May 2010 – Page 4 – Balding Blog

May 19, 2010

My Hair Falls Out with Skin Attached! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

I’ve noticed that sometimes, when my hair falls off, it’s not just simply the hairs. Sometimes I see dry bits of skin that look sort of like the image you have on your website showing the FUE method (only instead of looking fresh and fleshy, it looks dried up): Photo

I’ve actually had this happening for a while now, and I am balding, so I was wondering whether this has anything to do with it. That I can see, most of my hairs are fairly thick (they don’t look like they’re literally thinning), but there’s just a lot of space in between the hairs.

Is this a normal MPB thing, or do I have something else going on?

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The photo you referenced (at right) are dissected follicular units of 1, 2, 3, and 4-hair grafts used in transplantation. I highly doubt you are able to see a follicular unit fall out naturally from your scalp.

Now I don’t know exactly what you’re seeing, but if I had to guess, I think you’re noticing a small white material that is attached to the ends of the hair. This is sometimes referred to as sebum or a waxy substance that your hair naturally produces (see here for more on that). That isn’t skin with the hair and it isn’t anything to worry about, but if you’re still concerned about this condition please see your doctor.

May 19, 2010

Hair Loss from Stress and Lack of Sleep? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

If you have lost hair due to a prolonged periode of lack of sleep and stress, can you regrow some if not all of the hair you lost if you can manage to correct your sleeping patterns. Thanks

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I’d assume you would be able to regrow some hair if you knew for sure that the loss was stress/sleep related, but it can take up to one year. If the timing of your hair loss was coincidental (meaning you had genetic hair loss, but you had a period of stress at the same time) that genetic loss won’t regrow on its own. In the meantime, get some sleep!

May 19, 2010

Susceptibility to Traction Alopecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My question is: If you already have a predisposition for balding, would you be more susceptible to other balding factors as well? i.e; traction alopecia, or something else that may lead to hair loss?

Thank you

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I think you are confused about balding issues. Male pattern baldness (MPB) is genetic to that particular trait.

Traction alopecia is hair loss from pulling on your hair. It has nothing to do with MPB and many people (usually with a tight braids hairstyle) will see traction loss without any other patterned genetic balding. In other words, you are not susceptible to traction alopecia if you have male pattern baldness. So the short answer to your question is “no”.

May 18, 2010

Acid Reflux, Diet, and Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear doc, i have been using Propecia since one month. I have not experienced any sides yet. I would appreciate if you could clarify my following doubts.

If a person has acidity, does it make Propecia ineffective?

During my first week of Propecia use, my hair loss completely stopped, but on my third week, i started noticing a mild hair fall. Is it common?

Is there any particular diet i should follow on Propecia use?

I take egg whites and whey protein (optimum nutrition 100% whey protein) as i heard that these foods could raise testosterone levels, should i discontinue taking these foods?

Please reply me.

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Eggs

I will assume your meaning of “acidity” is referring to acid reflux, because a normal live human being is not acidic. In any case, it has nothing to do with Propecia.
While you might be enthusiastic about Propecia stopping hair loss in one week, I highly doubt the medication worked that fast. It takes a few months before you see any results.
There is no particular diet you should follow with Propecia. Just stick with a healthy, balanced diet as you should have regardless of the hair medication you take.
I assume you’re taking these because you’re trying to gain muscle mass, as these aren’t usual food items. That said, I do not believe egg whites or whey protein has anything to do with testosterone. There’s one study I can find that suggests whey protein could raise testosterone levels, but I don’t believe this is conclusive. I haven’t found anything about egg whites raising testosterone levels, but they are eaten by bodybuilders for the protein. I’d say you’re fine continuing with that regimen.

I am always very surprised at the diversity of questions I receive and answer about just ONE drug (Propecia)… a drug that is considered very safe. I mean in the grand scheme of things, millions of people take thousands of other drugs for hundreds of ailments which have far more severe and even life threatening consequence and side effects. I wonder where those people go for their questions.

May 18, 2010

I’ve Taken Propecia for Days and Now My Beard Grows Slowly – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have just started taking Propecia on Tuesday (5/11/10) and almost instantly my beard has been growing slowly. Usually I shave on Monday mornings and Wednesday mornings… Instead I have the amount of stubble on my face that would amount to 2 days of growth except it has been nearly 4 days..

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What you’re describing is highly improbable after taking Propecia for just a day or two. While there’s been no identified link, some people do report slower facial hair growth after taking Propecia in very rare cases, but this would take weeks or months. And even then, I haven’t seen any proof that this occurs.

Look on the bright side, if Propecia does indeed slow your beard hair growth you will save 50% on your shaving supply and needs!

May 18, 2010

I’ve Lost Half of My Hair in 8 Months! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,
I was wondering if i could get some advice on my hair loss. Over the past 8 months I have lost over half of my hair. I originally thought it was from dying it, so i stopped doing that all together. I’m 21 years old, and have always had a thick head of hair. We went to the doctors and we found out that i have an underactive thyroid, not by much, but for a 21 year old he said it should be higher, so now I have officially been on the medication for over a month now. My scalp is itchy, and I’m not sure if its from regrowth or loss of hair.

