April 2008 – Page 4 – Balding Blog

April 24, 2008

When a Graft Comes Out, When Will it Not Grow? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr Rassman, I have an important question for you regarding the study of hair grafts you conducted with Dr Bernstein in 2006. The study states that the Dr. Was able to tell when the growth center for the hair had been pulled out by looking at what he pulled out by eye.

My question is this:

how do you physically identify when the growth center has been pulled out?

Is there always blood?

Does bloody mean that the centre has been removed for certain?

If a hair comes out and there is a dried out “bulb” shaped skin on the end of the scalp, does that mean that the graft has been lost or the graft was a dead one?

did this study account for partially loose scabs?

After about 4 to 5 days, some of my scabs started to loosen…i started to gently brush some of them with my fingers and some of them were loosely stuck by a strand of skin, which I pulled gently with enough force to remove the scab. My question is this-

how can I identify when I have pulled out a growth centre and when I haven’t?

Do you think there was a good chance that I pulled a graft out?

Lastly, your study includes 18 gauge needles only. What is the standard size needle use or what range sized needles do you use?

Thanks so much for your time and thanks for the study!!!

Firstly, here is the article you referenced, as originally published in Dermatologic Surgery in 2006 — Graft Anchoring In Hair Transplantation — PDF file or HTML

Your email is not clearly written, but I think that you are asking about the hairs we pulled out on varying days after surgery to determine if the graft growth center was left behind. To answer that question, we asked the pathologist to identify the critical parts of the hair that determines growth (the bulge area near the sebaceous gland in particular) and this would include all parts of the hair and what is called the dermal sheath. If this was pulled out, we could safely assume the the graft would not grow. This was not done with the naked eye, but rather by the pathologist under the microscope. By having a specialist look at the grafts that were pulled out, we had an impartial expert make the judgments. I hope that this answers your questions.

With regard to your other questions, please read the article carefully, as we put it all there. Without a microscope and experience, you probably would not be able to tell the status and that is why we put the article together, to be able to guess what is really happening. When the scab is present on the surface, it is likely that the graft growth center can come out.

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April 24, 2008

Sterile Spray on Scalp After a Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Doctor

What is the use of the sterile solution that one is supposed to spray his head with for three days after a HT? Is it just to hydrate the skalp or is it vital to transplanted graft surviving ? What happens if someone , for some reason , doesnt spray his head for several hours ? And how many hours could jeopardise the survival of the grafts ?

thanks for your time

I’ve never recommend sterile spray for patients after a hair transplant, so if you miss your spray, I would doubt it will cause you any harm. I wouldn’t even know what the spray contains. Ask your doctor about it, as he/she seems to believe in it.

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April 24, 2008

Did the Laser Comb Damage My Hair? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Is it possible for a laser comb to do damage to hair or scalp? I’m female – senior citizen. I’ve been using laser comb for a couple months and my hair seems alot thinner, plus it goes in all different directions. I can’t seem to fix it anymore. I am not trying to put blame – a person with hair loss will try anything. I’m just asking for your opinion. If the comb has done damage, it is my own fault. Please answer. Could the comb be too warm for some people.

I have not heard any reports that parallel yours. I personally do not feel that the LaserComb (or similar) does much more than line the pockets of the company’s owners.

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April 23, 2008

Estrogen Inhibitor Novedex XT and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor:

Let me first state that I have had an obsession with my hair loss for some time. I have been on Propecia, Avodart, Revivogen and may others in the hopes of saving or regrowing my hair. However, I am an extremely thin male (40 years old) with very little muscle mass. I am now getting quite flabby around the gut with pretty severe love handles. I am a gym rat, going to the gym at least 4 days a week doing both cardio and resistance training. My diet is extremely clean. I am attempting to increase muscle mass and decrease my abdominal fat, but have had zero results over the past 2 years. I have discovered a product by the name of Novedex XT, which is an estrogen inhibitor. From the research I have done and the people I have spoken to who use it, they say it is the best product they have ever tried to gain lean muscle mass. There is a pub med article on it as well.I wish I could provide the link, but it doesn’t point to the page. The bottom line is that Novedex XT increases Testosterone, free testosterone and DHT levels significantly. My question is this, would continuing to use Avodart reduce the chances of DHT related hair loss? I assume the DHT increases because estrogen is inhibited and both total and free testosterone is increased. This is not an anabolic steroid that uses some “unknown pathway” to convert to DHT. So, if I were to continue using Dutasteride, would this offset the DHT related hair loss? Here is the article from pubmed:

Willoughby DS, Wilborn C, Taylor L, Campbell W.
Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-7313, USA.

This study examined the effects of an aromatase-inhibiting nutritional supplement on serum steroid hormones, body composition, and clinical safety markers. Sixteen eugonadal young men ingested either Novedex XT or a placebo daily for 8 wk, followed by a 3-wk washout period. Body composition was assessed and blood and urine samples obtained at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 11. Data were analyzed by 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Novedex XT resulted in average increases of 283%, 625%, 566%, and 438% for total testosterone (P=0.001), free testosterone (P=0.001), dihydrotestosterone (P=0.001), and the testosterone:estrogen ratio (P=0.001), respectively, whereas fat mass decreased 3.5% (P=0.026) during supplementation. No significant differences were observed in blood and urinary clinical safety markers or for any of the other serum hormones (P>0.05). This study indicates that Novedex XT significantly increases serum androgen levels and decreases fat mass.

