Month: January 2023

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ISHRS Australia Meeting 2005

I recently read on one of your previous blogs that you would be attending a international hair restoration conference at the end of the month and would comment further on avodart, mainly if you would begin prescribing it. I’m just curious if you have any further comments?

I apologize for not posting this response sooner. There were too many exciting events happening at the ISHRS 13th Annual Meeting for me to describe everything to you. For those that may not be familiar with this event, it occured in late August 2005 in Sydney Australia. I do recall there was some discussion about Avodart which may appear to have better result than Propecia. Unfortunately, there was concerns about whether Avodart persists for a significant amount of time in semen, which may have an unwanted affect on development in the male fetus. Currently, there is no FDA approval for Avordart to treat male pattern hair loss. I am somewhat perplexed about why GlaxoSmithKline, the drug company producing Avodart has suspended further tests for treatment of male pattern hair loss, but that would be a better question to ask the drug company.


2006-01-18 09:21:13ISHRS Australia Meeting 2005

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New Hair from My Finasteride?

What you are seeing is not the growth of new hair, but many vellus hairs (small hairs labeled 1 and some miniaturized hairs labeled


2020-04-20 17:45:29New Hair from My Finasteride?

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Is Triangular Alopecia from Menopause?

I saw some of your pictures of triangular alopecia and it seems to be what I’m experiencing except that it is not congenital and I am a 53 years old. Could it be menopause? Is there is anything I could do about it?

Triangular alopecia is not related to menopause. Triangular alopecia is an entity in and of itself, which both men and women may get and could appear almost any time, but usually is congenital. It can be treated with a hair transplant surgery very successfully.

Triangular alopecia has many appearances, but the common thread is that the hair loss is on the front/side of the scalp. These pictures from Google Image Search give some good examples of the diversity of its presentation.

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Is Transplanted hair DhT sensitive when moved?

May I take the opportunity to ask you: once a hair is transplanted from the donor area to the crown/top of the head, does its follicle become a “crown/top” follicle in its identity and sensitivity to DHT? Because I know for sure that the post-transplant therapy includes in most cases (if not always) finasteride and minoxidil. Thank you.

No, the hair that is transplants from the donor area keeps its genetic identify so it is not DHT responsive


2020-11-17 07:24:00Is Transplanted hair DhT sensitive when moved?

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Is Toppik Causing My Hair Loss to Speed Up?

I have used the “cover-up” product, Toppik, for a couple of years with pretty good results. I have recently read — albeit online, so of course I am quite guarded in my reaction — that there is aluminum in this keratin fiber product which may actually clog pores and cause or speed up hair loss/miniaturization. While I have continued to thin in the front and temples where I use the product, I atrributed that to the progress of MPB, not this product. Do you have thoughts on this? Do you ever suggest these types of products, of course, in conjunction with other treatments (HT, finasteride, etc)?

Also, can one use a product like Toppik in the recipient and donor areas after an HT to camouflage the scabbing/markings until healing — particularly in FUE procedures?

Dr, thanks for providing this service. You are setting yourself far apart with this type of service to those with hair loss issues.

I also welcome other readers to post their thoughts if they have used Toppik or other similar products. Thank you.

ToppikTopical “cover-up” products like Toppik or DermMatch do not cause hair loss, nor would it cause an increase in loss. Male pattern hair loss is from genes. You’re using these products so it’s likely you’ve got genetic hair loss… and that loss is progressing.

Some patients use Toppik or DermMatch after a hair transplant surgery to cover the scabs during the healing process. When removing it, you must not scrub the scalp harshly or you can pull out your existing hair. You can use either of them in conjunction with finasteride.

If any reader would like to contribute information about personal experiences with these camoflauging agents, please feel free to post a comment…

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Is topical finasteride superior to oral finasteride?

I don’t believe that topical finasteride is superior to the oral finasteride. From what I have read, the question has always been, ‘Is it as effective to the oral finasteride‘.


2019-05-01 08:17:17Is topical finasteride superior to oral finasteride?

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Is Too Much Vitamin B12 Causing Hair Loss?

I have been taking vitamin b12 at 1mg daily of the sublingual tablets. Is this considered a megadose? I have noticed better mood and even skin tone. However, I have also noticed more hair shedding and fallout. Do you think this could be related? Could taking too much b12 cause hair loss? I thought excess of these vitamins were just passed out through urine? Thanks.

Vitamin B12 at those doses should not cause hair loss. That isn’t a megadose. There’s a lot of B12 info that I found at VeganForum.com (via Google). But as for hair loss, I’d look elsewhere for the diagnosis… like genetic causes.


2009-04-28 11:29:54Is Too Much Vitamin B12 Causing Hair Loss?