Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Hair Transplant Using Single Blade or Multi-Blade? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I went to a local doctor for a consult and he mentioned that he uses a 2-3 bladed knife with the Haber spreader to insure that no transection occurs. He said that there is less transection with that than with the single bladed knife, when used properly. According to him, with the single blade, you must go down 2-3 times as deep to cut past the follicles, and if you are not right on target there will be some transection. Does this sound correct – does using a Haber spreader with a 2-3 bladed knife sound right?

Thanks…

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BladeMore than 2 blades with depth may cause hair transection. The use of spreading instruments such as the Haber spreader or a Kelly clamp will also work to minimize transection. If a two-bladed knife is used, it should have a built-in angle to minimize transection. A three (or greater)-bladed knife causes more transection and loss of hair from the donor area.

One vs two blades (with built-in knife angles for the 2-bladed instrument) are about equal to minimize hair loss from the harvest. I use a specially designed (by me) two-bladed knife that has a 30 degree angle built into the holder to minimize transection. Two-bladed knives like the one I use precisely control the width of the strip, so I prefer that to a single-bladed knife.

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Hair Loss InformationCeliac Disease Caused My Hair to Fall Out – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I have celieac disease and I (unknowingly) used a hair color product that contained wheat. It blistered my scalp and my hair fell out. it has been about two months and very fine peach fuzz hair is growing in the spots but its very thin. will my hair ever grow back in the right texture and density? Female, 45

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I know, as I’m sure you do, that those with celiac disease shouldn’t have foods, beverages, or medications that contain wheat, barley, rye, and oats. What I do not know, however, is how the disease impacts hair loss after using hair dye with wheat in it. I would assume your hair should grow back, but it would take many months, possibly up to a year to find out. This doesn’t seem like it would be a permanent loss, but you should be followed by a good doctor that can provide you with an examination (perhaps even the doctor you’re already seeing for your celiac disease).

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Hair Loss InformationI Want to Take Propecia Temporarily Before Surgery – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman

you mentioned before “Some of my patients do not take Propecia (finasteride 1mg) by their personal choice. It is your choice as well. The risk is that you may have increased shock hair loss without taking Propecia before surgery. Shock hair loss is common in men under 30 years old or those who are losing their hair actively when they have a hair transplant. Propecia will prevent this complication in most men” …

Well i used propecia before for 9 months and had great results. but by the 8th and 9th months it killed my libido and impotence although i was 26 years old only.. but as you said shock hair loss is really scary. so if i wanted to use finasteride just to avoid the hair shock loss post surgery, how many months you advice me to take it temporary, definitely im not willing to go on with it…

thanks doc…

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Stopping the finasteride after a hair transplant has been done with a few of my patients with success. The risk of shock loss is mostly in the first 4-6 months, and those that stopped it after the transplanted hair grew out did not have a problem with shock loss. Of course, they had the benefit of hair transplants to cover any new loss of the original hair, so they may have lost some hair without knowing. This may be a better route than not taking the drug at all, but you will still face the natural evolution of your hair loss over time without the drug on board.

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Hair Loss InformationIn the News – Man Sues South Korean Military Over His Hair Loss… and Wins! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

The government is liable for a military staff member’s hair loss due to extreme stress related to his duties, a local court ruled Sunday.

The Seoul Administrative Court ordered the Ministry of Patriot and Veteran Affairs to acknowledge 27-year-old Lee as a “man of national merit” and compensate him monthly for the loss of all his hair.

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Read the rest at the Korean Times

And here I thought that the US had favorable courts rulings, but this one takes the cake…

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Hair Loss InformationBoost Hair Vitamins – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i was just wondering if you heard of a company called “Boost”? They are a vitamin company and a hair care product company. Supposedly there stuff works they say?! Have you heard of them? Their website is worldofhair.com

Can you check out their site and tell me what you think? I basically dont want to start buying there product and realize it’s bogus!!

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BoostVitamins are great, and products that can strengthen hair or make it healthier are good… but they have one product in their Boost line that claims to be good for thinning hair, and even says “guaranteed to stop hair fall”. Most over the counter hair products people ask me about the outlandish hair loss treatment claims (like guaranteeing something that can’t be guaranteed), and unfortunately this one is no different. It appears to just be a vitamin infused shampoo. Which vitamins is it infused with? No idea. However, I’d be skeptical of any product that brags about hair growth abilities and tries to sell the idea by saying it contains, “herbs, proteins, aminos and more“. I want to know if “more” includes leprechaun magic…

Does it work? Again, I have no idea. But when a company uses smooth sounding marketing lingo and doesn’t provide any real substance, it doesn’t fill me with any trust in the products. Don’t expect it to regrow hair, but if you do try it I’d be curious to read your review. The FDA takes a strong position when a company promotes a benefit and can not prove it. They can be told to stop selling the product.

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Hair Loss InformationDeveloped Itching from Minoxidil After a Year! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Im sorry if you’ve answered this before but what in your opinion would be the best way to tackle hairloss? Would you reccomend using Propecia, Regaine and Nizoral all at the same time or just Propecia or Regaine and Nizoral? I did try using Regaine and was fine with it for a year or so but then for some reason the itching got unbearable! Any tips for that? Thanks

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RegaineItching while using minoxidil may reflect an allergy to the drug, though it is interesting that it developed after using it for a year. Which strength were you using? Perhaps you could try a lesser strength.

As for the best way to tackle hair loss — well, I’ve already written a book on it (Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies), so I’m not going to rewrite that here. I can tell you that Propecia (finasteride) and minoxidil (commonly sold as Rogaine or Regaine) are the only FDA approved hair loss treatments currently available, and as I’m a US-based physician, I look to the FDA. Another way to tackle hair loss would be hair transplant surgery, but I would not suggest rushing into that. Your question doesn’t really have a cut and dry answer that works perfectly for everyone. You can learn more by searching this blog (search box in the top right) or reading up on hair loss at NewHair.com.

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Hair Loss InformationSerum Testosterone and DHT Conversion – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

Thank you for your willingness and dedication to share your expertise and insights around this very important field of medicine. My question pertains to the relationship b/w serum testosterone levels & DHT. I am 38 and have been on both Proscar 5mg & Avodart.5mg as well as a slew of natural antiandrogens (eg, saw palmetto, etc.). I recenty increased my dose of Avodart to 1mg but have met w/ marketly increased shedding 2-3 months following the dose increase.

My question is if I could have elevated my free testosterone to a level that is allowing for more conversion of DHT in the small amount, say 10%, of DHT receptors that are not blocked. Is there a balance or fine line between the level of serum testosterone and DHT conversion that takes place? I’ve noticed that my hair shafts have thinned in diameter and lost pigmentation at the bottom and it seems to correspond to about 3 months of growth (I.e., aboth the time I increased my dose of Avodart). Could I have raised DHT levels by raising free testosterone or could I have induced a form of telogen effluvium shocking all my hair into a resting state? If so, can I expect subsequent regrowth? Your professional opinon is greatly appreciated.

On a side note, although this is a progressive,unorthodox, and off-label treatment regime, I am tolerating the treatments very well-very little side effects. Just want to try to understand the science better. Thanks-a-million!

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You can not match one piece of a science to another and then create new science. You are doing many things to your hair and your body, all at the same time. You have no measurements taken (mapping out the hair for miniaturization and followed over time area by area). You may be shedding and this may be temporary, but only time will tell you that. I can not heal you with any insight other than what I have written before on this site.

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Hair Loss InformationMy Terrible Shedding from Starting Minoxidil Finally Stopped – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I have been on minoxidil for about 7 months and i just went through a terrible shed about 2-3 months ago that has seem to have ended because I don’t see too many hair falling out anymore. I still use minoxidil but I have not seen an improvement with the hairs growing back yet. Is it because these shed hairs have to grow through several hair cycles before they can become terminal healthy hairs and is it likely that these lost hairs will grow back if i stay on minoxidil?

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To see the value from minoxidil, you must stay on it at least a year. If you stop it at any time, you may lose the hairs that developed minoxidil dependence. Hairs lost from minoxidil induced shedding should return as the hair cycle completes its process.

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Hair Loss InformationMy White Hair is Thinner Than the Dark Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr Rassman, I am 55 years old with a reasonably good head of hair. I started propecia and rogaine 10 years ago and am happy with the results.

The hair at my crown/vertex area is a little bit thinner but nothing too bad. Here is my question as I have gotten older my hair has gone from brown to gray and is now turning white in some places. It seems as if the white hair is slightly thinner then the darker hair. does this happen?

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If it is translucent white it can appear thinner, but I have not personally measured the white and black hairs with a caliper to compare. I can’t really tell you why it might happen, though it is probably just genetics.

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Hair Loss InformationThe Masturbation Brigade Returns – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I find your information inaccurate, and I personally disagree. Me and many like me, suffering from many symptoms of excessive masturbation. A major notice sign is thinning hair, and hair loss. Ive noticed that you have photos of older generation, I doubt these people suffering from masturbating addiction. Check this site if you want to know the truth about excessive masturbation. it explains in detail.

ayurvediccure.com

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Door knobI don’t understand people like you. Truly, you confuse me. I seem to get emails like yours in clusters — I’ll read nothing about masturbation and hair loss, then suddenly I’ll get a dozen emails within a couple of days from various people all telling me I’m wrong and trying to prove it by telling me that you notice your hair thinning when you masturbate. I’m sure you also see hair loss after you sleep, so why not avoid that, too?

And what is this you mention of the older generation? Do you think masturbating was invented in the 1980s or 90s? Give me a break. Your “proof” is some holistic “cure” website that states wrong information about masturbating, but includes ordering instructions for a pill that will make you “last longer” and will solve all of your problems. If you believe that, you are ridiculously misguided and I might have a bridge or two to sell you. I don’t know what else I can say to help you or people like you understand that there is simply no link. Just because your mother told you to not masturbate or you’d go bald, it does not make it true. My mother told me that when my hand itched, that meant money was coming to me… and yet I’m smart enough to know to not expect coins to rain down every time I get a tingle in my hand.

I don’t know what more I can write about this topic than I already have. It’s not like I have something to gain by telling you there’s no connection. Last I checked, there was no tax on masturbating, nor do I care if you do it or not. Slam it in a door if you want!

You will also not lose hair from masturbating, nor will you go blind, deaf, and you certainly will not grow hair on your palms. These are old wives tales to prevent kids from touching themselves, many times created for religious reasons. So please read this carefully — there is no link between hair loss and masturbation. The end.