Month: January 2023

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Is penis shrinkage real?

I just wanted to ask if it is true that finasteride can cause penile shrinkage? My girl friend has been complaining that my hog is too large and I was wondering if taking it might at least diminish the girth.

I have a problem with this claim. You know when you are not sexually excited, you go swimming, you are out in the cold, the penis often smallest shrinks down. Try going for a a swim you you will see that it shrinks. Worrying about it I am sure doesn’t help. I don’t believe that having a large penis is an indication for taking finasteride which I don’t believe shrinks the penis.

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Is One Hair Type Better Than Another?

Why does hair vary so much with people? Does coarse hair or kinky hair have an advantage over fine hair?

I remember a television piece done by CBS News’ 60 Minutes where they tracked what was claimed to be one of the original 12 tribes of Israel deep into the African continent through genetic testing on the Y Chromosome. In the few thousand years since the migration, the physical characteristics of the African became evident in these people with bigger lips, a wider nose, and kinky hair. I think that thermal regulation has a lot to do with the kinky hair, which allowed better cooling as a person chased an animal in the savannas of Africa during the hunt. Wide nasal passages allowed better air movement for breathing as well. The scalp is a major releaser of heat by preventing overheating in the summer, especially when heat generation adds to climatic conditions. On the other side, we know that when the French invaded Russia in Napoleon times, the winter killed more Frenchman than the battles. We also know that the bald men died during the retreat at a much higher rate than those with a full head of hair. Conservation of our body heat in the cold is another function of hair. In your question, you suggest that there is a better hair type; but better for what? Those with thin hair that sticks to a sweaty scalp may insulate better than a person with kinky hair, but not with coarse hair that lies flat. Also, there are no kinky-haired people outside of the original African population, indicating that kinky hair had an evolutionary advantage, so it evolved as the people adapted better to their geography and climate. If everyone originated out of the middle east, then we should look to our cousins there to see where we may have started from. This could be interesting topics of conversation for those of us who believe that one type of hair/person is better than another. When we put esthetics into the formulae for your question, then culture and vanity act as modifiers that go well beyond the influences of climate. Thanks for the insightful question. I always enjoy the wide variety of questions posed in this blog.

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Is Norwood Class 1 a Mature Hairline?

Hello, Dr. Rassman, I have a couple questions for you about hairlines. You see, I’m a little confused…

I am a 24-year-old Caucasian male with no outward signs of pattern baldness, even though it does run on both sides of my family. I was looking at pictures of myself the other day from when I was about 12, and noticed in one picture of me with a crew cut, that I at one time had a very rounded hairline, like that of a female. This got me thinking (and a little worried), since my hairline today looks like that of the guy in the first picture on the Norwood scale. It’s not the hairline I had when I was 12, but it’s not a “mature hairline” either. I did the brow measurements and my hairline is still very much in the juvenile position, albeit more square in shape and rising slightly at the corners, just like the guy in the picture.

So I’m curious, is it possible for the first Norwood illustration to be the mature hairline in some cases? My hairline has been like this since I was about 18 or 19-years-old and hasn’t moved an inch since then.

Thank you for your help on the matter.

Norwood 1I’d say that yes, a Norwood Class 1 (see art at right) and a mature hairline are basically the same. The hairline you saw at 12 years old is your childhood hairline and it is completely normal for your hairline to mature to some degree a dozen years later. You can not tell at your age for sure, but with a good mapping of your scalp and measurements looking for miniaturization in the corners, you might just see where your hair loss is going, if anywhere.

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Is My Vegetarian Diet Causing Female Hair Loss?

(female) I am 23 years old and a vegetarian and recently i have noticed my hair has been getting much thinner, everytime i run my fingers through my hair, several strands fall out and it has been feeling much thinner since it used to be pretty thick. I have been growing my hair out for Lock of Love the past two years, I am 5’8″ and my hair length rests at my butt so it i very long. Could the thinness be because of my vegetarian diet, could it be from the length and how long i’ve been growing it out, or could i be balding already? Please let me know. Thanks.

If you are losing hair, the other things that you mentioned probably has nothing to do with it, providing you are getting the full vitamins you need and are not anemic. We often try to connect two facts or events that are not related, because our intelligent nature requires close examination of our health and our lives. So no, you being vegetarian or growing your hair long have nothing to do with losing hair.


2008-12-29 12:53:37Is My Vegetarian Diet Causing Female Hair Loss?

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Is My Tight-Fitting Beanie Causing My Hair Loss?

I’ve been wearing a tight fitting beanie or toque as we call them here in Canada fairly regularly for about four months now. Often it will be all day, morning till night (so approx 12-14hrs). Quite frankly I just forget its on my head. I’d always had a full head of hair but have noticed some minor thinning at the hairline which I swear was not there some months ago before I started this beanie trend. I know you’ve spoken against hat or headgear wearing as a contributor to hair loss however some still suggest there may be a small correlation between the two.

I don’t believe excess dirt or sebum would contribute to hair loss but what about the notion of your hair/scalp needing oxygen? or vitamin D as produced by exposure to the sun? In regards to tight headgear, what about the idea of a decrease in circulation? Or a form of traction alopecia as the hair gets pushed or pulled in different directions for prolonged periods of time? Your insight would be appreciated.

Traction alopecia is certainly a possibility from wearing a beanie or anything tight on your scalp for extended periods of time. Problems with blood supply and oxygen levels aren’t going to cause hair loss, though they were once thought to be causes many years ago.

Hopefully, any vitamin D you’re not getting from sunlight is covered by your diet. It is my opinion that the hair does not have to get washed and sebum build-up will not impact hair growth, however, not washing your hair could cause your head to eventually stink.


2010-04-01 12:00:17Is My Tight-Fitting Beanie Causing My Hair Loss?

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Is My Receding Hairline from Wearing a Bandana?

Hey Doctors,

I already saw the post from 2005 concerning bandannas and hair loss but I would really like some clarification. I am 21 and have been wearing a bandanna around my head since I was 16 every single day. My mom called me out this past weekend at home concerning a receding hairline I seem to have developed, despite having absolutely no family history of hair loss on either side.

I imagine this must be linked to my bandanna, but what I need clarification in understanding is whether or not the hair loss is actually related to my bandanna. I question this because my bandanna sits right above my eyebrows under my hair

Thanks for allowing me to post the photo you sent. Click to enlarge.

 

From the looks of it, it appears that you have typical hairline recession commonly seen in genetic hair loss. If it was due to extreme bandana wear, you would likely have some form of traction alopecia where the hair loss would occur around the tight pressure spots where the bandana constantly rubbed on your scalp. I don’t think you wear the bandana that high up on your hairline, so I wouldn’t expect traction is the cause.

Overall it seems strange that you would wear a bandana every single day and I wonder if you wore this due to early perceived hair loss recession. Finally, having no immediate family history of hair loss does not necessarily mean you are immune from genetic hair loss.

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Is my hairline too straight and harsh? (Photo)

I am a 34 year old male, what do you think of my hairline?

The hairline should be V-Shaped as this is a typical hairline in a Caucasian male whose hairline has matured (bottom photos). Unfortunately, your surgeon gave you a rounded female hairline by shape, The leading edge of the hairline should have a transition zone in front of the two and three hair grafts so that there is no visible hairline present (the three last photos), just a zone from the forehead to the thicker hair. You have no such zone. Compare your hairline on the left with the three photos at the bottom of the window. This is a typical mature male hairline which has a better shape to it. In all of our patients we create a transition zone in the front of the two and three hair grafts as as shown in the three pictures at the bottom which demonstrates a ‘no-hairline hairline’.


2020-07-02 06:39:47Is my hairline too straight and harsh? (Photo)

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Is my hairline receding? (photo)

Your hairline appears to be just above the highest crease in your furrowed brow indicating that there is no recession at this time.


2021-01-08 14:42:37Is my hairline receding? (photo)

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Is My Hairline Receding Because of High Iron in the Water?

Hello Doctor, This is a hairline receding question. I have witnessed hair thinning and the hairline receding on the far right side of the temple. I’m certain that the same is making it’s way to the otherside and I’m not quite sure what to make of it. I am 25 years old and this thinning has gained pace ever since I moved to the eastern part of the country, some people say it’s because of the high iron content in the water here while others say it’s because I travel a lot being in marketing.

I have dense thick hair but this thinning is occuring rather quickly. We don’t have many good doctors where I’m currently working which is why I’m a bit hesitant to take their advice. I would really appreciate if you could help me out with this. Thanks.

WaterWhile I can’t positively say what is causing your hair loss, my educated assumption would be that this is your genetics…. not iron levels in the water. It’s not uncommon for one side of the hairline to recede before the other, and while stress from travel might contribute to acceleration of the loss, I’d expect this is simply your genetics at play.

There are two proven medications to treat hair loss in men — Propecia (finasteride 1mg) and Rogaine (minoxidil). Propecia is by prescription only and both medications do have their limitations. In other words, you shouldn’t expect full regrowth (particularly in the hairline), but the hair loss may be halted from progressing for some time.

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Is My Hairline Maturing? (Photo)

I read a lot of your comments and the article on Mature hairlines you usually share. Would it be possible for you to check the situation with my hair? I pass the wrinkled forehead test, but my temples are really high.

Here is my forehead wrinkled:

This is a maturing hairline. It will go up much further still with some more corner recession until the entire hairline is one finger breadth above the highest crease in the center and a V-Shape as the hairline moves outward.


2020-03-04 09:12:23Is My Hairline Maturing? (Photo)