August 2008 – Page 11

August 7, 2008

I Lost 50% of My Hair Thickness as a Teenager – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello

When i was about 14-15 years old, my hair began to thin all over. It did not recede at all and i probably lost 40-50% of the thickness of my hair. I am now 33 and my hair, in the last 18 years, has never become thinner or thicker.

What do you think could have caused this, i am now in the armed forces and have regular medicals/bloodtests which show i am fit and healthy. It has always baffled me how my hair thinned and then just stopped, without ever recovering or getting worse.

Thanks

There is often a change in hair thickness as we pass teenage years. Most people recognize the bulk that they had when they were young, not the density. Hair usually gets finer to some degree as we age. The question to ask is: “Is the hair shaft thickness uniform all over the scalp?” If it is uniform, then you accept this new hair shaft thickness as the mature you and if you want to thicken it, you can use styling adjuncts for that purpose. If you have a diffuse alopecia like DUPA, then you should be examined and get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and it will show up on the video images.

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August 7, 2008

Accutane (Isotretinoin) and Female Hair Loss — I’d Rather Just Have Acne! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) My hair loss is due to a 5 month regimen of Isotretinoin. My last treatment was Dec. of 2006. I am still experiencing persistent hair loss. I realize the medicine has significantly reduced my sebaceous glands. Is there any possible way to enlarge, inflat, manipulate, or to boost or increase my sebaceous glands so that I may began producing sebum again? I would much rather battle acne than hair loss.

With Kind Regards

You are in a predicament that many patients run into with regards to medication usage and adverse effects. Hair loss is a known adverse effect of using Accutane (isotretinoin). Often times these effects are increased as the dosage of this medication increases and can persist even after the medication is discontinued.

I am assuming that in your battle with acne, your doctor has exhausted other treatment options prior to putting you on isotretinoin. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any medication or procedure that would allow the sebaceous glands to be manipulated in the ways that you mentioned.

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August 6, 2008

Will Couvre Come Off On My Pillow Like Toppik? – Balding Blog

Hi, I had a question about masking lotions and concealers.

I was visiting your website the other day and did a search for different types of masking lotions and concealers and came across some pictures of a man and saw that you had a before and after picture of him with and without something called Couvre, i believe it was called. The effect was somewhat miraculous….it worked to a degree and made me curious enough to think I should begin using this.

My hair is thinning a bit-not a lot, but a bit. And I have used another concealer in the past-something called Toppik. It was terrible. It came off on the pillow if I layed down, it came off on my fingers if I ran my fingers through my hair, and, most importantly, it was CLEARLY visible even though the company i bought it from said it was hardly detectable. My question is, would Couvre come off on my fingers if I ran my fingers through my hair? would it come off if i scratched my head? is it somewhat visible? if I have a shaved head-like the fella in the picture-would Couvre be more visible as opposed to not having a shaved head? does Couvre work best with some hair, even if it’s thinning? would you happen to know how long it takes for the application?

I know I got a bit long-winded…but I’d be happy to hear any and all input on the matter.

Thank you.

Couvre I haven’t used it, but I did a quick glance for reviews and they seem mainly positive (see reviews on Amazon). None of them complained about the Couvre coming off on the pillowcase. You may want to try it for yourself. It is not terribly expensive (around $20 or so) and you will get your answers right away.

August 6, 2008

What Is This Pimple in My Recipient Area — Infection, Lost Graft, or Something Else? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had a transplant almost 4 weeks ago, and last night, I had a pimple start to bleed in the transplanted area, without having touched it at all. Is this a sign of an infection, lost graft, or something that just happens, thank you

It is very difficult to make such a determination without examining you. Based on my experience, this sounds like an epidermal inclusion cyst, which refers to a cyst that develops as a result of the implantation of epidermal elements (i.e., hair follicle) in the dermis. If this is the case, it is not an infection. However, another more serious process (such as folliculitis) can be the culprit. This too can develop after a hair transplant procedure and with this, patients typically require antibiotics along with possibly “opening” up the infected areas to remove underlying infected material (pus). Whatever the cause in your case, make sure to follow up with your transplant doctor.

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August 6, 2008

I Read that Propecia Won’t Work In the Hairline – Balding Blog

I been reading that Propecia doesn’t help on receding hairlines. But what does that mean? Does it mean if you are a NW2 which is normal and you start to recede beyond that, Propecia won’t stop that or help you get back there?

My case: I’m 22 years old and am on a little more then a NW2 which is fine with me. But 3cm into my hairline the hair is less full (not obvious but I know) and the hair around the temples are becoming short. So Propecia won’t help me there? I noticed this problem like 4 months ago and just started Propecia. I have no family history of MPB except my father but he was in his 40s when it began.

Directly from the Propecia.com website: “There is not sufficient evidence that PROPECIA works for receding hairlines at the temples.”

It has been shown to treat hair loss primarily affecting the vertex (top of the head) and the anterior mid scalp area (where it sounds like you are having some of your problems). This does not mean that Propecia won’t help you. You need to be on it at least 8-9 months before you see any benefits of the drug. For you, there may be a beneficial effect on the frontal hairline, temples, etc and I have personally seen some wonderful results on the frontal area (including the hairline), although it is not common. Its best effect is on young men who have miniaturization in the frontal area that is not advanced. In these patients, the frontal hair loss may reverse. People can react differently to the same medication. You will also benefit from a miniaturization study to determine exactly which areas of your scalp that are mostly affected, thus determining if you indeed have male pattern baldness.

August 6, 2008

After I Stopped and Restarted Propecia for a Few Months Last Year, My Hair Loss Hasn’t Stopped! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Doctor – and many thanks for keeping this very informative website. My question is a point of clarification with respect a question that answered earlier (the original question was care of “a very stressed out medical student).

I had been taking propecia for several years and stopped approximately one year ago. My hair loss began fairly soon thereafter and has been fast and steady ever since, despite the fact that I started taking propecia again in November. Can you explain why this is the case?

Thank You.

You are likely experiencing “catch-up” hair loss, which occurs when one stops taking Propecia after being on it for a period of time. The hair loss noted when the drug is stopped will be the same as if you were never on it at all. By stopping it, you are bringing yourself back to the same degree of hair loss that you would have had anyway. Stay on the medication now that you have restarted it. It is possible that the hair loss you are currently seeing (despite being on the medication) is a result of the “catch-up” loss phenomena.

Your experience is one that our readers on Propecia/finasteride should take note of. This is a medication that you need to take for life, unless you come to a time when you are willing to lose your hair.

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August 5, 2008

Hair Loss InformationScalp Tattooing – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I came across your post “Horror story with a happy ending” and I would like more details. I have had several surgeries beginning in the early 90s, from plug work to micrografts and FUE. Most of this was corrective work. Unfortunately it wasn’t particularly successful, and the distribution of hair is abnormal. Fortunately though my donor scar isn’t that bad, as I was careful with the scar revisions to minimize a bad outcome. I am left with approximately 1 scar from my last revision, where a trichophytic closure was used. It runs from ear to ear and varies in width from 2 mm to 8 in a few places. Overall, considering the number of surgeries I’ve had it’s remarkably good. I’d like to fill in the thin spots with the “stippling” type of tattoo you mentioned in your post. However I am very concerned with the discoloration over time. Can you provide contact information of the dermatologists who had the tattooing done, or some more information about it (eg. type of ink, who did it, etc.). I’d much rather put my faith in the hands of someone who has seen success with this than take chances on an unknown. FUE, etc aren’t really options for me at this point for filling in the scar.

Thanks

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Tattoo Although I don’t have any information about the tattooers of the patient you mentioned, from what I’ve seen, tattoos on the scalp and scars have turned green over time. While it may not occur every time, this is a real problem for the two patients that come to mind. For that reason, I would hold off doing the scalp tattoo for the time being unless you are sure that the color will last and this is what you want, as today’s tattoos are not reversible (laser removal is quite painful and may take many sessions to get a decent result).

A new product is coming sometime later this year that is reversible, so if you did not like it after getting it, then you can make it go away a lot easier. It doesn’t make the pain any less intense, though. For more general information, see InfinitInk from Freedom2, Inc.

August 5, 2008

I’m 18 Years Old and My Crown Is Getting Thinner – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi. im an 18-yo and i have been having alot of paranoia about my hair. it seems that in many phases since jr. high ive noticed rapid hairloss and then following up it will grow back to normal. but this last shedding phase it seems to be really affecting my hair. i have a mature hairline in the front and i am comfortable with it because it hasnt changed whatsoever, but the crown where the part of my hair is getting noticeably thinner. you can see my scalp and the area around my part is noticeably thinner. i have always had very thin hair in the first place but in my entire family line that i know of on both sides there is no genetic hair loss, just thin hair. would taking a percription drug like propecia be right for me? or is there an alternative method?

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There are 2 drugs that are FDA approved to treat hair loss — minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). These are the only 2 medications that I recommend, as they have been proven safe and effective. I can’t tell you if Propecia is right for you without seeing what you’re dealing with, but if you do have early hair loss from genetic causes (do a miniaturization study of your scalp) then Propecia is likely to give you benefits. You’ll have to discuss this with your doctor, though.

August 5, 2008

Quality of Shedding Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor,

I’ve been searching this blog for some time and can’t find the answer to this everlasting question: Can the “quality” of the shedding hair tell anything about what’s happening with the hair loss? Does losing shorter, miniaturized hairs say that one is balding more rapidly than one who sheds healthy terminal hairs? I’m saying this because you diagnosed me with an early Norwood 3A pattern last year, and I have been on Propecia ever since. But it seems that the hair that I shed from the front is thick on the end, and thinner near the root. Does this indicate miniaturization or just the hair cycle?

I don’t think I’ve miniaturized further since you last saw me on October of 2007, but only a re-exam from you would tell.

Thank you for your time.

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Clearly you should see me at about a year for your annual re-examination. The thick hairs you are shedding are most likely part of the normal cycling that we go through. We generally lose about 100 hairs/day and that it probably what you are seeing. It does not make sense to me that the hair thickness on the scalp side of the shed hair should be finer than the distal end. If you bring the hair into the office, I can measure it for you with a micrometer.

August 5, 2008

Zadorin (Doxycycline Hyclate) and Hair Loss? – Balding Blog

I have been taking an antibiotic called zadorin for back acne for approximately 2 and a half months. While its common to have hair loss in Dubai (apparently because of the water) it appears that in the recent two months the hair loss has accelerated. Could the cause of this acceleration be the antibiotics. If so, is this a temporary hair loss?

This is almost an impossible question for me to answer. I would have to examine you and understand what is happening on your head and to your hair before I can render an opinion. I doubt that the antibiotic would cause hair loss, but any medication theoretically can. If the water in Dubai is that bad, consider using bottled water.

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