Author: Dr. William Rassman

Posted on

Losing Concentration/Focus with Taking Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman

Have you had a hair transplant procedure done on yourself? If so have you ever tried or are you currently using propecia? I have been on propecia for about 2 months now and I find that my concentration/focus is severely lacking. I am currently going to grad school so you can see why this is a big problem. Whats your thoughts on the matter?

Thank You

Block Quote

I have had two hair transplants on my crown and I take Propecia daily. I have not had problems like you are describing. Are you stressed? Try stopping the Propecia for a week and see if the concentration problem resolves. I would doubt that it would have this side effect, but there are many men who talk themselves into problems from the use of Propecia, a placebo type of effect.

Posted on

Testing Hormones Before Starting Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Do you think its a good idea to get all your hormones tested before propecia so you have a baseline to compare against? Propecia can raise estrogen, testosterone, and aromatase levels because of the lower DHT which helps balance these right?

Block Quote

There is no need to test your hormones before taking Propecia. While your theory may be valid, there would be no value in measuring high or low hormone levels. Why? Of course some values may be high or low, but what will you do if they are? Stop taking the medication? On the contrary, you are taking the medication to change some of these hormone levels! More specifically, the DHT hormone levels. So in the end, the hormone measurements only end up being a matter of curiosity which has been extensively studied by scientists before the drug was approved by the FDA.

Posted on

Yasmin and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I wanted to ask you a question re Yasmin, which I have been taking for almost a year now.

I experienced heavy hair shedding postpartum which could be contributed to the delivery itself and to my then overactive thyroid. My thyroid has been stable and normal during the last 5 months. After stopping for 2 months, I started experiencing heavier hair shedding recently. Since my thyroid is fine, plus no other deficiencies were detected (iron, zinc, B12), could Yasmin be the culprit? Or are other hormonal issues I should be aware of? I didn’t take the first pill of this new cycle and the shedding seemed to slow immediately. Should I consider an alternative contraceptive and will I have regrowth?

Thank you for your time.

Block Quote

We’ve answered a similar question on the contraceptive medication, Yasmin. As we’ve explained before, Yasmin is a combination of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Loss of scalp hair is a reported side effect of this medication. The hair loss from most birth control pills is benign and self limited. Losing hair in this situation is thought to be through inducing hair follicles to go into the telogen phase. You should stop taking Yasmin and speak to your doctor regarding alternative birth control medications or methods.

Posted on

Why Do I Have a Patch of Thin Hair Above My Right Ear? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doc,
I have been experiencing hairloss for the past 8 months. I still have a good amount of hair it’s just become alot thinner. My problem is that on my right side about 4cm above my ear I have a patch that has gone extremely thin. It’s not bald but it looks as if someone has got a pair of clippers and shaved a chunk of my hair hair off – it looks rather odd. The other side is fine. Why do think this has happened? Thanks.

Block Quote

Some people have a different genetic trait in the area above the ears. It is usually on both sides and frequently present for a long time. There are a variety of hair conditions that can cause patchy hair loss or thinning. You need to see a good dermatologist for an examination and an opinion. You should also get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to see if this is happening in other parts of your scalp.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationWhy All The Fuss About the LaserComb? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Why all the fuss on your site about the Hairmax Lasercomb? You constantly remind your readers that it’s a buyers beware market, and with all the garbage cures out there, I assumed you would be supportive of a company that went to the trouble of getting FDA approval (no easy task)for their treatment, and offers a money back guarantee after using their product for 5 months.

Why do you approve of Merck’s FDA approval for Propecia but not Lexington International’s for the Lasercomb? Was Merck’s research better or more independent? And if yes, how so??

As a side not, you said you offer laser treatment in your office free of charge to your patients. Why do you do this if you dont believe in the treatment?

Block Quote

As I understand it, the LaserComb was not approved for effectiveness, but was approved based on a predicate device which they showed was similar. The Merck studies are extensive drug studies, which show statistical value in hair growth and hair retention. You can review the Merck data, which is all over the internet.

