January 2008 – Page 12

January 9, 2008

Advice for a 16 Year Old with Bald Spot? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Okay, Well I’m not quite sure how this works but I’ll try it out anyway. I’m a 16 year old male living in the state of Washington. I constantly get crude remarks on how I have a bald spot. Self confidence and the inability to function without a hat is very depressing. I the thing that gets me is how young I am. If you could provide any advice it’d be very much appreciated.

Thank You.

Without seeing you, I do not know what you mean by a bald spot. Are you balding? Did you suffer from some trauma on your head, which produced a bald spot? You need to be examined by an expert doctor. If you are balding, then you will show miniaturization of your hair in the balding area. Even at your age, when balding occurs, the drug Propecia usually works very, very well to reverse it.

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January 8, 2008

I’m 18 Years Old with Norwood Class 2 and I Want a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr.Rassman, I am an 18 Y/O male Suffering from MPB which started at 15 and I Am wondering if there are any Hair transplant options For me, I Realize the problems that can arise when getting a HT at this age which is why a surgeon like you who maps out future progression hair loss plans Is a must, I understand you prefer not to Perform HT on people below the age of 25 And 18 is clearly well below that margin, however I have been on propecia for over a year now And have been using rogaine for the past 7 months, alas Neither have stopped the progression of my MPB Although propecia has slowed it down and Rogaine has improved my temples. I have moderate expectations And do not expect the hairline I had at 13 but any improvement would be a blessing.

I’m a nw2.5 and my hairloss is very zig zaggy along the frontal hairline with the classic M shape above the temples then another M shape at the widows peak, I can send pics If that could assist you. I have bad miniturization along the frontal hairline, Moderate behind that and then healthy hair behind that giving me a less then acceptable hairline to say the least but overall decent coverage.

My father is a nw5 at 50 as well as all his brothers so I believe that is the direction I am heading in currently(although none of them ever tried propecia or rogaine so I do not know how mine will develop on my current regimen.

Thank you for your time any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

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While the real rule might be “never say never”, I need to know about my patients before undertaking any surgery on them. One might ask, with being a Norwood Class 2 and wanting a hair transplant, could you possibly be body dysmorphic? That is something I will understand when we meet. A Norwood Class 2 patient having a hair transplant may be doing more damage to the patient than they suspect. I’ve posted similar commentary in the past on this subject:

January 8, 2008

Hair Loss InformationBald Spot Rap Video – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hey there doc, i found this humorous music video online and was wondering if you were interested in sharing it on your blog.

i know its meant to be comical but being a young man myself i really related to some of the things in this video!

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Thanks for pointing me to the video! While I’m not the biggest fan of rap music and this video is probably not for everyone, I can say that this was quite funny. Since the visitor demographics for this site are all over the place, I’d say this is definitely worth posting here. The video is for the song “Bald Spot” by Seattle, WA rapper Type.

January 8, 2008

I Have Diffuse Thinning, But It’s Different From the Genetic Balding Patterns in My Family – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman,
I am a 24-year old male, I have always had extremely fine hair from the time I was a small child. In the past six months or so, however, I’m not sure if I just noticed it more, or if I am actually going bald. I could always see my scalp when wet, in certain lighting, etc., but now I’m not sure if this is just the way I am, or if it is worse now. I have very little balding in my family. My dad has a full head of hair at 51, as do my uncles on his side (whom are all older). My maternal grandfather is a Norwood 4 or 5, but did not really start losing his hair till around the age of 50 my mom said. One of three uncles on mom’s side is balding however. He is a Norwood 3 or 4 at the age of 40 (The other uncles on mom’s side, full heads of hair.) My hair still has the normal hairline, and no balding at the crown, but instead its thinning throughout the whole top. This is not the same pattern that these two men’s hair has taken (which worries me more). My questions are, what is the likelihood of going bald without it really being in your genes? I have also been a vegetarian for 6 years, and am wondering if this could be a factor? Also if I am going bald, would’nt it most likely take the same pattern (and start at around the same age) as the uncle and grandfather who are experiencing this as well? Very sorry for the long question, and thank you so much for the time and reply.

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You really can not predict with any degree of certainly what the pattern of hair loss would be or even when it might start. If your hair loss is really diffuse, then you might have Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and should be evaluated with mapping out your scalp for miniaturization. This will point directly to the diagnosis if it is DUPA or genetic hair loss. DUPA will show miniaturization in the donor area, while genetic hair loss will show a normal donor area without miniaturization.

January 8, 2008

Woman with Tingling Scalp Pain; Doctors Can’t Find Anything (with Photos) – Balding Blog

I am a 22 year old female, active, healthy diet. For a year I have slowly been experiencing some form of hairloss. It seems that with every hair that falls out there is nothing to take its place. I have been to the dermatologist 3 times, and had a skin biopsy that came back perfect. The Derm gave me tetracyclen to try but after 4months I found it wasn’t working. She then sent me to a rheumotologist who see’s no signs of lupus etc. But saw in my blood work that there could be something wrong with antibodies?, she has given me APO-Hydroxyquine 200mg to try for 4 months. With my hairloss I feel a lot of tingly, burning and pain which makes me feel that this would be a skin situation, apparently it isnt though because of my clear scalp biopsy! When i get these tingling sensations in my head I will also sometimes feel the same pain on my nose, back and shoulder. I have sent you a photo to help! I have been reading your blog and trust your word more than anyone else.

