Month: October 2011

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I Heard Losing 100 Hairs a Day is a Myth! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hey doc!
i heard that losing 100 hairs a day is normal. i have also read that this is a myth and the correct number is 20-50. can you give some input?

thanks

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It is normal to lose 100 to as much as 200 hairs a day. Where are you getting your source of information? Keep in mind that you have somewhere around 100,000 hairs on your scalp. Now let’s do the math. If there are 100 hairs per day lost, multiply that by 365 days, and then triple that number (average hair cycle is 3 years) and you will come close to 100,000 hairs.

That reflects the average hair cycle so the 100 hairs per day lost means that your body is replacing 100 hairs per day at the same time, so that there is a net ZERO hair loss in a person with a hair cycle that lasts 3 years.

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Could Topical Dutasteride Mixed with Aloe Work in the Temples? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Have you seen anyone who has ever used dutasteride topically for temporal recession and had good results from it? I have heard through the grapevine that mixing the contents of one 0.5mg dutasteride (avodart)gel pill with aloe has helped some people maintain thick hair in their temple region. I think they also were taking oral finasteride while using avodart topically.

Propecia isn’t a cure as you’ve said, so it only seems natural to try to find a supplementary treatment to keep as much hair alive on the scalp as possible! I know you can’t recommend this experimental approach as avodart isn’t FDA approved to treat hair loss yet, but I figured I’d ask. It seems if other topical hair growing agents like bimatoprost (LATISSE) can be applied topically to the skin and still benefit for the follicle, the dutasteride gel would have to have some benefit for thickening the miniaturized hair (even if it’s not taken orally).

What do you think? I seriously doubt putting a DHT inhibitor on the scalp would cause any harm and am really thinking of trying it.

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There are no medications that I’ve seen really work to treat or stop temple recession… and I have never heard of topical dutasteride used for treating hair loss by a legitimate doctor. Not sure where your grapevine source got his/her info, but it probably isn’t worth experimenting with unproven lotions and potions.

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I Want to Be Proactive in My Hair Loss Treatment – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi there

I am 25, have been told by multiple doctors around that I have pretty good hair, but maybe within 10 years might have some noticeable troubles. I have wanted to be proactive, and find a good at home program to combat and keep thicker hair.

I was told to use a year program of laser therapy, but then directed otherwise by others as it might be a scam. I decided to start basic and work to more advanced ideas: Currently using Rogaine Foam 2 times a day, and Finestride 1mg a day.

Research just leads to thousands of new avenues: I am looking for a proven system and no sales rep with a bogus product:

considering Kevis, Provillus, or Revivogen, are any of these good, if so which is best?
Shampoos: are they helpful with DHT blockers and reducing oily hair? Which is best?
Laser: Igrow/comb worth a try?

Would definitely love the shampoos for the reduction in oil and itching, look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.

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If your doctors have told you that your hair is fine, there’s no reason to start using any product proactively. You might end up doing more harm than good. I hope you’re not treating yourself, but since you’re on finasteride (Propecia), I’ll assume your doctor prescribed it to you because he/she saw some loss… and in that case, stick with that daily routine. I’ve seen finasteride slow down and even reverse existing hair loss in young men. Rogaine hasn’t shown to be as beneficial, but many people do use it and it has been proven to show some regrowth benefits in the crown.

If you get your hair bulk assessed in different parts of the scalp and follow that up with yearly tests, you will know where you are on your hair loss timeline. The key is to stop the hair loss from happening, and the earlier you start the finasteride (provided that your bulk analysis says you are in the balding process) the better you will keep what you have.

Unfortunately, there are many scams out there, and many products that are marketed and sold to people that will seemingly pay anything to stop the future from happening. Treating hair loss isn’t perfect, for if it was you wouldn’t likely see many balding men. We’ve have covered much of these shampoos and treatments here before, so using the search in the top right of the site should show my opinions on those. Most of them don’t show benefits that match the claims they make. You can try out as many shampoos or lasers that you’d like… but keep in mind that if you waste your time on things that don’t work, then each passing day is another step closer to meeting your genetic balding state.

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I Don’t Have a Stable Donor Area – So is Beard Hair a Possibility for Transplantation? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

Thank you for your informative blog.
I was wondering I have seen many posts in which you recommend against using body hair for transplants but a few months back a reader asked about using beard hair as donor hair, and I got the impression that you thought this was a reasonable option. I have been told by a doctor that i don’t have a stable donor area would beard hair be a possible alternative? maybe in combination with S.M.P. ?

Also how would this work? Would the patient need to keep a beard forever to cover the scar? Anyway thanks for your time.

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We do not generally recommend beard hair as a donor supply for transplanting to the scalp unless the donor supply in the back of the head is badly depleted. I realize there are doctors who specialize or advertise in these type of procedures, but it is something we do not recommend. What is making your donor area unstable? Do you have alopecia areata?

