I heard that plaiting hair causes traction alopecia. I wanted to know if there was a way I could plait my hair with this being prevented.
When you put a pull to your hair on a chronic basis, you have the possibility to develop traction alopecia. Everyone is different in terms of how long and how much pulling you have to have to get hair loss, but there is no doubt that it probably will happen over time.
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I’ve seen all of the questions about l-arginine, and I even asked one before, but I was only referred to another answer which didn’t answer my particular question. I’ve heard that l-arginine increases growth hormone. This doesn’t sound too good. Does an increase in growth hormone mean hair loss is a possible result?
Thanks. I appreciate it.
There are reports that L-arginine increases growth hormone secretion, but it is unproven. Throughout the internet, L-arginine is a suggested treatment for hair loss by promoting hair growth, but if this is true and it does increase growth hormone, I would worry about growth hormone induced hair loss. These two statements appear contradictory, but it does reflect complex interactions that are presented throughout the internet.
For more, see:
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My question concerns an unreported side effect of Propecia that has never been discussed on this website…I really feel alone on this one and am really depressed about my circumstance. I am 17 years old and recently started taking propecia for my hairloss, but had to stop because it causes me to constantly unrinate and gives me a burning sensation down there (which cannot be tolerated). My doctor told me to stop taking the medicine because of this, but now I am at a loss for what to do to stop my hairloss. Have you ever heard of this and what do you suggest I do so that I don’t lose my hair? Thank you so much for your response.
The usual report with some older men on Propecia is that their frequent urination (particularly at night) will decrease. This occurs because the prostate will frequently shrink on Propecia (finasteride 1mg) and in older men, swollen prostates cause urination problems.
From what you are describing, I would think that you have some other problem. First, you can stop taking the Propecia and see if your urination problem goes away. I would be surprised if it did. If I am correct, I would look for Chlamydia and other forms of prostatitis. Go back to your doctor after you stop taking the drug for a week, particularly if the problem persists.
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The writer of the piece below researched the value of Propecia for our review. If you choose not to go to the source, at least read what is written here.
Dr Rassman
Brilliant site. In response to a post dated April 16 (Propecia Success Rates), you asked your readers for a link related to the success rate of Propecia use. While the clinical studies supporting drug approval (links below) involved many endpoints and durations of observation (from 12 months to 5 years), the most dramatic evidence is at the 5-year assessment for men with vertex baldness:
“ An independent analysis of photographs (of the entire head)….. showed that at 5 years, 48% of men using Propecia had increased hair growth, 42% of men had no change (from pre-Propecia baseline photos), and 10% were rated as having lost hair. For placebo, 6% of men had increased hair growth, 19% of men had no change (from baseline photos), and 75% were rated as having lost hair.”
For your readers, the best link to summarize the clinical studies supporting regulatory approval in the US for any drug is at the FDA’s web site and will contain both the “Product Label” or “Summary Basis of Approval”. The Product Label is a brief summary similar to what is found in the package insert that comes with the medication, and the “Summary Basis of Approval” (also termed “Review”) is a detailed submission often involving thousands of pages. However, the “Medical Review” in the Summary Basis of Approval is a document that is well indexed and usually contains the clinical studies supporting safety and efficacy.
This information can be accessed without charge. For any drug, the link is Drugs@FDA. One can then choose the drug as listings are by alphabetical order and trade (brand) name. Once the drug is chosen, then choose the link with “Label Information.” For Propecia, therefore, the link that takes the reader to the “Review” from 1997 Drug Approval Package #020788.
For Propecia, three double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized studies of 12 months duration were conducted with 1879 men. The two main endpoints were hair count by photography of selected areas and patient self-assessment. Secondary endpoints were investigator ratings and ratings of photographs (by independent counters). Main results were as follows:
Combined data from Study 1 and 2 in men with vertex baldness (number of men = 1533): At 12 months, there was a 107-hair difference within a 1-inch diameter circle compared with those in the placebo group. An extension study showed that the hair count was maintained for up to 2 years in men taking Propecia, compared with the placebo group (38-hair placebo-adjusted difference at 2 years). Related to the figures your poster of April 17 noted, at 12 months, the investigators rated 65% of men treated with Propecia as having increase growth compared with 37% in the placebo group. At 2 years, the same investigators rated 80% of men using Propecia (compared with 47% of men using placebo) as having increased growth. These figures were 77% (Propecia) and 15% (placebo) at 5 years.
An independent analysis of photographs of the entire head (without reader knowledge of treatment assignment of person is photo) showed that at 12 months approximately 50% of men treated with Propecia (compared with 7% using placebo) had increased growth. At 5 years, 48% of men using Propecia had increased hair growth, 42% of men had no change (from pre-Propecia baseline photos), and 10% were rated as having lost hair. For placebo, 6% of men had increased hair growth, 19% of men had no change (from baseline photos), and 75% were rated as having lost hair.
Additional data including info on Study 3 (hair loss in anterior mid-scalp with or without vertex baldness) can also be evaluated.
This is a scholar’s view of the long term studies on Propecia, as published. This writer’s review from a practical view shows that the drug Propecia works for hair retention. I have never understood the focus on unproven alternatives by much of the balding male population who read this blog and write to me. Rather than get predictable hair retention, men seem to be willing to take ‘things’ that have not been shown to have hair retention value and during the period that they take these compounds, they are losing hair that will never grow back.
So where Propecia seems to hold the ‘status quo’ for years, too many men seem to be willing to accept progressive balding when psychologically, they obsess over their hair loss. And far too many men believe what they see on television or the Internet and don’t think that pictures of hair growth they’re shown may be fraudulent.
