Month: October 2008

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Hair Loss InformationFDA Warns Gaunitz About the Hair Laser They Market – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

THL-1Just a couple weeks ago, the FDA published a warning letter sent to the makers of the LaserComb (see here). Now, a reader sent in a new find on the FDA website — a warning letter to another laser company that shows they are selling a product or service that is in violation of the law. The letter starts off…

Dear Mr. Gaunitz :

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has learned that your firm is marketing the THL-1™ Handheld Laser in the United States (U.S.) without marketing clearance or approval, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act).

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Another laser, another violation. Read the entire document at the FDA site — here.

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Hair Loss InformationStopped Taking Propecia After 7 Years Due to High SGOT Reading of My Liver – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I have been taking propecia for about 7 years. Am now 36 years old and I have a full head of hair. But now, I have stopped due to high SGOT reading of my liver. During the course of the 7 years, I have tolerated the drug very well but now, I just want to know whether I am genetically predisposed to balding or not before I take up the drug again.

I had a check with a dermatologist, she had checked my hair and told me to stop taking the drug as my hair was ok. Are there tell tale signs for me to watch out for me to decide to take up propecia again or not?

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You can take the genetic test to find out if you have the gene for hair loss, which if negative will tell you that you do not have the hair loss potential problem. If you are positive for the gene, it means that you might get hair loss. Then you and your doctor can decide. I am not familiar with an association between Propecia and liver disease as a cause and effect (see Did Propecia Effect My Liver?).

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Hair Loss InformationScalp Problems After Chemical Burn – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

I am suffering from a second degree chemical burn. About 2 months ago, I had highlights done by a professional. First it started scabbing and all of the hair fell out..after a while my doctor informed me that my scalp is not healing right and it is making unhealthy tissues! He has been carving the tissues off my scalp..However after many testings he now knows that the area is infected by a bacteria…I am now on antibiotics(CIPRO)..I really would like to know where I am standing? Is my scalp going to heal? Is my hair going to grow back? and in how long?

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These are questions to ask your doctor. It sounds like you have been through hell. If you think that the doctor is doing a good job, bond with him/her more through this difficult period. Infection following burns are no picnic.

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My Dermatologist Just Prescribed Propecia and Walked Out Without an Exam – Balding Blog

DR.,

I am a 22 year old caucasian male. I have had thick dark-brown hair my entire life until recently. Only in this past year I have been noticing thinning and receding in my temples and shedding, thinning of all the hair on my head. I still have a full head of hair, but people have noticed that my hair has changed from thick, wavy and dark to thin, straight and brown. 5 months ago I visited a doctor because of Hairloss/constipation/and not feeling that great. i got a physical and blood test. Nothing was wrong.

shedding continued so.. I recently visited a dermatologist who walked in the room, prescribed me PROPECIA and ROGAINE and walked out. Didn’t look at my head or ask questions. I also have obtained a habit of gently combing my fingers through my hair and seeing how many hairs that fall out and then collect them. I have a ziplock full of hair. They fall out from all over and ive noticed that they have gotten thinner and lighter.

I am only 22 and I am not sure what is causing the shedding/thinning, whether its Male Pattern Baldness or not.

My QUESTIONS and CONCERNS are…

1. I am kinda scared and not sure whether I should take the Propecia or not. And if i take it then stop will it make things worse.?
2. I started the rogaine for 2 weeks, I think it gave me a flaky scalp, and maybe lightened my hair strands? And Is it bad to stop and start rogaine.

random question
3. I get really thick and strong red or light pigmented hairs in my dark beard and dark hair. They are much harder to pluck/pull out. WHAT ARE THESE HAIRS?

With regard to the dermatologist who did not examine you, to me that says he did not care. Go see another doctor who will look at your hair, examine it, and perform a mapping of your hair and scalp for miniaturization so that you can not only have a diagnosis, but get a baseline study to see value (or lack thereof) after a year of taking Propecia.

Some people get drying and flaking of the scalp with minoxidil. I would suggest that you use the oil based minoxidil and see if this addresses the flaking.

I don’t quite understand what you are asking about with regard to the red hair mixed in with the dark hair other than you may have some red genetic factors that induces it. Were you are red-head when you were a child?


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Hair Loss InformationWhat’s the Point of Meeting a Doctor’s Hair Transplant Patients? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Only thing I wonder is what’s the point of meeting prior patients? I’m sure the doctor will only select patients that had great experiences and outcomes to allow you to meet anyway. Just like on a job application, when they ask for personal references…..doesn’t everyone only list those that’ll give the most glowing reviews?

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Open HouseAside from getting personal experiences from past patients and being able to ask them questions patient-to-patient, you can also have the opportunity to see the results in person. True, a doctor can just show off the best of the best, but you can at least determine if the best is even possible with that doctor. The results don’t lie, and if the doctor just has a pool of patients with poor results, their best won’t even make the grade.

We hold monthly open house events at both of our offices, where anyone can attend. If a patient was dissatisfied for whatever reason (results, aftercare instructions, etc), they have the opportunity to reveal that to others. I haven’t found that to happen in the 17 years that we’ve been holding these free events, so that’s a good thing and I believe that means we’re doing something right. Many times patients just drop in to say hello and we did not even know that they were stopping by. There’s no way we could control these open house events to only show off our best patients, as they are… open. That is why few doctors offer similar events year after year.

