August 2011 – Page 7 – Balding Blog

August 10, 2011

Can Rogaine Ruin Healthy Hair? – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

Thank you for this great blog. As you’ve pointed out several times in the past, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet about hair loss treatments like Propecia and Rogaine. My question today is about Rogaine. In your many years of treating patients, have you ever witnessed were Rogaine actually made the healthy hair fall out or become damaged? I’ve read where some individuals are claiming that Rogaine destroyed their hairline and damaged what healthy hair they had. Any experience with this in your own practice?

I’ve answered a similar question before.

I do not believe that Rogaine is bad for your healthy hair. If you have a full head of hair and you use Rogaine, there should be no impact on it… but then, why would someone do that? Apply the medication to the areas that have hair loss. And if you’re losing the hairline, applying minoxidil there most likely won’t show a lot of impact anyway.

August 9, 2011

Actor Robert Sheehan’s Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a question about an actor’s hairline. The actor is named Robert Sheehan. After watching a few of his movies and shows, I looked him up and am quite curious of his hairline as he often sports a big curly afro. I am wondering if he is showing signs of a maturing hairline.

A few pictures of him are below:

Photo 1, photo 2, and photo 3.

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Robert Sheehan I think most people outside of the UK are saying “Who?” in regards to this young Irish actor, but I looked up his career and he’s been on a few UK television series. For those curious, here’s his IMDB profile.

It’s difficult to tell what his hairline looks like, since those photos you linked to show his hairline corners covered. I don’t know if that’s a hairstyle used to cover his hairline on purpose or what, but he’s an actor, so it wouldn’t be uncommon to try to hide hair loss to prolong access to more youthful roles.

In the photo 3 (which is posted at right), it appears like he might have a high hairline or early loss, but I couldn’t say that with any certainty unless I saw some better photos or was able to examine this young man’s hairline in person.

August 9, 2011

Wearing My Pilot Helmet After a Hair Transplant – Balding Blog

I just had a transplant procedure done just over a week ago. I’m a pilot who wears a helmet to fly with. How long should I go before wearing my helmet again?

I don’t think you should have any issues with wearing a pilot’s helmet after one week. The grafts shouldn’t be an issue by this point, but the donor scar might be uncomfortable if there is a lot of pressure on your donor area from the helmet.

It really can depend on how large the surgical procedure is, so please talk with your surgeon. I would think your surgeon should be more accessible than me here on the Internet.

August 9, 2011

Low Testosterone and Finasteride Results? – Balding Blog

Do men who have low testosterone typically have better results with finasteride?

Male pattern baldness is really is not about testosterone levels, but rather, about your genetic predisposition. I don’t believe you can predict response to finasteride based on a hormone (testosterone) levels alone, but I really don’t know. It may be a good research topic.

August 9, 2011

At What Point Should You Stop Using Propecia? – Balding Blog

During the course of hair loss, at what point should you stop using propecia. How do you know when you have lost 80%-90% of the hair you will lose during your lifetime?

Is this the time to consider a FUE procedure?

Maybe your doctor didn’t explain this to you, but in general it is recommended that you take Propecia indefinitely. I suppose if you eventually end up as Norwood 6 or 7 it wouldn’t make sense to continue the medication, but that’s something you should talk to your prescribing doctor about. If you had any significant side effects, then stopping the medication or reducing the dose might help with those.

As to when to consider a follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure or any surgery at all, it is best discussed with your surgeon. You need realistic expectations as well as an understanding of the limitations of any surgery, along with the risks (more hair loss) versus the benefits. In other words, there is no simple answer.

August 8, 2011

My Son Saw Total Regrowth After a Few Months on Propecia, So Was it the Drug? – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,
My eighteen year old son has been on propecia since march 2011 and has been using rogaine 5% since April 2011. He has had just about total regrowth starting with the month of June, his hairline is restored. The dermatologist was pretty sure it was MPB but left a stress issue on the table. My son had been through alot the past year. The Dr. never did any mapping etc. My question maybe he does not need the propecia, I don”t want to put him at any risk.

What do you recommend and is it unusual to have this success so quickly with these meds. Thank-you You are a voice of reason in all this confusion

I just answered a very similar question last week.

I have seen total regrowth (particularly in the hairline) on rare occasions, and when it occurs it usually happens in men under 22 years old or so. It’s been 5 months since he started on the medication, and although that does seem pretty quick to see so much success, it’s not improbable. Results can be seen anywhere from 3-12 months after starting Propecia. As this is a prescription drug, I’ll defer to the prescribing doctor as to whether or not your son needs the medication. He can always get a second opinion, of course.

