Month: August 2011

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Please Explain How Balding Skips a Generation – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What exactly is meant by the phrase “balding/hair loss sometimes skips a generation”? I know it’s very complicated to say if this is true or not, but I was wondering what exactly it means. For example, if a family has 2 sons, one age 26 and one age 20, does it mean only 1 of them may keep their hair if balding skips a generation, or both? I hope you can clarify this a little bit as I am very curious as to what is meant. Thank you.

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Not everyone in a balding family has the balding genes. Genes have “expression” which means that the way it shows up (for genetic balding) appears at different points in the life of the person carrying the gene. You might have the gene, but not show the balding until you are 25, 30, 35 or 40 and so on.

You may also have the gene and not express it at all. Or you may have the gene, but it is not dominant in you, so you will not show balding… but can pass it to your children who can then show balding. Without getting too deep into evolutionary biology, I hope this short answer does not confuse you further.

If you really want more details, research the work of David Balding, a UK-based professor that has written multiple publications about statistical genetics.

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Hypothetical Transplanting of Thick vs Fine Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

If two patients with similar hair loss patterns were to get a hair transplant, one with very thick hair, the other with finer hair but greater density, who would come out with the best results, and would the patient with thick hair end up paying less?

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This is a great question. The more coarse the hair the greater the fullness, transplanted hair for transplanted hair. People with fine hair usually get the “short end of the stick” since they require more grafts and therefore (as the price per graft is what you pay for) the costs run up.

When a person with a medium hair or greater thickness comes in for frontal hair transplants, these patients often are easily completed in one session… while the person with a fine or ultra-fine hair will often require more procedures to achieve the fullness that they may want.

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Spontaneous MPB Reversal? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

In your experience, have there ever been any documented cases of ‘spontaneous’ male pattern baldness reversal? That is, are you aware of any cases where a bald male’s hair regrew without use of any treatment for hair loss?

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No, but if you are aware of any complete reversals, I would love to know.

I have seen near complete reversal in some rare cases where men under 35 years old have reversed their balding after taking finasteride. Some men with telogen effluvium may lose hair temporarily, but it is rarely in a typical pattern and is more diffuse.

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Bell’s Palsy and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doc, i have had a case of Bells Palsy due to extreme stress 1 year ago. After that experience i have had my hairline on the RIGHT recede. Is this due to Bells Palsy? does it have any connection with hairloss? Or is it because im constantly stressing about my condition of Bells Palsys? i have yet to recover 100%. I am about 85% and this is as far as will ever recover. Also the Bells Palsys affected my right side of my face. Please, any help would be great help as i am only 23 living day to day to try and hide my hairline. thank you doc.

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Bell’s palsy is probably a viral condition. Extreme stress can cause acceleration of genetic hair loss, so that is how these two conditions are probably linked.

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Some Men Still Want to Take Propecia “Just In Case” – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Say if, hypothetically, finasteride would be effective for me between the ages of 20 and 30, would starting propecia at the age of 30 mean that it’d be effective until I’m around 40, or would the age of 30 just be the definite age where the drug stops working? I was wondering because I am unsure if I am losing hair or not, but thought that taking propecia would be a good precaution. However if it turned out I wasn’t experiencing any hair loss, but then later in my life started to thin out, would I have wasted my ‘effective propecia years’?

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I have had some patients on finasteride (Propecia) for more than 13 years with benefits that still haven’t subsided since they first began. There’s no definitive timeline that you’ll see benefits, but the best time to start it is when the hair loss is in the early stages. Some men notice some hair loss again sometime after the 5th year of taking Propecia, and maintaining all of the regrowth for a decade or longer isn’t guaranteed… but each person is different. If you took the medication for years, saw benefits, and then stopped the medication once you thought it wasn’t working anymore, your hair loss would accelerate to the point that you would’ve been at had you not taken the drug at all.

If you are uncertain if you are balding, you should see your doctor. Propecia is a prescription medication, and your doctor will be able to determine if you’re losing hair and are a candidate for the medication. Otherwise, taking a hair loss drug if you don’t have balding makes no sense to me. You shouldn’t take it for preventive measures.

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What If I Stop Using Chemicals and Grow Out My Afro? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I’m a 17-year-old african male who’s experiencing hair thinning at both the left and right frontal areas of my head. I’m sure it isn’t hereditary as my older brother of 19-years still has a head full of healthy hair. I think this may be due to the numerous products I’ve used in recent years to maintain a wavy texture in my short hair. Now that I wish to grow an afro, the thinning is more visible than if I have short hair. I was wondering if growing an afro could disguise the thinning or if it could allow the thinning hair to strengthen again?

