Month: June 2013

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Woman with Severe Thinning Hair Comments on Her SMP Experience (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

As a woman in my 40s, I have had thin hair all my life. The thinning got much worse after childbirths. About 15 years ago I discovered toppik and started using it. I had used it everyday until now. A few months ago I started having more than usual hair loss and started considering a wig. Around that time I met Dr. Rassman who mentioned the SMP procedure to me. Since there wasn’t much to lose at that point I decided to give it a try.

I completed my procedure today and feel compelled to share how pleased I am with the result. For the first time in many years, I walked out in the open air without toppik. I am no longer worried people might see my scalp if they get too close. It is liberating to be able to get in the pool and not worry about toppik running on my face. Any woman who feels self conscious about her thin or thinning hair should visit Dr. Rassman and his partner Dr. Pak for a consultation. They are both perfectionists and won’t stop until they are happy with the results. The staff is also extremely professional who can put you at ease during your visit. I am so happy I had the procedure done, it’s life changing for me.

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Click the photos to enlarge (Before on left, After on right):
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Thanks so much for sending in your email. I’ve posted your photos (with your permission) and appreciate your kind words.

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In the News – Aloepecia Areata Associated with Comorbid Conditions – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Many individuals with alopecia areata (AA) have comorbid conditions, according to a retrospective cross-sectional study. The authors compared the prevalence of comorbid conditions in patients with AA with the prevalence of comorbid conditions in patients in the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Follow-up Study. The association between AA and comorbid conditions was consistent with findings from previous studies.

Kathie P. Huang, MD, from the Clinical Research Program, Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues report their results in an article published online May 22 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Read the rest — Alopecia Areata Associated With Autoimmune Comorbidity

Those with alopecia areata were found to have a high incidence of atopy, contact dermatitis, and acid reflux.

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Hair On Top Causes More Pain When I Tug On It – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Sir,

I have some questions about the nature of hair. I am a 23-year old Asian (male).

I notice that hair at my back and sides are usually thicker and denser than the top. Moreover, when I style or pull my hair I feel that the hair on top feels some pain more easily than the back and sides. It gives me a sense like hair (or scalp) on the top is not as healthy as the rest and easier to fall out.

I don’t know whether this is normal and it’s the same for other people. Can these be signs for male pattern baldness?

Thank you for your help.

Best Regard

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This is an unusual question. The best way for you to determine if you have male pattern baldness in its early stages is to see your doctor and possibly have a miniaturization study (microscopic exam) and/or have a bulk assessment of the hair and compare the hair throughout the scalp. Decreases in miniaturization or hair bulk in a pattern (thus the term “male pattern” balding) is a way to determine if your hair loss is genetic (male pattern) balding.

With regard to your pain, although on rare occasions people have reported pain with male pattern baldness, I have never had an explanation for it and it is not a sign of balding that I know of.

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Could Finasteride Be the Cause for My Poor Facial Hair Development? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi
I’ve used finasteride for about 9 years. I dont have shedding now and my hair is look like when i was 17. Problem is, my facial hair hasn’t really developed. Do you think this is related to finasteride at all and perhaps a lower dose would help my facial hair grow?

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Many years back there was a very small study of women with facial hair (stay with me here) that used a finasteride cream to treat their hirsutism. When used as a cream, it appeared to work in this controlled study of 8 women. Does this apply with systemic finasteride for facial hair growth in men? I would think that it might, but I have no way to know for sure if the finasteride was the cause for your facial hair developing poorly or if you would’ve had poor facial hair without ever using the medication at all.

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Can I Transplant Into an Area Where I Had Laser Hair Removal? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I accidentally laser hair removed too much hair at the hairline; now, the hair won’t grow back.

My question is, will a hair transplant work in an area that has had laser hair removal? Will it impede the transplanted hair from growing? Thank you

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Transplants are an ideal treatment for such a problem. The laser hair removal process will not impact future hair regrowth from a transplant in that area.

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Where Does Shock Loss Happen? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor,

I’ve recently had a HT on the front of the hair line, the mid-section and crown were untouched. Only thing is, 4weeks after the surgery I’ve noticed more and more hair falling out from the crown and mid areas!

Does shock loss effect every area prone to hair loss?

Thank you

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Simple answer — yes.

