January 2009 – Page 9

January 14, 2009

Can Hair Just Get Thinner As You Age? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doc,
I was wondering if hair ever just gets thinner overall as you age into adulthood. I’m experiencing miniaturized hairs falling out all over my head, and I’m wondering if this is just a normal process heading into adulthood. My hairline is receding, but it is following the same pattern as my grandfather’s whose hairline stopped at a norwood 3 with thick hair all over. My hair is still thick, but the hairs keep falling out. Please help!

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We often go through various stages in the thickness of the hair. Many courser haired people will see their hair shafts thin when they leave their teenage years. This also occurs later in life as well. Add to that the different lengths of the telogen cycle of the hair (see Hair Follicle Cells Growth Stages) and most people will see their maximal hair length reduce as they get older. The young girl with 3 foot long hair at age 14 may find that she can not grow it past 18 inches at age 40 and 12 inches at age 60.

January 14, 2009

Hair Loss InformationRemoving Cobblestone Scars from Plugs? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i had a hair transplant in 1987. I only went for one session. Now, I have plugs near the temples on both sides of my head. I have shaved down the plugs but there is the “cobblestone” scars
left. Is there anything that can be done to remove these scars. I don’t want to shave my head completely, just get rid of the “cobblestone” scars. Thanks

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These cobblestone scars can be excised one-by-one. With a well done procedure, the scar from an excision will not be as bad as what was originally there.

January 14, 2009

Scared About Possible Extra Unwanted Hair Growth from Women’s Rogaine – Balding Blog

Dear Drs.

I am 55 and have been on Womens Rogaine for 5 weeks but the possible side effects have freaked me out! The crown and sides of my head are thinning. My doctor has prescribed Rogaine for Women. As of yet, I have not seen any side effects. Please tell me how I should be handling the application of the solution and all possible ways that the extra unwanted hair growth can occur. I wash my hands immediately after each application. If any drips on my face I wash. Once the solution has dried and I touch my hair do I need to wash my hands again? My hair seems to get so wet during applications and takes so long to dry. Am I applying the solution wrong? Also, after I wash my hair and it is still wet can I use styling gell, dry my hair, and then use the solution? Do I need to wash my hair before each application(morning and night)? I really want this medication to work because it is so embarrassing to have such thin hair. Thanks for your time and help.

Women's Rogaine There are some people who don’t bother to read instructions/labels on over the counter medication, and then there are others that read everything and every warning label. It seems you are the latter. Just go to your medicine cabinet and read all the side effects associated with aspirin, etc. If you use the medication as directed, you should have no problem. Also keep in mind that while Rogaine is a good medication and it works, it does not grow so much hair where you have to worry about growth on your palms just from touching it, though the absorption can cause hair growth elsewhere. Extra unwanted hair in women is a side effect of Rogaine, but as long as you use it as directed, you should be fine. If you let the Rogaine dry, applying product to your hair shouldn’t be a problem.

Perhaps if you are absorbing the drug and it is causing hair to grow where you do not want it, then you may have to stop the medication. Check with your doctor if that is the case.

January 14, 2009

How Is it Possible That Genes Will Triumph Over Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I know it requires DHT, genes and age for MPB to start. Propecia reduces DHT a major cause of MPB. Surely it doesn’t lower all DHT but enough to keep hair years and years for most men. You always say that genes will eventually win over Propecia. How is that possible? Propecia supresses DHT removing what’s needed for MPB genes to work! Since that’s the case shouldn’t Propecia forever? Or is it because of the remaining DHT that Propecia doesn’t supress works slowly with genetics until one day makes MPB progress despite being on Propecia? So in that case how come they haven’t found a drug for 100% DHT suppression yet? That would do the trick!

Finasteride (Propecia) blocks about 70% of serum DHT. By comparison, dutasteride (Avodart) blocks about 90% of serum DHT…. but nothing is 100%. Also, we know that it takes more than just blocking DHT to stop hair loss. Our adrenal glands do produce androgens as well as the testicles and can contribute to hair loss. This may be a hard concept to some, so here’s a simplified attempt at answering your question with an example. You can take all the anti-aging pills you want, but you will still age and die one day. Final score — Genes 1, Pills 0.

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January 14, 2009

How Does a Patient Look When Leaving Your Office After a Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi there,

I saw screenshots of Jon from Jon & Kate Plus 8 and had some questions:

When a patient leaves the office after the operation, does he just walk out of the office looking like Jon did (in the 3 Immediatley After photos)- without a covering/hat, redness in the forhead, and hair messy?

I just wonder for people that fly into your L.A office for a procedure then fly out straight from surgery- and having concerns about being self concious as they stand in line for the flight back.

It all depends on how bald you are or how much hair you had before the surgery. If you are completely bald, it is hard to not notice some stubble and a few patients may have considerable redness that lasts a few days on the bald scalp, but we provide a hat to cover that easily. In Jon’s case, he was able to cover the transplants by combing his natural hair forward and wearing a hat and also the ‘cover up’ may be dependent upon how you can style your hair. Quite a few patients are undetectable immediately after the surgery.

