October 2008 – Page 7

October 21, 2008

In the News – North Korea Leader Orders All Men to Get Haircuts – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, making his presence felt amid speculation about his health, has lashed out at football players sporting long hair, a Japanese newspaper said Monday.

The bouffant-haired dictator was outraged at the hairdos while watching a university match and ordered all men to go clean-cut, the Mainichi Shimbun said in its evening edition, quoting an unnamed source close to the regime.

Read the full article at Yahoo News UK

The story goes on to say that the dictator’s reasoning was because he couldn’t tell if he was watching a women’s or a men’s football (soccer) match since some of the players had long hair. Some may say clothes make the man, others feel the mane of the lion indicates it’s might… but if you can’t tell the difference between a man or a woman because of the length of their hair, you should perhaps consider never telling anyone, ever.

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October 21, 2008

Getting Your Money Back from Hair Loss Product Manufacturers? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I used Kevis for a year – with no results. I asked the company for the money back and… they suggested I buy more of their formula at a discount. (yeah right)

Any suggestions?

In the case of a “money back guarantee” that is not met, the best way to deal is to take them to small claims court after you document your attempts to get their promise fulfilled. They will have to hire a lawyer to represent them in court, so most of the time these situations just work to get your money back before the court date in order for the company to avoid hiring a lawyer. Also, some companies will respond to customers that file complaints with the Better Business Bureau, though that isn’t a sure thing and being in the BBB is voluntary.

In the case of Kevis, I’m looking at their site and don’t see anything about a satisfaction or money-back guarantee. You might be out of luck. My suggestion? Try a medication that is proven to work and don’t waste your money on unproven junk.

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October 20, 2008

Scarring Acne and Hair Transplantation – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

First off, excellent blog. What a fantastic resource!

I’m in my late 20’s, have never had a HT procedure before, and I’m considering a strip procedure in the near future. I have read that people with scarring in the recipient area might be at risk of experiencing poor growth/yield of transplanted hair into that area. (discussed on another forum somewhat here: hairlosshelp.com )

Though mostly clear today, in the past I have had acne at my hairline and behind it (on the scalp), sometimes in hard cystic form. Some of this acne may have caused some scarring at my hairline and behind it, though it is difficult to notice any visible scarring on my scalp. I do have acne scarring on some areas of my face from cystic acne, and it appears that the cystic acne led to a loss of fat or collagen in some areas, given the depressed look of the scarred areas. I also have some pitted scarring in my temple areas (where the hair is also receding), which is an area where I hope to have hair transplanted.

Could acne scarring from cystic acne affect the growth of transplanted hairs in the recipient area (e.g. hairline, scalp or temple area)? Or, when people talk about the risks of scarring in the recipient area, are they mostly talking about scarring possibly resulting from incisions made during previous HT procedures’ (or even the result of grafts from previous HT procedures being removed or extracted)? I read in a message (found in the thread I linked to above) that scarring in the recipient area could inhibit blood flow and hinder growth of transplanted hair.

Have you ever heard of acne scarring leading to poor transplanted hair growth? Also, if acne scarring could pose a risk to transplanted hair growth, is there anything that one can do before surgery to try to minimize that risk, other than try to prevent any further breakouts?

Thank you for any information!!

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I have not heard of a one to one relationship between acne scarring impacting hair transplantation. If there is any active acne present, it could well have an impact. If you are concerned, you can have your doctor perform a small test transplant into the scar and see what grows. Using a FUE (follicular unit extraction) technique for a quick procedure will take less than 10 minutes. It is not unusual for me to do test transplants on a limited basis in people with scarring alopecias. Wait a full 8 months and then you will know what the risks are. As I can not examine you, I can not really render an opinion at this time.

October 20, 2008

In the News – 12 Year Old Girl Gets Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

From the article:

When Ashley Stewart was just two years old, a pot of soup fell on her. She was badly burned and lost some of her hair on the front and left side of her head.

On Wednesday, the now 12-year-old Fridley girl is getting a new lease on life and new locks.

I wasn’t able to see any before photos to render an opinion on whether the 3600 grafts that she received will do the trick. The quotes in the article seemed to be a bit misleading (or over-confident, I suppose), but it’s good to read stories of children having their confidence restored.

Read the full article — Girl, 12, Gets Hair Transplant; New Found Freedom

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October 20, 2008

Castor Oil On My Eyebrows Made Them Fall Out! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Two months ago my thick eyebrows started to fall out rapidly after I applied some castor oil to them for 2 weeks. Yet, at the same time new ones started growing out. A doctor determined seborrhoeic dermatitis so I started using ketoconazole shampoo. The shampoo only makes the eyebrow flaking worse and I noticed my face became much more oily. My condition worsens if my skin becomes particularly oily and improves when it’s drier. I’m not sure if it’s connected to the weather or diet somehow. I’m thinking of returning back to my basic dandruff shampoo because I can’t see any long-term improvement.

Can you give me some advice? Thank you

Castor oil is a trick many women use to make the eyebrows appear thicker and eyelashes grow longer, but I’ve read some unverified claims on the web that it can cause eyelash loss. The same may be true for eyebrows. I don’t know all of the beauty secrets out there, and this was new to me.

