Month: October 2010

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Live from ISHRS 2010 Meeting in Boston – ACell Discussion – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doctor,

I am assuming you’re attending the ISHRS meeting and was hoping you could attend the ACell discussion to report your opinion on your blog. Here’s the press release that caught my eye: MatriStem in Hair Restoration at Annual Scientific Meeting

Thanks

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ISHRS 2010I’m actually in Boston at the International Society for Hair Restoration (ISHRS) Scientific Meeting, and wrote this on my little netbook to get you a timely response.

The ACell material is reportedly derived from Porcine urinary bladder. Here’s a good, short description of ACell’s product from another conference they attended: “MatriStem® devices are a naturally occurring, completely resorbable, acellular, extracellular matrix. Different collagens, bioactive components and intact basement membrane help surgical sites remodel by supporting the growth of new blood vessels, connective tissue and muscle.”

At the ISHRS meeting, two doctors presented its use in plucked hairs. Hairs were plucked out of the beard or side hair and amongst these hairs the best ones were identified. The ACell was applied to the plucked hairs and then placed into recipient sites. Some of these hairs grew (less than 50%), but the good news is that supposedly the site where the hair was plucked also grew out a hair. The data is very sketchy and there is clearly no well identified process — no right way or wrong way to do this. But in theory, new hairs come from the process. If what was presented is accurate, then the dream of something for nothing (hairs that are essentially replicated) produces more hair than what was there prior to the procedure.

This MicroMatrix has experience of use in keloids, other types of wounds, and in the treatment of lacerations, ulcers of the skin (diabetic and vascular in origin), and burns. From what was presented, a great deal of interest was generated, but there is much research that needs to be done before it can or should be offered to the public. I suspect that the research will be on the fast track as many doctors saw the opportunity to make more hairs than they started with.

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Coconut Oil Head Massage – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What are the benefits and drawbacks of head massage with oil? Some people get a vigorous head massage using olive/coconut oil. Whats your opinion?

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CoconutMy opinion is that a head/scalp massage feels nice, and I quite enjoy the smell of coconut oil. Aside from relaxation and perhaps stress relief, massages with coconut or olive oil do not have any association with hair loss (if that is what you were asking). I’ve also read that the oils can help if you have a dry scalp, but I’ve never used them for that.

There are lots of claims about scalp massage being a way to treat hair loss due to helping with blood flow throughout the scalp, but blood flow issues aren’t usually the cause of hair loss. Genetics are the reason for the great majority of hair loss cases, not poor circulation.

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What Could Cause Eyebrow Thinning? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

I’ve been suffering from eyebrow hair loss for a while now. It started last year summer time when I started noticing my eyebrow losing hairs starting from the outer edge. As time progressed, both my eyebrows lost hair to the point where I only have 3/4 of both my eyebrows. Eventually, I started losing eyebrow hair from the inner area. Currently my right eyebrow isn’t as bad but my left eyebrow is noticeably changed a lot. It looks like as if I only have a patch of hair left, near the inner eyebrow area. I understand that it will be difficult to diagnose without meeting you but what do you think is causing my eyebrow hair loss and how to I stop or slow it down?

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Unfortunately, many men and women experience eyebrow thinning as they age. It may just be age related, but it can also be an infectious process or a hormonal issue. Many also pull at their eyebrows, even without realizing it, and that can be a cause of the loss of hair as well.

Eyebrow transplants work very well in the right surgeon’s hands.

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In the News – Hormone Replacement Therapy Increases Breast Cancer Death Risk – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirms that postmenopausal women who take combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at an increased risk of dying from breast cancer.

“Women on combined hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin were twice as likely to die from breast cancer compared to women receiving placebo,” says medical oncologist and study author Dr. Rowan Chlebowski.

The researchers looked at more than 16,000 postmenopausal women who were part of a large government study called the Women’s Health Initiative.

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Read the full text at CNN – HRT increases breast cancer death risk, study confirms

This isn’t obviously about hair loss, but important information for the many women that read this site (or if your spouse, mother, sister, whomever is undergoing hormone replacement therapy).

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Biopsy to Diagnose Telogen Effluvium or MPB? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,
I really need your help. I am a 23 year old male who in the past several months noticed hair shedding. It’s all I can focus on now. Just recently I noticed the left part of my hair line is now thinner then the right side when seen under bright light. I would like to find out if there is a way to diagnose whether or not this is permanent or temporary hair loss. I’ve been to 3 dermatologists all who have done nothing but suggest Propecia. I would almost consider flying out for you to take a look. My question is, is there a definite way for you to say whether its permanent or temporary hair loss?

The shed hairs all appear to be very healthy with a white dot on the end. Is there a way to confirm if this is from telogen effluvium or MPB? What is the best method to diagnose TE or AGA? My dermatologist is recommending a scalp biopsy but I would prefer a miniaturization test since its less invasive. Is one test better then the other?

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If three doctors have diagnosed with you with MPB (hence the Propecia suggestions they gave you), I highly doubt I would have any thing more to add.

Statistically, a 23 year old male experiencing frontal hair loss would indicate male pattern baldness (MPB). A scalp biopsy will not tell you anything you do not already know… and in fact, it will leave a scar. We do not perform scalp biopsies for diagnosing standard hair loss. Telogen effluvium (TE) does no occur in patterns or localize only to the front, which male pattern baldness does. TE is diffuse and happens all over the scalp.