You really spend a lot of time working on this site. So I’ll be brief.
On March 22nd 2007 you had a post of a man that was trying to keeping his hair full (Trying to Keep Looking Full). You stated that he had 50% miniaturization of his hair. Does 50% miniaturization mean that 50% of the hair on the crown of his head has miniaturized and 50% is normal? Or does that mean the hair strands themselves are 50% thinner then when he was younger?
Also, I just started 1/4 tablet of Finasteride two weeks ago. I’m almost 25 and my crown has started to miniaturize. I know it’s too early to see positive results. But is it too early to see shedding? I ask because I’ve noticed a few shorter hairs in my hand after I run gel through my hair. The hairs are about an inch or so shorter then the rest on my head.
Thanks!
Hair that is miniaturized comes in all sizes and the thinner it gets, the more advanced the miniaturization is. When hair miniaturizes, it often is less long as the hair growth slows down. More advanced miniaturization will stunt the hair growth almost completely, a stage before it falls out. This is why I near-constantly write about getting a good baseline on your miniaturization with a series of measurements so you know where you are starting from. This way you can see numbers and the visual effects of the hair loss process. I hope this clears up any possible confusion.
I’m assuming that when you say you’re taking 1/4 tablet of finasteride, you mean 1/4 of the 5mg finasteride (which is Proscar or generic Proscar). Otherwise, I do not understand why you are taking 1/4 pill of the 1mg finasteride Propecia pill. There is no reason to reduce your dose from the recommended 1mg hair loss treatment, unless you’re one of the unlucky few that are experiencing side effects.
great site, love it… have seen a few posts that propecia quits working after a few years. well i’ve been on it for almost 10 yrs treating mpb and it’s still working great. both my brothers are long bald, but i’m hanging in there with it. But reading that makes me kind of nervous, that it will stop working. i know you always have to reiterate that sooner or later mpb will break through, but is there a ghost of a chance it wont?
Also, having said that my crown has been about the same since i started taking propecia but it still looks thin to me and if it’s wet, forget about it. I would like to get an FUE to “fix it up”. I know your feelings on this matter but i’ll only be 30 once and it’s not me just overreacting. I don’t want to wait till i’m bald and have everyone in town know. I’d like to fix it as I go. I have a ton of really really thick donor and judging by my grandpa I don’t think I’ll be sean luke picard style.
It’s frustrating to see all this talk about hairloss and how “found” the gene that causes it. I remember thinking 10 years ago, I’d just go on propecia for a bit until something better came along… And well… here I am…. Even if they do find a drug to treat it, it will probably be 5 years before it hits the market here anyway.
Thanks, I love this site and I hope my letter isn’t too long, I just think it might be how alot of other readers are feeling too.
Many people find that Propecia (finasteride 1mg) has been holding off their hair loss for the entire time it has been on the market (now about 10 years). It really does not stop working, but sometimes the genetic balding is stronger than the drug… like a tug of war where both sides keep pulling. If you want to know if Propecia will continue winning the tug of war for the next 20-30 years, I am afraid I am not a fortune teller, but alas hope springs eternal.
Snippet from the article:
Onion juice could help some people with patchy hair loss resulting from the disease alopecia areata, an Australian researcher says.
“Although there is no proven treatment, some people might choose to try a ‘safe’ treatment — such as a topical steroid — even in the absence of good evidence of the treatment’s benefit,” said Dr. Mike Sladden of the University of Tasmania.
One small, unpublished study found hair regrew in almost half of 60 subjects with mild cases who applied onion juice — an alternative medicine used for infections, Sladden said.
Full text at United Press International — Onion juice may help patchy hair loss
Interesting reading.
has anyone used BIO-FEN PlUS? It’s a all natural veggie capsule? Any side effects?
From their website, Bio Fen Plus contains:
None of these ingredients have been proven to treat male pattern baldness. It is a supplement, but even supplement can have side effects. See the recent post — The Harm of Dietary Supplements.
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Hi Doctors,
I am a 22 year old male, and I have been dealing with hair loss for over a year now. My question is regarding non-approved FDA hair loss products. I have tried using Minoxidil and
Finasteride, but with Finasteride I had terrible side effects, and I’m one of the unlucky few who doesn’t respond to Minoxidil. I was wondering what your thoughts on Revivogen are? It
seems like the most likely to work from the non fda approved bunch.
I can not tell you if Revivogen will solve your problem. The evidence is more on testimonials than on good scientific data. I’ve written about this before in various posts over the years — search Revivogen.
As for finasteride, I am not sure why you are having side effects, which side effects, or what you have done to deal with them. This is something you need to discuss with your prescribing doctor, or you can simply send me the information and I will see if you are doing enough to counter the side effects.
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Dr Rassman I can’t help but notice you appear to have a very straight almost juvenile like hairline. Especially in the picture on the right hand side of the webpage under “about me.” Is this your original hairline? Or did you have grafts placed there? If it is indeed the result of a transplant, why do you warn/detract others from getting the same kind of straight hairline which you so proudly display in your picture?
I suppose I should thank you for complimenting my hairline in a roundabout way. I have a classic mature hairline, just as I showed in the post Juvenile vs Mature Hairline — Am I Going Bald?. I have never had hair transplants in the front of my head, so I thank my 102 year old grandfather for passing on his frontal hairline. I am, however, completely transplanted in the crown where my balding spot was — and for that I look to my father.
I’ve posted both of these before, here’s a photo of my hairline and of my crown. Click to enlarge.
