Author: Dr. William Rassman

Posted on

Xanax and Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been taking one mg. of Xanax with my first dose of Xyrem, to put me to sleep since May or June of 2009. I have fibromyalgia due to severe insomnia, and need these drugs to sleep. I have been experiencing hair loss since June of 2009. I started on Xyrem in March or April of 2009. My doctor is now in the process of weaning me off Xyrem, which he routinely does with his patients once they have been on it for a period of time. The hair loss continues unabated, so Xyrem is not the culprit. Could Xanax be?

Block Quote

XanaxProbably not. While many drugs do have hair loss as associated side effects, Xanax (alprazolam) isn’t one of them. It’s possible in rare cases, I suppose, but generally speaking, medications are usually one of the last things to consider as a cause for your hair loss.

As I mentioned before in an earlier blog post, “We hear from our patients who just got started on Xanax that they lose hair, but it is hard to prove that their hair loss is really associated with Xanax or if it has to do with anxiety itself.”

Posted on

How Long Can Propecia Realistically Maintain My Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr Rassman

It is clear from many of your posts that you believe that although Propecia slows down hair loss in most men with male pattern baldness, it does not stop it and the balding will continue, albeit at a slower rate. I understand that no published data is available which would elucidate this matter and confirm that this is indeed the case. As you will appreciate, many young men with male pattern baldness (in their early twenties, say) would obviously like to know how long they can expect to retain/regrow hair in practice.

Since Propecia hasn’t been available for long enough it seems clear that this question cannot be answered conclusively (the same is, of course, true of any long-term side effects that may be associated with Propecia), but I was wondering if you had access to any figures or data of your own which would support the idea that Propecia only slows down the hair loss rather than stops it for as long as the drug is taken.

Yours sincerely

Block Quote

Your question is like asking how long you will live. Everyone is different. Some die young, some die old. So does hair.

I am a physician, not a fortune teller. Male pattern hair loss is a genetic issue and there is only so much medications can do for each and every individual. I don’t have actual statistical numbers of my own patients, but I have seen some patients hold on to their hair since the drug was introduced over a dozen years ago.

Posted on

In the News – FDA Investigating Formaldehyde in Popular Hair Straightener – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

In the multi-billion dollar hair care industry, “Brazilian Blowout” was a rising star. The product was touted for its ability to deliver frizz-free, straight hair and get customers out of the salon in 90 minutes. More traditional treatments can take in excess of three hours.

…

What was in it, according to a study by the Oregon Occupational Health and Safety Division, was significant levels of formaldehyde in more than half the samples tested. Trace levels were found in the air sampled from five salons.

The company behind “Brazilian Blowout” fought back, accusing Oregon of using “flawed” testing methods. It said it is pursuing legal action to get the state to correct the record on the product.

While that battle brewed, complaints were coming in across the country and around the world.

Block Quote

Brazilian BlowoutRead the full story — Hair Loss, Irritation Blamed on Popular Hair Product

I get emails all the time from women that experienced hair loss after applying chemical straighteners, and typically I assumed it was related to chemical burn or allergy. If these findings turn out to be true and Brazilian Blowout contains significant levels of a probably carcinogen like formaldehyde, it is quite alarming.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationAsking the Readers – Body Hair Loss and Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Body hairAs I’ve mentioned before, I’m part of an email group of hair doctors where we share patient experiences, share medical knowledge, and discuss various advances in hair loss treatments. Recently a doctor in the email group reported that one of his patients lost all of his body hair on Propecia.

For whatever reason, I’ve received a few emails via BaldingBlog lately about body hair growth or body hair loss where the writer assumes it is related to Propecia, so I was particularly interested in what other physicians in the email group had to say.

Medical literature and even Merck (the maker of Propecia) did not validate that body hair loss is a known side effect, and many doctors responded to the email with the opinion that this finding seemed isolated with the one patient who reported it. I have seen this side effect once in my own practice, so as unusual as it seems, I am posting this here to ask the readers out there if they’ve experienced body hair loss with Propecia or finasteride. If you have had this experience, please send me a note privately or leave a public comment.

Posted on

Hair Multiplication and Regenerating Limbs (Video) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Nearly 3 years ago we posted about limb regeneration, and at the time I stated, “I read this material with great anticipation that someday we will see such breakthroughs available to us all, but I couldn’t say when that might happen.” While I was initially skeptical that this would be made available for hair loss patients so soon, Dr. Cooley’s presentation at the recent ISHRS meeting shows that it can be effective for hair.

