Dr. William Rassman – Page 1247

November 11, 2009

Sox21 Gene – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My question is about the sox21 gene. I was ecstatic when the news broke that scientists have discovered the “hair loss gene.” I am wondering if there has been any progress with this, or even any attempt. Who is doing the research to further understand this gene and search for its connection with the cure for hair loss? Although its been less than a year, and the hair loss prevention field of science seems to move extremely slow, I still figured we would have heard more about this in the news.

I understand if you have no insider information on the subject, but I don’t know where else to go for the latest in hair loss related news. thanks.

The following response is by UK-based physician Dr. Bessam Farjo:

Response by:

Dr Bessam Farjo
United Kingdom

Of course it is very exciting whenever there is news about scientific discoveries in our field. However, do keep in mind that hair loss and restoration are very attractive subjects in the media, and I find some scientists or institutions take advantage of that to attract publicity and hopefully additional funding for their research. My understanding was that the group who studied the sox21 gene were not investigating hair loss nor were they interested in this subject. The study was on mice, not humans, and showed a relationship between this gene in the mouse and TOTAL body hair loss in it. This does not necessarily mean there is any relationship with inherited patterned hair loss in humans.

The researchers were speculating as a result of their findings that this may help in the future with hair loss research in humans. Significantly they also stated that they had no intention of investigating this further. As far as I know there has not been any further results or conclusions with regards to sox21.

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Learn more about the author of this article, Dr. Bessam Farjo, on his BaldingBlog profile or at his website.

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November 10, 2009

Does Flax Seed Reduce DHT? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rass. I am a every day visitor of this web site. You already mentioned about Viviscal in your site. But please go thru this site. Viviscal MAN

They have mentioned about something called “flax seed” which is a DHT blocker. Is it true?

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Flax seed has not been proven to be a DHT blocker. There was a very small pilot study I read about from a few years back that consisted of 10 men that took 250mg of flax lignan extract in Thailand over the course of half a year, and that seems to be what people are basing this assumption on. Any hint of success, no matter how small, seems to be get blown out of proportion and becomes the next “ingredient of the day” in these hair products.

Sorry, but watching the hair of ten men over six months is not enough for me to be convinced. If there are more recent studies (preferably peer-reviewed), I’d love to see them.

November 10, 2009

Can I Use Olive Oil as a Conditioner? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Great web site. I’ve looked on from time to time but never saw this question asked. Can a dap of olive oil be used to condition hair before or after blow drying? It wound seem like a inexpensive and natural way to condition ones hair rather than using something like Neutrogener triple moisture. Any thoughts?

Olive oil has been used as a hair conditioner and while I’ve got no personal experience with it, I see no danger in trying it. Here’s a site that has a recipe (though I just found it via Google and make no claims as to how well it works) — Care2.com.

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November 10, 2009

Femara and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. I’ve been trying to get pregnant with my second child and it’s taking a long time – went to fertility doc last year and all tests came back fine for me and husband – he put me on Femara to help me ovulate more efficiently – I was on it for 4 cycles but after the second cycle I started shedding hair like crazy and my face broke out awful – I’ve been off of it since last Dec but my hair and skin have not gotten back to normal – my ob/gyn ran bloodwork for hormones, thyroid, etc and all came back normal – do you have any idea why my hair is still shedding and not growing back normally – I never had a problem with my hair until I took the Femara – I’m just nervous that it did some permanent damage to me – I’m sure stress is not helping because of course now I’m stressing about the hair loss – please help if you can!! Thanks so much!

Alopecia (hair loss) is listed as an uncommon side effect with Femara, so it is known to some degree. In general, hormone manipulation can cause hair loss, particularly if there is some genetic trait that makes you vulnerable. It can take up to a year to wait to determine if the hair will return (just like hair loss with or after pregnancy). Good luck, but be patient.

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November 10, 2009

Male Balding and DHT – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have just started balding and I’ve just found out about DHT and hormones affecting hair loss. What can I do to remove DHT in my scalp without shampoos specifically for hair loss? Will Pine Tar shampoo work?

The cause of hair loss in men is almost always due to genetic causes, and it is known as male pattern baldness (MPB) or androgenic alopecia (AGA). Scientists have discovered that genetic balding is linked to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. While everybody (men and women, balding and non-balding) has DHT, it is the men who have the genetic trait of balding that will lose hair in a specific “male pattern”… and DHT must be present. The hair follicle makes DHT. It may have nothing to do with DHT blood levels, but you must have the genetic predisposition for hair loss.

There are medications, such as Propecia, which block the impact of DHT on the hair follicle and it may stop or reverse the balding process, but it is not a cure. To date, there is no cure for hair loss. Pine tar shampoo won’t stop, slow down, or reverse genetic hair loss.

