Month: January 2012

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Protein Shakes, Amino Acid, and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hello dr rassman
i just want to ask you about protein shakes. do they cause hair loss? i heard if it has amino acid will cause hair loss. can you take a look to this kind of protein: Combat Powder.

thanks

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These protein shakes may have nutritional value, but I doubt that whey protein shakes will impact hair loss or hair gain. One recent push by a prominent hair transplant surgeon and dermatologist is for a protein shake to increase hair growth after a transplant, but the evidence is just not there for me to take any position in the solution.

I would be careful that in the process of using such a shake, that there is not hidden steroid in it. Some of the “muscle milk” products that are on the market have steroids in them and that is bad for both overall health and maintenance of hair.

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Minoxidil Makes Me Rub My Scalp While I Sleep – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

First of all, thank you for this website. It actually helped me stopping wasting money on some useless products.

I have been on minoxidil (Kirkland) and propecia since Aug. 2011. So far there is no significant improvement but no visible further loss either. So I think I should stay on them for another 8 months to see the results.

However, for minoxidil, my head always gets a little itchy after I apply it. In day hours I don’t feel much so it was all right, but recently I was told that I rub my head a lot while in sleep. I am wondering if I should stop using minoxidil at night since rubbing might accelerate the hair loss. Or maybe I can find something like a hat to wear at night. I would like to hear your suggestion on this.

Thanks

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Traction alopecia can occur from rubbing your scalp on a regular and rough basis. Some people do report irritation (or sensitivity) when using topical minoxidil. Some try different types, such as the foam version (Rogaine) and maybe you’ll see some improvement.

It may seem silly, but maybe you could wear mittens while you sleep. I’ve suggested that to my patients who have similar problems.

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I Had Highlights Put in My Hair 5 Years Ago and My Scalp Has Itched Ever Since – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My question for Dr.Rassman is: Can highlighting/coloring your hair using a salon cap cause baldness due to inflammation? Five years ago I got streaks put in my hair by stylist. She used a cap to do so by pulling strands of hair through the holes in the cap. It was very uncomfortable process and afterwards I began noticing my scalp was very sore and itchy, a condition which has persisted ever since. Could this have started the inflammation process that has led to hair fallling out over the years?

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I have no way to know how to answer your question without even seeing what you mean. You may have developed an atopic dermatitis which has persisted over time. I would suggest that you see a good dermatologist in your area.

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In the News – Cosmetic Surgeon in NY Sued for Over 40 Cases of Malpractice – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

He’s accused of being the Richmond County ripper.

Staten Island cosmetic surgeon Robert Cattani has been sued for malpractice more than 40 times over three decades, but the state Health Department did nothing to stop the doctor while patients were being maimed and disfigured.

Cattani performed an eyelid lift that blinded a preschool teacher in one eye in 2005, and a tummy tuck on another patient that resulted in life-threatening blood loss, according to state and court records.

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Read the rest — Cosmetic Dr. Doom

This is a physician in NY that performed hair transplants, among other cosmetic procedures. The recourse patients have is not only in the courts to prosecute the doctors in civil trials, but to also report improper doctors’ activities to the medical boards in the state where the doctor practices medicine.

In California, the medical board must conduct an investigation if a doctor is involved in improper behavior and this can include giving misinformation or any acts that constitute delivering a substandard of medical care that does not meet the “Standard of Care” offered by the community of his/her peers. I wonder here why it took so long and so many suits to get the State of New York to act.

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I’ve Gained Weight After Using Rogaine Foam for 2 Weeks – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i have been using rogaine 5% foam for 2 wks now a as directed by my dr. dermatologist, i have gained 5-6 lbs over these past 2 wks and feel swollen in the face. what do i do and can this be due to the use of rogaine?

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Weight gain has been reported with the use of Rogaine, but the cause is not known or even proven. “Unexplained weight gain” is listed as a known side effect (see here). Still, 5 to 6 pounds seems quite drastic in a short time span. Swelling of the face can be a sign of an allergic reaction.

As you are under the care of a dermatologist, I would suggest that you seek his advice on the weight gain issue.

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Using Self-Tanning Lotion After SMP? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman / Dr. Pak,
SMP (Scalp Micropigmentation) must be protected from exposure to strong sunlight, so can self-tan products be safely applied to a scalp that has undergone SMP – i.e. chemical reaction to pigments? Thank you.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year to you, too!

Tanning products are not similar to sun exposure so yes, you should be able to use tanning products after Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP). I would wait a few weeks before doing this so that the reaction to the skin needle wounds are well healed. There should be no chemical reaction of the tanning products to the pigments used with SMP once full skin healing is complete.