Month: January 2008

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationAloe Vera and Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello.
What is your opinion or what have you heard about aloe vera (either in bottled form or from the plant itself) as a topical? Some have apparently experienced regrowth using it.

My second question involves applying it while also using minoxidil. Do you think it would be better to apply the minoxidil first and then the aloe vera or vice versa? I know the minoxidil
needs time to absorb, but would putting the aloe vera on first hinder the absorption of the minoxidil?
Thanks!

Block Quote

To my knowledge, there is no proven connection between aloe vera and hair regrowth. If you do decide to use both minoxidil and aloe vera together, I would apply the minoxidil first and then wait until it gets absorbed before adding the aloe vera.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationSmall Bald Spot Appeared Behind Left Ear – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 27 yr old asian male. About a month ago, I noticed a small bald spot at the back of my left ear, the size of a corn. I thought it was from my hair cut but now its getting bigger; about 2 inches in diameter. I can see there are some new hair growing in but very scatter. To the touch, the spot with no hair feels a bit rubbery. My concern is if this will continue until there is no more hair?

Block Quote

This could be alopecia areata, but this is a diagnosis that requires a doctor to make in person. Certainly make an appointment to see you dermatologist to try to figure out what this is.

Posted on

Sudden Hair Loss — Was it Stress, Fish Oil, Hair Product, or Genetics? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I think it is great that you have this blog. I am sure I should come in to see you for a consultation, but first I’d like to see if you can shed any light on my particular circumstance. I am extremely healthy, eat mostly fresh fruits, salads and soy protein powders, but also eat meat, whole grains et cetera. I have worked-out for 25 years and handle stress better than anyone I know (all my friends and family say that too). At the end of June, 2006, I returned from vacation and my THICK, beautiful hair started falling out FAST. In one month I had lost so much it looked like I was going bald and one could easily see my scalp, which was an impossibility before that. The only 3 things I could think of as a cause for the rapid fallout were the following: 1. a very STIFF, THICK, HARD hair product which I had begun using 2 months prior. 2. I had begun taking 12,000 mg’s of fish oil daily upon returning from vacation. 3. A stressful life incident, but I have had so many of those, it doesn’t seem likely that another would affect me. Anyway, I stopped the product, stopped the fish oil, and my stress has increased if anything. By about 6 months out, my hair started to return, but no where near what it had been. People who look at me think I have a good head of hair, but I know it is not what it was. I want it back. Super thick like before. In what I wrote to you, can you identify anything that may have caused this rapid fallout? Or do you think it is best I just come in so you can see my scalp?

Thank you for your time, and have a great day.

I really do not have a good answer for you. Your hair loss could be due to many factors and sometimes a stressful event (emotional, physical, chemical, etc) can trigger a hair loss process. Nobody really understands why, but it is thought that a genetic ’switch’ is turned on and once it is turned on it is difficult to go back to your original state. If your hair loss is due to genetic causes, there are medications such a Propecia (for men only) than can slow the process or even partially reverse the process in the best case (though it will rarely bring your hair back completely).

Posted on

Alcohol and Finasteride Taken Together – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

You’ve mentioned in the past that alcohol and finasteride is safe.

But…is it as effective? I know some other drugs are less effective if you have alcohol in your system…something to do with the liver or kidneys working overtime to filter out the alcohol, and being unable to really focus on absorbing all the finasteride.

Any reason to be concerned?

WineIt really depends how much alcohol you drink. If you drink to a point of a drunken stupor every day or have cirrhosis of your liver from all the drinking, or have dietary deficiencies associated with your drinking, I would think many things are not safe.

From a biochemical point of view, both alcohol and Propecia (finasteride) are metabolized in the liver by an enzyme called cytochrome P450 (Cyt-P450), so there is definitely an interaction (as with many other drugs). If you have one or two glasses of wine with dinner, I doubt it would be a problem.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Posted on

Hair Loss InformationMore on Stem Cells and Hair Production – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

NatureJust published last week, there is a great article on another piece of insight into the stem cell research, perhaps eventually leading to cures for a variety of diseases. Hair stem cells have formed the backbone of this research. Although hair loss is not a disease, it still may have a role in dealing with the balding phenomenon.