SMP is also a procedure that is very uniquely specialized to an individual, and I couldn’t say one way or another if it would be right for you without an exam. Or are you suggesting to use SMP on your face? I’m confused…

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How Do You Know If a Mature Hairline is Just a Mature Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I noticed that the hairline matures between the ages of 17 and 29, according to this site. I’m just curious as to how you came to that conclusion. I’m 23 and while my hairline has matured, I’m not thinning at all at top. Does that mean if I’m not showing signs of hair loss at 30, then I probably won’t?

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If you are worried about losing hair, then you should see a doctor for an objective examination. Some people may just have some front hairline recession and that is it. It’s possible your hairline can mature and then you won’t see any further loss, but I couldn’t say what your loss pattern might be just based on your age. Everyone is different.

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My Blood Pressure Went Up After My Hair Transplant – Are My Grafts Going to Suffer? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve never had blood pressure before, but about 4 weeks after my mega-session it shot up (mostly 144/90 range) along with a light elevation in blood sugar (110 avg.). This all coincided with a family move to the other coast and switching jobs. This went on for about a month before things died down again. Do you think I injured my grafts? Also, would it be deterimental to take just a few (5 or less) Inederol/Propanal to help with calming down during this period?

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I do not believe high blood pressure should impact hair growth or a hair transplant. Please follow up with your doctor and get your blood pressure under control.

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In the News – US Panel Advises Against Routine Prostate Exams – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the non-hair-loss article:

Healthy men should no longer receive a P.S.A. blood test to screen for prostate cancer because the test does not save lives over all and often leads to more tests and treatments that needlessly cause pain, impotence and incontinence in many, a key government health panel has decided.

The draft recommendation, by the United States Preventive Services Task Force and due for official release next week, is based on the results of five well-controlled clinical trials and could substantially change the care given to men 50 and older. There are 44 million such men in the United States, and 33 million of them have already had a P.S.A. test — sometimes without their knowledge — during routine physicals.

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Read the rest — U.S. Panel Says No to Prostate Screening for Healthy Men

I know this isn’t hair loss related, but it’s important medical news that the male visitors of this site should read.

For many years, we have known that most men with prostate cancer will never actually die from the disease. The decisions to treat it and how to treat it are very controversial. I was never satisfied that there is any good treatment — or rather, any one treatment — that is better than an another. Treating prostate cancer through radiation or surgery has significant side effects, and the risk of sexual function loss is a real one for those men who decide on surgery.

There are many types of prostate cancer from an aggressive point of view. The opinion expressed in this advisory just takes the view that “what you do not know will not hurt you”. I am not sure that I believe this, but then again, I don’t believe in many of the treatments being offered either. I’ve always wondered what I would do if I had an elevated PSA test, but thankfully I’ve not had to make that decision.

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Female Hair Loss After Using More Minoxidil Than Recommended – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

does the application of minoxidil topical solution for more than 2 ml i.e 4 ml for 15 days increases severe hair fall?

i have been applying this solution for about 15 days now ..and few days back i noticed that i have been applying the solution more than its prescribed. its been 3 days am experiencing an excessive hair fall like never before. is it a reaction? should i discontinue using this solution or should i continue to apply it with the prescribed amount?

please answer the question as soon as possible because i don’t wanna turn bald due to any of my stupidity. my age is 19 ,female

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Minoxidil can cause shedding in some people in the early stages of use. This is usually temporary, and it is assumed that it is speeding up the hair cycling. I can’t tell you if it’s something you should or shouldn’t use, but if you’re concerned that it’ll make your hair worse you can stop treatment.

Also, you should use the recommended dosage of 1ml twice daily. Hopefully that’ll correct the problem if you continue to use the medication, but I have no way to assure that.

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I Only Lose Hair in the Winter Months – Is it a Skin Condition? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,
I am a 20 year old African American who has experienced some hair loss for the last two years. There is no history of male pattern baldness on either side of my family so im pretty confident its not genetic. I noticed I only lose hair during the winter months, but the loss is significant. I believe it is related to a skin condition I have. My mother said it happened to me when I lost hair when I was a few weeks old, but it came back when she moisturized my scalp.

My questions: can it be due to the same condition? Is the loss permanent? Is there anything I can do to regrow my hair?

Thank you

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On occasion, I have heard that a rare cycling of hair loss occurs when the weather gets colder. A possible skin condition that causes hair loss in winter months doesn’t make much sense to me. This isn’t something I’m familiar with, so I don’t know if the loss is permanent or if there is a treatment for it. Have you seen a doctor?

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In the News – Anti-Gray Hair Pill by 2015? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

For some, gray hair is a signal of distinction. But for many, it’s something to get covered up. Using dyes is an old practice, but now cosmetic company L’Oreal is working on an internal method to keep the silver at bay.

The company hopes to have a pill on the market by 2015 that will prevent oxidation stress, the process that causes hair to fade from jet black or deep red to silver or gray. The pill uses a fruit extract that does something similar to the body’s own enzymes that control hair pigmentation.

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Read the rest — Cosmetic Company L’Oreal Developing Pill to Prevent Gray Hair

I personally like the gray change in my appearance. In my opinion, men who gray just look more distinguished. But for those that dye their hair, a pill may be more to your liking if all goes well with testing and it comes to market.