Dr. William Rassman – Page 1524

January 9, 2008

Advice for a 16 Year Old with Bald Spot? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Okay, Well I’m not quite sure how this works but I’ll try it out anyway. I’m a 16 year old male living in the state of Washington. I constantly get crude remarks on how I have a bald spot. Self confidence and the inability to function without a hat is very depressing. I the thing that gets me is how young I am. If you could provide any advice it’d be very much appreciated.

Thank You.

Without seeing you, I do not know what you mean by a bald spot. Are you balding? Did you suffer from some trauma on your head, which produced a bald spot? You need to be examined by an expert doctor. If you are balding, then you will show miniaturization of your hair in the balding area. Even at your age, when balding occurs, the drug Propecia usually works very, very well to reverse it.

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January 9, 2008

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

Hello Doctor. I’m a 31 year old male with a receding hairline. I’ve been using Propecia for 2 years now and I believe it has stopped the recession. I would like to start exercising again to get back in shape, but I’m afraid the increased Testosterone levels from exercising will put me at risk for further balding. Now, I don’t want to lose any more hair, but I don’t want to remain out of shape either. Are my fears well founded or is hair loss and exercise not related. If my fears are well founded, what can I do to exercise yet not cause any further baldness. Also, since Propecia effectively cuts the levels of DHT in the body, will that inhibit any gains from exercising? Thank you.

Exercise will not cause you to lose hair, so I think you’re safe to start working out again (unless you have some injury or underlying condition that you haven’t mentioned). What I mean to say is — don’t let fears of hair loss stop you from keeping in shape. To my knowledge, there will be no impact on your muscle mass caused by Propecia (finasteride 1mg).

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January 9, 2008

Late Onset of MPB? (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman,

Consider this permission to use the photos if you use my question.

51 years old, full, thick head of hair until recently. I have been thinning for about 2 years I guess, it has been a few hairs here and a few there. Didn’t think too much of it until this last 6-8 months when it really seemed to accelerate. My brother is 59 and has no balding in the crown/vertex. I started on Propecia in December of this year and have been tolerating it well. So far no side effects. Have a very stressful life ( I’m in Healthcare ! ) and this Year has been the worse.

My question is ? I would like to try the propecia for a full year to see if it can help. Given my age and late onset of what I think is MPB do you think this is a good course of action ? At what point would I be a candidate for a hair transplant ?

Thanking you in advance, maybe one day we will meet !

It is unusual for a man of your age to start genetic hair loss, but I have seen it before. You want to make sure that you do not have a medical illness that is causing it. Propecia is most effective with recent hair loss of 2-3 years duration. Thank you for giving me permission to post your photos (click them to enlarge).

You have some options. You can try taking Propecia for 8-12 months. As a general rule, the older you are, the less likely will be the response, but with your gray hair, any response will add value and with the 2-3 year history of hair loss, you may break the ‘rules’. If you still have no response after that period of time and wish something done about it, then a hair transplant may have value. Alternatively, you can have a transplant and take Propecia. There is no doubt that the hair restoration will be good with the transplants alone, and any gain you have from the Propecia is a bonus. The more the grafts, the better the fullness if you go forward to transplants. I’d estimate between 1000-1500 grafts might give you reasonable coverage.

January 9, 2008

Silicium 44 Shampoo – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have been using Silicium and there was nothing wrong previously with my hair but after seeing the product in a shop i thought i would try it to make my hair thicker.(they say do not try and fix something that is not broke) After a month my hair started falling out with the root end quite visible at the ends.I stopped using it but now 2yrs on and my hair is still falling out excessively. Please could you tell me what is in the product that could do this to me. If my roots are damaged by this product is there any cure for me now. Please help me?? (i am 28 now and started using it when i was 26)

It is impossible to answer that question, as I’m not even completely sure what the product you’re talking about is. Some quick Google searches showed me a product called Silicium 44 that calls itself a “hair loss shampoo”, although I can’t find more info than a sale listing on a UK pharmacy website. I assume this is the product you mean, but even if this is the one you’re talking about, I unfortunately don’t have more info than the description provides — “It contains uniquely concentrated organic silicon which helps the self repair of damaged roots“. Silicium is the latin word for silicon, so the name isn’t a mystery.

A good examination of your hair and scalp needs to be done by a competent doctor who is skilled in this field. Sounds like you may have screwed up 2 years ago by not doing the right thing and getting yourself examined. Your hair is too important to treat in such a casual way!

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January 9, 2008

Testosterone Therapy and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor:
Since being on Testosterone therapy for about a year now, I am suffering from serious male pattern baldness. I am 49 and realize it is natural to lose some of my hair but I know it is coming from the testosterone. If I discontinue the treatment (against my Doctor’s wishes) will the hair loss stop and perhaps even grow back as the testosterone level drops or is the damage already done?
Thanks

Once the testosterone has precipitated the hair loss, the loss is not reversible. Maybe your final hair loss pattern has not occurred, and if that is the case and you stop the testosterone and go on Propecia, maybe you can still save some of the hair that will eventually fall out. Please discuss this with your doctor more or see another doctor for a second opinion.