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January 13, 2009

A Reader’s Minoxidil Theory – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr.,

After much consideration, I’ve decided to stop using minoxidil. And, as expected, I am now losing hairs the minoxidil was saving. But I suspect that some of the hair I’m losing now will grow back later.

My guess is that minoxidil lengthens the anagen phase for all hairs – indiscriminately – thus delaying those hairs’ telogen phases. And so, some of the hairs I’m losing post-minoxidil are “healthy” hairs whose telogen phases were delayed. Thus, I should regrow at least some of the hairs I’m losing post-minoxidil.

Do you agree?

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No, I do not agree. People who develop minoxidil dependent hair will lose their hair if the drug is withdrawn and it will not grow back. If you don’t believe me, just wait a few months and I am sure you will be converted to my thoughts on your problem.

January 13, 2009

Hair Loss InformationBlack Rings Under Eyes After Minoxidil Use Years Ago – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr, I stopped using minoxidil 5% 3 years ago but am still suffering from black rings around my eyes. Has any more information come to light since this was first reported? Thanks

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I don’t know more about this condition other than what I have written before on this site. I did a Google search to see if I could find other cases and only saw a couple of posts with a question almost identical to yours (so I assume you asked your same question elsewhere). If more information comes available, I’ll certainly post it.

January 13, 2009

Where’s the Rush of Hair Multiplication Companies Coming to Market? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr,

Thank you so much for the great website. I have two questions. Firstly, is there any chance that Propecia can lead to infertility in men?

Secondly, if the ‘theory’ behind hair multiplication is sound is there a type of ‘gold rush’ to get this to the market place? I only ever hear about aderans and intercytex. Surely, there must be more companies looking for a cure. It seems that intercytex has had ‘relatively’ good results so far in its trial for hair multiplication. Do you believe we will ever see a complete cure for baldness? Not just stopping people going bald but allowing extensively bald people to regrow hair. For example bruce willis regaining a full head of hair.

I do think there will be a cure for baldness, just as I think there will be a cure for cancer and a cure for a rash of other diseases and ailments. When that will be is anyone’s guess, but science progresses all the time. It won’t be within the next few years, but we can all hope for the best. I have no way of knowing if it’ll help Bruce Willis regrow a full mane of hair, though. We could speculate all day, but it is just a pipe dream at this point. Hair loss isn’t a life threatening disease, so you’re not seeing yellow plastic bracelets and pink ribbon stickers everywhere with people showing their desire to help fight against balding.

Aderans is a huge Japanese company with significant funding, and Intercytex is also well funded, so the market has space, but it isn’t just something any company can rush into without a whole lot of money backing them up unless they want to just fizzle out. I’d guess that many companies will wait until the technology is proven safe and effective (if it ever is) and take it from there. I mean, just look at the rush of products that came out containing minoxidil once that was available as a generic. There is just not much that is worth my time to evaluate at this stage. When it gets to the level where the FDA has to review it for clinical testing, then there will be a track record of science that got it there and as this will always be public information, we can assess the technology at that time.

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January 13, 2009

Is Age More Important than Donor Density in Hair Transplant Patients? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr. Rassman and staff,

Doc thank you for your time, you speak your true feelings and I appreciate it. Ok, I started losing my hair around 19, which wasn’t very fun. Within a few months, I did start taking Propecia. I’m 21 years old right now, Propecia has been working for me but the damage was done early enough. I would say I’m a Class 3 on the Norwood Scale and would someday hope to change that. Personally I would love to have all of my hair back right now but it doesn’t look like that will happen too soon, but I’ll live. The hair loss process actually hasn’t been all bad; it actually has been a good humbling experience for me, although, in the end I plan on winning the battle.

I’m not really looking for a hair transplant in the near future, from what I have read on your website almost every 21 year old isn’t a good candidate. Although, is age always so relevant? I would think the biggest factor would be the donor density. Lets say you have two men who both have the same amount of hair loss (Norwood 4), one in his early twenties and the other in his mid thirties to forties. Wouldn’t a healthy 22 to 24 year old with a high density be a much better candidate than a person who is 35, 40 with an average density?? What’s your opinion on this, also where would someone go and get their hair density tested, would a dermatologist typical offer some type of test?

Donor density and where you are on the balding process are two different variables. Maturity of the balding pattern is also important for that 21 year old you referenced. There are no absolute rules with regard to having a hair transplant, but a bond between doctor and patient is critical in understand the meaning of all of the variables (age, donor density, hair characteristics, donor laxity, etc…) including the maturity and financial stability of the patient considering a hair transplant.

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January 13, 2009

Hair Loss Articles from Around the Web – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Jezebel.com gets in-depth on one of the real issues facing people all over the world — the investigation of what’s going on with rock star / reality star Bret Michaels’ hair.
Los Angeles Times is skeptical of the Laser Comb.
Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies press release is in the wild! Buy the book!
AskMen.com put together a list of future balding treatments that may or may not ever become reality.

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