Month: July 2008

Posted on

Measuring the Mature Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I know you explained how to measure the mature hairline with the wrinkled brow but you didn’t say how exactly. Do I need to put a ruler in the middle of my forehead and measure that way (this way it shows my corners are 2 inches receded) or can I put in highest corner of my temple and measure downwards if I do it that way I get 1 1/2 inches but my hairline is only 0.4inches away which is good. I believe I’m on a NW2.

Also around my temples I have a chunk of short hairs but there thickness is pretty much the same like other hairs. My hair is kinda longish you know. But what worries me that they will fall off and then my corners will be quite big. Is this all normal?

I’m almost 22 years old and my temples started to recede slowly since late 17s but in the past year just jumped up fast.

Block Quote

A maturing hairline is a generalization of how a young male will have a slight recession of his hairline in his teenage years or early 20’s. If you follow this “rule” (it is actually my rule) then there are three elements of it. A mature male hairline exists when:

  1. the middle of the hairline is about 1/2-2/3 inches above the highest crease of the furrowed brow
  2. the shape of the hairline is convex
  3. the sides of the hairline will rise about 1.5 – 2 times higher than the middle of the mature hairline

If you continue to recede beyond this area then there may be a genetic component of androgenic alopecia. This presence of genetic causation can be seen by mapping out the hair for miniaturization and looking for miniaturized hair substantially behind the leading edge of the mature hairline. And not to confuse anyone, but even though I call it a “rule”, there really is no specific rule to this. You cannot go by an exact set of measurements, such as 0.4 inches. If you are worried about this matter, I would see a doctor for a good microscopic examination (miniaturization study) of your hair to determine if there is a pattern developing.

Posted on

Bald Spots on the Sides of My Head Hurting My Self Esteem! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 22 year old female that since i was 14 years old i have been having a bald spot on the side of my head, it use to be the size of a quarter and as time has gone by it has grown bigger, i have also started balding from the other side as well. i am very scared of having alocepia. i have not tried any medication like rogaine for women or have not gone to a dermatologist because i am embarrased of this problem because i am soo young to be worrying about balding. this balding issue has affected my self esteem. i just want to receive some sort of answer before facing a dermatologist. i sent some pics of my problem you can use them for your site just please make sure my face is blocked and i remain anonymous. thank you for your time

Block Quote

First off, thank you for give us permission to use your photographs. I like being able to offer visitors to this site a chance to see precisely what they’re reading about.

It appears that you have a condition called triangular alopecia. This is a genetic condition which can be treated with hair transplantation very successfully. There is no need to suffer as you are. I would be happy to see you for a consultation.

 

Posted on

After About 2 Years on Propecia, I’m Seeing Sudden Shedding – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I’m 24 and I’ve been using Propecia since Dec 2006. It worked very well to slow down my hairloss but in the last 30 days I’ve been seeing more shedding. I work at my computer and I’m seeing more and more hairs on my keyboard and desk. I’ve been using Propecia for 2 years (almost) – is this the normal timeline for the hair cycle? Dormant for 2 years and then shedding for a couple of months? Is my shedding a sign of more balding to come?

Thanks!

Block Quote

If you had been my patient from the beginning, I would have a reference map of your hair and scalp for miniaturization and I would be able to look at the change over time. By starting from point zero and looking at the measurements two years into it, it will help show what occurs over the next two years, but will not help you now. This could be caused by a normal acceleration of the genetic process, or you can be misinterpreting what you are seeing. You should go back to the doctor who put you on the Propecia and ask him to examine you and give you an opinion.

Posted on

Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman, can you explain why people with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism often suffer from hair loss? I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism last summer(TSH of a little over 8.8), and since then my endocrinologist has changed my dosage of thyroid medication twice, most recently in April. I have been experiencing a lot of hair loss since I have started the medication. Could propecia possibly be beneficial to my situation? Thanks for the great website.

Block Quote

Unfortunately, I do not know the exact mechanism of why people with low thyroid can experience hair loss from it. As the saying goes, it is the “practice” of medicine and not the “science” of medicine, and as such, medicine can be a descriptive and observational discipline.

Propecia will not be beneficial for hair loss associated with thyroid conditions unless there is an active genetic component to it. Propecia is a medication for androgenic alopecia.

Posted on

Putting Retin-A on My Scalp Is Causing Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I am using retin A for acne and because my skin is very oily it gives a very good effect. So i decided to use it on my scalp because i also have a problem of very oily hair. So it give me good effect on my oily hair. they are producing less oil now but after four or five days i noticed my hairs are falling a lot. So i dont know if i should carry on retin A or stop it but i really want to get rid of oily hair.

Block Quote

Well, the answer should be obvious. You put retin-A on your scalp and started seeing hair loss… so stop taking it. Retin-A is an acid and is probably burning your scalp. See a good doctor who cares about your problem, will take the time to examine you, and will render you an opinion on what is happening. I wish I could offer more, but the Internet it not the proper venue for this.