January 8, 2008

I’m 18 Years Old with Norwood Class 2 and I Want a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr.Rassman, I am an 18 Y/O male Suffering from MPB which started at 15 and I Am wondering if there are any Hair transplant options For me, I Realize the problems that can arise when getting a HT at this age which is why a surgeon like you who maps out future progression hair loss plans Is a must, I understand you prefer not to Perform HT on people below the age of 25 And 18 is clearly well below that margin, however I have been on propecia for over a year now And have been using rogaine for the past 7 months, alas Neither have stopped the progression of my MPB Although propecia has slowed it down and Rogaine has improved my temples. I have moderate expectations And do not expect the hairline I had at 13 but any improvement would be a blessing.

I’m a nw2.5 and my hairloss is very zig zaggy along the frontal hairline with the classic M shape above the temples then another M shape at the widows peak, I can send pics If that could assist you. I have bad miniturization along the frontal hairline, Moderate behind that and then healthy hair behind that giving me a less then acceptable hairline to say the least but overall decent coverage.

My father is a nw5 at 50 as well as all his brothers so I believe that is the direction I am heading in currently(although none of them ever tried propecia or rogaine so I do not know how mine will develop on my current regimen.

Thank you for your time any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

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While the real rule might be “never say never”, I need to know about my patients before undertaking any surgery on them. One might ask, with being a Norwood Class 2 and wanting a hair transplant, could you possibly be body dysmorphic? That is something I will understand when we meet. A Norwood Class 2 patient having a hair transplant may be doing more damage to the patient than they suspect. I’ve posted similar commentary in the past on this subject:

January 8, 2008

Hair Loss InformationBald Spot Rap Video – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hey there doc, i found this humorous music video online and was wondering if you were interested in sharing it on your blog.

i know its meant to be comical but being a young man myself i really related to some of the things in this video!

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Thanks for pointing me to the video! While I’m not the biggest fan of rap music and this video is probably not for everyone, I can say that this was quite funny. Since the visitor demographics for this site are all over the place, I’d say this is definitely worth posting here. The video is for the song “Bald Spot” by Seattle, WA rapper Type.

January 8, 2008

I Have Diffuse Thinning, But It’s Different From the Genetic Balding Patterns in My Family – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman,
I am a 24-year old male, I have always had extremely fine hair from the time I was a small child. In the past six months or so, however, I’m not sure if I just noticed it more, or if I am actually going bald. I could always see my scalp when wet, in certain lighting, etc., but now I’m not sure if this is just the way I am, or if it is worse now. I have very little balding in my family. My dad has a full head of hair at 51, as do my uncles on his side (whom are all older). My maternal grandfather is a Norwood 4 or 5, but did not really start losing his hair till around the age of 50 my mom said. One of three uncles on mom’s side is balding however. He is a Norwood 3 or 4 at the age of 40 (The other uncles on mom’s side, full heads of hair.) My hair still has the normal hairline, and no balding at the crown, but instead its thinning throughout the whole top. This is not the same pattern that these two men’s hair has taken (which worries me more). My questions are, what is the likelihood of going bald without it really being in your genes? I have also been a vegetarian for 6 years, and am wondering if this could be a factor? Also if I am going bald, would’nt it most likely take the same pattern (and start at around the same age) as the uncle and grandfather who are experiencing this as well? Very sorry for the long question, and thank you so much for the time and reply.

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You really can not predict with any degree of certainly what the pattern of hair loss would be or even when it might start. If your hair loss is really diffuse, then you might have Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and should be evaluated with mapping out your scalp for miniaturization. This will point directly to the diagnosis if it is DUPA or genetic hair loss. DUPA will show miniaturization in the donor area, while genetic hair loss will show a normal donor area without miniaturization.

January 8, 2008

Can Hair Miniaturize and Then Stay Forever? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hey there dr rassman. I have a question about miniaturization. Once a hair shows signs of miniaturization is it destined to eventually stop growing all together or can weak miniturized hair sometimes remain in that state and hang on into old age?

If so is this the basis for the head ‘mapping’ you guys do?

Miniaturized hair can reverse back to normal healthy hair or it can fall out. Or, I suspect, it can remain that way indefinitely. The percentage or how long a miniaturized hair will stay miniaturized is not well known and for genetic balding it is determined by your genes and your environment. Drugs such as finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine) can reverse such miniaturization.

January 8, 2008

Taking Sermorelin and Worried About Future Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Doc, I was tested and had low igf-1 levels (45 yo male). My doctor is now prescribing a combination of sermorelin and a low dose T-cream. It has been 5 months now and to date I have had no hair loss. In terms of energy level, recovery from hard bouts of exercise (i am triathlete) and and my igf-1, hgh and t- levels…fantastic. I feel incredible. Should I be worried about hair loss? Does it occur with everyone?

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself — you don’t even have hair loss. I really cannot say how these medications will affect your hair since I am not familiar with them. The important thing is to get your health back and follow your doctor’s advice. If you have concerns about your prescribed medication, it is best to speak with your prescribing doctor.