Month: January 2010

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Hair Loss InformationI Feel Propecia Has Dramatically Increased My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I feel that propecia has caused my hairloss to increase dramatically, I have been shedding rapidly for 3-4 months now and it is not slowing. My hair has become much thinner and is shedding in areas in which no hair loss was noticed before treatment. I am in the early stages of hair loss, with no completely bald areas. Is it possible that an increased period and volume of shedding is due to my high density?

I am becoming disenthused with the drug and am considering stopping it. In the 2nd month I missed 5 days of the drug and missed 3 days in the 5th month. Although a definite answer may not be possible, do you think I should stick with the drug as I may have begun treatment again after each period of missing the drug. If you think this is a possibility, it would help motivate me to continue, but please be honest.

Thanks

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PropeciaDrugs like Propecia are supposed to halt the progression of the hair loss, but they’re not a cure and won’t stop your genetics from eventually taking course (just how long is anyone’s guess). In your case though, you’ve been seeing shedding since about the time you started taking the pill. I’ve received emails from men inquiring about an initial shedding phase after starting Propecia, and perhaps this is what you’re seeing. I’ve previously written about this phenomenon, but I don’t have any percentage of men that see shedding upon starting Propecia, nor do I know why it may occur in some men.

I’m always honest in my replies, but I can’t tell you to continue taking the medication as I didn’t prescribe it to you and don’t know your history. If your doctor prescribed Propecia to you, I’m hoping he/she took a miniaturization mapping of your scalp so that you can go back to see the changes, and together you can decide whether to stick with it or not.

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Hair Loss InformationEstimating Graft Count for 2 Inches of Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman. I was wondering roughly how many grafts, single to double hairs, would be required to fill an area of 2 inches? I have straight medium weight, dirty blond hair.

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The average hair density is 1250 hairs per square inch (or 600 follicular units). So a 2 square inch area would contain about 2400 follicular units.

For the appearance of fullness, medium weight hair is certainly better than fine hair, and dirty blond hair with a white skin is better than black hair on white skin (less contrast is better). Take a look at the NHI Patient Photo Galleries, where there are well over 300 patients showcased with before and after photographs, and the number of grafts they received to obtain those results. Also, take a look at LA Sportscaster Steve Hartman‘s photos and see if the area you have roughly parallels his. His hair was medium weight, though he has black hair and white skin.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss After a Crash Diet 18 Months Ago – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

A little under 2 years ago I went through a rough patch in my life and decided one of the ways to get back on track was through proper diet and exercise. I decided to become a vegetarian and began running twice a day. Over the course of 4-6 months what had originally begun as an attempt to get my mind off of my other troubles became and obsession in its own right and I essentially went on a crash diet which lasted 3-4 months. I was not particularly large to begin with but suddenly had lost 40 pounds.

A few months later I noticed the hair at the front of my head seemed to be thinning. The thinning continued to progress in a diffuse manner with no discernible pattern. My hair has been thinning for the past year and a half and, although I still have a relatively intact hairline, there doesn’t seem to be any regrowth. This has all been made worst by the fact that I recently became relatively successful in a career that puts me in the public eye.

I have done a good deal of research online and it seems that I would fit in the time-frame for telogen effluvium. Is it possible that a bout of telogen kicked off by a crash diet could last a year and a half or should I just accept that I have some sort of permanent diffuse hair loss?

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I’m sure you realize this, but a crash diet is not a good idea for so many reasons. Malnutrition can impact your hair and cause thinning and hair loss. Generally, it takes about a year before you start to see some form of recovery, but in my experience most men generally do not regain everything they lost from the malnutrition and stress on the body. It’s even possible that your crash diet triggered the genetic hair loss that otherwise would’ve appeared later, but I’m just making guesses at this point.

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Hair Loss InformationMy Hair Loss Stops and Regrows Whenever I’m Pregnant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 48 year-old mother of four who has all-over gradual hair thinning that began when I began menstruating at 12. I recently went through menopause, and although I have not experienced any chance in thinning since then, I do remember that when I was pregnant, I did not have hair loss, and my hair grew in again to a normal thickness. Each time, over the course of the pregnancy, the hair would grow thicker, until about three months after the baby was born, at which time it would fall out rapidly (over a few weeks). Is it possible that that regrowth during pregnancy indicates that I have some underlying hormonal issue?

I do not have hursitism, and twice in my life I have been checked for low iron and for thyroid problems, neither of which showed any problem. My periods were severe early in life but became easier over time and were roughly regular. The hairs that do grow are very soft and somewhat easily damaged but not severely.

I would be interested to know if you think some underlying hormonal problem could be the cause, given the regrowth during pregnancy.

Thank you.

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Many women lose hair with child birth/pregnancy, menopause, etc. It is well described and known and you are not alone! But the hair growth during pregnancy, isn’t something I’m familiar with. I can only assume along with you that it is hormonally related, as there are a number of hormone increases during pregnancy.