Longer answer — Shock loss usually impacts miniaturized hairs, and can even occur when only an anesthetic is used on the scalp with no surgery (this is very rare). We know that advanced miniaturization and active ongoing hair loss have vulnerable hairs which can be impacted by any vascular change in the scalp or stressful situation (like a surgery). For this reason, young men (under 29 years old) are wise to take finasteride when they are having a hair transplant. Even if it is not a guarantee, it puts the odds in one’s favor for less shock loss (if any), especially if there is a greater degree of miniaturization present anywhere on the scalp.

The older the patient is, the less likely that they will be impacted by shock hair loss (e.g. a 50 year old man with stable hair loss)… and for these patients I do not insist on their use of finasteride before surgery.

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Hair Loss InformationKeratene Alphactive Retard – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor,
recently there is in Europe a new product against MPB: Keratene Retard. Some transplant clinic began to give it as an alternative to Finasteride. Some trial was done (you can see in keratene web site). What do you think about? Could be a serious effective alternative to Fina without sides?
Thanks for your blog!

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I have no idea what this product is about, but the name isn’t very catchy. Really, your guess is as good as mine, but be careful about believing what you read on their site. I didn’t see any info about a trial done, but if it was published in a peer reviewed journal, I’d be happy to read it.

I would not switch off of finasteride to try it, because you may pay the ultimate price — withdrawal hair loss. As always, consult with your prescribing doctor (I am not your doctor).

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Hair Loss InformationNot Hair Loss News – Taking Tamoxifen Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

It’s not hair loss related, but I also post cancer related news items here from time to time…

Snippet from the article:

Breast cancer is less likely to recur if women previously treated for the disease take the drug tamoxifen for 10 years, instead of the recommended five years, according to a British study.

The study was a component of a larger international trial, for which similar results were announced last year.

“I think it’s huge because it’s the second trial to show a benefit for 10 years versus five years,” said Dr. Sandra Swain, medical director of the Cancer Institute at Washington Hospital Center and president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO. “It is important not only in the U.S., but for the world. It is a very inexpensive drug.”

Tamoxifen, available as a low-cost generic, has long been used for younger, premenopausal, women with early-stage breast cancer that responds to estrogen. Most start taking the estrogen-blocking drug immediately after completing their initial surgery or chemotherapy.

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Read the rest — Longer tamoxifen use reduces breast cancer recurrence

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Generic Propecia (1mg Finasteride) – Pricing Schedule – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

A little birdie gave me some insider dates to look out for when it comes to generic 1mg finasteride (aka generic Propecia) that I thought I’d share —

    Nov 19, 2012 – Merck’s patent on Propecia expired

    Jan 1, 2013 – Jun 30, 2013 – Dr. Reddy has exclusive FDA approval to make generic 1mg finasteride. Currently 90 days of generic 1mg finasteride can run as high as $100 ($95-125).

    Jul 1, 2013 – Two additional companies will start making generic and price will drop by about 50% or $50 for 90 tabs

    Nov 5, 2013 – Five additional companies will start making it, at which time there will be 9 manufacturers of 1mg finasteride — 8 making generic, 1 making brand name. The price at that time will be around $20 for 90 tabs. Most of the generic makers already make generic 5mg finasteride so they only need to make minor adjustments to produce 1mg.

This is good news for us all.

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A Reader Sends In His Positive Propecia Report – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman

Just wanted to thank you for your blog. Its very informative.

I don’t have a question but I just wanted to let your readers know how well Propecia has done for me. I started losing my hair in my early to mid 20’s. It has always been a stressful issue for me. It was becoming thinner each year. I am lucky because I have dark blond wavy coarse hair but it was still thinning and receding. I went on Finasteride in 1995 and than Propecia in 1997 when it became FDA approved. When I was in my 20’s I never thought I would have my hair into my 40’s. I am 45 now and not only do i have my hair but I have more hair than many people my age. People all the time come up to me and tell me how lucky I am to have so much hair. This would not of been possible without being on Finasteride/Propecia for 18 years. This is a great drug for those that are concerned about hair loss. I have also never had any side effects from it.

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What you describe is not unusual, as the majority of men that take this medication likely have similar experiences with Propecia (finasteride 1mg), but the reports on the internet tend to seem skewed in the negative direction. As I’ve said in the past, those that feel slighted will usually speak out the loudest, while those men that have had success will not usualy take the time to go online to share the positive experiences they had.

I appreciate you taking the time to send in your report.