Month: January 2023

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Can I Use Minoxidil To Keep Hair Saved By Propecia?

Hi Dr. Rassman,
You are true credit to the Medical Community, and your blog, and expertise are greatly appreciated by many.

Two quick questions…If after using Propecia for 2 years, and going off of it at that point (the point of diminshing returns) would continued use of Minoxidil support the hair that was produced by the Propecia?? I’m 53, have been using Minoxidil for 8 years, and Propecia for 4 months, and the Propecia is already working well on my thinning crown area. I thought after the propecia loses its effectiveness, I would just stay with the Minoxidil, & let the Minoxidil take over. Please advise

Also, are FOX grafts more expensive, than the more established FUT grafts, since this procedure is more difficult for the Surgeon?

If you are getting a benefit from Propecia and then maximize it, whatever benefit you received will be lost when you stop taking it and minoxidil will not save that benefit for you. I assume that you are trying to save money. That would make your investment to date valueless as you go backward.

FOX/FUE grafts are more expensive than standard FUT harvested through the strip method. In my opinion, they are not better, just different.


2006-05-15 08:31:56Can I Use Minoxidil To Keep Hair Saved By Propecia?

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Can I Use Minoxidil for Treating Chronic Telogen Effluvium?

Hello doc,

I’m 26, almost 27 years old and have chronic telogen effluvium for almost 18 months. I’m losing a lot of hair everyday on top, front and in the back; all-over. My question is.. Is it possible that CTE can recede a hairline a little? Less volume.. and little receding.. Is it possible to use minoxidil for CTE? What side-effects does minoxidil have with collagen, acne and wrinkles?

I do not believe there is a medication that really works (or proven to work) for treating telogen effluvium. If you have a diagnosis of chronic telogen effluvium, I would unfortunately think that your response to a drug would be even less. I don’t think it would help to a point that you’ll be able to notice worthwhile gains, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to try.

Take note that some people who try Rogaine (minoxidil) report increased shedding in the first several weeks. I don’t know of any studies that show minoxidil causes wrinkles or aging in humans, though there was a mouse study about minoxidil on collagen synthesis from from years ago. Lots of anecdotal stories are on the Internet though, so take that as you will.

If you apply the minoxidil all over your head, be aware of the complications and/or side effects listed in the literature given in the package insert.

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Can I Use Hypnosis to Regrow My Hair?

I was reading this site [Hair Loss and Hypnotherapy] and it got me wondering whether I could actually use hypnotherapy to regrow my hair lost from medication. I don’t have genetic loss, as my loss only began after I was on medication.

Sounds hokey, but I am impatient and willing to try anything. What do you think?

“Hokey” is not a poor description for this. The idea that you can will yourself to growing hair is pretty ridiculous, and if your hair loss was temporary it will regrow on its own anyway.

I guess anything is worth trying if you’re really adamant about it, but don’t set your expectations too high. While you’re visiting the hypnotherapist though, you can also see if hypnosis will change your eye color, which some people believe is also possible. As you might be able to tell, I am not among the believers.


2013-06-14 16:44:28Can I Use Hypnosis to Regrow My Hair?

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Can I use Body hair instead of my scalp hair for a hair transplant?

Body hair can be used but each body hair part has different characteristics that you must be aware of, particularly growth cycle. Beard hair is similar to scalp hair in its growth cycle with a long Anagen phase and a short telogen phase. It is, however, more curly and course possibly than your scalp hair. Arm, chest, and leg hair has a very short Anagen phase and a long telogen phase which means that much of the hair will not grow longer than 6-8 months and ‘sleep’ for 5-6 months so its value will be less in terms of length. These hairs are also finer and often do not have the appearance of normal scalp hair when they grow out. ?Pubic hair of course looks like pubic hair but works well as does underarm hair with its sweat glands.


2020-11-23 11:35:29Can I use Body hair instead of my scalp hair for a hair transplant?

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Can I Use Body Hair and SMP to Give it a Textured Look?

Hi Doc

Love your website please keep up the good work it is very much appreciated. I have been reading your website extensively and understand the difficulties with transplanting body hair ie arms, legs, chest on to the scalp different rate of growth etc. However would it be possible in the following scenario:

I usually have my hair shaved ie blade 0 or 1, thankfully I have one of those heads that look better shaved rather then with hair! I am 33 years old with black hair Norwood class 4 I am loosing may hair slowly but its not apparent yet.

