Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Hair Loss InformationI Had a Hair Transplant and Now My New Doctor Says I Have Alopecia Areata – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 58 year old female who had hair restoration done 18 months ago on my receeding hairline (1500 grafts). I have just learned from a derm. who specializes in hair loss and restoration that I now have alopecia areata. (This new derm. was not the doctor who peformed the original hair transplant. I went to this new Derm. b/c I wanted to know why my hair was still thinning. He took 3 scalp biopsies which confirmed areata.

Now in the temple area where I had the transplant every once in a while I get numbness and a burning sensation. Would this be possible nerve damage from the hair transplant. Just want a second option and thoughts. This new derm seems to think it is something to do with the transplant. By the way it took 3 derms to figure out what I had. The last derm. is great and is treating me right now. Your thoughts.

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Second opinions are impossible to do over the internet through this blog. In general, I would want to know the following:

  1. Could you have had alopecia areata when you had your transplant?
  2. Did you lose transplanted hair in the areas of alopecia areata?

Any time a person has recipient sites in the scalp, small cutaneous nerves are injured. I would have to know more about your nerve problem. Good luck!

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Can Estrogel on the Scalp Grow Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi
Is it possible for a male to place Estrogel on his scalp and get any hair growth.
Thanks

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Estrogel (estradiol) is topically used to treat symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. There may be results from the use of Estrogel or other estrogen to promoting hair growth in women, but I wouldn’t recommend applying estrogen gel to your scalp. This is not my area of expertise to give you a definitive answer for a man’s use of this hormone.

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Hair Loss InformationCan Minoxidil Clog Pores? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Can minoxidil clog pores if you don’t wash it out? For example, if i don’t wash my hair for a day and apply minox the night before and then twice that day, could it clog the pores. As far as im aware, baring in mind that im no doctor, sebum is secreted from the inside out so the pores are not easily clogged. But just wanted an expert opinion.

Many thanks

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Minoxidil doesn’t clog pores on your scalp. People used to think that clogged pores were a cause of hair loss, but that also isn’t the case.

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Hair Loss InformationBoar Bristle Brush, Water, and Wheatgrass – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman, like many others, I keep an eye on my head every day, not liking what I see. I’ve already been on propecia for a couple of yrs, seemingly with no significant benefits. This has lead to explore other options, theories etc. That being said, I would really appreciate your thoughts on 3 things and whether they earn a spot on the list of possible contributors to hair loss. They would obviously be an aside to the most common ones ie genetic, infection related, stress

1. The first is not drinking enough water, because generally speaking there are a number of ramifications for not doing so.

2. Second one is, benefits from using a boar bristle brush with the theory being: “The other excellent feature of a boar bristle brush is the massaging effect. The hard bristles stimulate the scalp, increasing the blood flow which can be very relaxing and soothing. The stimulation of the scalp also spreads the natural oils of the scalp – the sebum through the hair and down the hair shaft. This results in smoother, healthier hair that is soft and manageable. Increasing the blood flow to the scalp has been linked to stimulating hair growth, creating thicker and longer hair as well.”

3. And last, possible benefits from “supplements” such as drinking wheatgrass or matcha based drinks, both of which seemingly have a number of overall health benefits.

Thanks very much in advance for your time and valuable input!

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We have said many times that genetic hair loss is not a curable or completely reversible process. It is what you are born with. Drugs such as Propecia (finasteride) work, but in the long run your genes will catch up. I’m not sure what benefits you’re looking for from Propecia. Are you merely looking for regrowth? Or have you seen continued loss at the same pace?

  1. Drinking water and hydration have nothing to do with hair loss.
  2. Massaging the head with brushes do not impact hair loss (either positive or negative). Blood flow is not the issue. Your hair follicles are programmed to die due to their inherent genetic programming tied to a particular number of hair cycles.
  3. I realize supplements are a big thing in our society, but it really does not impact the hair in my opinion.

Sorry for the negativity, but it is how I see it. Everyone is free to try their own remedies in hopes of stumbling on the cure.

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Hair Loss InformationCan Propecia Counter the Side Effect Risk from My Antidepressant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am starting to take an anti-depressant that is potentially linked to hair loss as a side effect. I am on propecia and minox. I was interested in knowing if these drugs will most likely counter the effects of hairloss related to anti depressants. I know that propecia can combat shock loss after a transplant, so I am just using some logic that this may alleviate this concern of mine?

