Month: March 2008

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PCOS and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 27y/o female I have been dealing with hair loss for about 3yrs now. I have been diagnosed with pcos. I am being treated for that with birthconrol pills. the last time i checked my hormone levels were close to normal as well as my thyroid levels. so why is my hair still falling out? my family have no signs of baldness mother and father,grandparents, both have full hair. everybody but me. please help have you ever heard of thymu skin does it work? I also seem to have a lot of grity white stuff on my scalp my hair if very thin on top. please help

To answer your questions about the management of your PCOS and hair loss, I would need to examine you as I would anyone I was treating. PCOS tends to act like male patterned hair loss and I would want to know if that was you situation. I’d first map out your hair for miniaturization and then get a diagnosis.

See previous posts for more:

ThymuSkin is a shampoo. The science is weak and I have no working experience with it.

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Hair Spray and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) I am getting bald on top. Does cheap hair spray cause this cause I do use a lot of it? I am only on medicine liptor and zetia . Can this medicine cause hair loss. It is getting worse. What can I do? I am 67 years old

Although not a known side effect, the medication you are on may cause hair loss — or you may be experiencing genetic female hair loss, which is present in half of post menopausal women. You need to be examined by a good doctor and tested for a variety of medical conditions which can cause hair loss.

I highly doubt that it is caused by your hair spray.

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Hair Loss from Accutane — What Is It and How Can It Be Treated? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello and thank you for reading my questions. For reference, I am a 21 year old male. I am wondering if you could provide some information and statistics regarding accutane-induced hair loss. I am one of many accutane users who has experienced substantial hair loss due to the drug and have yet to find any reliable information about what to expect and what to do. I am specifically interested in any statistics you might be able to provide, or simply what you’ve observed yourself. What percentage of patients who experience hair loss from the drug end up getting their hair back? Do you have any information about the success rate of products like rogaine for treating this problem (I saw a hair loss specialist who recommended using it)? I’m really just looking for some information about this issue that I can trust, as the internet is riddled with personal testimonies and contradicting accounts.

In addition, I am interested to know if this subject (accutane hair loss) has been raised at any hair loss or dermatologist conferences or other events when those in your profession communicate? From the research I’ve done, it seems that many dermatologists still don’t believe that accutane can cause hair loss. My own dermatologist told me “that’s weird” when I first told her about my hair falling out after starting accutane. Moreover another dermatologist I saw immediately diagnosed my hair loss as genetic and put me on propecia. It wasn’t until I met with a hair loss specialist that a doctor agreed with me that accutane was the culprit.

From the accounts of people who have posted their own experiences online, I’ve gathered that some dermatologists consider it to be a form of tellogen effluvium while others diagnose and treat it as a form of diffuse alopecia areata. The logic behind the diffuse AA theory is that accutane causes an autoimmune response in some patients, resulting in hair loss. Considering that accutane has in rare cases caused lupus and other immune disorders, I found this to be a reasonable explanation. I have read some accounts from individuals stating that dermal kenalog shots seemed to help stop or slow down the hair loss. Have you heard any of these ideas before? If not, could you try and find out the next time you’re at a conference?

My major source of information is coming from what is turning into an online community of accutane hair loss victims at
acne.org

If you take the time to read through some of the accounts posted on here, you’ll see a variety of peoples experiences with accutane-induced hair loss. The prevailing opinion among some is the alopecia areata theory which I previously mentioned. I’d really appreciate it if you could provide me some additional insight into this issue. Also, do you know of any doctors who have experience treating patients with this problem who might have some of the answers i’m looking for if you’re unable to provide them? Thank you very much for your time and I’ll look forward to hearing back

I wish I could spend the proper amount of time researching your question to do it justice, but dermatology isn’t my strong point. I have personally only seen this problem a couple of times, but I hear that it is not uncommon amongst Accutane (isotretinoin) users. The only medications that I believe may be effective in treating this is minoxidil. The use of powerful steroids may make the problem worse, but I do not have much personal experience with Accutane, as I am a surgeon, not a dermatologist.

