February 27, 2008

Hair Loss InformationHow Do You Measure Scalp Laxity? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello dr Rassman

How exactly do you figure out the laxity of the scalp and the residual donor area capacities if somebody went through strip procedures in the past? Is there a “measurement” possible or is it only by touching and feeling?

Thanks

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There are two tools that I use on occasion, one in the office and the other in the operating room. We call it a Laxometer which we invented and just submitted for publication in the Hair Transplant Forum. Experienced surgeons know how to test and quantify scalp laxity at examination and good surgeons develop a ‘feel’ for it. You can see the video on scalp exercises and estimate the up and down movement. One half inch is average, more is better, less is tight.

February 27, 2008

Hair Loss InformationFemale Hair Loss After Stopping Topamax – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I did not have hair loss while taking Topamas, but after weaning off of the Topamax, it was 3 months later when I started losing a ton of hair as described by others in this blog. I have been losing hair for a month now (I’m 4 months off of Topamax). I’m not taking birth control pills or DHEA. I too had all of my bloodwork done. I do have new hair growth, but I’m wondering when the hair loss will cease. Any estimates? Thanks very much.

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Topamax is an antiseizure medication known to produce hair loss. It sounds like you are going through a telogen effluvium and that you are cycling your hair, with some returning and others falling out. Wait this out for 8 months. Sometimes minoxidil helps move the process along.

February 27, 2008

0.2mg Finasteride as Useful as 1mg According to Japanese Study? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

This Japanese study (not the UPenn paper) shows that .2mg of finasteride is almost as effective as 1mg.

Finasteride in the treatment of Japanese men with male pattern hair loss.

This is interesting and I thank you for sending this. The problem I have is that there were prior studies that showed that 1/2 dose of Propecia (0.5mg finasteride) is about 70% as effective as a full dose.

In our hair restoration medical practice, I recommend 1mg finasteride for the treatment of male pattern baldness. For those who have unwanted side effects with Propecia, this study may show some promise. The study says that after 48 weeks, 58% of men on 1mg finasteride showed improvement, while 54% of men on 0.2mg finasteride also showed improvement. It doesn’t state to what degree of improvement was seen, so it is still possible that the 1mg worked better for that higher percentage of men. The study does say “All efficacy endpoints were numerically superior for the 1 mg dose over the 0.2 mg dose at 48 weeks.”

Nonetheless, if this study is true, perhaps more the pill cutting will begin. Who wants to be the first to try?

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February 27, 2008

13 Year Old Girl Found a Bald Spot After a Haircut – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, I am a 13-year old female girl. A few months ago in December 2007, I got a haircut and noticed a bald spot about the size of a dime on top of my head a few days later. I was really worried, and told my parents about it. They said me that it was due to stress in school etc., but I wasn’t completely sure.

It is now February. I’ve noticed a few days ago that there was a small part above my forehead that had very little hair (I have bangs). I have a feeling that I’ve been losing more hair, but I could be overreacting. I think that the previous bald spot had expanded.

My parents have made an appointment with the doctor, I will probably be going to see her in a week or so. Since I was a baby, I’ve had eczema, a skin condition, and I don’t know if it has any links to it. I don’t really remember, but my dad told me that around 5 years ago I’ve had this hair problem. The doctor gave me some medicine to put on my hair, and it seemed to work.

After looking on the internet for information, I’m really worried about any conditions I might have. I’m scared I’ll lose all my hair in the next few months or so. Any info will be greatly appreciated, thank you so much.

The right thing to do would be to see a doctor. There are many causes of bald spots appearing, some of which have been discussed on this site before (ringworm, alopecia areata, etc.). A doctor should give you a diagnosis after an in-person exam. Via the internet and based on just an email, I would just be blindly guessing.

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February 27, 2008

Benzoyl Peroxide and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Is it possible that a particular acne treatment (benzoyl peroxide) can cause hair loss at the temples and receding of the hair line if applied too close or on to the hair? This has occured over the last 6-8 months and i’m not sure whether the cause is male pattern baldness or the acne medication.

