Month: September 2010

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Hair Loss InformationIs a Cut Proscar as Effective as Propecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

If I would cut the 5mg into 5 different tablets, would it be as effective as taking 1 propecia pill daily? Also, which way would your recommend?

Thanks

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Pill cutterYes, but we generally recommend splitting the pill into 4 equal pieces, as it is easier to cut that way. That equates to 1.25mg a day, but unless you’re cutting the pill with the sharpest, most accurate blade around, you’re likely going to lose some crumbs here and there (bringing it down to closer to 1mg). A pill cutter should be available at your local pharmacy (see image) or you can use a knife to divide the pill if you’re comfortable with cutlery.

Only cut one pill at a time. If you were to cut a month’s supply at one time, then it becomes more likely that the pills will absorb moisture from the air… which you don’t want.

Also, your doctor needs to prescribe the 5mg dose, which is a prostate medication. Some doctors might have an issue with this, but if you let them know you want the 5mg for the cost savings and will cut the pill, they might be willing to prescribe it.

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In the News – Hair Cloning Expected to Be the Future – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Cloning will represent a major advance in hair transplantation when it is ready for prime time. It remains elusive for now, but new clinical therapies — along with older standbys — are helping hair loss patients in the meantime, according to a leading specialist in hair transplantation.

One of the factors limiting hair transplantation is donor density. Individuals without good donor density can be less-than-ideal candidates for hair transplantation, notes Nicole Rogers, M.D., F.A.A.D., dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon and clinical professor, Tulane University, New Orleans. The potential for cloning leaves physicians hopeful for now.

“That would be the Holy Grail,” Dr. Rogers says. “It would be great if we could harvest a single hair from the back (of the head) and create thousands of copycat hairs from that. There is significant research ongoing in that area, but we are not there yet. It’s still going to be a while before it is ready for Food and Drug Administration approval.”

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Read the full text at Dermatology Times

Dermatology TimesI just wanted to post this to show that I’m not just some curmudgeon when it comes to advancements in hair cloning. I still get emails from some readers with an accusatory tone when it comes to my opinion on hair cloning, and I suppose they’d rather me post false hope instead of the actual truth. The article points out the same things I’ve been saying for years — hair cloning is not ready for prime time and although there are companies working on it, there’s no chance this will be ready for the public soon.

When hair cloning finally does become a reality, you can be sure that we’ll be writing about it here. Right now though, it’s still far too early to get overly excited.

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Hair Loss InformationIs Rogaine Causing Me to Grow Forehead Hair?! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 36 year old female who has been using Rogaine 5% for about 4 months. About a week ago I noticed dark fine hair on my forehead and even a bit under my eyes. I’m fairly certain this is as a result of Rogaine. Will this facial hair growth go away or get worse with the use or Rogaine?

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If you are growing unwanted hair from Rogaine (minoxidil) use, the easiest solution would be to stop using the medication, as it is known that hair on the forehead can be produced. I don’t think the hair growth will go away on its own.

Otherwise, you should take care in washing your hands after using Rogaine and not rubbing your eyes or face or forehead, which you may be doing. I’ve even seen a patient with increased hair on the back of the hand he used to apply the minoxidil. This shows how powerful Rogaine can be in some people.

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Hair Loss InformationI’ve Been Losing Hair Since I Was 12 Years Old! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, im 16 years old. I noticed hair loss since i was 12-13 and I really don´t know if it’s getting worst or not…

My brother, 14 years old. has the same problem, we both have small amounted hair. and for personally by my age its the worst nightmare ever. I really don’t know what to do! will it stop? how can i stop it? is it temporary? will I stay with this amount of hair? help!

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I would have hoped that once noticed, the hair loss would have been evaluated by a doctor. There are genetic causes of hair loss that could impact your hair status at puberty, but I can not tell you very much without examining you.

Get a parent/guardian involved… and then get a good, caring doctor to start off with making a diagnosis.

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Hair Loss InformationIf the Average Person Has 10k Grafts Available, Why Are Most Patients Given Less? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve read time and time again the average person has 7000-10,000 grafts available to transplant. If this is true why isnt there anyone on your website (Newhair.com) who is even up tp 7000 grafts?? Obviously some of the patients dont need anymore grafts but i’ve found a few pictures of your patients that have had 2000 to 3000 grafts transplanted that still have somewhat of a see through look. Why don’t these patients get more grafts transplanted? Would you say a lot of these patients are content with what they have?

I also have a random question. After the grafts are extracted from the back of the head and ready to return to the top of the head. How many grafts do you think two technicians put in on average per half an hr? A couple hundred per Technician???

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Even if what you area reading is true about 7,000 to 10,000 grafts being available, it is up to the patient to want to have a hair transplant and use those grafts wisely. The Master Plan may include saving the remaining hairs for possible further hair loss. It may be a see-through look for you, but have you considered that the patient with 3000 grafts is happy with their results?

That being said, here’s a patient that has been presented on this site multiple times and had close to 10,000 grafts transplanted. He wasn’t going to be losing more hair, as his pattern was quite advanced already.

