Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Percentage of Patients That Actually Have Shock Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
In a follow up to the shock loss posts what are the percentages of patients that actual suffer a degree of loss. I realise that everyone is different in terms of age and miniturisation but what are the overall figures for those on propecia and those not on it.

I am 26 have been on propecia for 4 months and have a degree of miniturization but would like the front of my hair restored as it looks terrible.

What are the risks? high?

I would suspect that with 4 months of Propecia under your belt, the odds are in your favor (80/20) for preventing shock loss. If at the time you started taking the drug the hair loss was very active, then the risks rise slightly, but are still in your favor (better than 50/50). Just a guess of course, as there is no data to reference, other than my years of experience in this field.

I have experience from the days when I was doing hair transplants prior to the availability of Propecia on the market (8 or so years ago). The young man undergoing rapid hair loss, when having a hair transplant, would accelerate his rate of hair loss in almost 100% of cases (these are men in their 20s). As the person’s age increased into their 30s and 40s, the shock hair loss reduced in most men who stabilized their hair loss, because they lost much of what they were going to lose. Men in their 40s and 50s rarely experienced shock hair loss.

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Scared to Lose My Hair with Chemotherapy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m a 22 year old girl who will be starting chemo the first week of November ‘07. While the thought of treatment is really scary, what’s scaring me the most is knowing that I’ll be losing my hair outwardly looking ill. I’ve been doing a huge amount of research on any ways to retain my hair during treatment. I keep ending up hitting a product called Thymu-Skin. I can’t find any sites that discuss if there are any side effects to using this product while on chemo.

Can you please help me out with this? I’d really appreciate it!!

thanks

Chemotherapy does not necessarily mean you will lose hair. Hair loss depends on the specific drug used in chemotherapy. Your doctor who will be overseeing your chemotherapy treatment should be able to answer all of your questions and tell you how chemotherapy will affect your health and hair. The good news is that if you lose your hair, it will probably come back strong after the growth cycle is invoked.

To my knowledge, there is no FDA approved product to prevent hair loss from chemotherapy. With respect to ThymuSkin, I have heard of this product from patients and readers like you. Most accounts of its success/failure are based on anecdotal accounts. Despite the claim of ‘research’ and publications, they are rarely in peer reviewed mainstream journals and even if it is, the design of the study needs to be scrutinized for biases in the research. A theme that often echoes here on BaldingBlog is that it is a “buyer beware” market.

Of note, the ThymuSkin website seems to account the expertise of Dr. Morton Walker. Dr Walker is a doctor of podiatry medicine (D.P.M.) I am confused how a foot doctor came to be an expert in hair loss and the thymus.

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How Would Hair Multiplication Grow Hair In the Right Direction? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been reading many articles on Intercytex recently suggesting that a ‘baldness cure’ is on the way. I am aware that it may be a fair few years away until it becomes a possibilty, but I had a technical question that might be of interest. I know that the company’s aim is to inject hair inducing cells into the skin. This sounds great in theory, but how would they create a crown, seeing that hair in that region of the scalp grows in different directions? How do you think problems such as that could be overcome?

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Over a decade ago, Dr. Walter Unger reported that a group in England was successful in cloning hair in mice. The mice then had the hair injected into the skin and as the hair grew, all of the mice died from massive infection. It was as you said, the direction of the hair went every way possible and the bacteria in the vicinity went wild, causing infection and abscess formation, eventually killing the poor mice. According to that report, the research was abandoned. I will see him this week and ask him for a follow-up of that problem, hopefully getting information to give you are more focused answer to your question.

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Adding Elmer’s Glue to Hair Gel — Would it Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear DR.
I have longer hair (down to chin) and i haven’t been able to find a hair gel to make it stand straight up. i was reading an article earlier today about got2b glued (hair product). do you know of any hair loss that can be caused by this product? i also saw this in an article:

“Yep, glue. Seriously… go with any stong hold gel and mix it 2:1 with good old Elmer’s. Remember those guys in the 80’s with the two-foot spiked mohawks? Elmer’s was key.”

is it safe to add elmers glue to hair gel? if so is this the right ratio? will glue cause hair loss?

i also read the comment about how “good commercail grade hair products” don’t cause hair loss. please explain this. Plz respond asap. thx soo much

Elmer's GlueI do not have experience with Elmer’s Glue mixed with hair gel and don’t know if there would be any effect on hair loss. I haven’t had a spiked mohawk since… well, actually, never.

