Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Any Comments on False Research Findings? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Interesting article report!

Dear Doc, please take a look at this article and comment the content.

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This is a very interesting article. I tend to remain skeptical and I am dubious of research that is poorly executed. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to want to believe certain things, and such desires will impact our own objectivity. For example, there are many lotions and potions in the marketplace that claim the ability to reverse or treat hair loss. Many of them use poorly designed research to push a commercial agenda and many hair loss sufferers want to believe that herbal and naturopathic medications can address their hair loss agenda. The research that I have reviewed since starting this blog is overwhelming and the findings of many of these products are in fact, unsubstantiated and false. This article may be of interest to some of our readers, so I did put it into the blog as a way of sharing it with my readership.

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Humidity, Bacteria, and Itchy Scalp – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I notice that my scalp itches more when the relative humidity outside is high. On cold winter days when the relative humidity is lower than usual and we rely on artificial heating, I have no scalp itch. Since relative humidity is a measure of the amount of water/moisture in the air, this correlation would make sense in that the extra moisture is a catalyst for bacteria and other organisms that cause itchiness. Can you explain doc?? Thank you very much for your time.

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While your theory is certainly plausible, I doubt bacteria are causing your scalp to itch. Maybe your skin type does not agree with the higher humidity. Conversely, others may find lower humidity may cause more scalp itching and skin drying. Get a dermatologist to examine you, as a starter.

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Miniaturized Hair Shape Under Microscope – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor,
For a while now I’ve wondered: does miniaturized hair have a conical shape when viewed under a microscope?

What prompts my question is the larger consideration of whether hair miniaturizes while a cycle is in process, or whether it miniaturizes from one anagen phase to the next.

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I suspect that both factors are in play here. The increased hair count seen in 12 months clearly indicates a change from one cycle to another, but as I see changes in patients in an 8 month time frame when I examined the hair and observed less miniaturization, I would suspect that some increasing girth probably occurs as the hair grows out from the scalp.

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Lead Acetate in Hair Dye – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been utilising a progressive hair colouring agent to gradually eliminate my grey. The product contains lead acetate would this chemical result in hair loss. I am 40 years old, male, and just today noticed a tiny bald spot on my crown. I have been using the colouring product for only 4 months and worry it has resulted in permanent hair loss.

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I would imagine that the use of lead acetate must be safe in the products that use it or there would be a real problem considering its use in many of the hair dyes. I can not comfortably comment on this query. I did find this article from a year ago about lead acetate in hair dyes being banned in Canada — CosmeticMagazine.com.

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Large FUE Session Risks? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi dr.
I have been looking into hair surgery for the last 3 months. It is clear to me that I opt for FUE because I want to wear my hair short in the summer and long in the winter.

I have been offered a 2500 graft session in 1 day, using FUE. Although this dr. claims to perform such large sessions I can not find any information about large FUE session.

Are large FUE sessions safe or are there risks involved ?

Thank you for an honest answer

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A 2500 graft FUE procedure would require a real expert, so anyone that claims this type of result should easily prove his capability to do so by showing patient results. I would be skeptical — very much so, actually. Doctors claim whatever they want to claim, but do you want to put your future in someone’s claim if they can not really pull such a session off with 100% predictability? One doctor reported to me that he does 2000 graft FUE procedures all of the time, but from what I understand it is a follicular holocaust. Safety and integrity go together for the doctor’s claims. Let the buyer beware!

With regard to what you have to lose:

  1. money
  2. valuable, irreplaceable donor hair destroyed if yields are not in the high 90% range
  3. folliculitis from buried or transected grafts
  4. scarring

I am sure many more risks will come to mind as I think back on this question.

A large session FUE (in the 2500 graft session in one day) in theory can be done safely. I would strongly suggest that you ask the doctor to allow you to speak or even better, meet a patient or two that had 2500 grafts in a single day done by FUE, then observe the results and check with the patient who had it done about the results meeting his expectation.

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16 Days Post-Procedure, I Still Have Scabs – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,
I am a 34 year old male and it’s been 16 days since my Hair Transplant of 1200 grafts. I still have scabs. I have been very gentle with washing, but am currently allowing the full pressure of the shower head. I have not scrubbed my scalp the way I normally would prior to surgery. Today, I lightly rubbed and picked a scab with the hair attached. It came off pretty easily. Was this the graft? Did I lose the future hair?