Posted on

Can Propecia Regrow Hair Behind the Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I know Propecia won’t work to regrow a hairline but can it help regrow hair behind a hairline like 1cm behind it? Since my hairline is still intact but behind it is where the drama lies.

Block Quote

It can, but each person will react slightly different to medication, so regrowing hair there might be rare. It has a better chance of maintaining hair that is left, though regrowth isn’t completely out of the question. The younger you are and the shorter time since the hair is showing the impact of balding and thinning, the better the chance of reversal.

Posted on

If You Could Block 100% of DHT, Could You Never Have Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, if more Finasteride blocks more conversion of testosterone to DHT in the 5-alpha-reductase Type II, then why would it not be better for preventing more hairloss? I heard of people who up their dosage if it starts to lose effectiveness and it works for a period of time. Also, what would happen if 100% of DHT is blocked and you had no side effects, in theory could you never have hairloss? Lastly, why cannot Saw Palmetto be used in conjunction with Propecia to block more DHT?

Regards

Block Quote

To make DHT, your body must have the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. We know this because some people are born with this enzyme missing and when that happens:

  1. They do not develop sexual differentiation and become hermaphrodites
  2. They do not become bald
  3. They do not develop prostate cancer

That suggests that DHT is the cause of hair loss when interacting with a person’s genetics. I can not be sure that DHT and 5-alpha-reductase type I or II are totally responsible for genetic male pattern balding, but it is highly suggestive. It may not be as simple as blocking one hormone, so we may not really be sure of the science.

Lastly, I do not believe there is good scientific evidence of saw palmetto blocking DHT the same way Propecia does. I reviewed this subject fairly completely and could find conflicting discussions from good scientific sources that show evidence that saw palmetto may work on blocking DHT… or it may not. Saw palmetto is a herbal medicine that has been traditionally used for prostate (not balding) problems in men, so studies on balding are not very complete or scientifically studied with good double blind clinical research projects. Finasteride is a medication that has been used in high doses (5mg) to treat prostate enlargement in men with a unexpected side effect of growing scalp hair in balding men. The value of both Propecia and saw palmetto will probably give more side effects, particularly the negative impact on libido.

Posted on

Hair Loss from Thyroid… and Inaccurate Lab Work? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
This is not so much a question but another thing to think about. I have suffered with hair loss for about the last 6years. I also suffer with itchy scalp and was told that it must be ezama. I have lost so much hair that you could see my scalp. I now am suffering with mood swings, fatige, night sweats and several other symptoms. I have been taking vitamins, iron, rogain 5% drinking pom & mangosteen juice along with expensive hair products,shampoo and so forth, for the last 4 to 5 years. Yet I still have hairloss.

I say all this to give hopefully some hope. After MUCH research I found that your thyroid (overactive & underactive) can cause hairloss alot of the time, also because of my age 49 hormones can also cause hairloss. Now for some that don’t know this, in 2003 the thyroid range has changed from 0.5 – 5.0, to 0.3 – 3.0, my range in 2006 was 2.80. I was told that my thyroid was perfect, but what I found out is on my lab work, the lrange was 0.5 – 5.0. I now believe that my range is high based on the new range. I am going to have my thyroid & hormone checked by a specialist. most lab work does not give very accurate results, that why we are told our blood test are normal. I found out that about 89 to 95 percent of people (both men & women)suffer with an imbalance thyroid, and don’t even know it. Something to think about.

Block Quote

I’m not sure where you are getting your facts, but to say that most lab work is inaccurate sounds… well, inaccurate. Different laboratories have different ranges of values they work with so your levels may have been fine. In other words, you cannot compare your lab results from one laboratory with the standards of another laboratory.

I do not know why you are losing hair. There is probably many factors affecting including thyroid or genetic or hormones, etc. I would follow up with a doctor and discuss your concerns and issues with him/her. Fatigue and night sweats are non-specific signs for possible serious illness.

Posted on

If Propecia Shedding Occurs, How Noticeable Is It? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I been reading about the shedding that may happen with Propecia in the beginning of treatment in the blogs and on the Propecia site. If it’s gonna happen, will the shedding be noticeable or I’ll just lose a little more hair a day then I should? Also is it a rare or common thing to shed with Propecia? Right now my thinning ain’t visible to people but I know it’s there I would really be upset if Propecia will make my hair thinner in the beginning.

Block Quote

In the many years in practice and being one of the largest Propecia prescribers (according to Merck) in California, I do not remember one case of shedding reported by my patients. I do believe it does happen because of the large number of people who report it to me on this blog, but I suspect it is far less common than the reports you can find on the Internet seems to suggest it is. As I have not seen it in my patients, I really do not know the answer to your question, but I suspect it may vary all over the place from minimal to substantial.