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Hair Loss InformationIs Isopropyl Alcohol Bad for the Skin? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr Rassman
Do you think if I use Ketoconazole 2% lotion ( 60% isopropyl alcohol , 38% water ) it can have bad effect on my skin (not hair loss)?!?!! I mean is isopropyl alcohol bad for your skin? I want to use .5ml per day or every other day on my vertex area! Thank you

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Ketoconazole 2% is an antifungal medication that is prescription for those in the United State, although some countries allow it to be sold over-the-counter. Are you treating a fungus on your scalp? Otherwise, why would you want to use a antifungal medication on your scalp? I hope you do not think it may grow hair, because it will not. I would discuss your desires with your physician, particularly if the medication was prescribed to you.

I do not believe isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) is necessarily bad for your skin when used in a medication like that, but unnecessary use of a medication would be more harmful and it may dry the skin. Many topical products use alcohol as an additive, like Rogaine. You can read the health hazard information here.

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Hair Loss InformationHyperhidrosis and Lactic Acid Causing Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I recently went to the trichological clinic in Costa Mesa, CA and had microscopic hair analysis. After examining my hair bulbs and shafts, the trichology specialist, said that I have hyperhidrosis and excessive lactic acid cause the hair to fall out. I have noticed my hair loss since the beginning of this year and lost agressively for last three months. I have receding hairline but I don’t have much thinning on crown or vertex though I can see my scalp due to excessive hair loss. The specialist showed me the hair affected by DHT to compare with my hair affected by lactic acid. The hairs affected by DHT are encapsulated by DHT and my hairs don’t look like them. She said my hair bulbs are healthy but the acid is eating away the hair. I have never heard of this condition and before I start any kind of treatment I like to have second opinion from you.

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SweatHyperhidrosis implies increased sweating and the suggestion that the sweat contains lactic acid which damages the hair makes no sense whatsoever. DHT encapsulating the hair is beyond the science I know, but the storyline might be believable with a good salesman or saleswoman presenting it. Why look to other causes of hair loss if you have genetic hair loss? Not only have you not heard of it, but neither have I… though the Internet does contain references to the concept, so I guess some people are believers. I don’t know that I would trust anyone with that type of sales pitch.

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Hair Loss InformationWe’re Expanding! Announcing BaldingForum.com – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

BaldingForum
Announcing our new site, BaldingForum.com

I’m extremely pleased to announce the launch of our new message board — BaldingForum.com! I wrote an introduction message on the new forum, and here’s a slightly edited, abbreviated version of that…

This new forum is an opportunity for BaldingBlog.com visitors to become more involved in the questions and answer process, creating unique insight and a dynamic community. The volume of questions we have been getting each day at the blog has risen tremendously, and it is quite honestly a bit overwhelming at times. Now I’m not complaining about success, but I do genuinely feel bad for not being able to get to every question or even having some people wait for weeks to get a response. This forum should help to alleviate some of those problems, as members can now ask more general questions that other members can answer based on personal experience or even by finding the answer in an existing post on BaldingBlog.

BaldingBlog will continue daily as it has been, and the new forum is just an extension of our brand. There will be some tweaks to the blog here and there, but we’re very open to your critiques and criticisms. Please let us know your thoughts by participating over at BaldingForum.com!

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Hair Loss InformationPregnancy and Stress Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I am 4 1/2 months pregnant and just recently noticed a bald spot on the back of my head. I have very thick and curly hair, so it’s not noticeable and I have no idea how long it’s been going on and whether or not it is even related to my pregnancy. I am just concerned because it’s rather large and I am not sure if it will get worse. I know it can be caused by stress as well. I didn’t realize I was this stressed out! If you could help lead me in the right direction as to what the cause may be, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

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Although pregnancy can impact hair growth as more hair goes into the resting phase of hair cycling, the presence of a bald spot probably indicates a cause other than pregnancy related hair loss. I suggest that you see a dermatologist. There is little I can do here through the internet.

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Hair Loss InformationDog is Losing Hair and Now I’m Itching Like Crazy! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I recently fostered a dog from our local animal shelter. The dog had hair loss on its front shoulder, elbow, and belly. I was told that the dog was loosing hair due to stress. After 7 days of being at my home with me and my cat- both of us began itching. The cat was having the same symptoms as the dog- lots of chewing, liking and biting.

My head is itching like crazy – I have tried lice shampoos and scalpacin and a scabbies cream Permethrin from head to toe. After a month and a half my hair has started falling out in large amounts. My cat was taken to a specialist in pet dermatology – she does not have ringworm, scabies, or fleas. she has gone on a special medication – which has lessened her symptoms but not gotten rid of them-and they had no definitive answers. Maybe we are passing something back and forth? But I cant imagine what this could be?

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You need to take both of your animals to a vet and yourself to a doctor. Why would you try lice shampoos or scabies medicine without knowing you have lice or scabies? Those shampoos can do more damage than good if you don’t have lice or scabies. You need a good diagnosis before trying something blindly.