Thank you for the compliment and the trust, but I really am not your doctor and I do not have the luxury of examining you in person. I do not take your trust for granted and I do appreciate you sending me photos with permission to publish them here.

Moreover, it seems you have been evaluated by many doctors for your condition. I realize that you are frustrated and confused about your condition and lack of improvement despite various treatments. The best advice I can offer you is this — what doctors do is often referred to the “practice of medicine” and not a complete “science of medicine”. I realize this isn’t what you want to hear (or read, as the case may go), but this points to the fact that sometimes we (physicians) are just as confused as you (patients) and sometimes there are no good treatments to offer. If you want a medical opinion, you must establish a doctor/patient relationship and that is something that just can not be done over the internet.

January 8, 2008

Taking Sermorelin and Worried About Future Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Doc, I was tested and had low igf-1 levels (45 yo male). My doctor is now prescribing a combination of sermorelin and a low dose T-cream. It has been 5 months now and to date I have had no hair loss. In terms of energy level, recovery from hard bouts of exercise (i am triathlete) and and my igf-1, hgh and t- levels…fantastic. I feel incredible. Should I be worried about hair loss? Does it occur with everyone?

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself — you don’t even have hair loss. I really cannot say how these medications will affect your hair since I am not familiar with them. The important thing is to get your health back and follow your doctor’s advice. If you have concerns about your prescribed medication, it is best to speak with your prescribing doctor.

January 8, 2008

Can Hair Miniaturize and Then Stay Forever? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hey there dr rassman. I have a question about miniaturization. Once a hair shows signs of miniaturization is it destined to eventually stop growing all together or can weak miniturized hair sometimes remain in that state and hang on into old age?

If so is this the basis for the head ‘mapping’ you guys do?

Miniaturized hair can reverse back to normal healthy hair or it can fall out. Or, I suspect, it can remain that way indefinitely. The percentage or how long a miniaturized hair will stay miniaturized is not well known and for genetic balding it is determined by your genes and your environment. Drugs such as finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine) can reverse such miniaturization.

January 8, 2008

Alopecia of the Eyebrow? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

About a year ago I began to feel very small growths in my eyebrows. I consulted my dermatologist and was told that I had melia in my brows. They eventually worked their way out of the skin, and appeared hard and white. The melia stopped after a few months, but then I began to have itchy and red eyebrows. Bit by bit my brows became thinner and thinner. I took anti inflammatory injections, however they did not stop the thinning. I have had dark and thick lashes all my life and I am baffled as to what course of action I should take. I am 57 years old and a brow transplant seems the only answer, but since my doctor diagnosed alopecia of the eyebrow would a transplant even work? Are there any topical creams that have shown promise, or are there any medications I should try first?

Hair transplant to the eyebrow works but you seem to describe a skin condition and you need to follow-up with your dermatologist. I do not know how to help you without seeing you myself or getting copies of your doctor’s opinion.

January 7, 2008

Using Dandruff Shampoo After Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctor, I used an an anti-dandruff shampoo five days after my operation, as I thought it would be effective in dealing with the scalping. I’ve now read that this was the wrong thing to do and that by doing so I might have diminished the success of the transplants. To what degree should I worry about this?

While we do not advocate the use of dandruff shampoos immediately after a hair transplant, I doubt dandruff shampoo would have diminish the success of the transplants.

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January 7, 2008

Reader Says Not to Trust Finasteride, Even Though It Worked for Him – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I tried Propecia for two years.
This medication just stopped my lossing hair, but never regrow nothing exept a visual under a microscope. This medication was found by accident,who pretend they spend money with their own research budget it’s a nonsence and you knew that! This medication was found with the US,European Budget for a medication for the high blood presure! call finasteride generic name or proscar on commercial! Merck frost spend 0 dollars for those research! It’s like the research for aids! all world government gave money for those research! The only money they spend was for the guinea pig they use for test the good & bad effect on human body! Phase I,II,IIV,IV

Propecia or (finasteride generic name) gave a bad effect on the libido (sexuality)! don’t try it or you’ll regret until you stop for 14 month and your libido will back again, right after this long period only. even though they claim it’s happen on a small % of peoples don’t trust them.

Trust me!

Somebody sure seems very angry!

Despite the erroneous nature of the facts you present, the confusing thing about your post is that you said it worked for you! It stopped your hair loss! That is the most common effect of the medication. There is no magic drug to bring back all your hair and Propecia works better in some men (and sometimes grow new hair) than it does in others. At the very least your hair loss stopped.

Just to be clear for the readers out there that aren’t aware — Propecia is a brand name for a generic drug named finasteride in 1mg strength. Proscar is a brand name for a generic drug named finasteride in 5mg strength.

When taken at the 5mg strength level, finasteride reduces prostate size, treats certain prostate conditions, and has even been found to decrease the risk of prostate cancer by up to 25%. It is not a high blood pressure medication. Some of the studies done on Propecia are taken from Proscar studies (higher dose) and the negative sexual side effects occur in 1 to 2% of men and is reversible upon discontinuation of the medication. And while not a published side effect, Propecia can also increase one’s sex drive (occurs in about 10% of men in our experience).