July 2009 – Page 8 – Balding Blog

July 13, 2009

Hair Loss InformationCould IVF Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 41 and have gone through many series of ivf treatments. Now that I have not been on these injectables for a year, I have noticed this past year a small nickel sized bald spots on my scalp. Starting out as a dime now up to a nickel I am getting nervous. I have 3 of them now. Could IVF have had anything to do with this? I have been to my dr last year and this year for blood tests, but everything came back great. I have “invested” in shampoo’s, vitamins, follicle treatments and nothing has worked. Even my hair hasn’t “grown” in a year. I actually stopped highlighting it for 6 months and nothing. My next step is woman’s rogaine, but the box states not for patchy hair loss. Can I use it? What can I do next?

Thanks for your help

Block Quote

While I highly doubt in vitro fertilization (IVF) causes hair loss, if what you described was generalized, I would expect that the massive hormone manipulations that occur with IVF could cause diffuse hair loss. The descriptive nature of “nickle sized bald spots” is suggestive of conditions like alopecia areata. I would recommend seeing your dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis. If it is alopecia areata there is no definitive medical treatment, but the diagnosis methods are well established. Based upon the cause of the bald spot, the regrowth may be anticipated.

July 13, 2009

Tugging on Hair to Stimulate Growth, Applying Garlic to Nurish the Hair Root – Balding Blog

i have evidence that there are methods to reverse hair loss without paying money for chemicals like minoxidil or for surgery. however, because these methods are completely natural and can’t really be bought or sold, there is resistance to publish this information or no incentive to pay for clinical tests to produce results that they work.

examples include:
1) topical application of garlic, onion and olive oil to the scalp to nurish and clean the hair root;
2) using store bought saw palmetto to block dth;
3) stimulating hair by tugging on it gently, etc.

over a duration of 2 months results can be seen because dormant follicles begin sprouting hair again.

Delicious garlic How did you unlock these secrets that medical professionals have been hiding for years?! Let’s dissect this…

Garlic can create a unique pheromone, so tell us in another email if it helps with the ladies. It sounds like you’re making a pizza.
Saw palmetto has been shown to slow hair loss in some men, but it is not consistent. Dosages are not controlled by the FDA (it is an herbal), so you never really know what you purchased.
Pulling on the hair in the same place causes hair loss (traction alopecia) in some people depending how often and how hard you pull in it. Any advice on how to pull on your hair? I hope nobody is takes that seriously, because tugging on your hair won’t reverse hair loss.

Congratulations, I have given your message to thousands of readers. Hope it helps someone.

July 13, 2009

ScalpMed is Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi there: I was researching Scap Med for my husband and myself and came across your site. I found a few answers where someone had good results and you offered to put before and after pictures on your site. I was wondering did that ever happen and if so, where I can find these pictures? I would also be interested in others who had good results or if you have any other information about Scalp Med and if it works or not thanks!

ScalpMed’s active ingredient is minoxidil (which is available as generic formula or more commonly as Rogaine). It includes extra vitamins and such, but the hair growing component is the same as you can find in any pharmacy but for much less. I don’t recall being sent any before/after photos to post on the site, though.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

July 13, 2009

Merck Filed Topical Finasteride Patent in 2001 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi doctor:
I was searching online and I just saw that and I think might be interesting for you to see the future plan of action from Merck.

Merck Applies for Topical “Propecia” Patent

Interesting reading and thanks for sending! Keep in mind that a patent application doesn’t necessarily mean this is something that Merck will take to market, nor does it mean that a topical works as well as the oral pill. It’s not a clinical trial, but it mentions a study without providing much more information.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

July 13, 2009

If Propecia Doesn’t Stop Working, Why Am I Thinning After 10 Years? – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

Okay, I’ve read the post where you indicate if Propecia works for you then it won’t just stop working over time. Did I read that correctly? I ask because Propecia worked GREAT for me for about 10 years (started at age 40), then it stopped working in a pretty quick way. Quickly thinning starting from the back, now all over top. I now have approx 60% hair loss on top of the head with a now receeding hair line to boot.

So my question is why has it stopped working and should I continue to use it based on what I stated above?

Thanks

I don’t think you read it correctly. I don’t remember ever saying that Propecia will stop hair loss completely… because it won’t. Propecia continues to work as long as you take it, but you will also continue to lose hair (though hopefully at a slower rate). See this page for a clearer explanation.

There is no definitive cure to stopping hair loss. Propecia and Rogaine both slow it down and hair transplants replace some of the lost hairs… but the balding still continues. You may want to talk to your prescribing doctor about increasing the dosage at this point.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

July 13, 2009

HairSense Spray – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hi Dr Rassman,
there is a new hair loss product in the uk called hairsense there web site is www.hairsense.co.uk it is a natural topical please can you tell me anything about it?

Everything I know about this product comes from their website, and even their website is extremely vague about what is in this spray. It does say it contains an “anti hair loss formula enriched with caffeine,” which leads me to believe it doesn’t actually have a proven ingredient like minoxidil in it. I haven’t a clue what is in this tonic.

My dictum still hold true… BUYER BEWARE. Just keep in mind nothing (even proven medications such as Propecia or Rogaine) completely stops hair loss. You can try this Hairsense stuff, of course, but I wouldn’t expect much more than an empty space in your wallet where your money used to be.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

July 10, 2009

Hair Loss InformationAvoid the Scam – Unethical Graft Counting! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Scam Alert This week I met with two patients who reported having large transplant sessions, both with extremely disappointing tales I want to share.