Did your doctor recommend you start using the ketoconazole shampoo? Was it over-the-counter (1% ketoconazole) or the prescription strength (2%)? Regardless, if you’re not seeing improvement from that shampoo (and it’s making your face oilier), I’d think you’d want to switch shampoos. Without examining you I can not tell what you have. I’d rely on your doctor at another visit. Sorry it’s not much advice, but you’re in a physician’s care that has the benefit of being able to examine you in person and form a medical history, something I can’t do based on one email.

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October 17, 2008

Stress and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor

I would like to ask some questions about stress and hair loss. I know from reading your blog that stress can contribute to hair loss, well what kind of stress do you mean here? is it the normal daily stress that a person may suffer? or is the a kind of heavy or emotional stress? does it have to last for a couple of weeks or months in order to accelerate hair loss? i mean what if a person gets heavy stress that lasts only for 2 or 3 days, would it still contribute to hair loss??

I wish you can answer my questions soon. Thank you

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We all have normal stress in our lives. The stress I generally mean with respect to hair loss is major stress — physical or emotional — such as a major illness where you are in the hospital for several weeks/months or major stress of extreme depression for several months where it starts to impact your physical health. Some people do not handle stress well, so many college age men lose their hair from the stresses of college. Also keep in mind heavy stress will also manifest with other health issues aside from just hair loss. Knowing that you are balding can cause more stress, which will accelerate the balding process. Sometime, it seems some men can’t win.

Heavy stress for a few days or few weeks should not cause hair loss. Remember, the most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic balding.

October 17, 2008

Preventing Gynecomastia from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

If someone developped gynecomastia on propecia and if the condition resolves after stopping the medication. Would you restart Propecia in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (i.e. Arimidex) to prevent gynecomastia in that patient or would recommend to avoid Propecia ?

Thanks

I would think that may be an option. From my personal and clinical experience, I have not put any of my patients on Arimidex (anastrozole), as gynecomastia is very rare. The one patient I recall complained of breast tenderness (there wasn’t much breast tissue growth/enlargement) decided to stop taking Propecia and the condition reversed. Real breast enlargement could be treated surgically in some patients, but you should take that up with your doctor.

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October 17, 2008

Follicular Transfer – Balding Blog

Hi,
I read about a method called Follicular Transfer [FT] carried out by Harley street hair clinic, London [http://www.hshairclinic.co.uk]. If possible can you please give your valuable comments on this technique as well as on the clinic. Thanks

It is just another name they use for follicular unit extraction (FUE). Their site describes this process as two steps — step 1 is extracting the hairs, step 2 is placing the hairs. There is no novelty or new procedure here.

I do not know much about the clinic other than what you can see on their site. I could not even find any physicians mentioned by name on their site… and that seems a bit strange to me.

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October 17, 2008

Dermatitis and Minoxidil – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,
First of all I’d like to congratulate you and your partners for your wonderful work on hair restoration. Also, I really felt relieved when I came across your website, because I always kind of felt alone since I first started experiencing hair loss (which was about two years ago).

I am 22 years old and although my hair loss story is not a very long one, I think it is a little bizarre, and here’s why. About two – two and a half years ago, in about March 2006, I first started having a lot of dandruff, which was of the dry type though; my scalp skin was dry and felt normal. So, I did not really pay any attention to it, I would just shampoo twice or three times a week and I thought I was alright. Then in the summer, I suddenly started losing hair. I was terrified because I was always proud of my hair – I would even buzz it and still my scalp would show through very little. The dandruff became flakes, the skin dried off completely, and everytime I shampooed (with a zinc pyrithione shampoo) my scalp would get red and irritated. It was a case of “bad seborrehic dermatitis”, my dermatologist told me. So, I had to shampoo with a coal tar and salicilic acid shampoo. So far so good, I thought I would keep it under control like this. But the hair loss continued and I was left with little hair, compared to my previous strong thick hair. Even today, the scalp balance is totally screwed up and if I don’t shampoo one day, my scalp gets oily in a weird way, it kinda looks like something between oil and sweat. My hair has become fine too. Now about hair loss: I had some diffuse thinning, most of it came back although finer and oilier, but lately I see some temple thinning which is quite alarming. I shampoo with Nizoral 2% but I see very little difference, I am trying to dry my scalp to a normal level and it always oils up again. My questions are:

Is the dermatitis killing my hair , causing MPB?

I recently started using Minoxidil, is it any good if the scalp is possibly still infected by dermatitis?

Will propecia, considering I start using it, have any effect on my hair/sebum/hormones on my scalp?

Thanks a lot, I would really appreciate if my mail is posted, I am sure it would help many guys in the same situation as me.

Seborrheic dermatitis should not be a cause of hair loss and it is not caused by an overt infection. I wonder if you have psoriasis.
Minoxidil should not hurt you, but it can make the seborrheic dermatitis worse.
Before trying Propecia, it needs to be determined by your doctor if you really have male pattern baldness. If you do, then Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is the right way to go. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and know for sure what you are treating.

October 16, 2008

Dr Rassman Looks Very Handsome – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman,
My mother saw your picture and she says you’re very handsome. She says you look a lot like Lenny on Law & Order. She also likes your mature hairline and salt and pepper hair.

As a single, dating man, I always like to hear that kind of stuff. I don’t think I have a resemblance to the late actor Jerry Orbach from Law & Order, but I’ll take it! Thank her for making my day.

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