Dr. William Rassman – Page 1399

October 17, 2008

Dermatitis and Minoxidil – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,
First of all I’d like to congratulate you and your partners for your wonderful work on hair restoration. Also, I really felt relieved when I came across your website, because I always kind of felt alone since I first started experiencing hair loss (which was about two years ago).

I am 22 years old and although my hair loss story is not a very long one, I think it is a little bizarre, and here’s why. About two – two and a half years ago, in about March 2006, I first started having a lot of dandruff, which was of the dry type though; my scalp skin was dry and felt normal. So, I did not really pay any attention to it, I would just shampoo twice or three times a week and I thought I was alright. Then in the summer, I suddenly started losing hair. I was terrified because I was always proud of my hair – I would even buzz it and still my scalp would show through very little. The dandruff became flakes, the skin dried off completely, and everytime I shampooed (with a zinc pyrithione shampoo) my scalp would get red and irritated. It was a case of “bad seborrehic dermatitis”, my dermatologist told me. So, I had to shampoo with a coal tar and salicilic acid shampoo. So far so good, I thought I would keep it under control like this. But the hair loss continued and I was left with little hair, compared to my previous strong thick hair. Even today, the scalp balance is totally screwed up and if I don’t shampoo one day, my scalp gets oily in a weird way, it kinda looks like something between oil and sweat. My hair has become fine too. Now about hair loss: I had some diffuse thinning, most of it came back although finer and oilier, but lately I see some temple thinning which is quite alarming. I shampoo with Nizoral 2% but I see very little difference, I am trying to dry my scalp to a normal level and it always oils up again. My questions are:

Is the dermatitis killing my hair , causing MPB?

I recently started using Minoxidil, is it any good if the scalp is possibly still infected by dermatitis?

Will propecia, considering I start using it, have any effect on my hair/sebum/hormones on my scalp?

Thanks a lot, I would really appreciate if my mail is posted, I am sure it would help many guys in the same situation as me.

Seborrheic dermatitis should not be a cause of hair loss and it is not caused by an overt infection. I wonder if you have psoriasis.
Minoxidil should not hurt you, but it can make the seborrheic dermatitis worse.
Before trying Propecia, it needs to be determined by your doctor if you really have male pattern baldness. If you do, then Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is the right way to go. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and know for sure what you are treating.

October 17, 2008

Follicular Transfer – Balding Blog

Hi,
I read about a method called Follicular Transfer [FT] carried out by Harley street hair clinic, London [http://www.hshairclinic.co.uk]. If possible can you please give your valuable comments on this technique as well as on the clinic. Thanks

It is just another name they use for follicular unit extraction (FUE). Their site describes this process as two steps — step 1 is extracting the hairs, step 2 is placing the hairs. There is no novelty or new procedure here.

I do not know much about the clinic other than what you can see on their site. I could not even find any physicians mentioned by name on their site… and that seems a bit strange to me.

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October 17, 2008

Preventing Gynecomastia from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

If someone developped gynecomastia on propecia and if the condition resolves after stopping the medication. Would you restart Propecia in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (i.e. Arimidex) to prevent gynecomastia in that patient or would recommend to avoid Propecia ?

Thanks

I would think that may be an option. From my personal and clinical experience, I have not put any of my patients on Arimidex (anastrozole), as gynecomastia is very rare. The one patient I recall complained of breast tenderness (there wasn’t much breast tissue growth/enlargement) decided to stop taking Propecia and the condition reversed. Real breast enlargement could be treated surgically in some patients, but you should take that up with your doctor.

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October 16, 2008

Any Photos of FUE² Patients Yet? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctors,

So how soon can we expect to see pictures of patients you’ve performed on using the new FUE procedure?

It takes 6-8 months for people to develop enough hair to see the impact of any transplant procedure, and while this technology has been in development for some time, it was only recently perfected and announced. The FUE² is just another way to do FUE (which has been around for 6 years), so I would not expect anything but better growth for the process. I’ll post photos in the coming months, though.

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October 16, 2008

Chronic Pain in the Donor Area Since Hair Transplant 4 Years Ago – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My son had a hair transplant surgery in 2004. Since then he is suffering from chronic pain especially at the donor area, constant pulling, throbbing and tightness. Is there anything that can be done to relieve his misery? Thanks.

