Month: April 2009

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Having Troubles Applying Rogaine Foam – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Thanks for all you great help and advice Dr. Rassman & Dr. Pak…Its obvious how much your site is appreciated by all the balding males and females…

Anyways, my question revolves around the application of rogaine to the scalp. I have a decent amount of hair on my head and find it hard to get rogaine directly to the scalp – especially the foam…..I part my hair but still find that it seems my scalp becomes more saturated with the medication rather then my scalp…Does rogaine get absorbed to the scalp systemic circulation and cause hair growth across the scalp or rather just in the area applied? Do you have any advice for the application of minoxidil or rogaine foam? I have read the information that comes with the actual foam but its not that informative…just tells you to part your hair and apply to the crown (from what I understand though is that Rogaine has shown growth all over the scalp except the temporal region). I apply to the frontal region and crown myself…

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

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I suppose having trouble applying Rogaine because you have too much hair is a good thing. You can try parting your hair and applying around the part. Or applying it when your hair is damp and shows more scalp area. I would apply the foam anywhere you want hair to grow. It may not work as well on the temporal or frontal region, but it does not hurt to try.

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Gynecomastia from Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Sir/Madam
I have been using minoxidil for more than year and i am happy with it, since the results are great so far!I have been pretty concerned lately though, given that i seem to be developing some kind of gynecomastia. Perhaps it is due to high levels of prolactine (just a guess)… Could minoxidil increase the level of prolactine and thus lead to gynecomastia?
Thanks a lot in advance

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There are many possible causes of gynecomastia and you should certainly see a doctor to rule them out. I have answered the question of minoxidil and gynecomastia before, and there is no connection between the two that I’m aware of.

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Can I Predict How Fast I’ll Lose Hair Even If I’m Already Taking Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 25 (almost 26) and I am starting to notice some hair loss. I have been using generic finasteride…5 mg…and I cut it into 4 pieces to take once a day. I’ve been using it for a couple years now. I also use Rogaine (the foam), though sometimes I forget to put the rogaine on.

I have noticed on this board that you mention finasteride will “eventually stop working” and there is really nothing I can do about it. Is there any way to further slow the growth down? I was thinking of upping my dosage to 2-3 mg a day of finasteride. Will this work? Am I doing myself a disservice by using the generic brand instead of Proscar?

Also, is there any way to predict exactly how much hair I will lose, and how fast?

Thanks!

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Finasteride does not stop working, but your hair loss can continue while you are taking it. Some people report a noticeable decline in the benefits they saw from Propecia after the 5 year mark or so, but that just means your body is winning the tug of war over genetic balding. If you stop the medication at that point, you will see even further, faster loss (which is what I refer to as “catch-up” hair loss). Finasteride slows hair loss in men, but does not necessarily stop it. I wouldn’t up the dosage without first consulting your prescribing physician. The higher the dose, the greater the side effect risk.

To my knowledge, there should be no difference between the generic finasteride 5mg pills cut into quarters from the 1mg Propecia pill. It’s the same drug, afterall… just different dosages.

There is no way to predict exactly what your hair loss pattern will be or when you’ll get to it. You can get a good idea by mapping your scalp for miniaturization, and then mapping it again in 6-12 months to see the progression (if any). An educated guess could give you some clues at that point, but it’s not an exact science.

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How Would Hair Multiplication Work in the Market? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

How would Hair Multiplication work? Not technology wise, but market placement wise. How much would it cost? I’m pretty sure they could charge whatever they want and it wouldn’t change the mind of too many potential customers you would think. So really it’s a question of of their ethical and moral standpoint I guess, but if you could give some sort of estimate I would really appreciate it. Also what would happen to the drugs market, I know drugs like Finasteride, Dutasteride and Minoxidil are used for other reasons but I have reason to believe that most of their money is made in the Hair loss market, I’m aware that most people who are in the early stages of MPB would continue to use these as you can still get a good 5+ years out of it, but people worried about side-effects and people who are on high income will just forgo the drugs and go straight into the HM procedure. Finally I wonder about hair transplant doctors such as yourselves, I know that they will be useful in performing the HM procedures but from the procedures described by Intercytex these would be of much less precision and skill, would this mean that HT doctors would have to take a huge wage fall? I think most of the money would be paid to the company which take the hair follicles and multiply them, so what is your opinion on this.

On another note, I asked a question recently about why hair follicles can’t be preserved and I now understand that they can not be preserved, so how is this going to work? they plan to take your hair and multiply and this process would take a few weeks, but surely all the hair would just die in that time?

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I do not know the answers to your questions. I would assume that there will be training in whatever the technology evolves into, but as it is not final yet, there is no way to tell. Usually drug companies come out with the product and the process and doctors become qualified to use it.

Take Botox, for example… the doctor buys it from the manufacturer and then charges the patient for the medicine used and the service he provides with its use. I would imagine the same would occur with hair multiplication.

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Yuda Pilatory Platinum Edition – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I was looking online for numerous hair loss products and after researching about the products I found, it turned out that most of them are scams. However, I found a product called Yuda Pilatory Platinum Edition. (chinahairloss.com)

I couldn’t find any information on this product. Does anyone know if this product actually works or is it just another scam?