Can I start scrubbing my scalp at this point? My doctor recommended waiting 1 more week (3 weeks total) before washing and combing my hair as I did prior to surgery. What is your recommendation? And did I lose my hair graft? I am eager to get back to normal life. Thank you for any help.

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Patients may generate scabs after surgery. It is best to wash them off before they get ‘rooted’. When they are not washed off immediately, they may last for days. I have even seen patients who do not wash well and have their scabs last for weeks. Pulling off scabs during washing and styling is one of the most common causes of losing a graft after transplant, although I would doubt that it would occur 16 days out. We did a careful study to determine when the vulnerability of graft loss ends and we found out that the existence of scabs parallels that risk. Study shows that pulling grafts can remove the whole graft any time during the first 10 days, at which time the scabs usually fall off with reasonably vigorous washing.

When fully healed, the follicle becomes part of the recipient skin and will keep its ability to generate new hair. You are well beyond day 10 and it is unlikely that you will lose your graft at this point in time. Let shampoo stay on your wet hair for 10 minutes or so, then rub the scabs gently with your fingers and the scabs will fall off.

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60+ Year Old Female – Hair Transplant Possibility? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 66 year old female taking thyroid and blood pressure pills for an underactive thyroid and high blood pressure. Would having hair transplantation be successful at this age? How much would it cost? My hair has become thin and brittle, as well sparse. Please let me know what is the possibility of a successful transplant without complications.

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To answer the question, I would want to understand the quality of your donor area and the degree of miniaturization you have in the hair of that permanent zone. Then I would want to know the extent of the hair loss and the size of the area that you want to treat. I would want to map out your scalp for miniaturization as I would need to know that information in order to ascertain if you will be helped or hurt by a hair transplant. Evaluating women for hair transplants is a real art combined with science. I met a doctor at the recent annual International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons meeting that told me that their medical group did surgery on better than 95% of women who came to them. I would suspect that the doctor has terrible results and many unhappy patients. Get a good doctor who knows about this and get yourself evaluated properly.

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What is Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA)? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello!
I have seen many dicussions related to Diffuse Alopecia or DUPA, but I have never understood the causes. Is it genetic hair loss expressed in a diffuse pattern, or is it a kind of disease caused from something else?

Thanks a lot for your time!

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Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) is a condition where the hair has miniaturization throughout the scalp without a particular pattern to it. Women who have genetic hair loss have something that acts and looks like the male patient with DUPA. It is generally believed that in men, DUPA is genetic and hormonal. At times, it will respond to Propecia (finasteride 1mg) in slowing down its advancement and in about half of male patients it does get better (slightly) with Propecia.

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Dandruff Getting Worse on Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Ever since I started Propecia I noticed that my dandruff was getting worse. I have had nice results with stopping my hair loss from Propecia and I think that it may be regrowing my hair, but the increasing dandruff has become an embarrassment for me. Any suggestions?

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I have had a few people complain of increasing dandruff. There seems to be a benefit with using a mild steroid (1/2% hycrocortisone) a few times a week. I generally tell people that three applications, 12 hours apart would be ok, but not to use it heavily or too much steroid can be absorbed in your system through the skin. The use of Nizoral shampoo has worked for many of these people.

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What Tests Should My Doctor Perform to Diagnose My Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(male) I’m going to a new doctor in a week for my hair loss.My hair loss has taken over my whole life.A specially the itching.Every 5 seconds that go by I’m itching my head eyebrows and eyelashes.And what I see is miniturised hairs on my entire head , eyebrows and eyelashes..I dont know whats going on.Question is can you please give me a list of tests that I should have my new doctor do. Thanks for everything….

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You are a man with a long history of hair loss. With severe and generalized hair loss and hair miniaturization, you may be suffering from a systemic disease with skin and hair symptoms. Your doctor must take a thorough medical history, including history of past medical conditions and medications used, and perform a physical examination (perhaps the most important key to diagnose your problem). Getting your hair mapped out for miniaturization is critical to determine if the hair loss is patterned hair loss, which may have more typical genetic causes. There is really not a set of tests that could be suitable for every situation. Leave this to your doctor and get back to us if you are still having questions after your evaluation.