Month: January 2023

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Study – Hair Care in African American Girls

Snippet from the study abstract:

BACKGROUND: Few studies have extensively examined the prevalence of hair care practices and their association with scalp and hair conditions in African American girls.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prevalence of hair care practices and their association with traction alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis (SD), and tinea capitis (TC).

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to caregivers of African American girls aged 1 to 15 years. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association of hair care practices with reported disorders.

Read the rest — Hair care practices and their association with scalp and hair disorders in African American girls.

201 surveys were sent out to caregivers of African American girls aged 1 to 15 years to look for links between traction alopecia, ringworm, and seborrheic dermatitis. Almost all of the respondents used oil/grease in the hair, and a substantial number used ponytails, braids, or cornrows. The results were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The study concluded: “Certain hair care practices were strongly associated with development of traction alopecia and SD.” The situation of traction alopecia in women of African decent is epidemic in Western society. Many, many women have ruined their hair and developed significant balding from the various ways they went about managing their kinky hair.

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Studies on Rat Penis with Finasteride

Would you tell me what you think of this article? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22375859

I get these types of emails from many patients. I have no idea what they mean except for the rat. There is no evidence that this is a problem in humans who take Finasteride.


2017-06-13 10:17:38Studies on Rat Penis with Finasteride

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Stuck Between Two Doctors’ Opinions On Propecia Side Effects

alcohol

I’m 32 and have been taking Propecia for 1.5 years. I’ve also been having problems with erections and possibly libido. They’ve gotten worse and are causing real problems in my life.

I’m not 100% sure it’s because of the Propecia because for a few yearsbefore I started taking Propecia, I was having some issues with maintaining an erection, though much less severe.

My prescribing doctor, who specializes in hair loss, says it’s very unlikely it’s the Propecia, citing the trials that show ~1% difference from placebo. To try and help the erection issues, he prescribed that I take a half a Viagra before bed every other night for three nights (without following it with sex) to see if that extra physical help might help me overcome a psychological issue. Though the Viagra helped when I took it, it didn’t change anything longer-term.

A little frustrated with this doctor and his dismissiveness towards my concerns, I went to get a second opinion. The second doctor immediately said that I should stop Propecia. He seemed convinced that Propecia was causing it, especially since I’m relatively young. He said the most prudent course of action right now is to immediately discontinue use and he suggested using Rogaine to try and retain
hair.

I’m not sure what to do with the two extreme opinions. I know that sometimes these symptoms can by rooted in psychological causes, especially since I was very nervous about this particular side-effect for years before finally starting Propecia. And I guess I should mention that Propecia seems to be working well with my hair loss.

I’m stuck between two seemingly extreme opinions and was hoping you guys might have some additional information that these two doctors haven’t given me. For example, I’ve read anecdotes about people reducing to 0.5mg and the symptoms improving. Any ideas on what I should look in to?

Thank you guys so much.

I am not the one to break the tie between the two doctors who have different opinions on Propecia and its side effects and how it relates to your issues.

I do know that Propecia can cause sexual side effects in 1 to 2% of the men. I also know men in their 30’s can also have libido and erection problems. It may even be a combination of both. I do not know!

You should see a doctor and have some basic testing such as your testosterone level and consider all your options, make an informed decision on a plan of action, and follow up with that doctor to see how the plan is working.

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Stroke following PRP (article)

This is a disturbing article because it put a new risk for PRP, although very a very remote risk. The doctor may have entered one of the vessels that communicated through the skull into the brain. Although these connections are usually small, we have known that such connections exist. The post-treatment of necrosis also indicates that possibly too much PRP was injected into the scalp, enough to cause the necrosis, again an unusual happening. The stroke may have been related to the use of fat cells in the mixture with the PRP but the connections from the scalp to the brain are clearly known anatomical vessels. Two unusual complications, both rare, suggest that there is more to what happened than just a standard PRP treatment. This was published in the Journal of Neurology and Stroke (Click to enlarge the page)


2020-03-03 08:51:52Stroke following PRP (article)

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Stressed, Thyroid Problems, Male Patterned Balding Class 3, Eyebrow Hair Loss and Possible DUPA Present

With thyroid problems complicating your story, it is hard to tell you what is happening without having a full battery of tests in hand, including an examination of your scalp with a hand microscope. There is no substitute for a one-on-one with a good caring doctor to get control of your situation.