From the University of Southern California summary article:

“Our research shows that the formation of new tissues or organs from stem cells—such as the formation of new hairs—can be more robust if it occurs in a permissive macro-environment,” said Maksim Plikus, a post-doctoral fellow and the first author of the study. “I hope that our research will draw more attention to the hair follicle as the model for physiological regeneration in mammals, and as an abundant source of adult stem cells for the purposes of stem cell therapy.”

Block Quote

For the summary and complete articles, please see:

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationI’m Taking Generic Finasteride and Dutasteride on Alternate Days – Hair Loss Hasn’t Slowed Down – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello

I started to notice that I was losing my hair in late 2005. I started on Propecia (in qutie a panic) as soon as possible. Later I switched to Fincar and now take that on alternate days with Dutagen (generic dutasteride). However my hair loss has not even slowed or stopped. Is it possible that I am immune somehow to both?

My apologies if this is posted elsewhere. Many thanks for your help

Block Quote

Hair loss does not occur overnight and you should not panic or make hasty decisions based on fear. I doubt that you are immune to these drugs. In other words, I doubt that they aren’t working. I am sure that you are getting some benefit, albeit possibly too small a benefit for you to notice (assuming that you have genetic MPB).

I do not generally recommend finasteride and dutasteride in combination. More importantly, you may be doing you body more harm than good by choosing and experimenting with different medications no matter how safe you may perceive these medications to be. Dutasteride has many negative side effects and it does not necessarily grow more hair than finasteride. Please read the recent post, Update on Dutasteride.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationQuestion Regarding the Norwood Scale – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a question regarding the Norwood scale. The Norwood 2 scale shows the temporal hairline just slightly past the front edge of the side burn. With no frontal loss of hair on the crown or widows peak. The Norwood 3 shows the temporal area receeded far past the front edge of the side burn and almost to the ears.

My question is that if the widows, or crows peak area has not receeded or thinned along the front edge, and if the temporal area is not further back or just slightly past the front edge of the sideburn, would this always indicate a 2?

Because my hair shows the above listed signs of a Norwood 2, but when I part my hair you can see the curve of my head, and it seems like it’s worse then a 2, but the front edge hasn’t receeded or thinned like the Norwood 3. Am I just one of those guys with a Norwood 2 that the crows peak just looks lanoger then in the scale? My hairline is very much like that of the actor, Jude Law.

Block Quote

The most widely used classification scale for hair loss is a generalization based on what Dr. O’Tar Norwood observed in men. It was originally created by Dr. James Hamilton in the 1950s and then revised and published by Dr. Norwood in 1975. There are many variables to the Norwood classifications and other variants of the male hair loss pattern. You may not fit in to the Norwood 2 or 3… and that is perfectly normal. The Norwood scale can be found below:

Norwood Chart

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationLook at These Procyanidin B-2 (from Apples) Before and After Photos – Are They Fake? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

Thank you for always replying to my questions.. you’re truly a great doctor, for taking the time to maintain this blog for us balding men.. it’s a huge job, and you’re doing it well!
Anyway, I came across a site citing the benefits of apple polys for hair growth.. applypoly.com

There’s 2 before-after pics they provided. Can you tell if it’s doctored (no pun intended)? It looks a little fake to me, but I’m not sure..

Thanks!

Block Quote

I am aware of Procyanidin B-2 from Apple Poly and I personally inquired with the company a year or so ago for more information. There were a few journal articles published that seemed promising, but that is about the extent of it. My old adage of “buyer beware” still stands, but I am also open to new discoveries.

I cannot validate their claims or their before/after photographs, although they are impressive.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationHow Long Can I Expect Female Hair Loss to Continue After Gastric Bypass? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female) I know this has been asked before regarding hair loss and gastric bypass surgery but I have not seen my specific questions answered. I had VSG surgery the end of August 07…I started losing a lot of hair in December…it is January now and even more hair is coming out then it was in December. I have even ordered some hair extensions because the loss is so great.

My questions:

1. How long can I expect this loss to continue?
2. Is there anything I can be doing to promote hair growth or to prevent any further hair from coming out?
3. I am doing everything textbook..taking all of my supplements..getting in 70-80grams of protein in daily…taking my vitamins and just recently started taking Biotin 5000mcg daily.

Thanks and hoping not to go bald here 🙂

Block Quote

You must be careful that you have a good diet. Gastric bypass produces weight loss… and weight loss with dietary changes may keep your hair down. This may be the price of the surgery. I don’t know that the hair loss will get much better quickly. Only time will tell.