Dr. William Rassman – Page 1412

September 17, 2008

Omega Fish Oil and Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Doc,
I have recently incorporated Omega 3-6-9 fish oil pills, Multi vitamins and Vitamin B12 into my supplement routine for working out, and was wondering if any of these pills will have any negative impact on my hair. I take the supplements as directed, without “pushing the limits” of them. I have also heard that Omega Fish Oil pills can actually be good for your hair, and was wondering if there is any truth to this?

Omega 3-6-9 fish oil pills, multi-vitamins, and vitamin B12 are all ok and may help you maintain your general health and perhaps your hair health as well. I do not know of a good scientific paper discussing these benefits on hair loss or faster hair growth, though.

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September 17, 2008

Sex After a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I just had my first hair transplant and it says to not have sex for one week. Is masturbation ok the evening of or day after? or will it possibly cause some grafts to fall out?

I remember a billionaire I performed a hair transplant some years ago. He had an interpreter with him (came from Asia) and I jokingly told him not to have sex for 3 years. I remember laughing and I thought he understood it was a joking comment. Three months later, his interpreter called and told me that his boss told him ‘to hell with the transplant’, and he didn’t care if it ever grew, but could not handle the abstinence from sex for any more time. I realized how humor is very cultural and he revered my medical and surgical skills and took my joke as a directive, not as the humorous “masterpiece” that I intended. Obviously, it was a dumb joke that got lost in translation.

Anyway, I generally recommend passive sex for the first 1-2 nights, then go for it which ever way you feel up to it after. With regard to masturbation, wait a day to be safe.

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September 17, 2008

Taking 3 Months off Propecia to Evaluate Hormone Levels – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’ve been taking propecia for nearly four years, and my endocrinologist would like me to take 3 months off of it to evaluate some hormone levels that were questionable at best, particularly low FSH.

My question is, can you take 3 months off propecia without any harm being done? How long can I realistically go off it and be able to take blood tests without the finasteride having any impact on the tests – is it 3 months or less? I have read that the half-life of propecia is less than a day so, ideally, couldn’t I take blood tests after, let’s say to be safe, a month and it’ll be okay?

Thanks in advance!

If you were actively balding and taking Propecia for a long time, then stopping it for 3 months can produce “catch up” hair loss in that time frame. I am not an endocrinologist nor your doctor. You should be address these concerns with your doctor. Maybe your doctor has his/her own reasoning.

I really don’t know your situation of low follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or why you are taking Propecia to evaluate hormone levels. Some of what you say makes me wonder if you are even balding or have androgenic alopecia. One thing that I do know is that the serum half life of Propecia is several hours (4 to 6 hours). I do not know what impact it has on FSH. Ask your doctor.

September 17, 2008

Will Rogaine Foam Regrow Hair Lost from Traction Alopecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Doc,

I have a thinning hairline not caused by MPB, it happend because over the years i used to tie my hair tightly in a ponytail. I am thinking of using rogaine foam? can you use this for the hairline? and what are the effects?

Thanks

I can’t say for sure whether it’ll work, however, I suppose Rogaine is worth a try (either in the foam form or the oily form). Read the directions on the bottle for application instructions.

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September 16, 2008

Will Hair Pulled Out With the Root Grow Back? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doctor,
Is it true that hair pulled out with it’s root will never grow back? Thanks

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A while ago, one of my patients was mugged in East Los Angeles (not a good part of town). As he was getting roughed up and his wallet taken, he was held by his hair (which was about a year out of his surgical procedure of 3000 grafts) and they broke his nose. After they got his money, they kicked him, pulled out his new 5 inch long hair, and he fell to the cement. The police and ambulance came and when they wanted to take him to the emergency room, he refused to go to the hospital and had the ambulance deliver him to my office, all bloody. Crying about his hair and the ordeal he’d just been through, he told me the story. I reassured him that the hair will grow back and strongly urged him to have his face sewed up and his broken nose attended to.

In most cases, pulled hair (from the roots) grows back. That man came back to see me 6 months later with most of the hair now growing out. He was very appreciative.

September 16, 2008

Transplanting Hair Between Existing Hairs – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

How dense can hair transplant be done assuming that there are plenty of donor area with thick hair and the target area still has 50% density? Can hair transplant be done in-between existing hairs to make the hair thick again?

Tried Propecia but stopped after 2 days because of side effects. I appreciate your help on the matter.

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You can transplant between existing hairs without difficulty, providing that the existing hairs are permanent and not miniaturized. I have seen patients receive very dense hair by transplanting between hairs that were previously transplanted.

September 16, 2008

Alpha-GPC (GlyceroPhosphoCholine) and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am inquiring to if you are familiar with the a newer supplement called Alpha-gpc? It is also referred to sometimes as GPC (glycerophosphocholine). Supposedly it improves neurological capacity and a few other health benefits listed such as those listed at this web site

However, I am concerned with the claim that this supplement “naturally increases HGH levels”. The main reason I am even considering this supplement is because it was recommened to me by my trainer (and teammates) and I am an NCAA athlete basically looking for an edge in training. I do suffer from MPB and have been taking Propecia 1mg daily for the past two years (along with Rogaine) with excellent results thus far. To sum things up, do you really think that this supplement would raise HGH levels high enough to increase hair loss? Or am I being over-cautious and this supplment is safe for me to use without risking increased shedding?

A response would really be appreciated because I have been going back and forth on this decision recently. Sincere thanks to you and your associates for creating this website.

I have reviewed the website you mentioned and I have no way to prove or disprove the claims made by the company. The claims of increasing HGH as the agent for the change is without proof and because it is a natural ingredient, the FDA does not get involved in the regulation of such products. However, with claims of value and medical benefits, the line may have been crossed with FDA labeling requirements, which does control all products with medical claims. I am sorry, but I don’t have the answer to this and unfortunately, I don’t think this is a question that can be answered.

One thing you should check out though is that as an NCAA athlete, I believe finasteride (Propecia) is on the list of banned substances. There are medical exceptions though, and I hope you’ve gotten clearance to use the medication when competing. See NCAA Medical Exceptions (PDF file) for more info.

September 16, 2008

Hair Change After Chemotherapy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

why does your hair change after chemotherapy. hair is a genetic code in your DNA so does that mean that it changes your DNA?

Hair has a very high metabolic rate just like the cancers you are treating with chemotherapy. These chemotherapeutic agents get to cells that have a high metabolic rate, which include: hair, elements of bone marrow, intestinal cells. So when you get chemotherapy, it gets to all of the fast growing cells. That is why people become anemic on chemotherapy, or get diarrhea from damage to the intestinal lining of the stomach and intestines, so I would expect that if the hair is not forced into its telogen cycle, the hair growing out would not be normal.

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September 16, 2008

ISHRS Doctors that Still Do the Punch Grafts? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was looking over the website of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons. I was using the “Find a Doctor” feature and also looking at the sub-categories of procedures performed.

Am I missing something? Why is there even a sub-category currently listed for doctors who perform “punch graft” procedures? Furthermore, why are doctors even advertising that they perform it?

Isn’t that procedure obsolete? Who would even want it? There has to be a reason that the procedure is listed and that doctors advertise performing it – I would hope. Is the punch graft procedure indicated in any situation? If not, what gives?

The follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure is in a way a mini-punch graft involving just one follicular unit. Instead of using 6mm punches, we use 0.9mm punches.

Unless there is something I am not aware of, the punch grafts are obsolete. I found the list of doctors that are listed as those still performing this archaic method — ISHRS Physicians that perform Punch graft transplantation. I must assume that this is just outdated information on the site and will inform the ISHRS to find out if my assumptions are correct. I sincerely hope I’m right and that no doctors in the ISHRS are currently doing this procedure. Fingers crossed.

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September 15, 2008

Psoriasis and Lice – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i have a friend and her little girl had head lice and she has psoriosis. the question is if you have psoriosis can you still get head lice

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Psoriasis and lice are not related, and having psoriasis is not protective to having head lice. I suspect the lice won’t be as happy living in the midst of a psoriatic scalp, but beggars can’t be choosers. Kidding aside, psoriasis is a skin condition and lice is a parasite infestation. You can have a combination of each independently.