Dr. William Rassman – Page 1291

July 6, 2009

Young Daughter Lost Hair After Radiation to Brain Tumor – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m hoping you can help us. When my daughter was 20 months old, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After numerous brain surgeries and chemo, we decided to have a bone marrow transplant just before her fourth birthday. Thankfully, this saved her life. She also had focal radiation to the tumor site – on the right side of her head – and unfortunately most of the hair on that quarter of her head did not grow back.

She has worn hair pieces since she has been five years old. We’ve talked to people about hair transplants in the past, but were told there was too much area to cover and also, that hair transplants do not work on the side of the head.

I’m wondering if this still holds true for this procedure. I could send you some photos so you could see the extent of the hair loss if you think that would help. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thank you

Most people with large defects are treated with balloon expanders, which stretch the normal scalp to cover the defective areas. There are a few doctors who are very skilled in this specialized technique and although I have assisted in this type of surgery, I would not consider myself at the lever of expertise needed. I have seen these expanders done in children, but every person and every situation is different. I would suggest that you send me photographs and I will forward them on to such a specialist. I have seen some miraculous results from this type of reconstructive surgery.

Usually, at the end of the expansion surgery, hair transplants are done to refine the work and cover remaining scars.

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July 2, 2009

World’s First Accurate Baldness Calculator? Not Quite! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

The ‘baldness calculator’ – said to be the world’s first reliable tool for predicting hair loss – has been a huge hit with men in other countries.

The program calculates the exact age at which someone will go bald or have lost most of their hair or provides reassurance by predicting that they will still have a full head of hair in old age.

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Read the rest at Telegraph UK

Bad calculations A PR firm sent me the press release and apparently the Telegraph in the UK got the same release and ran with it, presenting the article above. This “baldness calculator” is a clever way to market a caffeine-based shampoo called Alpecin, but I don’t know how this thing can claim to be accurate. It’s guessing the year you’ll lose your hair based on these factors you feed it — age, number of hairs lost daily, current hair loss pattern, scalp dryness, how often you wear a hat (???), stress, activity level, family history of hair loss, location (which apparently is limited to the UK), marital status, and career. Most of the questions are yes/no, and some have zero relevance. And surprise, surprise — when the answer is “calculated”, the solution is a special shampoo! I am completely and utterly SHOCKED (note sarcasm)!

For fun, I asked one of my employees to go through the steps of the “calculator” to see where he’d end up. It determined he’d go bald at 60 years old (though he’s not in the UK, so he had to choose a region that he doesn’t live in and probably has never visited). How’d it come up with that age? Your guess is as good as mine. He’s got miniaturization on the top of his scalp already (he’s been taking Propecia to maintain it), so clearly 60 years old may be completely wrong (who really knows).

My verdict: Fun way to try to sell you a shampoo, but to call this “accurate” is completely ridiculous. In fact, it’s laughable. Determining the age you’ll go bald is just not that simple, folks. If you want to try it yourself, go here, but keep in mind what I just wrote about the accuracy. Perhaps their claims for the shampoo are equally as accurate?

July 2, 2009

Hair Loss InformationAm I Under-Qualified to Be a Hair Restoration Technician? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have received a job offer that seams to good to be true. I responded to and add for an administrative assistant listing and at the interview they offered me a position as a hair restoration technician. I believe that I am under- qualified with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business. Is it customary to only hire women technicians? How do I know if this job is legit?

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Training for a hair transplant technician takes considerable time and to become proficient once the skills are learned, may take a few years. If the doctor has experience training technicians and you like the detailed work that is involved, then you can embark on this as a career move. I would hope that the doctor who offered you the position does not let you loose and expect that you will become an instant member of the surgical team, making many mistakes along the learning path. It often helps if you have some medical assistant training so you understand the sterile technique process.

July 2, 2009

Hair Loss InformationCan Chemical Relaxers Done Professionally and Correctly Still Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Can chemical relaxers applied properly by a professional at a salon cause hair loss? It seems as though every question here about chemical relaxers involve doing it yourself or messing up and burning the scalp.

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Professionals make mistakes on occasion so the use of relaxers always put you at risk for chemical burns. In the hands of experienced professionals, I would think that the risks are minimal.

With that said, I just met with a nice lady who had a professional use a relaxer on her hair about a year ago, and ended up with two thumb-print type bald spots that appeared after a 6 month course of treating open burn wounds on her scalp. I will be transplanting those thumb-print bare areas shortly.

July 2, 2009

In the News – Celebrity Hair Transplants by Dr Farjo – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

[Shaun] Williamson and [Duncan] Bannatyne had hair transplants performed by Dr Bessam Farjo at his medical centre in Manchester. He says: ‘The biggest difference I find after the procedure is in the patients’ outlook.

‘You can see the change in their self-confidence and self-belief – they are smiling and making more eye contact. For many people, losing their hair is a burden, and then it is gone.’

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Read the rest — Revealed: New techniques that may have helped James Nesbitt beat his baldness

Admittedly, I don’t know who any of these celebrities are, but Dr. Farjo got a good mention and our friends across the pond will likely find this article interesting for the celeb factor.

July 2, 2009

Follicare and Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc,

I’ve been using Minoxidil 5% for around 18 months and although results are evident they aren’t miraculous…as to be expected. My question to to you is, I’ve bought some Follicare supplement to assist with my progress. DO you know if this contains any harmful chemicals or will it cause a reaction with the minoxidil? I;ve read the chemicals are natural but to what extent? I know that follicare sells a package containing minoxidil but I wonder if it is any different to Kirkland minoxidil.

Anyway thanks for your time

I do not believe there is anything harmful in a supplement, aside from the harm it does to your wallet. If the product contains minoxidil, that’s going to be the ingredient that regrows your hair — so I’d stick to the generic minoxidil. I would not double up on the minoxidil, using the generic and the Follicare at the same time. Follicare’s various sprays and lotions also contains botanical extracts, saw palmetto, vitamins, oils, and lots of other stuff. It might make your hair shiny, but I don’t see where the treatment for hair loss is in there.

I’m looking at the Follicare website now, and I am not impressed by the tiny and blurry before/after photos. Ever notice how so many of these various hair loss products for sale are often accompanied by lots of hype, little proof, and even smaller photographs?

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July 2, 2009

My 2 Year Old Has Significant Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,
I have a healthy 2 year old daughter who up until 8 weeks ago had a full head of hair. Now the front/top of her scalp is experiencing significant hairloss. There are no actual spots without hair (it is either breakage or regrowth). The dermatologist diagnosed her with seborraic dermitits, however upon reading, I’ve noticed that this is not common to cause hairloss. Neither sides of the family have any baldness. The dermatologist mentioned possible TE, but I’m finding it hard to believe that either TE or dermitits would cause this much hair loss in a child that previously had thick healthy hair. Do you think either of these conditions would possibly cause so much hair loss in a 2 year old? Thank you

I agree with you that I do not like the suggestion that this is seborrheic dermatitis. Speak with her pediatrician and get an another referral for a second opinion.

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July 1, 2009

My Hair is Shoulder Length and I Haven’t Had a Haircut In Almost 30 Years! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am not sure what type of doctor to see, my hair has always been very thin, and getting thinner and thinner. I don’t think I have had any hair regrowth, ever. I have never had a haircut, except before my mothers death at age 7. My life has been ALWAYS very stressful, so I don’t know if that has something to do with it. My hair has Never grown past my shoulders. I am 44 and down to my last bit of hair, and getting worried. What type of doctor do I need to see? thank you

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Our hair grows to a fixed maximum length and if your is shoulder length, that is your maximum length. I am sure you have seen hair loss over the months and years since your last haircut when you were 7 years old. Men usually have a shorter maximal length than women, but everyone is different. Maximum length may be as high as 7 feet in some women (see Rapunzel! Let Down Your Long, Golden Hair).

If your hair is suddenly getting thinner and thinner, I’d see your general doctor about a variety of possible causes (those are listed here).

July 1, 2009

I’m Worried About My Mom’s Severe Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi my mom is 65 and recently she has been experiencing a severe loss of hair and scalp irritation at the crown of her head. It is quite noticeable the hair loss is about the size of a small bowl. Clumps are also left on her pillow when she awakes/washes her hair.

She has been to GP and natualpath and on thyroid tablets to cleanse system as well as steriod topical cream to easer the itching and severe hotness of the area. This has been quite disconcerning for her. She also says that besides the severe heart in her head she wants to pull the air out to relieve the pressure. The doctor has sent her for biopsies as well as to see the ear /nose/throat specialists and they say there is no specific information they can give.

Any suggestions? Thanks, I hate to see my mom is such discomfort it unnerves me as I can’t relieve it as even head massage hurts her.

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I understand your feelings and sympathize. You want to comfort your mother and it’s tough to see her in pain. She needs to complete the biopsies and then take her to see a dermatologist to evaluate her hair loss. I really can not help her here, as this is too complex to handle without an exam and the internet has its limitations.

July 1, 2009

Is the HairDX Test Accurate If It Just Tests the X Chromosome? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi my question is about the HairDX test. If male pattern baldness can be inherited from either side of the family, is the Hair DX test only about 52 percent accurate since it tests the X chromosome only? And is it even less accurate in regards to actual hair loss because of the complex gene expression?

Men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome so the impact for the test on a man’s only X chromosome is clearly from one parent or the other. The overall predictability is only about 70% and possibly the cause of the difference between 70% and 100% are the other factors associated with gene expression and possibly other genes not tested.

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