2018-08-15 09:01:06Stressed, Thyroid Problems, Male Patterned Balding Class 3, Eyebrow Hair Loss and Possible DUPA Present

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Stressed 16 Year Old With Thinning Hair

I’m 16 years old, I first noticed my hair loss, probably early this year. I was worried, but not to worried as it wasnt that bad, and I figured it was natural for your hairline to shift. But I went the get my haircut and the guy cutting my hair told me I had “better brace myself for early baldness” that striked me as odd, because, while I knew something was happening with my hair, I didint realize that it was that noticable. I told my parents that I was concerned, but they pretty much brushed it off as me being paranoid. So I thought that maybe that was it for a while… then I noticed how much hair was on my hands everytime I shampoo in the shower, and no matter how long I do it there is always hair on my hands, and then on the towel I use to dry my hair. SO I begain to research on the internet, but I didint find anything that great, except for this site, and maybe a few others, the rest where just sites trying to sell miricle potions. I read up as much as I can on this. mainly the hair on the top and front of my head seems to be the hair that is falling out, and it almost looks like back of my head too, wear I part my hair, but I am un sure. I’ve become so self concious, and scared. I’ve spent many a night, laying awake in bed, almost in tears, trying as hard as I can to fiure out a solution. At first I was just gonna live with it and when I had to, just cut what hair I had left really short, or just shave my head all together, but when I really looked at it, looked at myself, that just wouldnt look good. There are men who can pull off being bald, and look great, but I just cant. I hate going to school and just looking around and seeing all these full heads off hair, and I’m sitting there trying as best I can to cover up my thinning hair. I look at it, and I dont care if I (in a perfect world) lost my hair in my 40’s or 30’s. My father is bald, his father is not, but his grandfather was, and my other grandfather on my mothers side is. I’m just very stressed out, and didnt know where to turn… some days I feel like “eh, just gotta live with it” while others I cant stand to look at myself, and mope around pretty much in tears. right now, I’d love to just get a hair transplant, I know I cant, but I wish I could, because from the things I’ve seen at other transplant websites, the hair is pretty much a natural head of hair, and it looks great. I appologize for this long, drawn out, and horribly put together thing, but while I write this, I’m extremeley stressed out about my hair. Well thanks for this blog, and helping us guys out.

First you need to know that balding can start in the teen years. As I have said many times on this site, you need to get a diagnosis and have your hair mapped out for miniaturization and then you will know if you have just developed a fine hair (natural) or are thinning in the balding sense (many miniaturized hairs will be seen). If you have miniaturization, then you probably will follow the bald side of the family. There is good news here, because a daily pill of Propecia will likely slow it down or prevent it. At that point you could be doing something about it, but there is no point to worry about something that may not be. Your parents are like many of the doctors out there who do not really understand balding and its management. Show this blog to them, select particular sections on it and then get to see a good doctor who will map out your scalp as I have suggested here.

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Stress Induced Hair Loss

I am a 57 year old male. Recently I have been under a lot of stress. Have been taking a topical testosterone ointment off and on, HGH injected of and on. Have noticed a great increase in hair loss lately. Have been taking Saw Palmetto as a DHT Blocker. Would I benefit from beginnning Propecia or am I too old to benefit from it. I am going to get a Hair transplant with NHI in the future but now just want to stop the hair loss. Thank you.

It appears that you have many reasons for hair loss (stress, testosterone, HGH injections). Clearly a good DHT blocker like Propecia will be far more valuable than Saw Palmetto which is very weak, if effective at all. Still, the combination of contributing factors may not be enough to stop the hair loss. Visit me and let’s talk.


2006-01-11 09:04:56Stress Induced Hair Loss

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Stress hormone found to cause hair loss, new study discovers

The Jerusalem Post - Israel News

“Generally speaking, a person has three stages of hair growth cycle: growth, degeneration and rest. In the first stage, the hair is a continuously pushed-out shaft, whereas the hair stops growing and its lower portion shrinks while staying in place in the second stage. In the third stage, however, the hair eventually falls out.
While it has been known for some time that stress is linked to hair prematurely entering the third stage and falling out, as is the overall link between hair loss and chronic stress itself, the exact mechanism behind this link had remained a mystery.
What is known is that hair-follicle stem cells (HFSCs) play an essential role in hair growth by interpreting internal and external signals. Knowing this, Cho and the other researchers tested the role another area of the body – the stress-hormone producing adrenal gland – played in the cycle. To do this, they removed them from mice via surgery.
Without the adrenal glands to produce stress hormones, the mice’s “rest” phase in their hair cycles was much shorter, while their hair follicles grew around three times more than normal. But when fed the hormone corticosterone, the stress hormone produced by animal adrenal glands, their hair growth was suppressed.
So does corticosterone play a role in making hair fall out? That’s what this implies. HFSCs detect the stress hormone through signals, and not by detecting the hormone itself. This was determined when the researchers selectively deleted the protein known as glucocorticoid receptors in the dermal papillae. These receptors are the means by which the hormone signals the HFSCs.”