PMID: 17460335 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE

Thanks!

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Novedex I get questions like this all of the time. Playing with your hormones could very possibly do damage, as these are off label uses of these medications. You can not stop the negative effects of the hormone blockers with dutasteride or finasteride, but you trying to do it anyway. Maybe one day you will learn what you are doing to your body and realize that it can’t be good with estrogen blockers and pushing your testosterone high to get in shape and impact the blubber that you have around the middle. I don’t mean to sound rude, but why not do it the right way, which is a good exercise program with a professional trainer working with you on your routine and your diet?

I also gleam another question: Whether the estrogen inhibitor will increase DHT to the point that dutasteride is rendered ineffective. I don’t believe that is the way it works, as this is a competitive inhibition process between the drug and 5 alpha reductase. It will still compete effectively for the receptor.

April 23, 2008

Fungus on Scalp – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i had to move out of my home due to fungi spores outside home was over 5000 and was consuming the inside of new home also. i am very allergic and had to be put in hospital, i have been on flagyl for 3 wks now and i still have bacteria,and fungi internally and on scalp. is it normal to constantly pass black and red dots from scalp and is this scalp fungus? going bald,and intense itching for 6 months now. please give any suggestion. thank you so much

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It sounds like you have some serious issues. I would follow the recommendations from the doctor who is treating you. It is impossible for me to give you any medical advice over the Internet, as I am not your doctor. I can only give general opinions as a doctor. I do not know what “black and red dots” you are passing on your scalp, and I would have to see them to get an idea of what you’re talking about. It certainly does not sound normal.

Again, you need to ask these questions to your doctor who can actually examine and see what those “black and red” dots are. Sorry.

April 23, 2008

Best Comb to Use on Thinning Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What kind of comb is best for men’s hair…my hair is thinning. I was using Dupont Nylon comb — it is smooth and does not irritate. Then I switched to a Ace comb — it is ok, but after a few uses my scalp hurts. What’s best – nylon, rubber, or plastic…

Thank you.

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Comb I generally recommend the use of a wide tooth brush or comb and not tugging on your hair when you groom yourself. Rough handling of your hair will cause you to pull out weak hair that may be in the process of miniaturizing. Hair loss from a comb or brush is a mechanical problem. With respect to material: nylon, rubber, plastic, metal, etc… there is no real clinical difference.

April 23, 2008

Lead in Water and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor,

I am female with severe hairloss, I did not show any visible loss for 3 years of shedding it happend suddenly 2 years ago. I have noticed a shocking abnormal increase in visible scalp, most severe behind ears upwards with semi balding behind ears.. My question is can high lead in water cause such a sudden visible loss?

I received a letter that pipes in my area have been found to have high levels and offering option to have it dug up and replaced at a huge expense, but not if have old lead pipes in home would not be of any help. Just to add I also have been diagnosed with malnutriton if have existing hairloss due to elevated androgens can hairloss from the malnutrition come back?

I am severely upset over this and just wanted your thoughts on this as you have so much expertise in hairloss, I hope to hear and thank you for your time and providing a place for infomation for people suffering so much to cope with a life altering socially and mentally crippling condition to have to face daily.

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Lead intake can cause hair loss… so can malnutrition. Both of these are slow to come on so it may not be detectable in the early stages.

April 23, 2008

Propecia and Frequent Urination – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My question concerns an unreported side effect of Propecia that has never been discussed on this website…I really feel alone on this one and am really depressed about my circumstance. I am 17 years old and recently started taking propecia for my hairloss, but had to stop because it causes me to constantly unrinate and gives me a burning sensation down there (which cannot be tolerated). My doctor told me to stop taking the medicine because of this, but now I am at a loss for what to do to stop my hairloss. Have you ever heard of this and what do you suggest I do so that I don’t lose my hair? Thank you so much for your response.

The usual report with some older men on Propecia is that their frequent urination (particularly at night) will decrease. This occurs because the prostate will frequently shrink on Propecia (finasteride 1mg) and in older men, swollen prostates cause urination problems.

From what you are describing, I would think that you have some other problem. First, you can stop taking the Propecia and see if your urination problem goes away. I would be surprised if it did. If I am correct, I would look for Chlamydia and other forms of prostatitis. Go back to your doctor after you stop taking the drug for a week, particularly if the problem persists.

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April 23, 2008

L-Arginine Increases Growth Hormone — Is That Going to Mean Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’ve seen all of the questions about l-arginine, and I even asked one before, but I was only referred to another answer which didn’t answer my particular question. I’ve heard that l-arginine increases growth hormone. This doesn’t sound too good. Does an increase in growth hormone mean hair loss is a possible result?

Thanks. I appreciate it.

There are reports that L-arginine increases growth hormone secretion, but it is unproven. Throughout the internet, L-arginine is a suggested treatment for hair loss by promoting hair growth, but if this is true and it does increase growth hormone, I would worry about growth hormone induced hair loss. These two statements appear contradictory, but it does reflect complex interactions that are presented throughout the internet.

For more, see:

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April 23, 2008

Hair Braiding and Traction Alopecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I heard that plaiting hair causes traction alopecia. I wanted to know if there was a way I could plait my hair with this being prevented.

When you put a pull to your hair on a chronic basis, you have the possibility to develop traction alopecia. Everyone is different in terms of how long and how much pulling you have to have to get hair loss, but there is no doubt that it probably will happen over time.

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