Someone recently pointed out a video from CBS News about extracellular matrix that aired in early 2008 that I don’t recall seeing, so I wanted to bring it to light here:

Posted on

High White Blood Cell Count is Causing My Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, I am a 54 year old woman and I am loosing my hair, this has been ongoing for years I have had many blood tests and I have been to see a dermatologist, tricologist ect. The only relevant result I have had is that I have a very high white blood cell count which can be killing my hair.

I don’t feel ill and the doctors are unsure why I have such a high white cell count. Do you have any suggestions on how I can lower my white blood count? I also use minoxodil and the lazer comb, I have recently started taking a DHT blocker too. Any information would be appreciated.

Block Quote

I really do not know what you would consider a high white blood cell count, but you also need to understand a high white blood cell count really should have nothing to do with hair (the exception is in cases of alopecia areata). Generally, a high white blood cell count can mean anything from an infection to cancer (leukemia), but please don’t jump to conclusions thinking you have cancer.

It seems like there’s a lack of proper communication, because if your doctor left you with thinking your white blood cell count is causing your hair loss, you need to setup an appointment with him/her so you can discuss this further.

Posted on

Is MPB Just Genes or Are There Environmental Factors? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctors,

When it comes to hair loss genetics is usually the main culprit. There has been a lot of discussion of what can “cause” hair loss which I think people mistake with the acceleration of a destined hair loss pattern. Stress can be one factor which can accelerate hair loss. Is male pattern baldness purely a result of genes or is there also an influence of environmental factors which determine if a person will have hair loss?

Also, I know weight lifting does not “cause” hair loss, but can it accelerate the rate of hair loss much like stress does? There a body builders without hair loss, and even some may have high levels of stress, so it may be a matter of just genetics.

Block Quote

Genetics, lifestyle, hormones, and stress all play a role in hair loss. For example, if you lead a stressful life and have the genetics for losing your hair, the stress could cause the genes to express earlier than they otherwise would. This is not a simple issue!

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationHow Fast is Shock Loss… and Could Hair Spray Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr.Rassman,

I really enjoy coming to this site and I really appreciate you trying to help us baldies out there.

What i want to know is, If you use hairspray on hair that has a lot of sebum buildup and dandruff in the hair and around the hair follicle can you experience more hair loss and death to hair follices?

My other question is regarding shock loss. How fast do the hairs fall out due to shock loss, is it right away as the surgery is occurring or couple months after?

I know u have mentioned before that you need to be completely bald in a certain area to receive a transplant otherwise there will be shock loss to the existing hairs even if you are taking finasteride. So does that mean when u first get a hair transplant to the balding area where finasteride didn’t save the hair, would u have to come back for a 2nd procedure because the area of the head where finasteride did save the hair would die eventually because of shock loss after the surgery?

I hope you can get a chance to answer these few questions. Thank you for a wonderful site.

Block Quote

Spray canHair spray, dandruff, or sebum do not cause hair loss. Genetic inheritance causes hair loss in men for the majority of cases.

Shock loss happens from the “shock” of the hair transplant surgery on the nearby hairs that are just barely holding on (those are programmed to eventually fall out anyway). It happens within weeks after surgery.

I do not believe I have ever said you need to be “completely” bald to receive surgery. The key point is that there are risks and benefits of surgery that need to be evaluated for each individual. This is where a Master Plan comes into play, as each and every patient is different. Patients should not be having 2nd surgeries just because they had shock loss from a prior hair transplant surgery. It wouldn’t make sense to have a surgery just so the groundwork is laid for follow-up surgeries.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationWhat Does Auto-Cloning Mean? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Admittedly, I’m not too bright – It sounds like hair is plucked form the back of the head and transplanted in the scalp? Then the plucked hair grows back? Does this mean there would be no need to cut a strip from the back of the head and there would be an unlimited donor supply?

Block Quote

Actually, your conclusion is right on. If this process becomes a standard treatment for hair loss, then the need for a traditional transplant would not be needed as long as you’re willing to go through a procedure that involves plucking many hairs and have them placed into another part of the scalp, one hair at a time. It takes patience, but the hope is that the donor supply is unlimited. This assumes, of course, that the hair that grows from the original plucked hair will regrow and cycle as it did when it was in the donor supply (where the plucked hair came from).

So that’s what we’re referring to when we mention the ACell product and auto-cloning. There are a lot of variables still unknown, which is why we’re going to be studying it.

Posted on

Electric Pulse Treatment for Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

ElectricityHi,
have you ever heard about electric pulse treatment for hair grow?? it works??

Block Quote

Since its invention, electricity has been marketed for treating ailments ranging from cancer to hair loss. We have seen many benefits of electricity in healing wounds, ulcers, bone that will not unite, etc… but I don’t know of any proven value for the electric pulse therapy and hair loss. This fits into my usual dictum of “buyer beware”.