Here are a couple of links I found via Google that might explain more — Pregnancy-Info.net and PregnancyEtc.com.

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Hair Loss InformationTaking Half a Propecia Every 12 Hours? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Considering 0.5mgs of finasteride gives 80% of the effect of 1mg and the halflife is relatively short, wouldn’t better results be achieved from taking 0.5mgs once every twelve hours?

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I doubt that 0.5mg taken twice a day would be much different than a once a day 1mg dose. I suppose it could be tried, but wouldn’t having to stick to taking half a pill every 12 hours be a little annoying?

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Hair Loss InformationShampooing with Nizoral – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doc

This might be a fairly prudish question (more hygienic implications than medical) but I will ask it anyway. How often do you recommend washing hair (for people with copious hair loss) with Nizoral.

secondly, I have been on 1mg generic finasteride for the past 6 months (although I started experiencing hair loss 7 years back, but did not pay heed to the thinning hair until recently). Do you think there will be any effect of the drug?

Thanks

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NizoralI would think there should be usage instructions on the Nizoral bottle, and how often it is used depends on the strength of the shampoo. I’ve read that 1% can be used daily and 2% should be used twice a week, but you should double check what strength you’re using and look for instructions on the packaging just in case I’m mistaken. Nizoral contains ketoconazole, which some people believe has some hair growth abilities; I don’t believe that to be the case. I don’t recommend any particular shampoo for general hygiene, but Nizoral could work well if you’re experiencing dandruff.

I don’t know enough about your hair loss to be able to assume if you’ll have any effect from Propecia. I cannot say if it will work for you because I really do not know what you are treating. Get a good examination. Document what you are starting with and follow up with your doctor in one year to see if there was some benefit. Lets be scientific!

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Hair Loss InformationStopping Propecia After 30 Years? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Say one starts taking propecia once minor thinning is first noticed in a young male the age of 19-20. Say propecia reveres the minor thinning and maintain the hair until your 50s. Is it possible to get off of propecia at 50 since Androgen levels are at their highest in our 20s-30s? I’m a 20 year old male with my juvenile hairline but with very minor crown (literally unnoticeable only to me it is) thinning…I’m hoping that could be the case for me and others in my situation. Also…is it likely propecia will work very well in my case?

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Since the medication hasn’t been available for 30 years, it’s easy to see why there is no 30 year study available on Propecia (finasteride 1mg) to answer your question with any certainty. If I had to guess though, I would say:

  1. Propecia will not usually stop the balding process over a 10 year time frame (let alone a 30 year timeline)
  2. If it did stop the hair loss for 30 years and the genetic pattern was substantially more than you have now, then stopping the Propecia (even after 30 years) would cause accelerated hair loss

As to whether the medication will work “very well” for you, I couldn’t say for sure, but if you start taking it when the loss is early you have a great shot at seeing benefits, particularly since your loss is in the crown. Propecia tends to work best in the crown and for young men with early loss.

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Hair Loss InformationI Haven’t Consistently Used Minoxidil – Is It OK to Just Stop Completely? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve been using minoxidil on and off for about 8 months now. I apply it once a day and quite often miss days or a few days. At one point I missed two weeks. I don’t think it has done much for my hair and have recently started propecia. With regards to stopping minoxidil (if you think I should), should I come off it gradually or will stopping it suddenly have no serious effects i.e. instant/prolonged shedding? If it helps, i’m 19 and in the early stages of hair loss.

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It seems like you’re asking me for permission to stop minoxidil, and that’s really a decision you’ll need to make on your own. I cannot guarantee anything, but as I have said many times here, you may potentially lose whatever you gained from minoxidil. Stopping it cold turkey or limiting use over time will ultimately result in the same thing if you saw benefits from the drug. You’ve used the medication irregularly for only 8 months, so I’m not sure that you’ve given it a fair chance. Starting Propecia is a good idea for someone with early genetic hair loss, but it unfortunately won’t retain any benefits you got from the minoxidil.

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Hair Loss InformationTaking Melatonin with Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

is it okay 2 take melatonine supplements as a sleep aid while on propecia?

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Here’s a list of Propecia drug interactions (which does not include melatonin). I am not familiar with any connection between the two, but best speak with your doctor about the use of a double dose of melatonin. I have tried melatonin once for a couple of nights to help me sleep and my immune system went nuts, activating my psoriasis into a painful breakout of body sores.

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Hair Loss InformationSwitching to a Different Brand of Generic Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

I have a question I am from India and have been using Dr Reddys Minox 5% but right now I am in United states is it ok if I change into any Local brands out here in the market? Would there be an effect on my hair? I know it sounds crazy but I dont want to take my chance.

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It doesn’t sound crazy! There should be no difference between the brands of minoxidil, as long as the % is the same. So if you switch to a 5% minoxidil from your local pharmacy, it should produce the same results as the Dr Reddy’s brand you were using.