Thanks

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Let your hair grow out and you should see that it will take on its natural appearance. The new hair that grows out from the scalp never had product or chemicals on it, so this hair will curl/kink if that is your normal character. I am assuming that the chemicals you used did not damage the hair below the skin.

That being said, you might have a maturing hairline or early genetic loss. Unless you used excessive chemicals in just the hairline, it sounds like it could be genetic (which could skip generations). You might not necessarily follow the exact timetable as your older brother if there is hair loss in your family history. I wouldn’t be able to make that determination without an examination, so you should talk to a doctor if you’re concerned.

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Do Balding Men Shed More Than Normal 100 Hairs a Day? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’d classify myself as one of the many worrying teenagers (18 years old) as I have always had a really high hairline. I was wondering how much of a telltale sign is shedding? The reason I ask is because I don’t actually notice any shedding whatsoever, which is why 2/3 in my towel after a violent rub manages to unsettle me which I know is ridiculous. However, I seem to have a slightly receded hairline at the corners. I didn’t notice shedding whilst this was happening and I believe it may have stabilised.

Do balding men necessarily shed more, or is it possible for a man to shed the same amount as a non balding man, and just not have it grow back?

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Men who are actively balding do usually shed more than non-balding men. So while it is normal to lose 100 hairs a day, those that are losing hair will probably see more than that. There are usually hairs that fall out throughout the day that you wouldn’t notice, too. Vigorous rubbing of your hair with a towel will cause more hair loss if you have genetic balding occurring, as the weakened hair will more easily get pulled out.

If you do not know if you are balding, then I recommend you get a bulk analysis done.

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Hair Loss InformationTegretol and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman
My doctor is talking to me about putting me on Tegretol for anxiety. I asked him if this med causes hair loss and he told me he does not no any one had this from Tegratol but i think i read that it does. Can you tell me if you saw any people that came into you office that while taking this drug had any hair loss from it.
Thanks

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I have no memory of treating anyone that lost hair as a result of taking Tegretol (also known as carbamazepine, a seizure medication), but I’ve read claims online that it could be a rare side effect. It isn’t officially known as a side effect, however.

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Why Is There a Minimum Fee for Surgery if I Just Want Touch-Ups? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

I have a unique situation, that I can’t quite seem to find an answer for. I have had one major hair transplant, and also a few small touch up procedures all from the same doctor.

I have had to go back a few times due to my right hairline being stubborn for good growth. As of right now, I have just a very small area that I am concerned with, that exposes my scalp somewhat.

My issue is that during my touch up procedures with my doctor, I no longer feel that he has the attention to detail for me to trust going back to him to get this very small area. I’m wanting to find a doctor that would be willing to help me out with a very small procedure without having me pay the minimum fee which could be thousands of dollars.

I understand the reasoning behind a minimum fee, but was wondering if there are any doctors out there that would be willing to squeeze me into their schedule, and not necessarily feel like they need to block out an appointment spot out for me.

Any information or direction that you might have would be great

Thanks

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When there are small touch-ups to a procedure we did originally, we often reduce the minimum fee requirement. In your case, we would be doing work created by another doctor, so the reduced fees generally do not apply. That being said, sometimes we will reduce the fee if the work is small, even on someone like you (patient of another doctor).

But… what is a “touch-up,” exactly? I don’t really know anything about your case or what you consider to be small refinements. Questions that need to be considered include: How much of our time will it take? How many staff members do I have to commit to your case? How much time in the operating room does the procedure need? These are important to know and the fees should be made on an individual case-by-case basis once we can establish just what needs to be done.

Touch-ups can be done with follicular unit extraction (FUE), but it still requires anesthesia. All of this is costly to us. We often subsidize our former patients for small touch-ups, as they are generally rare requirements put on us.

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Hair Loss InformationPristiq and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi I was put on Prestiq after losing my Dad suddenly in January 2010. In April 2010 I noticed hair loss. I have had 2 biopsy’s and tons of blood work and have been told I have chronic telegen effluvium caused by the stress of losing my Dad – however I am wondering if Prestiq may be the cause. It seems all the SSRI’s have hair loss listed as a possible side effect but Prestiq does not – yet there seems to be many people who report it when I search on the net. Have you heard of Prestiq causing hair loss. Thanks

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We know that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications can cause hair loss. Although hair loss isn’t listed in the list of known side effects of Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), I wouldn’t be surprised if it caused it in rare cases.

You might get a baseline bulk assessment of your hair to determine just how bad the loss is. If/when you see a difference either from changing the medications (talk with your doctor) or hopefully just getting better over time, the hair bulk test will help you know for sure where you are in the process.