I forwarded your question to a number of highly qualified dermatologists and those that have responded stated that they don’t have an answer as to why hair loss occurs with Accutane use. The only treatment modalities suggested were minoxidil and finasteride. Again, I wish I could be more helpful to you, but at this point I’m kind of at a loss.

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Hair Loss InformationProcerin and Libido – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I took a 3 month supply of Procerin for hair regrowth. I noticed a huge decrease in my sex drive about 2 1/2 months into taking the pills and it was obviously hard to perform in the bed room because of this. I stopped taking Procerin as soon as I figured out thats what was causing my problem(about 3 weeks ago). However, my sex drive is still not normal again. I have never ever had an issue with decreased libido or ability to get an erection so will this eventually wear off? Do you have an approximate time frame? Is there anything I can do to reverse it? I am really starting to worry here…..

Block Quote

ProcerinFrom the Procerin website:
“Procerin is a proprietary blend of herbal, mineral, and vitamin components. The 17-ingredient formula of Procerin tablets includes: Saw Palmetto Berries, Gotu Kola, Nettles, Magnesium, Zinc Sulfate,Eleuthero Root , Vitamin B-6, Pumpkin Seed Meal, and Muira Puma Root. Procerin XT Topical Serum ingredients include Gamma Linolenic Acid, Grape Seed Extract, Azelaic Acid, Saw Palmetto Extract, Avocado Oil, and Nettle”

Procerin is not a drug; it is an herbal supplement, and as such, it is not regulated by the FDA. Their claims of hair growth or side effects (or lack there of) are not substantiated by any non-biased or scientific authority.

Saw palmetto (serenoa repens) is a small plum plant native to the southeastern United States. It is believed that the medicinal properties of the plant come from its brown-black berries. Native Americans used it as they recognized that it had value in relieving urinary symptoms in older men who had difficulty urinating. Over the years, saw palmetto has become an accepted herbal treatment for symptoms associated with benign prostate gland enlargement (BPH), and is used quite frequently in many countries. It is also used by some to treat low libido, so if it is linked to your problem it seems to be providing an opposite effect.

There is a dosing issue in herbals, as you never know what is really in these pills or the way it is prepared (see VitaminStuff.com). I would suspect that your libido will eventually return, but in the meantime I’d recommend that you see a doctor about the decrease, as it affects many men.

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Nizoral and Seborrheic Dermatitis – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(male) I was recently prescribed Nizoral 2% and clobex lotion for a condition of moderate seborrheic dermatitis. I was told to use each once per day for a month. At the time of my doctors visit, i made a point of telling the doctor that my hair has been chemically processed quite a bit over the past few years (coloring and bleaching) and that I was concerned that he give me something that would not damage it. Within a couple of days, my hair was dried out to the point of being like straw and was breaking off near the roots. Since then I have been experiencing an abnormal amount of hair fall on a daily basis. All of the literature I can find on the 2% Nizoral seems to say that is should be used only once and then on a very intermittent basis. I am wondering what you think of the dosage that was prescribed for my condition? I should add that I have since changed doctors and have been told to use Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% which has cleared my scalp condition in only 2 weeks. So now my scalp condition is better but my hair is stlll breaking off and falling out. Any advice?

My response to such questions requires a face-to-face meeting and an examination. The practice of medicine is an art form that caring doctors in the ‘hair’ field base their views on such issues as yours after a direct examination of the hair and scalp. Nizoral should not be abused and should always be taken as directed. If a doctor recommended a more frequent use, your probe of the problem should be directed to that doctor. Chemicals that seep into the hair follicles can damage them. Questions that an examination of the hair and scalp would point to include the differential diagnosis between telogen effluvium and cyclical genetic hair loss. I am happy to hear that your seborrheic dermatitis has resolved.

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Increasing Iron Levels Quickly? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m currently 7 months pregnant and have had hair loss since August, right through my pregnancy. I’ve recently had some blood tests and my ferratin levels are at 8 and Heamaglobin’s at 11.5. I’ve been prescribed a 100 mg Iron supplements called Pregaday. How can I get my iron levels up quickly?

