August 2008 – Page 7 – Balding Blog

August 18, 2008

My Hair Is Thinning Where My Head Lays on My Pillow – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I love your site.

I have a strange question for you. For the last few months I have been sleeping with my hand kind of positioned as a pillow, if that makes sense. I also sleep on one side and it just so happens my hair has thinned out just in this area. Between the ear and my temple right at the front edge. This is exactly where my hand is when I sleep. Could this be caused from this. I have changed my sleeping pattern, will the hair grow back. Thanks

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Pillow I have never seen this before and only have had one person that I can recall even writing to me about a similar situation (Ergonomic Pillow and Hair Loss), and except for people who have trichotillomania and pull on their hair even in their sleep.

You should be examined by a good doctor. A miniaturization study should be done to see just what is happening. If your hair is miniaturized and you are rubbing on it, it might come out.

August 18, 2008

Should I Replace Propecia with Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

What about Regaine Minoxidil 2% thats sprays the hair. Is it effective? This way I avoid having the side effects of the propecia.

Minoxidil is effective on its own, but for men, I’ve seen a greater response to Propecia and it is what I recommend for my patients. Minoxidil (available over the counter without prescription) is not a substitute for Propecia (by doctor’s prescription only).

If you’re considering switching from Propecia to minoxidil and have been on Propecia for a while and saw benefits from it, I have no doubt that you will lose lots of hair if you swap one for the other. It should be noted that both medications have their risks of side effects, although quite small.

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August 18, 2008

Pull on the Hair and Rub Garlic On It for Regrowth? – Balding Blog

I read about this hair regrowth technique on the internet about massaging the scalp, and pulling on the hair and at night rubbing garlic into the hair and sleeping with it (it suggested other things like nail scratching and brush scratching the scalp, ect. I tried it for about two weeks (the first week putting olive oil on every night before bed).

Now my hair, which was a bit receded on the sides has significantly receded on the sides and into the top. In only two weeks (and it was pretty stable before). I am wondering if any of these techniques (like the scalp massages, or pulling, or even the garlic) could have caused the losses.

I just feel so lost and a bit depressed as to why it changed so drastically and what to do about it, if I can just even get it back to the way it was two weeks ago.

Thanks so much for your help.

Garlic Rubbing on the hair and scalp can force out weak hairs, and that is why we suggest no rough scalp massage. Pulling on your hair absolutely will not help either. I have heard of such remedies over the years. Some of them are pretty funny, like keeping various animal droppings on your head while you sleep, pouring animal urine on the scalp, standing on your head for hours (just being upside down is thought to bring more blood supply to the head), and on and on.

What is wrong with going to a doctor who knows things that you do not, can diagnose what you can not, and can treat you with appropriate effective treatment modalities? The real cost to you is the time delays you are putting into getting to the root of the problem. To answer your question though, garlic won’t regrow your hair… but added to butter, it makes for a tasty sauce on bread.

August 18, 2008

Can My 2 Year Old Son Have Hair Transplanted into Scalp Scars? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

what age is ok to have hair transplant? i have a son who’s 2 years of age and he has two scars on his scalp about 1 centimeter (diameter) each…

thanks..

It might be traumatic to do it now. I would wait until he’s older and if this becomes a social issue, then it is something to consider. I have performed surgery on children, but most don’t care until they approach their teenage years when looks are important to them. I would not suggest this is something you should pursue at this time.

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August 15, 2008

Will Hair Regrow When Skin Does from the Cut On My Head? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I fell and have a tiny sliver 1/4 inch scar, but a i lost a chunk of hair and thin layer of skin about the size of a quarter. Will hair regrow when the skin does? how long?

If you lost hair bearing skin, then hair will not grow back. If the skin is sutured skin edge to skin edge (hair-to-hair edge), it will grow back.

August 15, 2008

Transplanting a Norwood Class 2 to a Class 1? – Balding Blog

Thank you for all of your informative hard work! I am currently a Norwood 2 & may be progessing to a Norwood 3. I was curious to see if you could post any pictures of patients who’ve went (w/ the help of FUT or FUE) from a Norwood 3 to a Norwood 2 & some pics of those who’ve went from a Norwood 2 to a Norwood 1. Thanks in advance!

Norwood Class 2

Norwood Class 1

Most people who are young and have frontal recession are experiencing the maturing hairline and are not balding. I do not transplant the frontal hairline in these patients unless there is a reason that it has to be done. I remember an actor who had a lead role in a daytime soap opera TV series. As his hairline was maturing, he got indications that they were going to phase him out of the show because they wanted a person with a juvenile hairline, as the daytime women that watched the show apparently had fantasies about very young men (I’m not kidding). In that case, I did move him back to somewhere between a Norwood Class 1 and 2 and his million dollar a year income kept him secure.

I do transplant women routinely who have lost frontal hair and want their hairline back. Typically, a woman is a Norwood Class 1 and so to answer your question, I’d like to point you to a woman’s hairline reconstruction, which is now a Norwood Class 1. See Female Hairline Restoration After Brow Lift. There is essentially no difference in the process. Creating a female or Norwood Class 1 hairline is not an easy chore. The surgeon must be very experienced when creating it due to the direction of the hair in the corners. Look carefully at your wife, girlfriend, mother, or sister’s hairline and note the direction of the hair in the corners — it flows from the center of the hairline to the temple prominences. That growing process along with the transition from one part of the frontal hairline to another must be done right, or it will look awkward and artificial. If you are an actor or top line male model, I might consider bringing you back to a Norwood Class 1. In other words, I’ll do it, but it’s rare and we must have a meeting of the minds when embarking on this process.

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August 15, 2008

Seborrheic Dermatitis After a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Doc. can you please answer this question please. Can a flare up of seborrheic dermatitis during the growth period (3-9 months)following a hair transplant procedure,in the recipeint area(itching,redness,swelling, etc..) lead to poor results of the transplant?? Also if the scar from a strip harvest is still pink and tender 6 months after procedure, will it always be like that or will it eventually toughen and turn all the way white? thx

Seborrheic dermatitis should not impact hair growth from a hair transplant. Scars can be judged by their width, and scars that are greater than 3mm may cause a problem. The pink color is usually gone in less than 6 months, but it can be delayed. The pink color has really more to do with the way your body heals the scar (appearance) than on the actual strength of the healed wound at six months.

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August 15, 2008

My Trichologist Told Me I Had Poor Blood Circulation and Oily Scalp That Can Be Fixed for $5000 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor,
I just made a trip to a local trichologist (Svenson Hair). They did a scalp and minituarisation study for me. She commented that I have a few hairs growing from the same pore, as well as minituarisation at same parts. She also said I had dandruff that was not flaky, and a sensitive scalp (some slight redness).

So she said that I had these problems:

Poor blood circulation (said my scalp was grey in some areas)

Dandruff clinging to my pores (thus blocking the new hair from growing out. Said it was worse than flaky dandruff)

Oily scalp

The treatment package was going to cost 5000 dollars, and she started to use the words VERY SEVERE as we got along, as she sensed my apprehension. However I’m not sure what she said was true. Can you help me verify the 3 points as above? Are they true??? I’m currently on Propecia.

Thank you very much. I hope no one gets pressured by such trichologists into a 5k package.

In my opinion, none of what your trichologist told you is true. We often grow multiple hair follicles (called follicular units) from one pore. If you have an oily scalp, you can treat it with shampoo formulated for oily hair/scalp, available at most drug stores or grocery stores. Grey scalp from poor circulation? Don’t waste your money! Now that I’ve saved you $5000, if that money is burning a hole in your pocket I suggest that you will get more satisfaction by donating some of it to charity.

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August 15, 2008

Doctor Gave Me Betamethasone for My Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Hi I am 26 years old and I recently moved to a new country for the 6 months but I noticed that I have been gradually losing hair for the past year or so(even while I was still in my home country). I’ve seen a local dermatologist here in Taiwan but I am having some reservations about him. He did a hasty (literally) 2 min. check-up, where he just casually looked over my scalp and he didn’t bother to ask me any questions about my family history or my lifestyle hair. He just immediately related my condition to the stress of moving to a new country. Afterwards, he sprayed nitrogen of some sort into my hair, he told me to come back once a week and then gave me a prescription for betamethasone (apply 4 times a day) and polytar liquid to wash my hair once a day. I am wondering if it’s time to find a new doctor? What kinds of procedures should I expect in my first meeting with my doctor? How should I go about finding a good one? Thanks in advance

I believe that you are right to consider getting another doctor. You actually know what to look for in a doctor by your description:

One that gives you the time for him to ask questions about you and your family history of hair loss
One that does a thorough hair and scalp examination including a study of the hair for miniaturization analysis
One that answers your questions and engages you enough to give you the trust you need

Sounds like his treatments are everything (including the kitchen sink), but I think that you know that the kitchen sink will not bring your hair back. If you were my patient, I would advise you to stay away from betamethasone, as it is a steroid which might hurt you with regard to producing even more hair loss. Good luck.

August 15, 2008

Acne, Dandruff, Hair Loss, and the Unexplained Mysteries of the World – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I believe acne and dandruff and hair loss are related. They are all caused by cells that go through their cellular life cycle at much faster rates than normal. How can this be denied?

I believe Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are all related. They’re unexplained mysteries that can’t be proven. How can my claim be denied?

Honestly, it is very easy to deny something and much harder to prove something. Show me scientific proof and I won’t deny your theory.