Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Hair Loss InformationDr Rassman’s Willingness to Show Opposing Opinions – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doc,

I brought up my questions about the value of miniaturization studies which you responded to. Though I’m still not convinced, you posted a response from another doctor who also questioned it’s value giving his reasons. Your willingness to post those suggests you’re a true scientist. People often portray science as consensus when it’s just the opposite. Those who claim any debate is over are restricting knowledge not expanding it.

Thanks for you’re continued effort to expand all of our knowledge.

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Sometimes the opposite opinions are from people who completely made up their minds and there’s nothing I could possibly say that would make a difference. This is my blog and the readers are generally a bright group who come here for answers and insights, and that is why I love doing this. Teaching is my responsibility to give back what I have learned over the years to those balding people. Thanks for your comments.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss from Mono? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Our Dr did a blood test on our 15 year old and it came back that she had mono. I had taken her to the Dr because of severe hair loss. She said the loss was from the mono and it could last up to 6 months. Have you heard of this before?

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Illness is a cause of hair loss. Telogen effluvium (see eMedicine article) is what occurs in some people, though it is more common in women than men, and can occur after a bout with mononucleosis. It should pass with time, but this is something she should discuss with her doctor.

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Hair Loss InformationIs Straight Hair Always Fine Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman and thank you for your time.

I see that you talk a lot about the difference between course hair and fine hair. It seems to me that someone with really straight hair almost always has fine hair and one with even slightly wavy hair has a courser hair. Is the straightness of your hair usually a good indicator to how course or fine your hair is?

Also i have lost a fair amount of hair in my frontal area and the remaining hair in the front is now kind of crinkly, (very unhealthy, hard to style) Is this more because of the miniaturzation or the loss of hair. If it’s mainly the miniaturzation hopefully Propecia can reverse it?

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There is no connection between hair straightness and hair thickness. No connection at all. If the hair character has changed from the balding process, taking Propecia may cause some reversal of the hair character more like it was. That effect is more common in the back of the head than in the frontal area.

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Hair Loss InformationIn the News – Hair Weave Stops a Bullet – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Kim Walton has been sewing and gluing in hair weaves for more than 30 years.

“I never heard of weaves saving anybody’s life,” Walton said. “Never in my life.”

But that is exactly what Briana Bonds said happened. Bonds said she feels lucky to be alive and she has her hair weave to thank for it.

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Read the full article at WOAI.

Talk about a one in a million! I guess running the risk of traction alopecia isn’t so bad if the alternative is getting shot in the head…

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Hair Loss InformationCan I Still Use Urine Therapy Orally if I’m Taking Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hello doctor,
i have been prescribed a combination of 2% minoxidil to be applied once a day and 5 mg finasteride to be taken once a week, is it safe to practice urine therapy in oral intake form or topical form while under medication. thank you

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UrineI do not know much about urine therapy, but I’m not big on drinking my pee or applying it to my scalp in the hopes of regrowing hair. Or are you doing it for some other reason? For those that want to learn a little more about urotherapy, I was just trying to get up to speed by reading this article about “the medicine you make yourself” — Telegraph.co.uk – A wee drop of amber nectar.

With respect to taking finasteride, I do not think urine will have any impact on it… but the dose you are taking is not the recommended dose (it should be 1mg each day, not 5mg once per week).

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Hair Loss InformationTransplanting Red Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

I am a 27 year old with red hair. Over the past several months it has been receeding quite quickly especially in the temple region. I went to a specialist today in Toronto to learn more about hair transplants to see if I might get one in the future. He told me that because I have redhair & fair skin that a transplant would look unnatural on me? I suffer from depression & this made me very sad as I was thinking that my hair loss is not so bad because if worst comes to worst I could always get a transplant. Now I’m afraid because of what he said that this is not in the cards. Please I would really appreciate it if you could let me know if you’ve ever transplanted a fair skinned ginger & if the results have looked natural? He also recommended provillus & advised against propecia, which I have been on for a month now? Thanks for your time.

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Red hairI don’t know what this “specialist” you went to is talking about in regards to the results being unnatural. I have some of my best results from transplanting people with red hair. Plus, all of his advice on Propecia (which I believe is a great medication) and Provillus (which I do not believe has much value) seems opposite to everything I’ve written here on this blog.

If you’d like me to set your mind at ease, we can arrange to have a telephone consultation. First, send me photographs of your hair loss and your contact info (reference this post when sending), and I’ll be in contact so I can address the misinformation with you.