Thank you

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I don’t have a clue if these herbals work, but I love the cartoon they use at the top of their site of the fellow spraying this stuff in his mouth and got a hairy tongue. Ridiculous! In fact, at the top of the site it says that it is an herbal formula “without color and taste”, and then at the bottom lists a caution as “can not be eaten”. Uh…

The ingredients listed on that site certainly don’t lead me to believe this Yuda “platinum edition” will provide the benefits the seller is promising (the box art says hair growth in 10 days — ha!).

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In the News – Embryonic Stem Cells Regrow Hair in Mice – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

A university lecturer has succeeded in regenerating hair on mice using embryonic stem cells, an achievement that could pave the way for the development of treatments for conditions including hair loss, it has been learned.

Details of the breakthrough, by Mariko Yamaki of Matsumoto Dental University, will be published in the May edition of The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine magazine.

The work involved taking skin cells and combining them with mesenchymal stem cells-multipotent stem cells that develop into various organs of the body-to regenerate hair. Yamaki said it would be difficult to regenerate hair using only embryonic stem cells.

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Read the full article — Embryonic stem cells used to regenerate hair on mice

This seems to show the connection between stem cells produced by embryos can grow hair. The question I’d like to see answered is whether the same can be shown for adult stem cells from the same person. If it could, the barrier brought on by the FDA should be bypassed and adult stem cells could appear on the market. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet though, as this is still experiments with mice at this point. It sure is exciting stuff, though!

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Starting with 0.5mg of Finasteride, Then Increasing to 1mg in a Few Months – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I just began taking 0.5mg Propecia this week. It was a decision of mine because I was a bit paranoid of the side effects and figured I would start halfway and at least save my hair. My plan is to increase to 1mg at 4-5 months. Is there any danger to this transition, like increased likeliness of a shed after going to 1 mg?

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There is no problem with this approach, but I can not understand your doing it. I would understand if you got negative sexual side effects, which is 1 in a hundred chance. The full dose is the way to go for best results.

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What’s the Purpose of Taking Propecia If I Just Need Hairline Help? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a question regarding the entry “How Many Months Does it Usually Take for Regrowth from Propecia to Occur?”. You said it’s unlikely that people with a norwood 3 will be able to re-grow hair at the frontal hairline. In this case, is there a purpose in taking propecia? Would hair transplant be better in restoring the frontal hairline?

I am actually very worried about taking propecia because I am scared that I may have to stop taking it one day (due to the cost of the drug) or for other reasons that I can’t continue using it. And you mentioned that once someone stops taking the drug, hair will fall out rapidly. Even though 2 dermatologists told me that once I stopped using it, my hair will just go back to the state prior to taking the drug (so I am just buying time using propecia).

Can you also help me with finding a reputable doctor (or a hair transplant surgeon?) I can consult in Toronto, Ontario as I am not sure how to get in touch with one.

Thank you so much

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Your question reflects your confusion of the facts as they exist. Propecia (finasteride) rarely regrows hair in the Norwood Class 3 balding pattern (frontal area). Transplants are the way to go if you qualify as a candidate (loose “rule” is if you’re over 24 years old… or if you are younger and have a good doctor that doesn’t just want to get your money). Hair loss is progressive in nature, and as I don’t have enough information about you, I couldn’t begin to guess as to whether your hair loss has stabilized or if you’re in for further loss. Your dermatologists told you correct info — if you stop Propecia, you may rapidly go back to where you would have been had you not taken it. There are generic forms of finasteride (in 5mg dosage that can be cut) which can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of Propecia, but you need a doctor’s prescription for it.

To find a doctor in your area, go to the ISHRS site and look up the doctors in Toronto using their physician search. Every city has some good doctors and some dishonest ones, so be sure to research your chosen physician on the web (and you can figure out the reputation of the doctors by looking on various industry bulletin boards, including Hair Transplant Network and Hair Loss Help).

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Hair Spray and Alcohol-Based Hair Products – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I recently noticed that one of the first ingredients in pretty much all the hairsprays out there is some form of alcohol. I understand that the chemicals in gels, mousses, foams, waxes and sprays don’t directly cause hair loss, but it is also widely agreed that alcohol-based hair products are not good for the scalp and therefore are not good for hair either.

I know that in your book you give a warning that hairsprays can aggravate hair loss if one is not careful due to excessive strain/traction of the hair, but would the alcohol in hairsprays also contribute to hair loss by doing bad things to the scalp like overdrying? I think your book is great including the section on hair shaping products, but one thing I am still wondering is your general stance on hair shaping products and their effect on hair loss (more hairspray than anything else). Thanks.

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Hair Loss and Replacement for DummiesAlcohol based hair products will not cause hair loss. The body has sebum which coats the hair as it exits the scalp and that process protects the hair most of the time. Alcohol based products can dry the scalp, so the use of good conditioners for dry hair is a good way to manage your scalp and hair.

If you liked the book Hair Loss and Replacement For Dummies, why not submit a review to Amazon? I could use the boost, since there’s only been one review thus far. I’m excited to see that the book is now #1 for all books on hair loss, though. And for those that don’t know about the book, buy it here!