December 2009 – Page 5

December 16, 2009

How Much Rogaine Should Be Applied to the Scalp? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr.Rassman

If I want to apply rogaine to both front of the head and the back, can I put 1 mL on the scalp and 1 mL on the front? or do I take the 1 mL and distribute it evenly on the front and back?

Thank you

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You’re supposed to use 1 mL per dose of Rogaine (minoxidil), meaning you should apply 0.5 mL to the front and 0.5 mL to the top, if that is where you want it. The recommended treatment is two applications per day, so 2 mL total. Using too much minoxidil could result in a drop in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, etc.

December 15, 2009

Laser Clinic Claims a 95% Success Rate? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

I am 23 years old and already begin to thin around the crown of my head. Starting to notice hair on my pillow and when I shower. Thinning spot has been getting progressively more noticeable over the last 6 months. I have been using Rogaine for the last couple months without very much success. I am quite certain that stress and genetics are both major contributors to the early hairloss I am experiencing.

I have now begin to look at alternative treatment options and came across a laser therapy center claiming they have had 95% success rate over the last couple years. Laser therapy for a year was quoted just over $4000. That includes 15 mins under a laser helmet once a week for 12 months, a laser comb and topical solution for the 12 month timeframe. I have been advised that after the 12 months I would have to purchase topical solution for the rest of my life to avoid build up of DHT again which will progressively begin hair loss again. ($150/bottle every 7 months). According to the clinic they guarantee success or your money back (not something I would trust unless I see it in writing)

I would like to gain some insight into this type of treatment and see if anyone has had similar treatment with success. I am more than willing to spend the cash as my hair is an important part of my image and I have no desire to be bald by the time I am 30. Just want to make sure that the money is being well invested and that this is not a Scam.

Could you please provide me with some information on this type of hair loss therapy? Results? Studies? Success Stories? or anything else that can help in my decision. Thanks

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Guarantee? I have written extensively about the use of lasers as a hair loss treatment — and simply stated, they do not work as claimed. To tell a client they have a 95% success rate — well, it depends on how they define “success”. If only 5% of their customers ask for a full refund, perhaps their judgment of success was that they were 95% successful in retaining your money. If they advertised a 95% success rate in regrowing hair, they’d probably be in violation of consumer fraud or advertising laws.

There was a recent case of a laser clinic in Chicago that was sued for refusing to honor their money-back guarantee when the laser treatment was found to be worthless, so just be sure to look out for these types of practices.

Here are some laser links worth reading:

December 15, 2009

In the News – Finasteride and Breast Cancer – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

New warnings will be added to the packaging of Finasteride after five men in Britain taking the drug developed breast cancer.

An analysis by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency found a total of 53 men worldwide on the drug had developed breast cancer.

The report from the MHRA said: “Cases of male breast cancer have been reported for finasteride, and the review suggested that an increased risk of male breast cancer associated with finasteride use cannot be excluded.

“Patients using finasteride products should be advised to promptly report to their doctor any changes in their breast tissue such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge because these may be signs of a serious condition, such as breast cancer.

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Read the full article at Telegraph UK

Keep in mind that this is for men taking the 5mg dose of finasteride for use in treating the prostate. The number of male breast cancer patients is so low that making statistical sense out of the data is relatively impossible. Warning labels after 53 men out of over a million men that take the medication developed breast cancer? It seems to me that this will create unnecessary fear by putting a warning right on the packaging, as I don’t believe there are any other warnings listed on the packaging itself (at least not on the US version that I’ve seen). Obviously, 53 out of a MILLION is not something I’d worry about. I have a greater risk of being hit by a car.

December 15, 2009

Tiny White Bumps on My Scalp – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I don’t know what to call this but I have found myself scratching and itching my scalp for the past few years during times of stress such as exams. The reason why I do this is because there are these tiny white bumps on my head that I try to pick at and just continue to do so. My hair has greatly thinned and is more oily. What is this condition called? how do I treat it?

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I can not address the white bumps you are talking about without seeing you and them. It could be an infection, folliculitis, dermatitis, or even dandruff. You’ll likely want to see a dermatologist for that, as I can’t simply guess as to what it is or tell you how to treat it.

The hair loss you are experiencing in the areas you are scratching is probably traction alopecia. Some people with dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking) can also have trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), which leads to permanent hair loss.