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It’s not likely. The hair loss that comes as a side effect of various medications is different than hair loss that’s a direct result of genetic balding. That being said, I wouldn’t expect Propecia (finasteride) would really help any hair loss related to antidepressants.

But since you’ve already been taking Propecia, talk to your prescribing doctor about staying on it to continue the battle against the genetic loss.

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Hair Loss InformationI’m 17 Years Old and Just Found a Bald Spot! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I just recently noticed a bald spot on the back of my head. I’m only 17, and both of my parents (who are in their mid 40’s) are yet to show any signs of baldness. Yet, I appear to be going bald before I’m legally even adult.

If you guys could help me out, that would be great. I’m sort of freaking out right now. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

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It could be early balding or possibly something else. Genetic balding can skip generations and come from either side of the family line, so just because your parents aren’t showing any hair loss, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically in the clear.

I strongly suggest that you see a good doctor and get a proper diagnosis. Sorry, there’s not much I can offer you advice-wise beyond that.

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Hair Loss InformationHow Snake Oil Got Its Reputation – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

These days, “snake oil” is synonymous with quackery, the phoniest of phony medicines. A “snake oil salesman” promises you the world, takes your money, and is long gone by the time you realize the product in your hands is completely worthless.

But get this: The original snake oil actually worked. Save this one for the next cocktail party; it will blow your friends’ minds.

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Read the full story — How Snake Oil Got a Bad Rap (Hint: It Wasn’t The Snakes’ Fault)

I had thought “snake oil” was synonymous with “medical scam” in most of the world, but I still get emails from people in various parts of Asia that truly believe snake oil will cure what ails you and want to know where to buy it. Sorry, snake oil doesn’t regrow hair.

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Hair Loss InformationScalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) vs Similar Services – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

As I researched the field of scalp pigmentation, I found a few other places that offer a similar service. How do I determine which place is the best? Its all quite neat to me but I’ve seen some really bad work from people that claim to be experts.

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We are the first doctors in the United States offering scalp micropigmentation (SMP). The creation of the hairline is fundamental to what we have been doing over the past 20 years, so incorporating this skill is critical to providing a quality service with a natural looking hairline. We are also the pioneers for today’s ”standard of care” in hair transplantation worldwide, as we published almost every breakthrough in the field of hair transplantation over the past two decades. When this hair transplant experience is combined with scalp pigmentation — something no one else to my knowledge is doing — we can get the best out of both worlds.

Although this process is relatively new to us, having started in the fall of 2010, we have introduced the use of local anesthesia to minimize any pain (common in tattoo procedures, especially on the scalp). Patients who have had hair transplants and want more fullness can add scalp micropigmentation to the areas that still look thin (examples here and here).

Transplanting stubble hair with FUE in the pigmented bald scalp just enhances the illusion that the pigmented scalp is just a short or shaved haircut. The use of SMP in the pluggy patient with transplants from the 1980-1990s can be nicely treated by special applications of the pigment dyes. I just performed a SMP procedure on a patient with massive scars on his head that looked like he had shotgun wounds all over his scalp, and in one session, he walked out without the need for a baseball hat.

Each day is more exciting than the previous one as we explore the uses of SMP in various scenarios presented by interested people. The happiness of our patients is almost immediate.

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Hair Loss InformationMy Rogaine Benefits Have Tapered Off – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been using generic rogaine for over 6 years. Recently, I have noticed the benefits taper off considerably within the last 2 or so years. In recent weeks, I have just begun treating the my thinning hair with propecia, but I never stopped using the minoxidil.

I know how the saying goes “you have to use minoxidil twice a day for life or all that is gained will be lost”. IS this still true once someone has begun a propecia treatment?

I looked online for an answer, but all of the literature relating the two products together only say “give propecia 8 mos to a year before adding minoxidil”. My problem is, I had already been using it, and there was no scenerio for that.

Thanks in advance!

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You shouldn’t replace Rogaine with Propecia and expect it to maintain your Rogaine benefits. You’ll need to keep up with the Rogaine to see those benefits remain, even if they’ve tapered off.

In general, we recommend adding Rogaine about a year after starting Propecia so that the individual patient can make an educated assessment of which medication is working without having two variables. Neither medication is guaranteed to work your lifetime. In fact, they usually decrease their effectiveness over time. Stopping them completely will likely result in catch-up hair loss, though.