You are right, the only thing you can lose is the few hundred dollars you pay for the laser comb and assuming that the company will be around to refund your money, there appears to be no down side other than to delay proper diagnosis and treatment in some patients. All of the fuss you are talking about reflects:

  1. Many doctors feel it is a scam
  2. Many doctors wish they had a piece of the pie, as it may make many millions for those who put the product together — so it is $$$ envy behind the fuss

I, for one, have my integrity and will not put it up for sale, so I am free to express my opinions when I feel that the product offering may be misleading the public.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationTomatoes and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Have you ever heard of tomato consumption causing hair loss?

Block Quote

TomatoNo, I have never heard that before.

Here are some interesting facts about tomatoes that I’ll repost from Epersimmons.com:

  1. Tomatoes originated in the South American Andes. They were cherry sized and grew wild. The tomato was once considered an aphrodisiac, and in fact the word tomato in Italian is poma amoris or “love apple”.
  2. It’s hard to believe that this main ingredient of our diet was not that long ago considered poisonous, by Americans. We have Robert Gibbon Johnson to thank for saving the tomato. In 1820, he stood on the steps of a New Jersey courthouse and ate a tomato, proving they were harmless. Thank you Robert, after all where would we be without ketchup for our french fries.
  3. Today, far from being poisonous it is considered one of the most healthy vegetables around. And yes, I did say vegetable. In 1893, the Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes are vegetables and not fruits.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationWhat is the Accelerated Hair Loss After Stopping Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 51 year old male with some recent thinning in the vertex area, but otherwise a I have a full head of hair. I don’t seem to shed many hairs. In fact, after combing my hair, I may see only 1 or 2 hairs in the sink and never any hairs on my pillow when I awake in the morning. I have recently procured a prescription for Proscar, but I’m hesitant to use it because of some of the side effects mentioned. In an earlier answer to someones post,you mentioned the fact that if one was to use Finastaride, then discontinue it’s use, that subsequent thinning would occur at an accelerated pace. Does this mean only the hair you may have grown as a result of proscar use, or your overall hair in general? I’m currently trying grape seed extract, multi vitamins and Sawpalmetto. I’m also considering just letting things take their natural course and joining the rest of bald headed America.

Thanks for your anticipated response

Block Quote

In my opinion, grape seed extract, multi vitamins, and saw palmetto will not significantly affect your hair loss problem. Bald can be beautiful. There is nothing wrong with being bald.

With regards to finasteride (Propecia or Proscar), it may not cure hair loss, but it is the best medication available to slow down hair loss or even grow some hair back. If you stop taking this medication after many years, you may experience what I describe as “catch up” hair loss in which you lose all the hair that grew or stayed as a result of the drug. In short, your hair state will be at a point if you had never taken the drug in the first place.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationWhy Do I Have a High Forehead? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi i am a 16 year old male and for as long as i have known i have had a high forehead. my hairline is straight not receded but when i push up my eyebrows my highest wrinkle is just short of an inch below my hairline. i have never noticed any change of my hairline so what could be the problem.

Block Quote

We see wide variations in the construct of people’s faces. I remember a hairline that I put back which was less than an inch from the eyebrows. The man told me that it was his family mark and that he wanted to look like everyone else in the family. It would not have been my choice, but it was his. You can always move it if you do not like it, but at 16, I would want to get your parents involved in any and all decisions with regard to altering your hairline.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationProcyanidin B2 Research – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, I know you get questions about procyanidin b2 every day and I understand enough data is not currently available to determine whether the product is indeed efficient. But my question to you is: is research on it being done by serious, credible institutions? Can we expect to see any YES/NO recommendation that can actually be trusted any time soon? Thanks!

Block Quote

The bulk of research on procyanidin B2 is published by one group of authors in Japan in last few years. Although some of them are published in peer reviewed medical journals mostly on small group of patients, more research with a larger number of patients seems to be necessary for assessing the efficiency and safety of this product.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationRecurring Hair Loss That Starts as a Pimple at the Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc

I have been having recurrent hair loss since i was 18 (now 23). It starts with a pimple which doesn’t itch but the area is tender with fine hairs at the bottom of my head also around the hairline.

Block Quote

Infected cysts can cause hair loss (sometimes temporary and sometimes permanent). Your history is too sketchy to make much sense out of it for me. You need to have a doctor examine these ‘pimples’ to see if this is acne or something else.