Author: Dr. William Rassman

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How Might One Reverse Hair Loss from Toprol? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My wife, 69, takes toprol. She has had hair loss and fears it tied to the toprol. The statement, “reversible” has been associated with this loss.What/how may one do to promote the “reversible” assect? Answer,please. She is stressing terribly over the loss. Thanks.

First, one needs to make sure that the medication is the cause of the hair loss, and not due to other medical or dietary problems. Then, if you are sure that the Toprol is the cause, speak with the doctor who prescribed it and ask for alternative suggestions. Sometimes, taking away the offending drug may solve the hair loss problem (or it may not).

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More Olux Foam and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

In response to your Jan. 15th post on Olux Foam, my dermatologist has also prescribed me the medication to treat seborrheic dermatitis. She has told me that I need to apply the foam once a day, at night, for an indefinite period of time to prevent the inflammation of my scalp. Do you think this will affect my hair loss in the long term? I have also been taking Propecia for the past 6 months to help treat hair loss in the same region on my scalp. Thank you for you advice and help.

In theory, topical steroids (the ones that are used for skin inflammation) do not cause hair loss. I don’t think topical steroids can contribute to a deterioration of your hair loss unless you absorb clinical amounts of steroids through the skin.

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Should I Start Taking Minoxidil Even Without a Firm Diagnosis? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 24 year old female who has experienced accelerated hair loss over the past 3-4 months. I have experienced a weight loss and am at a stressful point in my life, but also have a strong family history of baldness. I was advised by a dermatologist to start using minoxidil, as she said that it would work if I indeed have female pattern baldness and if it is telogen effluvium, it will help shift the hair back into growth phase. However, my understanding is that once minoxidil is started, it must be continued virtually forever or the effects will be reversed. Is this a wise thing to do given that I do not yet have a firm diagnosis? Thank you.

You are correct that if you start with minoxidil, you may be taking it forever. Get a diagnosis, mapping our your hair for miniaturization and the female AGA diagnosis. That is the correct way of going about the process.

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I’m Stressed, But I Think Protein Shakes Are Beneficial to My Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,

2006 was a stressful year. I had a lot on my mind and my sleep was disrupted quite a lot. At the same time, I started going to the gym regularly and drinking protein shakes. Towards the latter part of the year I’ve noticed my hair has been thinning more than usual and is now brittle too. I’m a 26 year old male. The ingredients of the powder seem to be beneficial to the hair.

My theories:

  1. I’m not taking on enough protein/carbs to rebuild muscle as well as keep my hair healthy.
  2. The opposite: the powder is affecting my hair even though the amino acids etc in it seem good for hair.
  3. Not enough rest/sleep.
  4. None of the above.

If I stop taking on this powder but theory 1 is correct then things will get worse. Is there anyone in the world who can give me a definitive answer? Any advice?

Many thanks

A positive nitrogen balance (achieved with good nutrition) should not impact hair loss, unless you were malnourished in the first place. The high protein intake (from protein shakes) will not help prevent or reverse hair loss.

You are stressed. The four major causes of hair loss in men are:

  1. Genes: If you have genetic balding, it should show by mapping out your scalp for miniaturization.
  2. Hormones: If your testicles are working, you will have the hormones.
  3. Stress: Sounds like you have more than your share of stress. Working out will reduce the stress for many men.
  4. Time: The longer the exposure of hormones and stress to the genetically impacted hair, the more the balding pattern will evolve.

These are the patterns that evolve from balding:

Norwood Chart

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Norwood Class 4 Patient — Is 2500 Grafts To Hairline Risky? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman….Happy New Year. I’m scheduled for a 2500 graft procedure with a “top doc”. I’m 32…norwood 4 with so so donor. Do you think it’s risky to do a 2500 graft procedure in the hairline at this point? My doc feels that even if I thin out in the back I’ll be fine

Norwood 4AThis is what I do. One large session of 2500 or so grafts in a Norwood Class 4A pattern is about the right number. Be sure that you are taking finasteride (Propecia) prior to having the transplants. You need to keep what you have.

