Dr. William Rassman – Page 1295

June 24, 2009

In the News – Possible New Prostate Cancer Treatment? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Snippet from the article:

Two prostate cancer patients who had been told their condition was inoperable are now cancer-free as the result of an experimental therapy, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester announced today.

“We were all pretty shocked,” says Dr. Eugene Kwon, an immunologist and urologist at Mayo and leader of the clinical trial in which the experimental therapy was being used. “These results were far beyond anything we ever envisioned.”

Read the rest — Mayo reports dramatic outcomes in prostate cancer study

It’s not hair news, but prostate cancer treatment is probably more important to report on anyway. And in a related story, the pharma company that makes the aforementioned experimental therapy had some good news of their own — Medarex shares up as prostate cancer drug shows promise.

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June 24, 2009

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Safety is Really a Concern? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

This is in response to Since When Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Need FDA Approval? –

This tone is alarmist and feels competitive. I appreciate the scientific method you’re supporting, but do you really think there are SAFETY issues with putting your own blood back into your body (or parts thereof)?

This may be a new trend that will catch on more over time. I have not used the technique yet, but at the ISHRS meeting next month, this will be a subject that is going to be discussed. I will form opinions when I meet with those who are using PRP.

The following article is a good overview that shows the “simple” side of the PRP story — nwoms.com.

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June 23, 2009

Senator John Ensign’s Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Does Senator John Ensign have a transplant? Sen. Ensign was in the news recently due to an affair with a former staffer.

Here’s a frontal picture — Another view of the top of his head

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I looked at the photos you sent along with some others I found on the web, and it appears that Nevada Senator John Ensign has a great natural head of hair. I really don’t know if he had a hair transplant, as the best hair transplants aren’t recognizable anyway. You only spot the bad ones and some people will notice when you’re visibly balding for years and then your hair regrows (this is particularly the case with those in the spotlight — celebrities, politicians, etc).

Also in my search, I found that many political gossip blogs are referring to Senator Ensign as “The Hair” or something similar, so his thick head of hair does not go unnoticed. There’s just something about politicians with great hair that seem to have the upper hand over the follicle-challenged politicians…

June 23, 2009

I’m on Camera Daily So My Hair Is Extremely Important to Me! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is a hair transplant possible even if the person still has enough hair to pass as not being bald?

My main concern is that I am a local television personality and on camera everyday. I have been receding and thinning since I was 18 (Im 24 now)but through very strategic hairstyling I am able to cover it to some degree. However in the last year the balding process has been picking up and it is becoming harder to manage. From reading your past questions, I know you don’t advocate what one reader referred to as a “preventative transplant”, but looking decent and having hair can effect my job. What would you recommend in this case?

Thank you

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TV Camera You don’t have to be completely bald to have a hair transplant. I can’t say whether you’re a candidate without examining your hair (or lack thereof) first, but if you’re losing hair and require strategic styling to manage it, it might be worth a trip to LA to see me.

Los Angeles sports reporter Steve Hartman went right back on TV not long after his procedure and no one could tell he had a hair transplant, but he had natural cover for it. I have had two people I remember who were on national TV (primetime on their own specials) who had transplants. One person was on TV just one day after a hair transplant and the other was 6 days out from the transplant… and nobody could tell. Again, I would have to see you before I could give you my opinion on your ability to hide the transplant easily. Many of my patients do go out into the public (lawyers, judges, executives) and in select cases where they are not very bald, they can get away with a one day turn around.

June 23, 2009

Haven’t Seen Much Growth 7 Months After My Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I had a hair transplant about 7 months ago and I really have not seen any major improvement. I had the transplant of the hair line. What has happened is that some of the transplanted hair never fell out and has continued to grow but I have seen no regrowth where the transplants shed.

Is this a failure or will it still grow.

My hairline is still a little red.

Thank you

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At 7 months, you should see growth from the transplants. It sounds like it’s possible that your transplants grew in right away (seen in 5% of patients), but you may have experienced shock loss in the surrounding hair, leaving you no better off than before you started. As for redness, it should’ve subsided months ago. I don’t know enough about your procedure (number of grafts, hair type, technique used) or your skin type to be able to reflect on the persistent redness or if the transplant was a failure or not. I would discuss your concerns with the physician that performed the surgery and use the pre-operative photographs when you discuss this with him/her.