Benzoyl peroxide is a weak acid sometimes used for acne. It can irritate the skin, but it should not cause hair loss since the effects are probably superficial. The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic balding and a good doctor should be able to point to the diagnosis.

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February 27, 2008

Hair Loss from Cyst? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Can I have lots of hair fall due to a Cyst in my scalp?

A cyst should not cause hair loss unless it becomes infected. Unfortunately, you just did not supply me with enough information to be helpful. A picture would be useful, or even your age, sex, and hair loss history. I would see a dermatologist.

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February 27, 2008

The Study That Was Submitted to the FDA Before Approving the LaserComb – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I was looking at a site called hairlossadvances.com and on it they show a study that they claim is the actual study that Lexington submitted to the FDA for the lasercomb’s 510k SE clearance.

What I found odd was that the study was completed some 9 months before it was submitted, one of the exclusion criteria for participants was having a buzz cut, (you’d think that having shorter hair would allow more ” nourishing laser light” to penetrate the scalp and provide better results) and the person producing the study claimed that the study wasn’t required by the FDA. Have you seen this study, and if so, what are your thoughts.

I have seen the original study and I have published my opinions on the matter:

I tend to agree with your astute observations and criticism. This is a subject that I can not fight over. There seems like there is some evidence in the study that it works, but I frankly don’t believe it. It is hard for me to believe that there is almost 100% more growth after a few months. The FDA study is what it is.

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February 27, 2008

0.2mg Finasteride as Useful as 1mg According to Japanese Study?

0.2mg Finasteride as Useful as 1mg According to Japanese Study?

Feb 27, 2008/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Drugs

This Japanese study (not the UPenn paper) shows that .2mg of finasteride is almost as effective as 1mg.

Finasteride in the treatment of Japanese men with male pattern hair loss.

This is interesting and I thank you for sending this. The problem I have is that there were prior studies that showed that 1/2 dose of Propecia (0.5mg finasteride) is about 70% as effective as a full dose.

In our hair restoration medical practice, I recommend 1mg finasteride for the treatment of male pattern baldness. For those who have unwanted side effects with Propecia, this study may show some promise. The study says that after 48 weeks, 58% of men on 1mg finasteride showed improvement, while 54% of men on 0.2mg finasteride also showed improvement. It doesn’t state to what degree of improvement was seen, so it is still possible that the 1mg worked better for that higher percentage of men. The study does say “All efficacy endpoints were numerically superior for the 1 mg dose over the 0.2 mg dose at 48 weeks.”

Nonetheless, if this study is true, perhaps more the pill cutting will begin. Who wants to be the first to try?

February 26, 2008

Hair Loss InformationThe Damage Produced by Sun Exposure (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This is a 70+ year old man who had blonde hair in is youth. He was a lifeguard for 15 years and constantly got sun burned. The price he paid for this sun exposure is monthly visits to his dermatologist with many, many skin cancers. Notice that his hair loss could not be worse, with hair not only in the front and top, but also the sides to just behind the ears. I suggested that he was not a candidate for hair transplants. You can see the many scars resulting for removal of his skin cancer. The message to take from this is to stay out of the sun and certainly be careful that you don’t get sun burned!

Click the photos to enlarge.

February 26, 2008

Hair Loss InformationIn the News – Hair Loss Gene Identified? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey doc, how’s it going? I’ve stumbled across this article on MSNBC.

I don’t want to get my hopes up too high, but the identification of a gene linked to hair loss sounds like an important discovery. What’s your take on it?

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I had many people send me that MSNBC article yesterday, and my take on this is the following —

I think it is great that a possible hair loss gene may have been identified, but that does not necessarily solve the problem of genetic balding in the short term. It will help focus the research on the mechanism that have heretofore not been well understood. It is a step in the right direction, for sure. I’m looking forward to seeing where this discovery will take us.

Other articles about this can be found here: