May 2009 – Page 12 – Balding Blog

May 4, 2009

I Think I Had Shock Loss Even Though I’ve Been Taking Finasteride – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr,

Thanks for providing all the information you are providing to hair loss sufferers. I have a question. I had a Transplant a 7 weeks ago(Strip method) on my crown area. I was on (and still on) Finasteride prior to my Transplant. Lately I lost my native hair and I am seeing that I have less hair on my top now compared to hair that I had before the transplant. I learnt that this is because of the shock loss. But I was on finasteride before the HT. So, do you think this is temporary and can expect m native hair back. If so how much time does it take?

I try to educate my patients and readers everyday… and this must be one of the top ten things I want the public to understand.

Taking Propecia (finasteride) does not protect you 100% from experiencing shock loss — it only lowers the risk. If you have shock loss, there’s not much you can do (actually, nothing you can do)… and if it is in miniaturized hairs, it may very well be permanent! Statistics do not matter to those who have shock loss even while on Propecia. This is one of the risks of a hair transplant and you must always balance the benefits of surgery with the risks of surgery.

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May 4, 2009

Dr. Farjo Answers More Intercytex Questions – Balding Blog

Thank you very much for answering our questions and for having this site. Thank you Dr. Farjo for joining. These questions are for Dr. Farjo re: hair multiplication/intercytex study:

Is Intercytex going to phase 3 trials with the procedure they currently have?

Is the current product marketable given the current results, if it does go into phase 3? (It sounds like it is not, but that it created an enterance into another idea that may be marketable)

How long do you think it will be before a marketable product exists?

You mention that further studies are planned. When do you think this new Photo-hair technology will be tested on humans?

Will Intercytex be doing these studies? It sounds like they are waiting for someone else to buy them out. If not Intercytex, who will be doing these studies?

Intercytex has mentioned they have given Bosley the option of purchasing them or parterning. Bosley has their own theory on how to make this work, so why would Bosley buy them? (Speculating of course)

Who else besides Intercytex and Bosley/Aderans seems to be doing hair multiplication testing/research?

Thank you for any or all all answers to the above questions.

The following response is by UK-based physician Dr. Bessam Farjo:

Response by:

Dr Bessam Farjo
United Kingdom

A decision has not been made yet on timing. One reason is that we are still waiting on the analysis of the global photos concerning the larger of the injected areas. A second reason is the more promising finding of growing hairs out of the multiplied cells in the lab in the mouse, which will hopefully lead to a new clinical trial. Finally there are financial restrictions at the moment due to the global economic situation that is affecting most biotech companies.
See Q1. A product goes into market only after successful phase III.
Due to all what I mentioned it would be foolish of me to predict that with any accuracy.
A clinical trial should take place once the lab studies on human hair produce results reliably and predictably. We’re not at that point yet.
No, that is not the case. They said they are looking for funding from outside the company for this project. Given the funds, Intercytex will continue with these studies.
Bosley has an option to market Intercytex’s product should they succeed ahead of Bosley (or more accurately Aderans). I take this opportunity to confirm that I am neither a director nor a shareholder with Intercytex plc.
I am not aware of anyone else.

You’re very welcome.

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Learn more about the author of this article, Dr. Bessam Farjo, on his BaldingBlog profile or at his website.

May 1, 2009

Why Isn’t Dr Rassman in the IAHRS? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

why arent you (Dr Rassman) a member of http://www.iahrs.org/

Is this alliance/organisation credible? The reason i ask is because i am thinking of a Hair transplant and want to find the best surgeon for that. thanks for your time.

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I look at IAHRS as a marketing organization for some of the best doctors in the industry. One of the requirements of the IAHRS is that the represented doctors perform only follicular unit transplantation, which I strongly agree with. I had been a member for years and my decision to withdraw was a business decision alone. I fully respect the IAHRS in that they play no industry politics and react with integrity as a consumer advocacy group.

I am fortunate in that I publish BaldingBlog daily, which has become my main means of educating the consumer public. With the many thousands of unique visitors per day, I have achieved my own marketing presence with a substantial educational backbone. In addition, I am able to use my name recognition (at least within the industry) to not necessarily need to pay to be included in every hair organization that will allow me. Most of the original work on follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction (FUE) was pioneered by the New Hair Institute, and you can review my contributions on my CV.

Also, I should point out that some people confuse the IAHRS with the ISHRS, but they are unrelated.

May 1, 2009

In the News – Hair Loss Sufferers Need Emotional Help – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Experts have called for more understanding of the psychological problems faced by men and women affected by hair loss.

A report commissioned by hair loss supplement company Viscera found that almost a third of people in the UK suffered from hair loss or had experienced it in the past.

While the majority of people were affected by male pattern baldness or hair thinning, around 2% of people suffered from alopecia.

Many of those with hair loss reported no emotional problems, but a “significant minority” of people were found to be at risk of serious psychosocial consequences, including depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem and identity change, according to the report’s author, health psychologist Dr Nigel Hunt.

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Read the rest of the article — More support urged over hair loss

Some people take it in stride, and others are genuinely distraught about losing their hair. There’s no right or wrong way to be when you are watching yourself get balder and balder. Emotions can run wild when your self-esteem is feeling low… and that is why I always keep a box of tissue in my office.

May 1, 2009

Violent Beating Left Me Missing a Chunk of Hair! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I was the victim of a gang beating last week and during the struggle a fist full of hair was ripped from the top of my head! I have thin but very long hair and I’m 30 years old with no history of family baldness but the patch ripped off me is quite bald and very damaged shorter hairs surround the area as well,will my hair regrow on its own? and is there anything that I can do to help the process along any faster? any advice please!!!

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Beating Trauma such as what you describe is unfortunate. Most of the hair should grow back, but it will take time (possibly up to a year), though much of the regrowth should occur in the first 6 months. Unfortunately, there is no process to speed this along.

May 1, 2009

Do Asians Lose Less Hair Than Caucasians Each Day? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve read that Asian hair has less hair loss daily than Caucasians. Is this true and if so how much is lost daily? I’m a 22-year-old Asian adoptee and I’ve always lost high amounts of hair daily for as long as I can remember, sometimes up to a 100-150 on some days. Is this an indication that I’m going bald?

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Asians do have less hair than Caucasians, but in general people lose about 100 hairs a day. You are in the normal range. As an Asian, you probably have 80% of the hairs on your head as a Caucasian, so you might draw the conclusion that you would lose 20% less hair each day. If you are worried, the key is to get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and determine if you are in the early stages of genetic male hair loss.

May 1, 2009

Using the LaserComb After a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I used the Hairmax Lasercomb for 6 months or so. I expected major new growth but saw nothing to that extent. The only thing the product really did was make my remaining hair appear healthier. Overall i don’t know what to think of the Lasercomb. From what i’ve read it doesnt seem to target DHT or regrow the long lost hair lost due to DHT. “It is only to be believed to promote healthy anagen hair growth” (From hair follicles that have not been damages from DHT im guessing?). So wouldn’t the LaserComb be great for newly transplanted patients?

I’m two weeks post op. My grafts are securely anchored and the transplanted hairs are shedding, would it be safe for me to use the lasercomb and how effective would it be?

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I don’t think that the LaserComb would produce any harm to transplanted hairs. I doubt it’ll be “great” for them, but if you’re happy with your hair health on non-transplanted hairs, by all means…