Ideally, he will want to have a doctor who can check for miniaturization and hair bulk in a number of areas of the scalp to determine if he is balding. Hair transplant doctors know hair, so that would be a good place to start — not for surgery, but for the consultation. You can look for local doctors by using the physician search at ISHRS.org or if you’re planning to be in the Los Angeles area, he can see us.

August 8, 2011

If I Have Low Testosterone, Will That Make My Hair Loss Slow Down? – Balding Blog

I have a question regarding hair loss and low testosterone. Over the past 4 years my hair has been slowly thinning and now it’s at a point where it’s noticeable. I know I’m going to be bald sooner than later. Anyways, I’ve also been dealing with severe depression, loss of libido, I work out but don’t really gain any muscle, etc. After reading some of the symptoms of low testosterone I think that this could be my problem.

So my question is: If you have lowered testosterone in your body will that cause you to lose hair slower? Lets say I do get diagnosed with low testosterone and receive treatment, will my hair start to fall out faster? Can lowered testosterone actually cause hair loss?

Any significant amount of testosterone could cause the gene for balding to express if you have it, and there is no level that you can control to reduce your balding. Testosterone levels don’t work as an accelerator pedal regarding the speed at which your hair loss progresses.

August 5, 2011

What If I Got SMP and Let My Hair Go Gray? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doc.. I have mostly gray hair that I dye. If I was to consider SMP to use as a concealer with my existing hair (like dermatch) What would happen if one day I decided to let my hair go gray? I’d be left with dark SMP and gray hair. What then?

Also actor Joey Lawrence looks to me like he has had SMP. What do you think?

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Joey Lawrence The color for Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) can be made gray, which would probably solve your issue if you decided to stop coloring your hair before you had it done. Most SMP procedures can turn some shade of gray over time, and that can be easily targeted.

As for Joey Lawrence (at right), he does have what looks like a closely cropped hair style, but I don’t know if he had pigmentation done or if it’s just a short haircut. It’s certainly the kind of look the SMP technique can achieve.

August 5, 2011

My Doctor Suggested I Take Generic Propecia – Balding Blog

Hi Dr, many thanks for the excellent blog. I just had a question regarding generic propecia. My doctor in the UK approved me as a good candidate for propecia and advised me I could now buy generic 1mg propecia online to save money. I’m currently on merck’s product and haven’t experienced any serious side effects.

The generic manufacturers on the site he suggested are Sunrise and Cipla. I can’t find much info on these companies and was wondering if you were familiar with them and if they are reputable, or furthermore if you think buying generic 1mg is a good idea in the first place, even if I have been examined by a Dr?

Any advise would be much appreciated. best

The generic should be the same as the name brand. The 1mg generic finasteride isn’t legally available due to patent restrictions in the US, but the 5mg generic is off patent and available. Things could be different in the UK. I suppose that if you get the generic from a reputable source it would be fine, but many online pharmacies are suspect since they don’t require a prescription in the first place. I’m not a fan of that.

As for the companies you asked about, I think Sunrise is US based, but I’m not too familiar with them. All I could really find was their website and an FDA warning letter from last year about the use of excessive active ingredients in some medications they made. I am more familiar with Cipla since I’ve been asked about them a few times before. Cipla is a very large pharmaceutical maker out of India and their biggest claim to fame is that they’re the world’s largest producer of HIV/AIDS fighting medications.

For more info on Cipla:

For more info on Sunrise:

August 5, 2011

I Have Brittle Hair and Nails – Balding Blog

I am aware of a link between healthy hair and nails, and I am fairly unhappy with the state of both of mine. I have always had a high hairline, and at times my hair seems brittle, whilst my nails and the skin below them are constantly looking damaged. I am worried that I am experiencing male pattern baldness, as for the past two years (I am 18) I have noticed how high my hairline is.

Is it possible that I am experiencing something else causing this slight hair loss and bad hair and nail health, or does hair not actually permanently fall out due to being weak and unhealthy?

At 18 years old, there could be early genetic hair loss, but with your brittle nails there could be something else going on. Various rare syndromes, iron deficiency, or even skin rashes could cause these things. Anything is possible, but I can not evaluate you via the Internet and wouldn’t want to steer you in the wrong direction.

You need to see a doctor and determine if you are losing hair from genetic causes, disease, a combination of the two, or something else entirely.