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Hair Loss InformationScarring and Hair Transplants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I visited two companies that do hair transplant techniques. Basically although I have many questions the key one is this. FUT leaves a scar and means that the individual cannot wear his hair short whereas with FUE you can. The first Doctor I visited left me with the impression that I have at most a level 2 or 3 barber shave. The second person I met, who is not a doctor, but has qualified technicians working for him, said as long as I do not care about shaving my head go with FUT since I have plenty of donor hair on my scalp. This person said I can cut my hair as thin as I want but I just cannot SHAVE all of it off. DOing so would reveal the 1 mm thick scar.

So who is right? The doctor leaves with the impression that I cannot cut the hair as thin as I want whereas the second person seems to tell me thinness is not a problem as long as I do not shave the hair off.

My second qeustions is that if I decide to get FUT, and later on want to shave my head, can I get FUE to cover the scare area?

Thanks!

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All cuts in the skin produce some form of scar. In an FUE the scar is punctate (like a ball point pen) while from a strip excision, it is linear. If a trichophytic closure is used (see here) then most patients will not develop a detectable scar, even with a close hair cut. I wouldn’t recommend shaving your hair. Obviously, once you move hair from the donor area to where it is needed elsewhere, that hair is gone from the donor area. So using techniques to minimize the appearance of missing hair is how you’re going to get a shorter haircut without a detectable scar.

FUEs can be used to transplant into a scar.

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I Stopped Chemically Relaxing My Hair a Year Ago, But Can I Start Again? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Balding Blog,

First of all, I just want to say how wonderful and helpful your forum is. The information provided is indeed valuable. I have an enquiry and I was wondering if you can help. Your views and advice would be very much appreciated. Please view the following points:

Important Facts

1. I am a 23 year old black female with a fine hair texture.
2. I chemically relaxed my hair on an 8-10 week average for approximately 10 years (i.e. from age 11 to age 22).
3. Not too long ago, I was stricken with thinning hair/traction alopecia to the frontal parts of my hair (temple areas) – I believe due to constant pulling and excessive brushing. As a result, I stopped chemically relaxing my hair as of April 2008. I also relieved my hair of braids and weaves as of September 2008 and since then, I have been wearing my hair totally natural.
4. To treat the thinning areas/traction alopecia, I started applying Rogaine (also known as Minoxidil) every night to my affected areas while also washing and deep conditioning on a weekly basis as of October 2008.
5. I have been using the Rogaine treatment for just over 4 months now and I am glad to say that it has brought about wonderful results as there is new growth to the affected areas.
6. Furthermore, my hair texture has relatively returned to a more natural state i.e. it is thicker and tightly curled.

Enquiry

By April 2009 which will mark 1 year since I last chemically relaxed my hair and 6 months into the Rogaine treatment programme, I would actually like to return to chemically relaxing my hair.

1. Do you think it would be OK to do this?
2. If so, what Chemical Relaxers do you recommend? I have always used Dark & Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Childrens Relaxer (for fine hair types) due to my fine hair texture. It has always done the job. However, I have been advised to switch from ‘no-lye’ to ‘lye’ relaxers as they are less harsh.

I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards

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I appreciate your specifics in the email. I would stick with your Rogaine treatment since you’re getting great results. Lye is dangerous. Your experience with relaxers has not been great, so why would you expect that a repeat of the process won’t do the same thing? It’s possible that you just had too much chemical damage from treating your hair and your hair is healthier due to stopping the processing, but is it a risk you are willing to take?

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In the News – Bon Jovi is Afraid of Losing His Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Bon Jovi rocker Jon Bon Jovi fears he may be starting to lose his hair, and is already devising treatments to help save his prized locks.

The 46-year-old singer has long been known for his long, flowing tresses but has opted for a shorter style in recent years.

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Bon JoviRead the full article at SFGate.

Hard hitting journalism, I know. Cutting his hair short isn’t going to prevent him from going bald if that’s what his genetics have in store, but the shorter hair is a good look for him.

I had someone on my staff write a little something for the Bon Jovi fans, since I’m more of a classical music listener and don’t think I could name any of his songs. I’m told it’s a parody of “Livin’ On a Prayer”…

Oh… you’re half way there
Oh oh… livin’ with your hair!
Take these pills, you’ll keep it I swear
Oh oh… livin’ with your hair!

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If I Lose 200 Hairs After a Shower, How Long Would it Take for Propecia to Stop That? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Good day Dr.,

I know that every day, the average human loses between 40 and 100 hairs a day. As those of us balding can attest to, I can see about 200 on my hands after shampooing my hair. I’m about to start taking Propecia and was wondering how long it would take before I stop seeing so much hair coming out in the shower. I know you shouldn’t see results for a few months, but I figured maybe something like that might see an effect sooner (as unscientific as it may be).

Thanks for the awesome website

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You should see benefits on reducing hair loss in 1-3 months. It differs for each man taking Propecia, of course.