Patient 1: The first patient reported two surgical sessions totaling 4800 grafts both done in Los Angeles. He had a very low hair density and a moderately tight scalp based upon what I measured, so I doubted that he had that many grafts transplanted. He also felt that the doctor did not give him the number of grafts that he paid for. Is it a case of a doctor ripping off a patient? Could be, but unfortunately I can’t say with 100% certainty. I’m fairly sure, based upon my counting of the grafts…

Patient 2: The second patient was just 1 week out of surgery and so the grafts were all clearly evident. I counted them and estimated that there were less than 1000 present, yet the doctor said there were 3000 grafts (about 2000 that were purchased and another 1000 that were above the number sold on the morning of the surgery). In this case, I’m much more certain about the patient being ripped off, because I could count the results relatively soon after the surgery.

—

My complaint:
I am seeing more and more cases where the hair transplant doctors are not delivering upon the contracted graft numbers. These doctors are an embarrassment to the medical profession. What they are doing is not only immoral, but illegal (fraud is a criminal problem), and if the patients take the appropriate action, the state medical board should be notified and the doctors prosecuted. Hopefully these doctors will lose their medical licenses if they are swindling patients. It seems that many patients are shopping for the best price (which is reasonable), but that assumes that what they are buying is really what the doctor can deliver. When fraud comes into play, the patient becomes a victim. With these scams, prices may be quoted as low as $1-2/graft, but when the accounting is in, the actual prices may be many times based upon what the patient actually received. Keep that in mind when you’re looking at the doctor with the bargain bin pricing. I still don’t understand why anyone would have cosmetic surgery based solely upon the cheapest price. Would you travel to Tijuana for dental work because it’s cheaper?

Avoid the scam:
How do you tell if your doctor is giving you what you purchased? First, get to understand the scam. Second, learn about graft auditing and how it is done. Third, ask the doctor to allow you to have a friend or family member at the surgery to audit his graft counting process. This is an accounting issue and your observer needs to be educated on what to look for. For all of you wanting to understand the process better, come visit us on an Open House day when we allow visitors in the surgery theater. The auditing process we employ should be similar to the one that the doctor you may be considering. It is not unusual for some of our patients to bring in family members to observe the surgery. Although none have asked for auditing rights, we generally show off our auditing process while we educate the visitors.

Further reading:

July 10, 2009

Hair Loss InformationHow Does Dr Rassman Find the Time to Blog? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

You have a terrific website. But how do you have the time to maintain the site and actually focus on performing procedures? Given your efforts to market your business, does that take away from your practice? How many procedures do you personally perform a week? And how many blog posts do you write?

Block Quote

Rassman While I have not been successful in cloning hair, I have successfully cloned myself. One of me does surgery everyday, the other writes blogs. I myself travel the world with my beautiful girlfriend(s) to really keep me busy and happy. And when my city needs me, I’m fighting crime as a superhero in Los Angeles.

In all seriousness, I spend hours each day writing the blog (at home, between surgeries, weekends). I write the vast majority of the blog answers, but I also have Drs. Pak and Farjo helping me…. and all of the posts have my editorial oversight before publishing. Any given week could see me doing a surgery or two per day.

July 10, 2009

Hair Loss InformationConfused About Dr Strick’s Alopecia Areata Treatment – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi dr.,
i have a question about dr. richard strick. i went to see him because of your very positive comments about him on this site regarding his treatments of alopecia areata using his dncb treatment.

1. He claims its successful 90% of the time, if it is that successful, i would imagine the fda would approve it & other doctors would use it to treat patients because that would be a huge deal for those who have alopecia areata.

2. After speaking with him and his staff, I have heard about 2-3 contradictions (or at least apparent). For example one of his staff said “it does not work on body hair” & he said no it definitely does work on body hair. (different conversations at different times)

Basically my question to you is, do you think or would you put it past dr. strick to outright lie or maybe exaggerate about the effectiveness of this treatment for whatever reasons he may have? Im not sure what to make of this, i want to have confidence in this treatment but my confidence is shaken.

Block Quote

Are you sure you heard him right? What you experienced sounds like confusing signals and you should go back to him to get clarification. To my knowledge, he does not use this dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) treatment for body hair alopecia areata.

I provided photos of a patient that I met with who had a great result from the treatment, so the effectiveness was clear to me. I can’t vouch for success rates, but I’d be honest with him and ask Dr. Strick to clarify some of the issues you had from your previous visit.

July 9, 2009

Hair Loss InformationCould Chemicals Applied to the Hair PERFECTLY Still Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I don’t think my question about chemical relaxers causing baldness was answered, or perhaps I didn’t ask it right. If the professional never messes up the chemical relaxer on hair, can that cause baldness? I’m not talking about the occassions when they might mess up and burn our scalp, I’m referring to the chemical being applied perfectly to the hair.

Block Quote

I have heard many accounts that chemical hair relaxers have caused hair loss from the chemical stress/burn. Most of what is lost usually grows back, but it can take over a year. There is no such thing as PERFECT in real life and everyone has a different impact from chemicals, even a different impact over time (what worked in the past could damage your hair in the future).