Month: June 2009

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Hair Loss InformationYears After Hair Transplant, I Still Get Scabby Growths in Recipient Area – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

At least 5-10 years ago I had multiple sessions of hair transplants. All these years later, I am still getting scabby type growths at up to dozens of the implant recipient sites.They dont hurt ,but they feel annoying-as they feel like small crusty raised bumps that I have to kind of pick and tease off since hair is growing up threw the center of them.I am fair skinned Irish so I am very careful not to get a sunburn on my scalp or it makes this problem MUCH worse .Any advice/product or Rx recommended?? Thank You

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I would have to see you and look at your skin to understand the problem. Flaky skin (dandruff) can be something brought on by a scalp surgery. Zinc and tar based shampoos will work to control this. You can buy this in any neighborhood drugstore.

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Rogaine and Dandruff – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hello doctor,

My question is ive been doing both rogaine and propecia for almost ten years. All of a sudden a couple months ago i started to get some dandruff (mild case). i am now using dhs zinc shampoo. the dandruff is still there but im controlling it and its not too bad. should i stop using the rogaine as it may be causing the dandruff? and if i use rogaine having some dandruff will that cause hair loss? (i did see my dermatologist and he didnt seem to concerned about me having the dandruff plus using the rogaine)

Thank you for your time

Rogaine (minoxidil) can cause scalp irritation and give you flaking. The use of zinc shampoos like Head and Shoulders works to control dandruff, so you’re on the right path. You will not develop hair loss from the dandruff.

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Hair Loss InformationWhy All the Negative Doctor Posts Without Stating Their Names? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman. I have noticed that you have a fair amount of threads about bad transplant surgeons such as this one here, but you never say the doctor’s name. What is the point in posting this unless you mention the Doctor’s name so patients in the future will stay clear of this doctor and others? Without mentioning the doctor’s name, other patients will be subject to his horrible results.

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CrookI would love to mention the doctors’ names, but that would almost certainly bring me into court, something that I do not wish to spend my life doing (it might bring me to the brink of financial ruin with large lawyer fees just to prove what I said). I get angry when I see the mess created by many of these doctors, but alas, you must use the information in ways to become a knowledgeable buyer, so I use this blog to call people’s attention to what they need to look for when engaging a doctor’s service for a hair transplant.

In 1994, at a medical meeting that easily had 400 physician in the audience, I rose to the microphone and openly referred to the sleaze in this business, with doctors low balling patients and deforming them without telling them the risks to hair transplantation (giving them proper informed consent). The surgical results before 1994 were often deforming and pluggy. These, in hindsight, were very substandard when compared to today’s artfully performed hair transplants. Many doctors would not enter the business to perform hair transplants because of the deforming nature of the surgery at that time. One doctor, in particular, was my target and when I exemplified this sleazy, dishonest doctor without mentioning his name (I called him a “crook” in the true sense of the word), the audience responded with a standing ovation for my being so outspoken, echoing my message. At the end of the session, I was surrounded by many doctors congratulating me on my outspoken comment. One doctor (the one whose name was never mentioned) waited for the crowd to clear and approached me with great anger, saying that he did not appreciate my calling him a crook. As I never mentioned his name, I said “If the shoe fits, wear it” and walked away.

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Hair Loss InformationDid Retired Pro Hockey Player Eric Lindros Have a Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

If you watch the attached videos of Eric Lindros (former professional hockey player), would you assume that he has had a hair transplant or is that a hair piece? I would estimate that the videos are 5-8 years apart. If it is a transplant, the results are exceptional. In the first video, he clearly has signs of a receeding/thinning hairline. Conversely, in the second video (interview after his retirement) he has a full head of hair. What are your thoughts?

– Youtube – Eric Lindros in 1997
– Youtube – Eric Lindros in 2007

Thank you in advance for your time. Best Regards.

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Here are side by side still shots from the videos you linked to:

Eric Lindros

The comparison with the 1997 pictures show Eric Lindros is a Class 3 Vertex balding pattern (front and crown). From the pictures, I can not tell if it is a hair piece or a hair transplant, but he is doing something to give himself hair. When the hair is combed forward, a lot can be hidden. Perhaps he started on medication like Propecia or Rogaine. Propecia was FDA approved in late 1997, so he could’ve started it soon after. I really am just speculating, of course. For all I know, it could’ve been witchcraft (though I’m 99% convinced it wasn’t).

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Hair Loss InformationHave Any Patients Gone Completely Bald While on Propecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Have you ever seen anybody end up going completely bald while on Propecia?

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Interesting question. Some men start Propecia when they have advanced balding patterns and few start when they have a full head of hair with early miniaturization. Those that started Propecia with a full head of hair (with some miniaturization) are slowing losing hair to some degree, but I do not recall anyone that became completely bald. I suspect that there are patients who will develop a Norwood Class 7 pattern of balding even on the drug, but these are few and far between. This does not mean you are guaranteed to not go bald on Propecia. I suspect I have not followed someone long enough in the last 10+ years to have seen it (or if they became bald, they never followed up with me).

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Hair Loss InformationIn the News – ISHRS Says Hair Restoration Patients Up 26% in 2008 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the press release:

Despite the worldwide economic downturn in 2008, more people continued to seek treatment for hair loss, according to statistics released today from a recent member survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) — the world’s leading medical authority on hair loss and hair restoration. The extrapolated worldwide number of hair restoration patients treated in 2008 was approximately 811,363 (236,468 surgical patients and 574,894 non-surgical patients) — up 26 percent from 2006.

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Read the rest at Marketwatch.com

These are some interesting statistics. If you’re considering a hair transplant, you’re obviously not alone. Hair transplants have never looked better, and with fees drastically reduced now is the time!

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Hair Loss InformationIt Seems Doctors Are Seeing More Gynecomastia from Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman,

I’m in my mid-30s and have been experiencing hair loss for the past 5 years. I feel like I’m at the stage where I need to decide if I want to take finasteride or not. My biggest concern is the side effects.

It seems that more and more I hear (both on the news and from friends who are doctors) how doctors are seeing a greater prevalence of male gynecomastia. The often sited reason for this is due to the increased use of finasteride (both for prostate treatment and hair loss treatment). Of course, it could just be that gynecomastia in men makes for an interesting story on a slow news day…

My question is, do the number and types of side-effects experienced by your patients on finasteride agree with published studies?

In reading this blog you do make mention of how some of your patients experience side effects, but you’ve never made mention if the number of side effects you’ve seen clinically are more, less, or the same compared to the numbers posted by Merck.

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I’ve had 2 patients in the past 2 years that had gynecomastia. Both stopped finasteride and it went away. Most of my patients are on Propecia/finasteride. I would tend to agree with the statistics published by Merck.

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Do I Have Premature Balding? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Well I’m 17 years old and i have a few questions. My hair is completely different both in color and in type from my mum and Dad. My dad suffers from baldness yet my grandpa from my dads family tree didn’t suffer from baldness. My Mother’s family doesn’t suffer from baldness at all. Lately I’ve noticed some thinning in the crown of my head, but i don’t know if i suffer from premature baldness, I blow dry my hair every day, and i wash it everyday I hardly ever comb it, I also touch my hair alot which might make it oily, could all of this be the reason for the thinning or is it really premature baldness?

Genetic balding can start in the teenage years. I can’t say for sure whether you’re losing hair due to genetics as I haven’t seen you, but if your dad has balding you could’ve gotten the gene passed from him. It can come from either side of the family. Also, oily hair isn’t a cause of loss, nor is the lack of combing.

My suggestion is to do a miniaturization mapping of your scalp hair and find out if you are balding. You can learn how to do it yourself if your doctor can’t / won’t do it — click here.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Transplants for 20 Year Olds? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

do you do procedures under the age of 25 im 20, because for some reasons other surgions like bernstein wouldnt……also is there another alternative other than propecia that doesnt have side effects to prevent further hair loss?

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At 20 years old, you’re likely not a candidate for surgery unless there is obvious recession and you are realistic in your expectations. When Dr. Bernstein turns down a 20 year old, I generally follow his lead as we both are very concerned about your long term prognosis. Hair loss is progressive, so transplanting you now without planning for future hair loss is a bad idea, particularly if your future pattern is uncertain. You have a finite amount of hair that can be transplanted, so you don’t want to use it all up now and then continue to bald years down the line without enough reserves to follow the hair loss. There are many doctors eager to get your money, so you can find other doctors willing to transplant a young man of any age.

As for Propecia’s (finasteride) side effects — they are overblown. Propecia is easily the best medication for those men with early hair loss. The only alternative I recommend is minoxidil (Rogaine), as it is also FDA approved to treat hair loss. Minoxidil will not prevent hair loss in the same way that Propecia will, and has it’s own issues with side effects. Remember, each and every medication has the potential for side effects (look at Tylenol, for example), as each person is different and will respond differently to it.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss from HGH – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

Does the hair loss associated with HGH reverse with continued treatment or with discontinuation of treatment? That is, does the hair grow back? I just started using only 1IU of somatropin every other day, and 5 shots into it I am noticing some hair falling out when I’m styling it.

Thanks!

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I suspect that the genetic hair loss you have has been accelerated and is likely not to return. Men without genetic balding should not develop hair loss from HGH.