Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss History – Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair Brush – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Electric Hair BrushI’m always receiving emails about weird hair loss products that claim to do things they can’t possibly do. I’m sure most of you know this isn’t a new phenomenon, and so I decided to search for some historical hair loss “cures”. Turns out, the scams that exist today aren’t that much different from the quackery of 100 years ago.

In the late 19th century, Dr. George A. Scott was an advertiser of brushes for teeth, skin, and hair that claimed to cure everything from hair loss to headaches. I found a couple of ads for his Electric Hair Brush with some outrageous and ridiculous assertions that I thought the readers of this site would get a kick out of. But first, I wanted to learn more about the man behind the “inventions” and about the actual brush itself. For that, I turned to a fantastically informative site called American Artifacts.

From the American Artifacts site —

Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair Brush. One of the more famous quack devices of the 1880’s, advertised in Harpers Weekly and other popular magazines. Dr. Scott’s 1881 patent claimed merely several magnets embedded in a plastic material and a mold for holding the bristles, which are also embedded in the hard rubber. There is the usual crack across the handle – the metal rods embedded in the thermoplastic material and running the entire length of the brush prevent the handles from breaking. Marked “No 5″ and “Dr. Scott’s Electric” on the underside of the handle, and “The Germ of all Life is Electricity”.

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The image above is one advertisement I came across from 1882. There’s a larger and more detailed version available here.

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Hair Loss InformationAfter Switching to Generic Proscar, My Hair Loss Started Again – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I did some searching on your site and could not find an answer to my question, so here goes: I’ve been taking Propecia (or splitting Proscar) for over ten years. Two years ago, when the generic became available (from India), I purchased it. Within months I started losing hair, and the loss continued. I went back to Proscar about a year ago. No change in growth but still losing, just not as much or as rapidly. I’ve read similar stories on the internet. I just filled a new Rx from Costco with the Indian finasteride (because of the cost). Am I naive in thinking it was my age (58 at the time) and genetics that caused the loss, or do you think the Indian generic is not up to the brand’s standard? Have you heard similar stories?

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Normally, I’d tell a patient or reader that if you believe your medication is not genuine because you get it from India, I would suggest you buy it from a reputable company in the United States. But you got your finasteride from Costco in the US, so I’d expect it would be fine. Plus, there are many large pharmaceutical companies in India (not sure which one you got) and the FDA permits them to import medication here. If you bought it online from a pharmacy that required no prescription, that would be a different story.

If you are losing hair (even at the age of 58) and you are treating it with finasteride, then you are treating genetic hair loss. Remember, the medication isn’t a cure, so it’s possible that it was just coincidental timing that you switched to a generic finasteride around the same time that medication started losing the battle to your genes.

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Visual Differences Between Balding and Maturing Hairlines – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is there any difference in visual or physical characteristics between a balding hairline and a maturing one? Does one do something different than the other? Or will early balding look exactly like hairline maturation and vice versa?

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Most men who ask this question are in their teens and twenties who see slight recession of their frontal hairline. Yes, it may be a sign of early balding, but each and every patient is different and only time will tell. Sorry. The difference between early hairline thinning and hairline maturing can be difficult to spot just by looking. Read through this older post about juvenile and mature hairlines (with photos), as it could provide some help.

You can also follow up with your doctor for miniaturization study and/of hair bulk measurement if he/she has the HairCheck tool available.

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Seeing Hair Loss After Using Nizoral – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr.Rassman, I have a question about Nizoral and hair shedding. Whenever I use Nizoral for my saborhea dermatitis the next day i have alot more hairs fall out then usual. Is this normal or can it cause permanent damage?

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Some people use Nizoral (ketoconazole) to minimize hair loss. Whether it works as a hair loss treatment hasn’t been proven to my satisfaction, though.

If you see a cause and effect relationship, then you can be the master of your own destiny. The simple act would be to stop using it. Perhaps a different dandruff treatment will work better for you.

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In the News – Combing Hair Causes Thinning – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Put that comb back in your handbag — a study by an Israeli dermatologist has found that too much combing of the coiffure leads to hair loss, the daily Haaretz reported on Monday.

During a test 14 women recorded their daily hair loss and combing habits, with those combing more losing more hair, the research found.

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Read the rest — Don’t brush with baldness: put down that comb

UghI realize this is a blog for posting hair loss issues, but sometimes we all must get a grip on studies and reports we find on the Internet. A report or a study does not necessarily validate a story or the truth.

Simply put, writing about 14 women combing their hairs really is not very compelling. But in this world it does give immediate Internet exposure to those who seek it out.

My other beef with the article is the following quote: “I was surprised by the results, as in medical circles the comb is believed to improve blood circulation and reduce hair loss“. This does not show brilliance on the part of the researcher making the statement. I’m not sure which medical circles he’s referring to, but there is no such circle of doctors I’m aware of that believe combing one’s hair will reduce hair loss or even promote blood circulation.

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I’m Scared I May Have Developed Traction Alopecia! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello there. I thank you in advance for your time and efforts related to hair loss. I’m a twenty year-old Caucasian female and have recently detected signs of traction alopecia behind my ears (due to adding more wefts of hair extensions in recent months). I’m terrified that my hair will never grow back, and while I’ve worn extensions for approximately two years, I’ve only noticed the hair loss within the past four or five months. I’m completely devastated by the hair loss, as I’ve experienced body dysmorphia with my hair for the past ten years.