You can’t. You need to take the medications as prescribed by your doctor. As in life, there are no shortcuts and considering that you are pregnant, you must follow the prescribed directions to the detail that will provide you with the best and safest response.

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Illegal Drugs and Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was wondering what the effect of taking propecia with drugs like MDMA (Ecstacy) and Cocaine are? I do not use these illegal drugs reguarly only very occassionally and now after being on propecia for 5 months and showing reduced hair loss and some thicker hairs coming through I just wanted to establish if the is a massive danger in mixing these propecia with these drugs. I realise that half the danger may be you do not know exactly what is in these drugs, but I would like your objective opinion if any on the interactions? Also is there an added danger of consuming large amounts of alcohol while on propecia?

Please let me stress that I am not some kind of crazy alcoholic drug addict, apart from this I am very health conscious, I just what to fully appreciate and establish facts. I am fully aware of the dangers of contiued drug use, but I do enjoy using them sparingly over the last 5-6 years. In view of this I want to have a complete picture as possible regarding the any known dangers of mixing drugs. Thank you

I am not aware of drug interactions with Propecia and that would apply to most of what you are talking about, including alcohol. I am glad to hear that Propecia is working for you. It should go without saying that I’d suggest staying away from the illegal drugs, though.

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Cheerleader Got Hair Ripped Out! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hi Im a cheerleader and recently while I was stunting my partner and I were doing a trick where I start laying on the floor. Well while I was down there he stepped on my hair and then proceeded to throw me up in the air. The results were a huge chunck of hair coming out, at least 50-100 strands. I have long dark hair,about to my lower back, and I was wondering if that hair will grow back and if so how long will it take?

It will grow out, but it will take some time to grow to the length you have now. It might take a few months to get started, or it may start in as little as a few weeks, but it will come back.

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Hair Loss Information » 9 Months Since Hair Transplant — Not Impressed with Results – Balding Blog

dear doctor rassman.

i am in a bit of a confusing state. i had a transplant with a reputable doctor in canada 9 months ago to restore the hairline and provide some coveredge on the top and not the crown (i was a norwood 5).

i had roughly 3600 grafts, mainly focusing on the hairline. 9 months have past and i can say honestly that im not impressed. whilst i see an improvement on the top of the scalp, the main area which is the hairline is unexceptional. from temple to temple, it still looks like a receded hairline and the surprising thing is, its just the hairline area which is from temple to temple and approximately half an inch in lenght i.e. hairline lenght (temple to temple) x half inch which has shown no improvement. its extremely thin and whilst i can feel some stubble in various regions there, i honestly think that for 9 months, it is unexceptional. my head is visible through my hairline and anyone can say that i am balding.

i have been imforming my doctor on regular basis and he says i should wait a full 12 months before coming to a conclusion. i have not been satisfied with my hairline for the past 9 months, is there any hope that the next 3 months could make a difference?

At about 9 months you should have 90% of your results in. You might get a second opinion if your doctor is not being responsive. Some rare people have slow growth, but usually by 9 months, much if not most of the hair should be growing. An expert doctor will tell you how many grafts are growing. 3600 grafts is a lot of hair moved — you must have been fairly bald.

If you email me some before and after photos and point out the areas that were transplanted, I might be able to help you over the internet. Be sure they are good quality digital pictures (various angles will help) and please reference this post when sending.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Transplant Failure (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This young man had a hair transplant by a doctor who had done very few transplants on his own. He might have actually been this doctor’s first hair transplant patient. The procedure, which occurred around 5 years ago, failed after the doctor attempted transplanting around 1200 grafts. The patient was lucky (in a way) that the balding area was well covered by his existing comb-forward hair stying. His photos are below (click to enlarge) —

 

Doing modern hair transplants requires experienced doctors and experienced teams of people. Always check on the experience of your doctor. For more information about finding a good doctor and knowing what to look out for, please see: