Dr. William Rassman – Page 1308

May 21, 2009

Getting Concerned After No Results on Propecia for 7 Months – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor
I am in my mid 7th month of using Propecia everyday (alone without anything else), and am starting to get concerned. As I understand it, you need to wait 9-12 months to see any effect from the treatment, and thats where I need clarification.

Would I notice worst symptoms (loss of hair bulk/mass) before it got better? My hair was diffuse beforehand but still covered my head. Now, the rear crown of my head is very close to being bald. (Please see images..I sent them to your email) Frontal has remained basically the same. I now keep my hair very short, so I dont know if there was shedding (and it just wasnt apparent for this reason.) But I havent noticed ANY hairs falling out….instead the hair just seems to be getting thinner and thinner.

At this point, I am trying to determine whether to use Rogaine on top of Propecia as a last ditch effort. I know that would make it hard to determine WHICH product is helping my hair (which is why I have been holding out on that), but my big concern is that if I let things continue to progress at this rate than I won’t have any hair in the crown for Rogaine to even “thicken”…What is your take on that.

The only reversal/progress I THINK I have found is a few disperse black hairs that have spouted up in areas that I believe were bald before (in my frontal region). This could very well be my imagination, but I am wondering if that is a sign that things are picking up..or if some people just gain a few of these random hairs and nothing else.

In considering that I started taking Propecia 7 months ago….does Propecia work to try and maintain THAT base level hair (with ups and downs in the process). Or does it work to maintain baselevel from the 6-12 month mark when you guys say it typically starts to take effect….I am very confused at the “typical” experience I should expect for the 1-12 month term of treatment (with Propecia)

I would be open to take that genetic test, but they dont list any NY doctors on the site…any suggestions for that?

Thanks for the help!

Block Quote

Some report shedding, but it doesn’t seem extremely common. At 7 months, things shouldn’t necessarily be worse than before. The HairDX finasteride response test might be a good idea (see #5 below).
Many men use both medications. I see no problem with that as long as you don’t mind the financial aspect of sticking to two medications for life.
Not really sure what you mean. Random black hairs?
Aside from regrowth, the goal of taking Propecia is to maintain your hair at the point of when you started taking it. Obviously, each person is different.
The HairDX site has a list of clinics that offer their genetic tests, but if there’s no listings for New York, you should contact them to find out about local options. I’m sure they’re looking to have their tests available on the east coast.

May 21, 2009

Hair Loss InformationIn the News – The Mystery of Alopecia Areata – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

From the article:

Every woman has experienced a bad hair day at some point. But for some women and men, a mysterious illness is causing them to lose all of their hair.

Block Quote

Read the rest (and see the video) — Men, Women Battle Mysterious Hair Loss

The article (ABC 7 in Washington DC) does not provide any insight into alopecia areata since so little is known, but it does bring some attention to the topic. The video is also a good chance to see how some patients cope with the disease. For more information, see the National Alopecia Areata Foundation

May 21, 2009

Can a Man Take Female Hormones to Stop Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doc

I want to know if by taking female hormones, hair loss would be stopped and if the regrowth will increase…For example, transexuals dont’ have hair loss problems. I know all the side effects, but I just want to know if the therapy to chanege sex makes hair losso stop in 100% of the cases.

Thank you

Block Quote

I see transsexual patients on female hormones and they still have hair loss. Even those who evolve into a female will still bald as long is there is testosterone on board. Some even have a hair transplant to get back their childhood hairlines (which is concave in shape, just like the adult female hairline).

May 21, 2009

Both Times I Started Propecia I Saw Accelerated Hair Loss! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I noticed someone else asking if propecia could accelerate hair loss and wasnt sure if it was possible or not. Both times I started taking propecia I did notice unusual hair loss within a couple of weeks. I understand it could take 6 months to get results but is there a possibility that in the first severall weeks it actually causes loss?

Block Quote

There are some reports of accelerated hair loss from Propecia, but this is probably just accelerated hair cycling and after it takes its course, the growth (anagen) part of the hair cycle will pick up and grow more hair.

May 20, 2009

Hair Loss InformationTransplants Look Horrible and Rogaine Doesn’t Work for African Hair Types? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve been losing hair for years and heard that nothing really works unless you get a hair transplant or use rogaine.Transplants look horrible and are quite expensive, and they say Rogaine does not work for african american hair.There are a lot of topical solutions out there.I’ve been told that products like carol’s daughter,doo gro, and a product by a company called hairobics do some good. Can you give some advice.

thanks

Block Quote

Judging by your email, you haven’t looked into hair restoration (medical or surgical) in the past 15 or so years. Hair transplants done with old pluggy technology 20 years ago might look horrible, but transplants done today look very natural. Cost can be up there depending on your hair needs, but it’s a surgical cosmetic procedure that lasts forever.

I don’t know who “they” are that says Rogaine doesn’t work for African American hair, but that’s not true. Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) are the only FDA approved hair loss medications and are proven to work. I’ve seen fantastic results with Propecia, in particular. You can try any product you want (those that you mentioned look to be herbal supplements and shampoos), but I personally like to go with the stuff that is actually proven to do what it says, with actual peer-reviewed medical studies to back it up. I think your first step should be to see a dermatologist to find out more about your options.

May 20, 2009

I Noticed My 15 Year Old Son Is Losing Hair Already! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr.

I started losing hair at about 22yrs of age. I am now 39. My son is 15 and is showing signs of significant thinning around his hairline and I was wondering if it is considered abnormal for someone his age to lose hair this early in life, ultimately robbing him of his youth. I have visited the family doctor who could offer no cause or solution for this problem. He suggested rogaine but I noticed on the package that it doesn’t help with frontal hair loss and you should be at least 18yrs of age to use the product. Any suggestions or solutions would be of help.

Thank you for your time

Block Quote

Rogaine likely won’t help him if he’s losing hair in the hairline, regardless of age. It’s not abnormal, but it’s not extremely common to lose the hairline at 15 years old. Perhaps he’s got a mature hairline process starting?

As for the other hair loss medication, Propecia — there are many things to consider before putting him on it. It’s the only medication that might slow down the balding process (assuming that is what is going on), but you need to have a great doctor who will analyze your son and work through the diagnosis as well as his growth phases in his bones and elsewhere. His age is a potential red flag, as Propecia was tested for men over the age of 18. I’ll let his doctor make the determination about prescribing, though. There is help, but you need to address this with his pediatrician.

May 20, 2009

Hair Loss InformationDoes Alopecia Areata Change Hair Characteristics? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,
I was recently diagnosed with diffuse alopecia areata. I lost a lot of hair on my head, but the hair also got finer. I passed that off to genetics even though I’m only 19. We tried everything including cortisone injections and minoxidil, but nothing worked, so we tried oral prednisone. The hair follicles regrew, but the weirdest part was that the hair actually changed back from fine to relatively coarse. My question is: Does alopecia areata ever change the characteristics of the hair, or was the textural change a bizarre coincidence?

Block Quote

Hair during recovery from alopecia areata may just return to its original texture. Then again, it may not. Diffuse alopecia areata is not fully understood as a disease process. There might be better information (including support forums) at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation site.

May 20, 2009

Azidothymidine (AZT) to Treat Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

I have a question about a Today Show video that I saw, which mentions a possible cure for baldness using azt azidothymidine. Do you have any further information on this research?

Thank you for your great work!

Block Quote

No, I do not have information on this. Both AZT (azidothymidine) and HIV do produce hair loss. I’ve not heard about AZT as a hair loss treatment. When did this Today show air and is the video online? I’m curious to see what you’re referring to.

May 20, 2009

Hair Loss InformationLatino Males and Low Hairlines? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Why do many latino males have very low hair lines?

I’ve noticed that many Latino’s maintain a juvenile hairline for most of their life. You’ve mentioned in the past that Native Americans are genuinely different from any other race because of their genetics, they do not bald whatsoever. Is it possible that many Latino’s do not bald because many have these native american genes as well. Many Latino’s are what is known as “mestizo”, which means they have both European and Native ancestry. Does that explain why they have good hairlines?

Block Quote

I’m not a geneticist, but I believe you could be on to something. There are many Latinos who have concave shaped, strong hairlines. Your theory sounds good to me.

May 19, 2009

Hair Loss InformationHair Multiplication at Hair Science International? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi there,

My question is, have you heard of ‘Hair Science International’? I went to see them last week here in Melbourne Australia and they say they can take a sample of my hair from the back and multiply up to 70,000 hairs in a lab and transplant however much I need back into my head and it will stay for ever. I’ve seen some of the results and in terms of coverage it’s great. But I don’t know how well this technology works in recreating the natural hairline and what kind of survival rate it averages.

Should I avoid them or is it worth investigating them more? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thankyou.

Block Quote

If this company told you they could take a hair from the back of your head and multiply it to 70,000 hairs, then transplant it as needed (and their site says without surgery?)… then they’re either from the future or someone was giving you a line of bull.

My guess based on the photos on their site is that they sell fancy wigs and laser treatments. That’s the only way I could explain how they can call this “hair multiplication” but then in the same sentence say that it is non-surgical. Even then, they’re using “hair multiplication” in a completely misleading way. The technology doesn’t exist in the way you described. So either you misunderstood what they told you or they’re misrepresenting themselves. It’s not cloning or multiplication.

***
Post updated Jan 5, 2011:
I would be happy to read and review evidence that supports any claims about growing 70,000 hairs in a lab for transplantation back into the scalp, but until that time I’ve closed the ability to comment on this post due to complaints.