Patient ZU’s before and after (click to enlarge):

 

The speed of transplanting hair varies with each technician, along with the instruments and techniques used in the surgery. In other words, all clinics and doctors vary in technique (despite what they advertise). An average surgery of 2000 grafts can take 5 to 6 hours, so you can do the math backwards if you wish.

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Hair Loss InformationDid My Tapeworm Cause More Hair Loss from Malnutrition? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

I am currently in Brazil although I live in the United States. I already have male pattern baldness, but in the past few months things got much worse and I was very surprised.

Anyway, last week I found out I had a tapeworm. I got it removed, but I was thinking that the malnutrition of the tapeworm could have affected my hair loss. If it did, do you think the extra hair loss I had would be temporary? Or is that permanent because I already have male pattern baldness?

Thanks for any help you can give

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TapewormIn general, tapeworms or similar parasitic infections do not cause hair loss unless you had significant weight loss and malnutrition. I would think if there was enough stress put on to your body from the tapeworm, your male pattern genetic hair loss could be accelerated.

Unfortunately once your hair is lost, it is most likely not going to regrow on its own even with the malnutrition corrected. I guess it depends on where you’re losing the hair and whether you would’ve lost hair in the genetic progression. If you lost hair on the sides of your head due to stress, for example, that could regrow.

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Hair Loss InformationFrom Propecia to Cut Proscar to Propecia – Now Side Effects? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve been taking Propecia for about a year now and recently stopped to take Proscar instead as the price was a lot cheaper. After breaking the pills into 1.25g and taking them for about a week I decided to switch back onto Propecia (I’d read that the Proscar was unhealthy for women to be around due to the powder residue from breaking the pills, and I was not sure if I was experiencing side effects).

I am now back on Propecia, but I feel like I may be experiencing side effects again, and it looks like I am losing more hair than before. Could a week on Proscar have changed the way I react to Propecia? Is it possible to start experiencing side effects all over again? Thank you!

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Both Propecia and Proscar have the exact same active medication: finasteride. The only difference is the dosage. You should not be seeing these drastic changes, especially after one week! It doesn’t make sense to me. Did you have your hair mapped for miniaturization before changing pills and again after making the change to see if there is indeed a significant difference?

Proscar is not radioactive, but women should not handle the cut pill if they’re pregnant or could become pregnant.

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Hair Loss InformationExposing a Recent Hair Transplant to Sunlight – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have undergone hair transplantation recently, can i wash my recepient hair with shampoo as i use to wash before transplantation, can i expose to sunlight after 3 month?

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At 3 months, you can wash your hair properly as you have always done. Sunlight exposure should be in moderation and progressed to more and more sun over time. The use of a sun blocker is always a good idea unless there is so much hair that you have shade from that hair.

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Hair Loss InformationCan I Trust Sites That Sell Propecia Online? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello.. My question is regarding Propecia, the cost, and comparison.. I came across a website while I searched for Propecia prices [link removed] and I was wondering if this would be a site I can trust?

Also, there is a Generic- Finasteride for a more affordable price.. What is the difference between the two and do they provide the SAME amount of benefits…

Thanks alot!! Please provide any additional information….

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Legal issueI think that’s yet another site based in Canada that sells prescription drugs to US residents without a doctor’s prescription required. That is against the law. As such, I can’t vouch for any site that sells medication online illegally. There are many sites that do this, and I don’t even know how this stuff gets through US Customs without more scrutiny.

So can you trust a site that sells these drugs illegally and without any way to tell if it’s even the real deal? I guess that’s up to you. If you get ripped off (fake medication, incomplete order, etc), who are you going to complain to if the company doesn’t offer you any restitution? These are things I’d consider, but ultimately it’s your choice to make.

Generic finasteride in 5mg size is available at any pharmacy in the US, but the 1mg generic isn’t sold here yet due to patent protection. I believe the patent is set to expire in late 2013, at which time I’d have to assume the generic Propecia will be available in the US. Until then, you just need to cut the generic 5mg pill into pieces. The costs are incredibly cheap that way… and legal.

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Hair Loss InformationI Was a Heavy Drinker for Years and Now My Hair is Thinning at 22 Years Old! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I just graduated college (22) and was a heavy drinker for four years (drunken stuper 3-4 nights a week, and heavy smoke the last year, as well as some drug use (vynase, oxycodone). Often times i’d be hungover for 12 hours, probably didn’t eat right.

I graduated and stopped, but was wondering if hair loss/thinning is temporary or not. My entire scalp is thin, with some receding.

Dad’s entire family has/had thick hair, one uncle on mom’s side went bald at 16, and so did his son.

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DrunkWhile it’s obvious that you made some poor decisions re: drinking and drug use, I couldn’t tell you if they contributed to your hair loss. Nutritional problems can lead to hair loss, but you do have some family history of hair loss. The most likely culprit is genetics. I don’t know how long your hair loss has been going on or if you’ve done anything to treat it.

I would see a doctor for an examination of your scalp, and if you can find a doctor that will do microscopic miniaturization mapping, that’s even better. If you do have early genetic hair loss, Propecia would be a good way to slow the loss down. Talk to your doctor about that, as it is a prescription medication.