Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Hair Loss InformationHair Cooling Can Prevent Chemotherapy Induced Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m worried about losing my hair from chemotherapy. Obviously treating the cancer is the most important thing but can I avoid going bald? I read some stuff about cooling the scalp. What can you tell me about that? Thanks

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Hair loss from chemotherapy is a common problem with certain drugs used to treat a variety of cancers. Recent reports show that systems like the Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System can prevent chemotherapy induced alopecia. It doesn’t work for everyone going through chemo, but cold cap systems like this have shown some success. You can learn more about it here.

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Hair Loss InformationBump Appeared On the Scalp After Chemo Treatments – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My patient had adenocarcinoma of the colon and now has adenocarcinoma in the right colon. She has completed 6 of her 8 chemotherapy treatments. She had a bump that appeared on the top of her head in the last month. It does not itch, hurt or produce any symptoms.She picks it but nothing comes out. Suddenly appeared. Differentials for this diagnosis?

Thank you

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You sound like a doctor asking this question. There could be some inflammation following the hair loss from chemo, but I would want to know what the bump looks and feels like, its size, and the presence of any lymph nodes in the neck, etc.

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In the News – Transplants Using Leg Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

A new report highlights a novel way for doctors to replace thinning hairlines: transplanting leg hair.

The report, a study of two cases published in The Archives of Dermatology, describes a new procedure in which receding hairlines were restored by taking hair follicles from patients’ legs and grafting them to the head. Men’s leg hair had successfully been transplanted before to the back of the head, but these are believed to be the first documented cases of leg hair being used to restore the hairline.

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Leg hairRead the rest at the NY Times — A New Approach to Treating Hair Loss

The article is about Dr. Sanusi Umar’s amazing work as a pioneer in body hair transplants (BHT). He has privately reported procedures of 10,000 grafts in one sitting using body hair. These procedures are done through very long sessions at times, reported to run in the wee hours of the morning.

Body hair is not the same quality of head hair for use in hair transplants, so I don’t think that this technique will catch on. Although body hair seems to change and grow longer when placed into the head, its value is not equal to donor hair taken from the back and sides of the scalp.

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Hair Loss InformationI’m Still Seeing Shedding from Finasteride After Months of Use – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am from India. I am experiencing hair fall since 8 months. With doctors advice i started using finpecia and minoxidil 5% solution from the month of october. Initially there is a substantial reduction in hairfall. But minoxidil solution is creating itching and irritating sensation on my crown area. so i stopped using it in the month of january but continuing finpecia regularly. Since hairfall again started i started using minoxidil solution too.

I read in finpecia reviews that there will be a shedding phase after 3 or 4 months. now its the 5th month and it started shedding, Is it the so called ‘shedding phase’ while using finpecia? When it will stop. Please tell me. I am 22 years old and i am tensed about loosing may hair before 30’s.

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Generally, you do not have a shedding phase with finasteride 1mg (Propecia) use. Finpecia is a generic Propecia sold in India and manufactured by Cipla. I have been asked about finasteride shedding on occasion from readers, but I believe this is misinformation. The initial shedding is from topical minoxidil (Rogaine) and it is a well known phenomenon. The scalp irritation is also a well known issue for some who use minoxidil.

I cannot tell you when or if your hair loss will stop. I am not your doctor nor have I examined you to determine what your diagnosis or prognosis may be. You need to find a doctor who can examine you and recommend possible treatments. The drugs may give you few more years with hair or slow down the hair loss, but it never completely stops it (there is no cure).

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Hair Loss InformationIs There a Delay Between Hair Growth Cycle Phases? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

After hairs go into the telogen phase and sheds 3 months later,does new hair start growing straight away or is there a delay between it falling out and a new hair taking it’s place?

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It varies with each individual and possibly with each follicular unit. It may also be seasonal (something that we are now observing, contrary to what I previous stated -my apologies).

We really know very little about this area, and some of the comments by doctors that have been in the hair restoration business for years show that they are convinced there is a seasonal component found in hair cycling, like most hairy animals.

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Lousiana Governor Jindal’s Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Bobby JindalWhat’s going on with Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal’s hair?

It looked like a normal mature hairline all the way in to his late 30s. He is now 40 years old and while he doesn’t appear to frontal or vortex hair loss, the part on the right side of his head is getting pretty wide.

Photo

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Maybe he was having a bad hair day. It could be that he is has a Norwood 3 hair loss pattern with a persistent forelock going on. There is nothing wrong or right about it.

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Hair Loss InformationWhy Can’t I See the Tiny Recipient Holes After My 3rd Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 1 month post-op on my 3rd transplant. Just curious why I can’t see the tiny holes where the grafts were placed as compared to the first transplant. I recall this from my 2nd also. The scabs have healed. I look for the incisions but can’t see them. Is it because existing hairs make it hard to see or because the incisions have healed and the grafts are beneath the skin?

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I can only guess. Maybe the surgeon used a smaller instrument making smaller holes, or maybe the holes are not there because there were no hairs transplanted on the area you are looking at. Could the holes have healed so that you can’t see them? That will depend on how long it has been since your surgery.

You should at least see some scabs, unless they were there and it have fallen out. It usually takes one to two weeks for scabs to heal and fall out. Then it takes another few weeks for the hairs to fall out, unless the transplanted hairs were shaved. The main point here is that I have no way to know for sure via email, and it is all a guessing game. The best person to ask is your surgeon.

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Propecia and Creatinine Levels – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor.
I am a 34 year old male with slightly receding temples and full hair on the rest of my head who has been taking 1mg Propecia daily for almost exactly 4 years with good results (no regrowth but no extra balding). Over the last year I had 2 blood tests that have shown an increased level of creatinine (not creatine). I mentioned to my GP this could be from propecia use. He suggested I quit the drug for 2 weeks and have another blood test to see if there are any changes. So I have two questions for you:

1: are you aware of any increase in creatinine in the blood from propecia use?

2: will quitting for 2 weeks affect my hair loss/growth

Many thanks in advance.

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Stopping Propecia for 2 weeks should not impact your hair loss/growth significantly, if at all.

In general, elevated levels of creatinine is a non-specific measurement of the state of your kidney function. It is VERY important that you follow up with your doctor for this. You may have other serious medical issues unrelated to Propecia, since Propecia is a drug that is metabolized primarily by your liver (not kidney). I would not expect Propecia to affect your kidney function or creatinine levels.

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Hair Loss InformationThin Hairs in My Transplant Area, But Shampoo is Causing Them to Fall Out – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
i had a hair transplant done 3 months ago. now i am seeing some thin hairs on the transplanted area. but when i apply shampoo or oil, the hairs are falling out. is this a problem?

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Perhaps what you are seeing is the old transplanted hair shafts that never fell out. Maybe you are seeing your existing native hair falling out. Or maybe you mistook your bottle of shampoo for a bottle of hair remover. It could be that there are other unknown issues going on. Make an appointment and see your doctor. Have an open line of communication with your surgeon and see him/her for a follow-up to see how your transplanted hairs are doing.