How long for a full skin recovery after a plug removal? (punch size 1 mm)
A 1mm punch excision will usually fill in over a week’s period of time. Large punches will take longer unless they are sutured together.
Using Minoxidil and Nizoral Before a Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
I use minoxidil and nizoral shampoo and am considering a hair transplant procedure in the future. Will it be necessary to suspend use of these products before or after hair surgery? If so how long before and how long after?
I just tell patients to continue on their treatments up until the day before surgery and then restart them about a week after surgery. Withdrawal effects from minoxidil will not occur in 1 week. Always discuss pre and post care with your surgeon, though.
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My Stylist Is Helping Me Treat My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Hi,
I’m 22 and starting to bald. My stylist said it’s from High DHT levels. She gave me NIOXIN System 1 and told me not to worry that my scalp is still alive and NIOXIN will take care of it. It’s been a month and I’m still gradually thinning. There’s evidence of it all over my head. especially my sides receeding and my sideburns thinning. She said NIOXIN would help me keep most of my hair.What should be my next step. Speak with my dermatologist? I don’t really know any hair experts. I have long hair, and it’s a big part of me. I really want to hold on to it. I’d hate to lose it before I’m 24. Is my baldness inevitable? Or is it really possible to catch it early and take care of it with the NIOXIN S1 treatment? I’d be thankful just to hold on to what I have now. Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks for your time
Well, of course your scalp is alive. Unless you have gangrene all over your head, I think that would be a given. Your hair stylist isn’t necessarily going to be an expert in treating hair loss, but I’m sure she’s an expert in selling products that are available in the salon. The Nioxin won’t solve your hair loss problems, and I’ve found that medication such as Propecia and/or Rogaine are the best bets. You can discuss a Propecia prescription with your dermatologist, and Rogaine is available over the counter.
I don’t know if your balding is inevitable since I haven’t seen you. I’ve found much success in treating patients with Propecia, and even if you don’t see regrowth with that daily pill, it’ll at least hold onto the hair you have. If you want to try to make your own diagnosis, look to Mapping Your Own Scalp for Miniaturization.
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In the News – Frozen Hair Leads to Sequencing Mammoth DNA – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Snippet from the article:
Tufts of frozen woolly mammoth hair have yielded a rough draft of its genome. It’s the most successful attempt to sequence the DNA of an extinct ancient animal to date, and although we won’t see resurrected mammoths grazing the tundra anytime soon, it could give us a peek into the reasons for their extinction.
Sequencing extinct organisms is tricky since DNA strands quickly degrade after death into short fragments that are difficult to piece back together. In porous tissue like bone, these fragments can also become flooded by DNA from bacteria and fungi growing on the decomposing body, making it hard to pick out the genetic material of interest.
Read the full text at NewScientist — Frozen hair gives up first mammoth genome
This is very, very cool stuff. We can learn much about the genetics of an animal from the DNA of hair. Scientists now know that elephants and mammoths are closely related (more so than previously thought), and this is the best example of a near complete genome of an extinct animal, since they used an elephant as the blueprint.
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Hair Loss InformationAfter Taking Propecia for 6 Years, I Began Noticing Side Effects – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Doc, I am an active, healthy 37 year old. After taking Propecia for 6+ years with little side effects, I started to notice a decreased libido, difficulty maintaining an erection, no morning erections, a smaller penis in the flaccid state and a feeling of “disconnect” (mind from penis). I stopped taking it 6 weeks ago and have not noticed a change, other than my hair loss has increased again. I have read on other sites men complaining of similar symptoms and claiming they are permanent. I have considered getting a testosterone level, A DHT level, FSH/LH, E-2, and Prolactin levels. I haven’t mentioned any of my concerns to my (female) physician. Any suggestions (other than discussing them with her? -which I will).
Decreased libido and difficultly maintaining an erection are reported side effects that occur in 1 to 2% of men taking Propecia, but the same symptoms are prevalent in more than 2% of the men who are NOT taking Propecia. You may have other unrelated health issues (undiagnosed diabetes, blood pressure problems, etc) that can also contribute to this. That is why you are doing the right thing by seeing your primary care physician. See Propecia Gave Me Side Effects — How Can I Get My Sex Drive Back? for more.
As far as the DHT and testosterone or FSH/LH tests, I really don’t have an opinion, as your endocrinologist will be better suited to advise you on whether you need those tests. With respect to a smaller penis size, I highly doubt a drug is shrinking your penis… just as there is no drug that grows your penis size. With respect to a disconnect with your penis, you may want to see a counselor. I highly doubt this problem is from Propecia. I wonder what Sigmund Freud would say…
Hair Loss InformationFinasteride Operates as a Neurosteroid Inhibitor – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Dr Rassman, if you would do a little more digging, you’d realize that besides inhibiting 5AR2 reduction of Testosterone to DHT, Finasteride also operates as a NEUROSTEROID inhibitor of Allopregnanolone and THDOC synthesis, neurosterois which can then no longer act properly on GABA-A receptors in the brain.