At this point, my hair is extremely short (bob-like cut), and I’ve loosely placed a few clip in extensions to add fullness to my hair (although they’re not placed in the location where hair-loss is evident). As noted, the level of devastation that I’m currently experiencing is beyond words-I feel as though I’ve been completely robbed of my femininity and any/all confidence that existed in me prior to the hair-loss discovery. I’m in dire need of help/advice/support. Will my hair grow back? And what can be done to speed up the process? I’m a college student on financial aid-thus, only capable of funding at-home remedies.

Again, thank you for your time and effort in this matter. It’s greatly appreciated.

Best regards

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First and foremost, fear should not be a factor when you are dealing with hair loss. You need to empower yourself and find a reason — even a medical diagnosis. I do not know if you have traction alopecia, but constant pulling on the hair from hair extensions may cause it. There may be other unknown causes as well.

Keep in mind that it generally take over a year to see hairs to grow back (if they are going to grow back) and there is no product that I am aware of that speeds up this process. As a financial aid student, you should probably give it time rather than spend money on products that do not work.

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Hair Loss InformationI Want to Pay for ACell Along with My Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey Doc,

I’m wondering if I got a hair transplant within the next 2 to 4 months, after I’ve got a master plan and such, if you would use ACell if I gave my consent to use it on a normal transplant. Of course the hopeful result is that if you use it with the hair transplant alone that it helps heal faster and 50 to 400% more could potentially grow than what was transplanted. Since it’s considered harmless by the FDA, do you think it would hurt to just use it and see the results if there are any and if not, no harm done right? It wouldn’t affect the actual hair or anything if I’m not mistaken. And end result being if it doesn’t grow more hairs it would heal faster.

If this was possible could we just pay a little extra to you for the cost of using ACell and see if we get results? Not saying there would be an sort of expectations beyond the actual transplant, but would it hurt to use it just in case or do you think it would complicate the normal transplant in some way?

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There are talks and unsupported reports that ACell can speed up the hair transplant healing process and help the REGULAR transplanted hair follicles to grow better/faster. This has yet to be proven satisfactorily, as far as I know.

If you want to pay the extra cost of the ACell to be incorporated in a hair transplant procedure (on the hair follicle), I do not have a problem with it. But you must also accept the fact that ACell can have the complete opposite effect of less than optimal hair growth. While I do not believe this would be the case, we really do not know at this point and must always assume the worst.

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My Hair Color is Different from My Dad’s – So Does That Mean I Won’t Bald Like Him? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I just had a quick question.

My dad started to bald somewhere between 18-19 and was nearly all the way bald by 20. My paternal grandfather is also bald. My mom’s side however has all of their hair, including my maternal grandfather. I’m 18 now and my hair color is much different than what my dad’s was at his age, his was auburn, mine is dark brown. It’s also still incredibly thick. I also seem to have the same soft hair as my mom but not fine hair or anything.

So my question is, will I go bald and if I do, will it start soon?

Thanks!

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Hair color and balding are not linked. Just based on an email, I have no way to know if or when you’ll go bald. You’ll need to meet with a doctor for a miniaturization examination of your scalp, along with follow-ups over time to see if there is indeed any thinning.

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Hair Loss InformationDoes Repairing Old Plugs Cost the Same as a Regular Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a hair transplant in Australia nineteen years ago…the hair transplant was so bad…it looks like a doll head…can I repair my hair transplant in NHI? How much it will cost? Is it the same price or different price? Thanks

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RepairAt New Hair Institute (NHI), we perform corrective surgeries for patients who have had bad hair transplants (including the old doll hair looking “plugs”). You can see the before and after results of our repairs here. We’ve also created a complete step-by-step of one patient’s journey to fix his ugly hair plugs — see Dean’s Story. That’s Dean at the right before his repair procedures began.

If you would like a private consultation, please email us with detailed information (including pictures, if possible) or call us at (310) 553-9113 US.

The cost of a hair transplant and repairing old plugs generally ranges from $3000 to $10,000. As you can see with this wide range, each and every case is very different. There is usually no special fee to repair old plugs, and we charge the surgeries as in price per graft. Our fees are outlined here.

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Epigenetic Side Effects – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

I believe that their is a possibility of very small subset of men experiencing continual sexual dysfunction from propecia after cessation of the medication. The underlying mechanism of why this happens may be similar to why a small subset of people experience continual sexual dysfunction after going off of SSRIs. This paper may offer some insight into what is going on in these rare situations when persistent side effects happen with these commonly used drugs.

Epigenetic side-effects of common pharmaceuticals: a potential new field in medicine and pharmacology.

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It’s possible that there are a subset of men that experience epigenetic side effects. Thanks for sending this information. It’s more theory at this point, but interesting reading nonetheless.

Sometimes though, we must take a step back and look at what we are trying to do. If someone is scared of these side effects and do not want to start the medication, then it is their choice. If someone looks at the risks (or rather, the chance of this happening) and weigh it out with the benefits of what the drug can provide, they can make their own choice as well. I know I’ve said it many times before, but Propecia is an elective medication. I realize there are risks, but it is a medication I recommend to most of my patients as they understand the risks and benefits of ANYTHING that they do in life.