Good luck!

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Sex and Masturbation After Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doc,

I recently had 1500 graphs done and the surgery went great. I am a little concerned that I may have lost graphs though. I did not do any strenuous exercise the first week post op, but can having sex, masturbation, ect., after surgery cause graphs to fallout due to increase blood to the head. Please let me know cause I am very worried. Thank you.

I would doubt that you would lose grafts after 2-3 days from aggressive sex or masturbation. Have fun and don’t worry.

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Thinning Temples in Teenager Taking Creatine and Whey Protein – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hi. i am a 17 year old male who lifts while taking protein and creatine. lately i have been noticing thinning in the temples of my hair. i am wondering if this is due to the use of creatine or the whey protein.

I assume by “lifts” that you meant lifting weights. You are taking these supplements to build muscle mass, I suspect. Do any of the supplements that you are taking have steroids in them? I doubt that the ones mentioned are the cause. You may be developing a maturing hairline and what you think is frontal thinning may be that maturing process in the first 1/2 inch of the hairline. Send me pictures to the address on the Contact page.

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Took Accutane at 16, Propecia Not Working at 21 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman

Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I am a 21 year old male. I noticed my hair loss at 19 which included a receding small hair line and complete thinning of the hair on the top of my head and upper sides. In less than a year of first noticing hair loss, it became extremely thin and I started to take Propecia. 14 months after Propecia, never missing a dosage, I have seen no results and have very noticably thin hair. Its so thin Im close to the point of shaving my entire head with a razor. Every time I try Rogaine my head is so irritated I can not continue for more than 2 to 3 days. My concern is I took a 6 month dosage of Accutane at 16 and I have absolutley no family history of hailr loss besides a small receding hairlines. I have not noticed any side effects of propecia to the smallest extent. If I pull on my hair, I cannot pull it out except with more than nessecary force. I had extremely thick hair,like everyone in my family, and in less than year my hair thinned in considerable amounts. My doctor hasn’t been to helpfull, more less doesn’t seem too knowledgable. How common is it that 21 year old males have completely bald heads with no history of family hairloss except for receding hairlines? Are the illness I should be worried about? I am not really worried about regrowing my hair, I would more less like to know that im okay. At this point I would be completely satisfied knowing that Accutane caused this and its just bad luck. Is there any way to find out if Accutane cause this? I don’t really know who to talk to, my dermatolgist told me that I have Male Patter Baldness and if I go off propecia i’ll loose all my hair(I am pretty close). In a couple of months it will be 2 years that I first even would have thought I was loosing my hair. If someone had not seen me in this period of time and I were to do my hair the same way, Strong hair products to spike up my hair, they wouldn’t beleive their eyes.

Sorry for the length, any adivce or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

A thorough examination of your hair can easily determine whether you have male pattern baldness or not, so get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to know if this is your case. Although it is typical to see a family history of baldness in balding patients, androgenetic alopecia can affect only one member of a family with no obvious baldness in other family members as it can skip generations.

Accutane (isotretinoin) is an anti acne medication and hair thinning is one of its known side effect independent of genetic balding. It may also accelerate the male pattern hair loss if taken in the active balding phase. Many people do report thinner hair shafts after using Accutane. I don’t believe Accutane has a delayed effect on hair growth spanning years, therefore I would guess that the hair loss that you have now should not be the result of using Accutane a few years ago.

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Young Daughter’s Hair Loss — Mold, Lice, or Something Else Entirely? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

two years ago my then 6 year old daughter suddenly lost a large amount of hair. this started on her crown and then underneath near her neck and slightly around the ears. her hair is quite thin. we have had a problem in the house with large areas of mold. is there any possible link with this to the hair loss as i seem to remember reading an article on something similar? we were not infected with head lice at the time, although the specialist that we saw did find a nit on her hair and diagnosed this as the reason for the hair loss, although i am not totally convinced. thank you for your time.

Mold can cause hair loss, and so can lice. You should find a doctor who you can trust and stick with him/her to solve the problem of diagnosis. Without examining your daughter’s scalp, I really can’t help much.

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