With respect to your last question, any regular hair products should not cause hair loss (unless they advertise that it does). If it helps any, one of my staff members told me that he uses the Got2B Glued product in his hair every day and has not seen any problems.

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Being Proactive with Propecia — Should I Take a Smaller Dosage? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I just received a prescription to start taking Propecia. I am still very young, 21, and have only mild hair loss. This is more of a proactive attempt to make sure things do not get any worse. My question to you is at my age, and with only mild hair loss, does it make sense to maybe take a smaller dosage each day? Maybe taking .5mg instead of 1mg. I have been reading many opinions online but would love to know yours. Thanks for your time.

Assuming you really do have genetic hair loss (without a good solid diagnosis, you really do not know), why would you take less than a fully effective dose that is proven to be effective? It makes little sense to me. Some people do suggest taking lesser dosages and even on this blog I have referenced such information. You are in command of your own destiny and that is what separates the men from the boys.

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Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to Hair Loss? | WRassman,M.D. BaldingBlog

Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to Hair Loss?

/by William Rassman, M.D./3 /, ,

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I am a 26 y/o male in the early stages of genetic hair loss. I have a quick question for you. Does the consumption of alcoholic beverages (whether it be beer or liquor)contribute to hair loss if you have genetic balding? Also does smoking cigarettes cause hair loss if you have genetic balding? Do they have a synergistic effect if used together? I notice that everytime after a night of drinking and smoking (I only smoke when I drink), more hair tends to fall out the next day. I looked through your past postings but did not see anything relative to this topic.

Also, are there any hair transplant doctors that you could recommend in the DC/MD area or the NY area?

I appreciate your help Dr. Rassman, I read your blog everyday!

With people who drink excessively, diet and vitamin deficiency commonly becomes a cause for hair loss. After heavy drinking, there are stress reactions that can precipitate hair loss. The more of these bouts of drinking, the greater the stress on your body. Drinking does impact the liver and the liver is a critical organ in managing hormones in your body’s metabolism. As for smoking, please see previous posts regarding that.

Dr. Robert Bernstein has offices in New York and New Jersey and is a great hair transplant doctor.


2006-10-18 13:53:41Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to Hair Loss?

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Female Hair Loss from Taking Accutane – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello I am a 25 yr old female and I took accutane two years ago and a couple of months ago for two months only due to a money run out. I have been experienced some hair loss more than normal. Is it possible to recieve a hair transplant for this problem or drugs such as avodor or proscar.

Accutane is known to cause hair loss in some people. To date, there are no FDA approved oral medications for female hair loss. There are many, many risks for women taking finasteride (Proscar/Propecia) or dutasteride (Avodart), and it is highly recommended that you do not do this, particularly at your age. Furthermore if Accutane was the cause of your hair loss, drugs would not help. You should wait at least a year to see if your hair grows back. If your loss is not Accutane related, minoxidil might help.

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I Had a Hair Transplant Almost 2 Weeks Ago and Am Very Worried About the Outcome – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 28 years old male. I had a hair transplant 12 days ago of 1890 grafts. My question is that all my scabs have not come out yet. I try to run water every day through my hair and shampoo it with head and shoulders citrus breeze. The scabs in the front of my head are coming out but at top portion are coming out one by one. I am noticing a black dot followed by little white bulb kind of thing with my scabs. Sometimes the white part is like very dry and hard like a bulb at times. There is however no pain. I am wondering if these are grafts. I am really scared and I don’t want to even touch the scabs. Please let me know if there is a possibility that the grafts dry up and are just falling off. I am very anxious am waiting for an answer to know if my hair transplant was a success or failure.
Thanks

The little scabbing is normal and it can take some weeks to go away (usually 1 to 2 weeks) if the washing has not been properly done. You should see the doctor who did your hair transplants and address these concerns to him/her. You should always have a strong patient to doctor relationship so that these concerns can be addressed one on one. In an ideal world you shouldn’t have to seek out a site like this to ask a question about your post operative report, although I am pleased to do it, for it educates my readership. Doctors have the obligation to educate their patients and give attention to the person’s needs (psychological or physical). Good luck.