Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Does Hair Loss Take a Vacation? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hey doc, ive asked you questions before and your answers are very helpful for me. i was wondering if hair loss ever took ‘breaks’. For example have it progress to a certain stage and stabilize for a few years then continue where it left off. how big a role does stress play in mpb as well, i feel like i’m losing so much more hair during my school semesters than during the summer months.

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CalendarNot exactly. Unfortunately, hair loss doesn’t take a vacation for veterans on Veterans Day, for fathers on Father’s Day, nor for fools on April Fool’s Day…

In my practice, I find that hair loss sometimes occurs in spurts and is not necessarily a constant phenomenon. Stress can precipitate genetic balding, so it would not be a hard to reach a conclusion that the stressful times at school are causing you to lose hair. See a hair specialist or a dermatologist to discuss this phenomenon more in person.

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In the News – Controversy About Actors with Hair Playing Bald Roles? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

HitmanClearly, some people know how to exploit balding in the Hollywood setting. The San Francisco Chronicle looks into actors that are shaving their heads for movie roles, instead of going with the naturally bald actors. From the article:

Timothy Olyphant plays Agent 47, the bald assassin in the new action movie “Hitman.” The controversy? Why have the well-coiffed Olyphant shave his head when there are so many bald actors who are perfect for the role?

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Full article — Hairless fakers, take note. Bald is in charge.

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Treating DUPA with Dutasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

has there ever been a case in which somebody with DUPA (Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia) has responded to dutasteride after trying propecia (finasteride)?

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I have very little experience with Avodart (dutasteride), but I have seen some patients with Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) respond somewhat to finasteride. In theory, dutasteride should be better than finasteride, but clearly the side effects are substantial with dutasteride (decreased sperm count, impotence, decreased libido). Unfortunately, we do not know a great deal about DUPA and what causes it.

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T-Gel Shampoo and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a question about coal tar shampoo (neutrogena t/gel) and hair loss. I have used t/gel extra strength twice a week for years for my scalp condition (either seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis, i don’t know) because it is the only one that completely rids the scales. I never responded well to Nizoral or other prescription anti-fungals. Recently, I came across a lawsuit online where a woman was suing Neutrogena for hair loss allegedly caused by T/gel. This hair loss was accompanied by a severe allergic reaction. Knowing that I am not allergic to the shampoo, do you think it is ok to use it without causing more hair loss? By the way, I am aware that they used T/gel in the Propecia trials, so Merck must not be too concerned about its potential to cause hair loss. Thanks for your help!

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What are you asking me? It seems you already know the answer, by the way you posed the question. If T-Gel works for you, great! If you don’t have an allergic reaction, even better!

If you are losing hair, you should see a doctor for a diagnosis including a miniaturization study. If you have psoriasis, then a dermatologist will be the best referral for you.

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Inderal and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I know Inderal can cause hair loss, but I only use it when I perform on stage. So I go weeks without using it, then maybe have 20mg at a time for performances. Would this limited usage still cause hair loss? Thanks

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I doubt that the schedule in which you are using Inderal (propranolol) would cause hair loss, but you should speak more with your prescribing doctor about your concerns.

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One Year of Propecia Use (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This is not an atypical response to Propecia on a man in his mid-thirties with a great deal of miniaturization throughout the top and crown. Click and enlarge the photografts and you can easily see the change in miniaturization on a macroscopic view.

The photo on the left is before taking Propecia; the photo on the right is after 13 months of daily Propecia (finasteride 1mg) use. Click the photos to enlarge.

 

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My Hair Is Very Fine – I Had 2 Procedures, Should I Try Laser or DermMatch? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, I have completed 2 NHI transplant procedures. However, because of my very fine hair, my scalp is visible, especially under bright overhead lighting. I am considering a third procedure, but would like to first try the X5 HairLaser or DermMatch. Any thoughts? Thanks

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A hair transplant procedure has limitations, in that it simply can not restore all the hair that was lost, since there is a limited supply and usually a relatively large area to cover. Individuals with very fine hair often have see-through coverage, even with normal (birth) densities. As hair transplants rarely produce over 50% of the original density in one or two procedures, I am never surprised when there is a see-through look and I tell my fine haired patients that this is what they must expect. There has to be realistic expectations and if the desire is to increase the fullness and let less light through (making it less see-through), then more grafts are necessary if the supply of good donor hair lasts and the use fits into a good Master Plan.

If you had surgery with NHI, please give my office a call (800-NEW-HAIR) and I will review your file and would be happy to discuss your situation. We offer free in-office laser treatments for all of our patients, but I can not tell if it works yet. Before any lasers or other alternative treatments, I would strongly recommend finasteride (Propecia / Proscar) as an option if you are not using it already.

While products such as DermMatch and Toppik are great cosmetic adjuncts to disguising thinning, it should be noted that these products do not grow hair.

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My Grandfather Rapidly Lost His Hair in His 60s – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 22 and I have noticed over the past two years my hairline changing into a widows peak, but the rest of my hair remains as thick as ever. I am genetically susceptible to balding as I have two uncles either side of the family (one totally bald and the other started thinning around the age of 40)

But when I look through family photos I notice that my hairline most resembles that of my late grandfather (who ironically I am named after) in his mid twenties and he had the exact same hairline. but the thing which confuses me is that the temple recession is much deeper than with what you describe as a mature hairline (as is mine) and he kept his hair until his mid sixties which he rapidly lost due to cancer.

So I suppose what I am asking is whether MPB can occur to an extent during early life then pick later on in life. Or whether there are varying degrees of a ‘mature hairline’

Thanks

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Generally male pattern balding (MPB), otherwise known as androgenic alopecia (AGA), has varying degrees of hair loss. It can start as early as your puberty years and progress into your later years. Your grandfather’s rapid hair loss as you described is likely not related to MPB or AGA, as it was more likely related to his cancer. If you are concerned about hair loss, you should consider a miniaturization study, which is a microscopic examination of the state of the health of your hair. We do not always match the hair loss of a relative (hairline for hairline), but the trend can be anticipated.

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Does Propecia CAUSE Frontal Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Sirs,

Thank you for such an informative blog. I have read many things in French language forums about Propecia that, although the drug fascinates me, cause me to question its ability to help me. I’m 29 and moving towards a NW 3.0 (I might already be there). I have read that Propecia causes frontal hairloss. This is frequesntly mentioned in French-language forums and frightens me away from the drug. The only hairloss poblem I have (and it is rather minor at the moment) is frontal.

Can you confirm that propecia does not cause frontal hairloss?

very cordially yours

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Those with Norwood Class 3 balding patterns may progress with further balding. Propecia will either prevent this from happening or slow down the process. I have little doubt about answering your question — Propecia does not cause hair loss in the front or anywhere else on the scalp in a person with male patterned balding. It is FDA approved to treat hair loss, not cause it. See Are Minoxidil and Propecia Worth Using? (with Photos) for a great example of regrowth from Propecia (along with minoxidil).

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In the News – Smoking May Accelerate Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

We have known for some time that smoking reduces skin circulation, particularly in the scalp. These articles do connect the dots between smoking and acceleration of hair loss in those individuals who are genetically prone to it. Of interest, there is a clear suggestion in these reference articles to the original research, which show that Asian men have a lesser incidence of balding.