Now with the combination of SMP to give it that shadow look and transplanted hair from chest, arms to give it ‘texture’ as the hair will always be blade 1. In this scenario would it be possible to use body hair combined with SMP?

Thanks Doc

We have been using FUE grafts for added texture on a person like you who gets Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP). However, we use scalp hair… not body hair. Body hair transplant success rates are variable and the texture is not the same. If you are going for the “stubble” look, scalp hair will give you a better texture.

That said, we’ve found that after having the SMP done to the full head, most people usually realize that having a hair transplant to get the “stubble” texture is not an issue (as they once thought).

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Can I Trust Sites That Sell Propecia Online?

Hello.. My question is regarding Propecia, the cost, and comparison.. I came across a website while I searched for Propecia prices [link removed] and I was wondering if this would be a site I can trust?

Also, there is a Generic- Finasteride for a more affordable price.. What is the difference between the two and do they provide the SAME amount of benefits…

Thanks alot!! Please provide any additional information….

Legal issueI think that’s yet another site based in Canada that sells prescription drugs to US residents without a doctor’s prescription required. That is against the law. As such, I can’t vouch for any site that sells medication online illegally. There are many sites that do this, and I don’t even know how this stuff gets through US Customs without more scrutiny.

So can you trust a site that sells these drugs illegally and without any way to tell if it’s even the real deal? I guess that’s up to you. If you get ripped off (fake medication, incomplete order, etc), who are you going to complain to if the company doesn’t offer you any restitution? These are things I’d consider, but ultimately it’s your choice to make.

Generic finasteride in 5mg size is available at any pharmacy in the US, but the 1mg generic isn’t sold here yet due to patent protection. I believe the patent is set to expire in late 2013, at which time I’d have to assume the generic Propecia will be available in the US. Until then, you just need to cut the generic 5mg pill into pieces. The costs are incredibly cheap that way… and legal.


2010-09-28 08:27:25Can I Trust Sites That Sell Propecia Online?

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Can I treat hair loss at 17 years old?

If you are losing hair, you should meet with a good doctor and develop a Personalized Master Plan for your long term hair loss problem and its treatment. Be strategic and don’t mess with being your own doctor. There are good drugs for you that work very effectively such as finasteride and minoxidil.


2020-07-21 14:20:55Can I treat hair loss at 17 years old?

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Can I Tell If I Have MPB By Pulling?

I was wondering how to actually notice hair loss. When I was 25 I remember visibly seeing hairs in the shower and in my sink. Since then I have slightly receded but that is it. I am now 31 and I notice one or two hairs when I put gel in my hair and a few on the floor in my bathroom. I also notice I can slightly tug a few hairs out every once and a while. It just as easy to pull them from my sideburns as the top of my head. No one on either side (first and second generation) is bald in the back of the head. All related men do have recession and slight thinning (which I think is common). It looks like pattern 2. Is the fact that I notice the hair in my sink, tub and by pulling a sign of hair loss or MPB?
Thank you!!

No, you cannot tell if you have male pattern balding (MPB) by simply pulling on your hair. It is normal to lose 100 hairs a day. You may be able to see MPB pattern under a hair densitometer, which is a special microscope for the hair, by demonstrating miniaturization of hair. To make the actual diagnosis, the patterns of thinning and miniaturization can be mapped out for predictive purposes.


2006-07-18 12:27:14Can I Tell If I Have MPB By Pulling?

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Can I Take Medication After a Hair Transplant?

Dr first this site is AWESOME and I really wish I would have read all this before I underwent my transplant 2 weeks ago…

My question is and I know you had questions simular but I’d like to add a question to it. Transplant was 2 weeks ago, and now I’m taken Terbinafine 250 MG AKA Limisil for small amount of fungus on my toes, IF, I were to see myself losing hair will taken Propecia cancel out the hair loss and bring it back to it’s normal state? Do you think it’s too soon to take Lamisal just having the surgery just 2 weeks ago? I am really trying to undertsand how Lamisil in the 1st place could cause hair loss in some!?

I am just so paranoid cause I just spent all this money on a hair transplant and dont want to LOSE any of it, and it also a catch 22 cause I don’t want yellow nails either. Thanks in Advance

Side effects from medications (except steroids) that produce hair loss are generally rare. Those people who take anti-fungal medications do not have a problem with hair loss as a rule, but you need to discuss this with your prescribing doctor who probably has more experience with these medications than I do. I tell my patients that they can take all of their medications after a hair transplant and will frequently let them take their medications before and after the surgery.