What is the deal with an itchy scalp? How long does it actually take for new hair to regrow? If it does, when will I see signs of it? Are there any other things that it could be?

thanks in advance! your site is very helpful!

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If the cause of your hair loss and skin changes are from a thyroid condition, the hair loss may regrow in a year or so, but it may never recover to the point before the disease appeared. Unfortunately, all you can do is really just wait it out and keep following up with your doctors.

The skin condition needs to be looked at by a dermatologist. I couldn’t say if its due to your hair falling out (some people report that their scalp itches before losing hair, though that hasn’t been officially linked), but you wouldn’t see regrowth this quickly after starting treatment. Common causes of an itchy scalp can be found here.

May 18, 2010

Vitamin D Deficiency Caused Female Hair Loss for 10 Years – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female) I have experienced significant hair loss over the past 10 years. I have recently been diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency. My dr advised me to take two vitamin D pills twice/week for the first month, and then one/week thereafter.

I have read on this site that regrowth is possible. Is regrowth possible after such a long time, or does the scalp become damaged. At what point is it ‘too late’ to regrow hair?

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I do not know the answer other than to offer you hope that when the vitamin deficiency is solved, the hair will regrow. I don’t recall any firsthand experience with a female patient that had a full decade of hair loss due to a vitamin deficiency to base a conclusion on.

May 17, 2010

What Happens When a Class 7 Patient Has No Master Plan? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Blueprint Without a Master Plan, a Norwood Class 7 patient can be exposed to the worst of the problems in planning. An unfortunate example of this is a patient with a complex surgical history that I just saw who had three procedures with three different doctors over the past 10 years. His balding pattern was heading to a Class 7 and none of his doctors seemed to understand where he was going with his hair loss problem. This man had transplants that were spread all over in a most unnatural look, with areas left completely untouched. Some hair was placed in areas that should not have received transplants (they weren’t beneficial to the appearance), and he now has a massive scar in the donor area with no significant donor hair left. He asked I not post his photos here, but what are the options for a case like this?

Use beard and body hair transplants to fill in the areas that do not look normal. Fill in the scar with beard hair transplants as well. Learn to use transplants as an aide to styling and hair length needs to be planned. I’m not a fan of body hair transplants (BHT) in the great majority of cases, but his options are extremely limited.
Use cosmetic camouflaging such as Toppik or DermMatch.
Consider scalp tattoos.
Get a wig.

Some people still don’t get why a Master Plan is even important, so think of it as a surgical blueprint that plans for the worst case scenario of your hair loss progression. I can not stress the importance of a good Master Plan. Some doctors made a lot of money from this man, but did him no favors. And as I sound like a broken record, never forget — let the buyer beware!

May 17, 2010

My Hair Was Pulled and Now My Hair Falls Out and My Scalp Burns! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 30 year old female and I had an incident over a month ago when all my hair was violently yanked by my boyfriends 3 year old. I woke up the next morning and started losing hair. Since then my scalp has been burning so bad that I have thought about suicide. The hair fall out is very noticable and is all over the head. It hurts to go outside and I have also developed a white substance on my scalp, almost like a coating that I can scrape off with my nails. It’s gross and waxy. My head has a wierd, painful sensation and I literally can feel the hair detaching from my head. Sometimes I will just feel it fall and at other times I will have a sharp needle-like pain and the hair will fall out. I am so scared about what I have read on other sites.

What is this sensation/pain/burning and how do I stop the hair from falling out? Will my hair regrow or is this burning a sign that the follicles were damaged and I am doomed. I have always had a healthy, thick, beautiful head of hair that goes to the middle of my back. Now it’s falling out in handfuls. I have been to several doctors/derms and they said I’m fine or more accurately crazy for obsessing about it. No one is listening to me! Please help! Any advice? Thanks….

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Okay, let’s stop and think about what you just wrote. You are thinking of suicide! Please seek the help of a professional who can help you with this issue. Either go see your psychiatrist/therapist or a physician than can assess your hair loss issue. If no doctors are listening to you, go find another doctor that will! This is obviously a very huge issue in your life right now, so don’t give up on solving it. Without an examination, there’s really not much more help I can provide over the internet, but I wish you good luck.

I can’t explain the intense burning you now feel, but the traumatic hair loss like you describe usually grows back in about one year. What is it that you read on various sites that has you so scared?

May 17, 2010

Daughter Losing Hair After Chemical Straightening – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My daughter had a small piece of hair staightened at the beginning of March. By Easter we noticed a small patch of balding. Thinking it was due to the straightening and possibly getting into the pool ( she is a swimmer) without washing her hair we just watched the area. It is now May and the balding has spread to the front 1/4 of her head and continues to grow. Could this still be a reaction from the chemicals? If so why has it spread so much from the orignal chemically treated spot? What should I do to prevent more hair loss? Thank you.

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It sounds strange that she is losing hair on the front 1/4 of her head. Maybe your description is off and pictures may help, but nevertheless, I would take her to see a doctor to make sure there are no other medial issues associated with her hair loss.

Chemicals can cause skin irritation and reaction, and may cause temporary hair loss. It usually takes up to one year for hairs to regrow if this is the case.