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November 10, 2009

What’s a Typical Result After a Year on Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hey doc, just finsihing my 10th month on propecia, pretty sure hair isnt any better maybe alittle worse in front. However I think propecia is working to at least slow down my loss. So my question is, after 1 year of treatment what is the state of the typical propecia users hair. Also what is their own opinion of their hair, before you look at it, do they think that their hair is better, worse, or the same? Finally I have heard that best results (thickening of hair) do not happen until 24 months, how true is that for most of your patients? Thanks!

It takes about 2 years to maximize the benefits of Propecia (finasteride 1mg), but in one year you will kind-of know what you are going to get. Reversal of frontal hair loss is not common, but stopping or slowing the hair loss is common. Response to this drug is often age dependent with the younger men getting more benefits, provided that they are not heading to a Norwood Class 7 (extreme case) by the age of 23.

The hair that reverses in the crown is just like it was before it went away, but you really can not tell one hair from the other. The degree of miniaturization is a better indicator for benefits if you want a metric on this process.

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November 9, 2009

Hair Loss InformationI Can Only See 1% of My Grafts 5 Months After My Hair Transplant! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr Rassman
I had a hair transplant done 5 months ago by a board certified doctor with lots of experience. I recieved 1750 grafts (aprox 4300 hairs estimated). After 5 months it looks like maybe 43 new hairs have shown. The only difference between now and before the procedure, is that now I have a donor scar on the back of my head keeping me from shaving it all. I am very discouraged/upset by this.

In your experience, or to your knowledge, do some people not respond to hair transplants (the new hairs don’t ever grow)? If this is not reported as so, then does the length of time before ANY new hair shows ever take longer than 5 months? I realize it generally takes 9 months or so for the hair transplant to be fully realized, but I was told (and read) that by month 5 significant new growth should be visible. Your answers and info is much appreciated.

Thanks

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Take a look at this patient and watch his hair grow over time. At 5 months after his single hair transplant procedure, he had some short hair growing… and by the 7th month it was styling length. Some people grow faster or slower (by about 2 months). Ask your doctor in another 2 months to judge if your hair growth met his expectations and match it to yours.

November 9, 2009

Anti-Itch Medication to Use with Minoxidil? – Balding Blog

Hi doctor,
Twice you have answered my question. Thanks a lot for that.Now I would like to know Whether provillus is effective for thinning hair. The topical contains minoxidil 5% but the supplement contains 1500 mg of saw palmetto plus some vitamins and minerals. Since there is know proven results for saw palmetto’s efficiency on hair growth, Is it an effective way of combining it with minoxidil? as with provillus or what alternate supplement you suggest that can be taken with minoxidil which faster the hair regrowth process other than finasteride?

And I have tremendous amount of itching on my scalp if I apply minoxidil (even 2%) now what shall I do? Do I take some anti-allergic pills and continue application of minoxidil?

Allergy to minoxidil is a common side effect and other than stopping the medication completely, lowering the dosage is reasonable to try. I don’t think an over-the-counter anti-itch cream (with benzocaine or something similar) would be of much help. When you develop an allergy to minoxidil, topical steroids may be the only thing that will help, but it could do more harm than good and I don’t advise that.

Combining the saw palmetto with minoxidil in a topical medication as Provillus does suggests that the company is tossing everything but the kitchen sink into their product line. I’m not convinced of saw palmetto’s use as a hair loss treatment (especially as a topical), and the only suggestions I feel comfortable giving for hair growth are the FDA approved ones that are proven to actually do what they claim: minoxidil and finasteride.

November 9, 2009

Can I Let My 15 Year Old Son Use Minoxidil Until He’s Old Enough for Propecia? – Balding Blog

My question is for Dr Rassman: I have a 15 year old son who seems to be losing his hair (from the crown only – mpb in the family). I understand that Propecia is not suitable until he is 18. Is it worth using Rogaine until then and at what strength? Based on your experience how successful do you think it would be in retaining the hair he has until he is old enough to try the Propecia?

I know you have to deal with many questions but I would be so very grateful for your reply.

A worried mum.

I am reluctant to recommend Propecia (finasteride) for someone that young, but I and many other doctors have done this provided that your family doctor goes along with it. I have allowed my young patients to use Rogaine (minoxidil), starting off with 2% and moving up to 5% in the crown, if his family doctor does not want to use Propecia.

One thing to keep in mind — benefits from minoxidil are not kept by finasteride and vice versa. In other words, if he sees positive results from Rogaine and then decides years later that he wants to take just Propecia, it won’t maintain what Rogaine has kept.

November 9, 2009

In the News – Smokers with Lupus Have Higher Risk of Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Snippet from the press release:

“Up to 85 per cent of people with SLE develop skin involvement at some point,” explains Dr. Pineau. “Our study shows that the risk of skin damage such as permanent hair loss and scarring from skin inflammation is significantly increased in smokers. So is the rate of active lupus rash.”

Read the full text: Smokers With Common Autoimmune Disorder At Higher Risk For Skin Damage

The information comes from a study published in the Journal of Rheumatology, and “has clearly linked skin damage and rashes to smoking in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).” The great majority of those with SLE are women, and could be something else doctors consider when looking into a cause for female hair loss.

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