June 23, 2009

Saw Palmetto Helped My Hair, Depression, and Sexual Desire! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi,
I have been taking saw palmetto for a year and I reckon it has helped not only my hair loose. but other problems such as depression,sexual desire this cant be a bad thing considering it has helped three things with one tablet. I know your goin to say it is not fda approved but how can it be so bad when I am feeling great again and able to tackle life without feeling suicidal and depressed. I reckon it is the greatest thing thats happened to me.

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What you are reporting that you got out of saw palmetto are not known effects for the herb. It is mainly used as a prostate enlargement treatment, and I’ve never heard of it alleviating depression or suicidal tendencies. I don’t recommend saw palmetto to treat your hair loss, but it is harmless to my knowledge and if it works for you, certainly you are free to continue using it. Good luck.

June 23, 2009

In the News – Gray Hair Protects Us from Cancer? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

GREY hair may be unwelcome, but the processes that produce it are now better understood and could be protecting us from cancer.

Cells called melanocytes produce the pigments that colour hair and their numbers are kept topped up by stem cells. Hair goes grey when the number of stem cells in hair follicles declines. Now Emi Nishimura of Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan and colleagues have found what causes this decline in mice.

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Read the rest at NewScientist – Grey hair may be protecting us from cancer

This is a long stretch from a prominent researcher. I will not celebrate my gray hair because of this article.

June 23, 2009

Using Moisturizer with Rogaine Foam? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

Thank you for your great blog. I’m a head shaver, and currently I’m using Rogaine foam. I will shave, then shower, then use the foam. I was wondering if it’s ok to put moisturizer on my head before the Rogaine foam? Would that change the effectiveness? Thanks!

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Probably not, but more chemicals on the scalp could potentially block the Rogaine Foam absorption. The application instructions for Rogaine say to apply it to a clean and dry scalp.

June 22, 2009

Why Have You Changed Your Mind About Taking More Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

recently you wrote on this blog about having advised several of your patients seeing a certain loss in efficacy of finasteride treatment to higher the dosage from the regular 1 mg per day to 2.5 mg (half a proscar). In older entries, however, you are strongly advising against that therapeutic “move”. Could you please explain why you seem to have changed your mind on this and what conditions youÂ´d like to see fufilled before making such an increase in dosage!

Thank you so much!

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There have been more and more complaints by some patients that over the long term, Propecia seems not to prevent the advancing balding patterns that they are experiencing. Because of the high interest in Avodart in some individuals who are not getting control of an advancing balding pattern (without its FDA clearance), there seems to be a consensus by some of the prominent doctors in the field that 2mg of Propecia (or 2.5 mg of generic finasteride — which is a half of a Proscar/generic finasteride pill) may be better in some of these individuals and worthy of a try. Please note that I’m not suggesting that people increase their dosage on their own without talking to their prescribing doctor.

As long as there are no negative side effects, I believe it is a better option than Avodart, which I am reluctant at prescribing until I get more comfortable with the FDA clinical trial that just completed. I will try to understand this better at the ISHRS meeting next month in Amsterdam, where the Avodart study will be discussed. Once I know more, I’ll post it here.

June 22, 2009

Thinning Hair Where Occipital Bone Is? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a question concerning thin hair. I am a 31 year old male. I have always had really fine hair. I dont appear to be going bald but there is a really thin spot on the back middle section of my head. When my hair is cut short it looks pretty thin back there. Someone told me this might be because this is where the occipital bone is. Is it common to have thinner hair around the occipital bone? Do you see this alot? Thank you very much.

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Norwood 3v No, I do not see this in isolation. You may be noticing thinning around the rim of the crown area on the back of the head (see image at right).

If you are indeed pointing to where the occipital bone is (see highlighted label on image below), that is the area where hair should be the thickest and fullest in most men who have genetic balding. That is why we call it the permanent zone. Right below this area is the neck and this can have a different genetic code, but there is no bone under that part of the scalp in the midline.

Image source: AARP