See page 3 for diagram: PDF file at CNS Drug Reviews
Also, from Journal of Neuroscience
“This may have implications on the clinical use of neurosteroid synthesis inhibitors such as finasteride (Propecia), because certain neurological disorders related to steroid hormone changes may be worsened by finasteride treatment (Herzog and Frye, 2003).”From Journal of Andrology
Notably, preliminary studies indicate that, as in the rodent, finasteride may increase depression in men as a result of the loss of allopregnanolone (eg, Altomare et al, 2002; Rahimi-Ardabili et al, 2006).This raises the possibility that lowered levels of the neurosteroid contribute to the reduced sexual desire reported for some patients.”
Clearly the dermatology community loves to downplay the true sexual, physical and mental health risks of this drug — to admit the truth would be financial suicide. The fact is, neurosteroid inhibition via Finasteride can effect one’s mental health, if one is susceptible to such inhibition.
Perhaps you should try the medication yourself for 2 years Dr Rassman, and see how less mentally sharp you become… in addition to the possibility of altering the androgen/estrogen ratio in favor of estrogens, developing gynecomastia, penile fibrosis due to depleted DHT levels, loss of morning and spontaneus erections, and prostatic involution — just for starters.
If you were to experience these issues as many other men have thanks to this drug, I doubt you’d be so dismissive of the effects of androgen deprivation therapy via 5AR inhibition.
I’ve been on Propecia for well over 2 years and I still have the mental capacity to run multiple businesses, develop new tools and techniques, perform surgery, and even write a daily hair loss blog. Not only have I not seen any negative side effects from the medication, but the great majority of my patients that take the medication haven’t reported these side effects to me either. Before I started this site, it was very, very rare that I had read/heard any reports like that. The Internet provides a very big megaphone for those that have problems, real or perceived.
I have posted your opinions and your references. I appreciate the time you took in collecting the sources and quotes. Clearly the readers need to draw their own conclusions.
Hair Loss InformationStopped Diane 35 (Cyproterone) After 10 Years – Now I’m Losing Hair! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Hi Dr
My hair started shedding very badly 4 weeks ago. I shed 200-300 visible strands after a shower, and 5-6 strands every time I run my fingers gently through my hair. My scalp has also become very oily and scalp pimples have formed.The only change that has happened to my lifestyle in the last two months was the discontinuation of Diane 35 (after 10 years) just 2 weeks before I noticed the shedding. I have done all the necessary blood work two weeks ago. I am perfectly healthy, with the exception of a low LSH and low ferritin (at 27). I do not have a stressful lifestyle. Do you think the sudden massive shedding was triggered by the discontinuation of Diane 35? If yes, in your experience, how long will this last and will my hair grow back?
Big thanks in advance. Your advice will be very much appreciated.
Cheers!
I am not an expert on hormone manipulation, but by stopping the Diane 35 (cyproterone) you obviously have made a change and your scalp hair has been impacted in some way by the withdrawal of the birth control pills. The blood work needs to be presented to your gynecologist with the questions you asked. Hair transplant surgeons do not have the patient population with women taking hormonal therapy or birth control pills.
Hair Loss InformationWeightlifting, Testosterone, Psoriasis, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Hi Dr. 2 questions
- I was curious if you believe there to be correlations between weightlifting and baldness for those genetically predisposed to it Clearly testosterone increases when weightlifting which I guess may increase DHT levels?
- I have either scalp psoriasis or seborrhea I’ve seen many dermatologists over the years and have heard different things from different docs. Anyways I read that biotin supplements may help manage the issue as a sufferer yourself what are your thoughts?
Hi reader. 2 answers:
- There is no connection. I’ve written about this many times before.
- These oral potions / supplements just do not work for treating those conditions unless they have a steroid in them, which would be making them dangerous.
Hair Pulled Out in Attack – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I have a family member that was brutally attacked and handfuls of her beautiful blond hair was pulled from her head with the roots. Will her hair grow back or has she been permanently damaged.
I have seen cases like this before, and I can tell you that the hair will most likely return in up to 6 months, if not sooner.
Lupus Nephritis and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Hi Dr. William,
I have been on steroids (Wysolone) for 6 months as I was diagnosed for Lupus Nephritis. I have lost hair significantly. Now the steriods have stopped, i need to know will the hair come back or is there something that I can try to stimulate hair growth.
Thanks
Lupus is one of the medical cause of hair loss. Corticosteroid (Wynsolone) is another potential cause of hair loss or hair thinning (as well as other side effects). The only medical option you may have at this time is topical minoxidil (Rogaine). As your hair loss was not a cause of male pattern baldness (I am assuming you are not male), drugs such as Propecia will not help.
Unfortunately there really is no drug or other treatments to grow back hair completely. There are many products out there that claim to grow hair, but I would take caution as there are no such products.
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