used correctly, should not have systemic side effects of lowered blood pressure, but it can happen if you use it frequently and apply higher amounts than are recommended.
Lets say you get a hair transplant, your hairs all grow back and after all this you decide to do a cycle of steroids. will your hair start to fall out again?
There are no firm studies on whether anabolic steroids will cause transplanted hair to fall out, so I really do not have a definitive answer to your question. I would suspect that steroids will not cause hair loss in transplanted hair.
Aside from hair loss, anabolic steroids are harmful to your liver and other body organs and can cause serious damage and will need close follow-up with a physician. This is not to mention they are illegal without a physician’s supervision. Finally, unless you were completely bald before the hair transplant, your native hair on the front, top, and crown will likely continue to fall out with anabolic steroid use.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
Hello, I am a 30 year old African American female, I have a very high forehead. I am interested in bringing my hairline down surgically, but I perm/relax my hair. What I want to know is, with that type of surgery would I still be able to relax my hair. If so how long after I relax should I wait before I have the procedure done and how long should I wait after the procedure to relax again? Thank You for your time!
Hair can be relaxed prior to a hair transplant procedure. A hair transplant is your own naturally growing hair, just moved from one place to another. You can perm, color, or relax transplanted hair just as you would your normal hair. You should wait about two to four weeks to relax your existing hair after a transplant procedure, but transplanted hairs will most likely not grow in for 6 to 8 months. Hairline lowering procedures for women gives an immediate result; a hair transplant also has a waiting period for the hair to go through its normal cycle before it starts to grow.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
I have read in medical magazines that certain foods and supplements help stop prostate enlargement and cancer. If propecia and dutasteride are used to treat prostate enlargement which in turn helps stop hair loss, would anything from foods to supplements which help stop prostate enlargement in a sense help stop hair loss.
The association between certain food and disease is being made more frequently as medical science probes the connections. Unfortunately, we are ignorant of the one-to-one connection between health, disease, and foods. Much of what we do know is highly subjective and tied to undocumented opinions. The good news is that medical science is probing the adage that we are (probably) what we eat and until we know which foods support which organ systems or what foods suppress what disease, I really can not focus upon the reciprocity you are asking about.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
Good Day:
I’ve recently grown a beard and I LOVE IT! I have a full beard except for two bald spots which are located (i would say) right where my dimples would be. Are they any over the counter products I can purchase to help fill these in? I apologize if this question was already addressed. I looked to see if it was, but I did not see anything. Thank you!
Congratulations on your new beard! Unless these areas of no-beard-hair are unnaturally large, what you describe is relatively common and reflects genetic differences in the beard hair. I do not know of products that can conceal them successfully without looking “fake”. The definitive treatment is a small hair transplant to the area, which we have done with great success.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
In one of your responses, you state that stress can precipitate genetic balding. Can you explain your understanding for how that could happen? I’m a 32 yr old male who had great hair and no recession last year, and after some severe stress, my hair has thinned and receded. How does stress “kick it off?”
I cannot say if anyone really knows why stress can “kick start” genetic hair loss. If your body is predisposed to genetic male pattern baldness you will have male pattern baldness. The exact timing of when that will occur is variable and reflects how your genes are expressed, but a stressful event, like an emotional or physical stress (illness) can trigger the process. Usually, male pattern baldness starts with puberty (another stressful period from an emotional and physical point of view as your hormones are revved up).
Keep in mind that hair loss from stress can be diffuse and not necessarily associated with the genetic male pattern baldness. In this type of hair loss your hair should generally grow back in about a year. However, if you have genetic male pattern baldness, you will lose hair in a specific pattern, as the term implies “male pattern baldness”, and this is irreversible. You seem to be talking about a genetic male pattern baldness as you mentioned receding, but without an examination including a miniaturization study, I cannot give you a definite answer.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
I am a compounding pharmacist and I have had an interest in hair loss. I just started using a combo of Adodart/Lumigan/Minoxidil. If you have any combo’s you would like to try let me know
Generally, I do not approve of the use of Avodart (dutasteride) for hair loss due to the sexual side effects, which include decreased sperm counts. I gather that you would like to formulate drugs for me, but I stick to standard approved drugs only and use them in combination when that is indicated.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
My 3 year old grandson developed a bald spot on the top of his head about the size of a half dollar. He is not scratching it and says it does not hurt. It’s slightly pinker than the rest of his scalp, and it is white and somewhat scaley, but not peeling. It’s slightly textured. He also has dry similar places on both elbows. What do you suggest?
He should be taken to see a pediatrician. Ringworm (a fungus) is the most common cause of this problem in young children and needs the attention of a doctor. I cannot diagnose your grandson’s condition with just descriptions, though. He need a good physical examination and history by a physician.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
At least a few times each week I get emails asking what to do after a surgical procedure was done (not by me), many times with complications. People contemplating surgery should have doctor/patient communication on the top of the list for doctor’s qualities. Having a doctor who is technically competent, but can not support you emotionally, intellectually, or practically, is really of no value.
Sometimes the questions asked of me reflect simple post-operative questions which should be in the written post-operative instructions giving to patients after any surgery. Sometimes the questions reflect simple every day things like washing ones hair immediately after transplantation, or more complex questions like shock loss or hair thinning after surgery. Sometime there are symptoms reflecting possible infection, circulation of the skin, bleeding or vascular problems after surgery. It is becoming clear to me that too many doctors are failing to really connect with their patients. Doing surgery may command the $$$, but good medical care reflects not only competent surgery, but also good support of the patient before the surgery (good education and informed consent issues) and after the surgery, when the patient is clearly off balance while things are healing. Communications start before the surgery, when plans are made such as where the grafts are to be placed and most important in establishing the expectations on what to expect.
The reason for writing this post isn’t to say that I necessarily dislike these types of emails. After all, I’m here to help. You shouldn’t have to seek out post-surgical advice from a doctor that is different from the doctor that performed the surgery. My point is that you’ll want to be sure that the doctor you select has good communication skills during the post-operative period by probing some of his/her patient’s experiences. This is a very key element that it seems many people overlook when choosing their doctor.
I wanted to show some 12 day post-operative photos of a very early Norwood Class 5 patient after one procedure of 1588 grafts. I get a lot of emails from people ask me what they can look like with good post-operative washing, and this is a good example of one such patient that kept the recipient sites clean. While there is still some slightly visible redness, he is less than 2 weeks out of surgery and this should subside soon enough.
Click the photos to enlarge.
After
Before