Pain for so long in the donor area can be a rare complication of a hair transplant surgery. It may also be that there is a small area where nerves have grown in a bundle and are irritating the area. Sometimes, larger nerves are cut and this can cause problems. If he gently taps the scar area and it induces a shock like pain, then the problem may reflect cut nerves.

This can be a complicated problem or a simple one, but this is not something I will treat over the Internet. With a case like this, you should have your son follow up with the hair transplant surgeon who did the procedure so that the area can be examined.

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October 16, 2008

Dr Rassman Looks Very Handsome – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman,
My mother saw your picture and she says you’re very handsome. She says you look a lot like Lenny on Law & Order. She also likes your mature hairline and salt and pepper hair.

As a single, dating man, I always like to hear that kind of stuff. I don’t think I have a resemblance to the late actor Jerry Orbach from Law & Order, but I’ll take it! Thank her for making my day.

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October 15, 2008

Bald Spots After a Buzz Cut – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello
male/20/GA/caucasian
i have very thick hair and rich hair. but about two months ago i got a buzz cut (my hair at that time must have been about three inches or more). the barber did it very quickly though. there was no blood or irritation at the time. however when my hair started growing back a few weeks later i noticed a few irregular small patches and patterns on my scalp, on which there was no hair. i don’t see any scar marks either, it’s just that after the haircut i have not seen hair there after that haircut. do you think hair will regrow in those patches eventually?

If you have patches of bald areas after the close clipping and your scalp was not damaged by your stylist (you would’ve felt it), these patches may have just been revealed by the clipping, not caused by it. You should see a doctor for a diagnosis or send me photos, and maybe I can help (reference this post when sending).

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October 15, 2008

Doctor Recommends Vitamins and Biotin for 21 Year Old with Early Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hey Doctor,
I am a 21 year old starting to experience hair loss. For the last year and a half, my temples have receded and the front of my hair is becoming more and more thin. I recently went to a dermatologist, who confirmed that I am experiencing frontal hair loss. The doctor’s diagnosis was not what I was expecting, though. She stated that I should take a multi-vitamin supplement and biotin for about 6 months, and if by 6 months i am still experiencing hair loss, then i should begin using rogaine for the front of my head, not propecia. I am a little confused by this, mainly because i was under the impression that rogaine was only for the back of the head. I am also skeptical about only taking a multi vitamin for six months, fearing that the longer I wait the worse my hair will get.

What do you think about this regimen? Do you think I should go find a second opinion?

I don’t agree with the regimen your doctor recommended and I’d suggest you see another doctor. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to make the diagnosis of genetic hair loss and then the drug Propecia (which must be prescribed by a doctor) would be the best choice if you have indeed have genetic hair loss. Since you’re a young man with early hair loss (if it is as you describe and the miniaturization mapping shows it), Propecia is the best FDA approved treatment to get your balding to slow down or stop and possibly regrow hair.

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October 15, 2008

Looking Younger After Hair Transplants (with Photos) – Balding Blog

My mother told me that she does not know what I have been doing but I looked younger and more vibrant than in years. Considering that I am about to turn 50, that comment made me take a real close look at myself when she said that and I realized today when you showed me my before pictures, how much I have changed. I remember always looking in the mirror to see what I could do to improve my look. but no more. Not only has my career done well, but I never think twice about my hair, that is until I see you.

The above is an email I received from a patient after he came in for a follow-up last week. He’s given me permission to share his results, which are after a total of 4184 grafts over two sessions. His before photos present a Norwood Class 5 pattern, and his medium fine, wavy hair helps with the after results.

Click the photos below to enlarge.

Before:

After 4184 grafts:

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October 15, 2008

Since I Have Thick Coarse Hair, Could I Shed More Daily than Average? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi doctor Rassman! I am a male 18 years old and don’t have any signs of hairloss as of now. I have thick coarse long hair (To My Shoulders in BAck)

My question is:

You say the “average person” loses 100 strands of hair per day, but for someone like me with very thick coarse hair, would that mean that i could shed more than someone with “average” or thin hair? I may be obsessed but I count hair strands evryday from morning til night and always end up between the sixty to eighty range. but i probably miss “some” throughout the day but the count is always consistent.

Thank you i really hope you are able to answer this question! And thank you for your site!

I would think 60 to 80 hairs, plus or minus a few, is a very normal range of hair loss per day. Thick hair might appear like more hair shed then fine hair. In other words, this does not mean you are going bald. Having thick or thin or coarse or flimsy hair does not mean you will lose more or less hair.

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