Also note that if you do have MPB, Propecia may help slow the progression of the loss, but it is not a cure and it does not work as well at the front of the scalp. As you indicated you are in NY, I’d suggest seeing Dr. Bernstein in Manhattan… or you’re welcome to setup a consultation and fly out to my office in Los Angeles. Unless your loss is more than what you described though, it seems like you’ve got early genetic hair loss and should probably follow one of the three doctors that advised you to start Propecia.

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Are My Sexual Side Effects from Propecia or Saw Palmetto? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I was hoping you could give me some advise/insight re: my experience with propecia and saw palmetto.

I have been taking .5 mg of propecia and 160 mg of saw palmetto daily with excellent results, completely halting my hairloss with some strong regrowth, but I’ve encountered some sexual side effects – somewhat decreased libido, much less intense orgasms (where I’m barely even ejaculating at climax) and while I have no problem getting an erection, it’s not reaching the 100% max and most problematic is that my erection has been very flexible, which makes having sex much more difficult.

I stopped taking both the propecia and saw palmetto for a week and noticed all of the sexual side effects disappeared, but I felt a noticable thinning of my hair, so I’m hoping I can find a balance with the dosing, so I’m not shedding much hair or having the sexual side effects. Right now I’m taking the propecia and saw palmetto every other day, but still noticing the sexual side effects to a lesser degree, along with the thinning. Would you recommend cutting out the saw palmetto? Or any ideas on propecia dosing? Thanks!

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I sympathize that what you are telling me is what you may be experiencing, however, from a medical/scientific perspective it does not all fit.

  1. You do not notice immediate thinning after stopping Propecia in one week!
  2. Propecia or saw palmetto or any other herb or medication will not completely halt hair loss.
  3. Decreased libido may be from Propecia, but I haven’t heard of decreased orgasm intensity from Propecia.
  4. You cannot always blame a medication or herb for decreased libido, especially orgasm intensity. Maybe it is age related, partner related, emotionally related, etc.

I do not recommend anything other than discussing your issues with your doctor and getting a complete physical examination. Propecia is a prescription medication, so talk to your prescribing doctor that can offer you personalized advice.

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Diet High in Folic Acid to Prevent Chemo Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My wife is about to start chemo treatment and I found this recent article about ways to keep the hair loss from chemo at bay. Here’s the interesting quote –

“The Plant Programme – devised by Professor Jane Plant, of whom I have written in an earlier post – recommends a diet high in folic acid to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatment. Jane is convinced that, by following her Programme – which is a dairy free, processed food free, organic diet – the body effectively produces its own protection.”

Link: Chemotherapy: how to combat loss of hair

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Thank you for sharing. Everyone has their own opinions and regimens, and if you (or your wife in this case) are about to go through chemotherapy it would be completely normal to have concerns about losing hair. If a high folic acid diet possibly helps keep the hair during treatment, it’s worth looking into.

I have no information about the Plant Programme beyond this other article I found, but talk with your doctor about dietary changes to make sure there’s no problems.

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Over a Year After My Hair Transplant, I Look Exactly the Same – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This has been a great blog for unbiased info- appreciate it.

I had a transplant surgery about 13 months ago, mostly on my front area, as one side of my hairline was receding and thus giving me a comb over look. It wasn’t that bad yet, but I could foresee it becoming worse so I wanted to get it taken care of immediately.

Well, 6 grand later and 13 months and I look exactly the same. After the surgery, I had plenty of thin, short hair spurting where the transplant was done. I was told those would fall out and grow back in thicker. Well, they fell out and have yet to grow back. I followed all the guidelines for recovery, have remained on Propecia daily as well.

One thing I did notice during the surgery (I was awake) was that the actual doctor did very little of the ‘harvesting’. His interns/aids did 95% of that and the doctor would come in every hour to take a look. Would this have anything to do with the hair not having grown back?

In this economy, 6 grand is a lot to lose and I feel as if I’ve been duped here. At the consultation their representative assured me I’d have a full hairline again and this surgery would be all I needed for life providing I stay on Propecia. Well, unless something drastic happens with my appearance due to this surgery, I will have to have another surgery providing I can afford it in the future.

Also, from what I’ve read, Rogaine will not help me in the frontal areas for hair regrowth/maintaining. Is there anything that will help?

Appreciate your time so much!

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How long were you on Propecia prior to the surgery? Have you considered that you have continued to lose your native (non-transplanted) hair and now are left with just the transplanted hair? It would sort of be a one-to-one trade off. Unfortunately, you will continue to lose more of your native hair even with Propecia. Some people respond better than others, but perhaps you weren’t a good responder to Propecia. I’m just guessing though, as I don’t have all the information.

Another possible scenario is that your surgery was a failure due to problems that occurred during the procedure. Again, I’m just guessing as I have no idea what was done during the procedure. I’ve written before about what issues could’ve resulted in the transplant to not grow, and it seems that most of the problems that occur are with the technical staff. Technicians are an important part of the procedure in cutting and placing the grafts, and the doctor does the cutting of the strip and placement/design of the graft sites. Have you spoken to the doctor that did your surgery?

I stress getting a Master Plan to remind readers as well as my patients before undergoing any surgery.

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There’s a Single Bald Spot at the Back of My Head! (with Photo) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hey there,
i have just been told that i had a bald spot on the back of my head. people said that they never noticed it before and it just started showing. im sending a picture as well. im 29, i have not noticed any change in my lifestyle, except for the fact that i started back into a workout program.

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Thank you for permission to post your photo. Click it to enlarge.

There is no real way to tell exactly what’s going on with just the photo alone. I would see your doctor for an exam and diagnosis. I can go out on a limb and say it looks like alopecia areata, but it can also be an infectious process, or repetitive trauma. I’ve also seen stress hair loss similar to this. Please see a doctor.