December 15, 2009

Switching from Propecia to Generic Finasteride – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I was pretty nervous to make the switch , still am, but decided the cost was too much at this stage, still in college..struggling lol. So i have been on propecia for 2 years, ive been on the generic proscar(from a pharmacy so it should be legit), for a week and a half now and no changes noticeable…my head isnt itching or anything of that sort…nothings changed….now my question is if this generic isn’t working properly, how would i know and when??? Im scared that in a month if the generic isn’t working ill shed everything in a matter of days…is this possible?

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If you are taking 1/4 of the 5mg finasteride pill, it will work identical to Propecia. I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying about it, so long as you got the 5mg generic from a trustworthy pharmacy. If you are taking a counterfeit pill, then you will lose the benefits quickly and start seeing hair loss in 1-3 months.

December 15, 2009

Transplanting Hair from the Back of the Neck – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Does the procedures available to transplant hair from along the back of your neck to where you are balding actually work as well as stay in for the duration of your life?

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Norwood 7 Neck hair is not permanent like the hair of the scalp donor area (the fringe shown in the picture). Transplanting neck hair is not difficult, but if it gets lost over time, it would be a waste. Strip surgery on the neck (used for strip harvesting) tends to produce some of the worst scars seen in transplant surgery.

December 14, 2009

American Crew Hair Recovery System – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What are your thoughts on the American Crew Trichology “NEVER LOSE” system? Any potential benefits from the ingredients incorporated in the patch or concentrate solution?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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American Crew Trichology I think “Never Lose” is part of American Crew’s marketing for their “Hair Recovery System”. I wonder if it is in violation of advertising and marketing laws to suggest you’ll “never lose” hair by using their shampoo and a patch. To never lose would suggest a cure for hair loss, which I can guarantee you that this is not. Turns out, the patch contains rosemary, swertia japonica, hops, and silica — so I have no clue where they get off suggesting that this will regrow your hair. The ingredients for the concentrated serum are listed as acrylates copolymer, humulus lupulus (hops), extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, swertia, japonica extract, silanediol salicylate, panthenol, butylene glycol, triethanolamine — and again, what research are they using to suggest rosemary and hops will regrow your hair?

Their site is in Flash, so it doesn’t allow linking directly to the Hair Recovery section. If you don’t mind jumping through hoops to check it out, start here and then click Trichology on the left.

December 14, 2009

Is an Eyebrow Transplant Worthwhile? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My question is whether an eyebrow transplant is worth it or not. I read previously you said that your eyebrows will never look the same regardless of how good the Dr. claims they are. I can’t find the exact post you said that anymore but I know you did. My question is will it look natural, specifically for a man to have done? If not then what’s the point…

Would you personally have an eyebrow transplant if you needed it? Honestly?

One last question does the complete absence of news from follica for such a long time conclude that they failed? This is what I believe but your opinion is obviously better than my own.

Thank you Doc!

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Eyebrow transplants work well. They are really valuable for eyebrows that are incomplete, damaged by trauma or picking the hairs out over time. I have done many of these and the results are very good, but there is an art in the transplant process and a technical skill that is very difficult for many doctors. The thing that people might not realize, is that the hair is moved from the back of the head to the eyebrows, so you’ll need to trim those transplanted hairs or your eyebrow hairs will grow as long as those on your scalp.

Regarding Follica, I don’t know much more than what has already been published in the financial statements of the company. Some companies just stay quiet until they have an announcement. Or they fade away. I really don’t know.

December 14, 2009

Why Do Doctors Transplant the Swirl? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

As the vertex eats up so many grafts, why do Dr.s try to transplant without the swirl and simply part the hair. The direction of the top could be forward and the lower half downward. I believe many men would give up the swirl for more coverage, is this possible?

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You are correct. The vertex (crown) ‘eats up’ many grafts. In other words, you need more grafts to cover the vertex than to cover the front to make it look full. So doctors generally do not recommend transplanting the vertex and many men give up the swirl for more coverage. But to some men, the vertex is an important issue and they go ahead with creating the swirl. This is a decision made by the patient AND the doctor. If the hair loss is early, the man’s age is above 28 and the patient will take Propecia (finasteride) for life, then the decision to transplant the swirl is reasonable.

December 14, 2009

Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

i have Seborrheic Dermatitis over a year, there is a patch top of my head its small one but weird point is, i have no signs of early mpb, i’ve a matured hairline, not losing hair, i’m today 23 years old.

i heard about Seborrheic Dermatitis has no proven effective treatment is it true? its all about hormones?

There are good reviews of this problem at Google Health and Wikipedia.

Best to get educated and then visit a dermatologist to make what you read there personal.

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