Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Are Testosterone Injections Causing Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

A month ago my hormone levels were taken and my testosterone was 21. Estrogen less than 20. The nurse gave me a testosterone injections stating it would make me fell better. My hair starting falling out by the roots 2 weeks ago. Had blood levels rechecked the estrogen was 82 and testosterone was 150. Will my hair continue to fall out? I do not plan on taking this injection ever again. I was not aware of the side effects….

Thank you and god bless

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I found this to be an interesting read — Google Answers – Testosterone Levels

Testosterone can cause hair loss in genetically prone men and I suspect in women with female genetic hair loss. I can not tell you what your future holds without knowing more about you and being able to examine you, but I suspect that the hair you lost with the testosterone may be permanent. You will know in 6 – 8 months.

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Joint Pain from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 22 years old. I have just recently stopped taking Propecia (after 8 months). I have played guitar since I was 16, but I started to feel pain in my left hand and arm about a month or so after starting Propecia (looking back on it). Turns out I had developed tendonitis in my left elbow (tennis elbow). Not attributing anything to Propecia, I took time off guitar (2 months), started typing with one finger, tried anti-inflammatories, started doing hand excersizes, started taking Hyaluronic Acid, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin, and finally started seeing a chiropractor about 3 months ago (who cannot explain why I have not been healing). Then, about 2 or 3 months ago, my right arm also developed joint pain and tendonitis as my left arm has stayed about the same despite me taking every effort and measure to heal the “injuries.” I finally started researching Propecia, and I have quit use as of yesterday being as I have tried everything else without success. I began to read about some of the side effects from people who have taken it, some of which I had not thought of attributing to the drug… like increased “tummy fat”. I had been a skinny guy all my life and I have gained about 25 pounds in 8 months(which is alot considering I only weighed about 125-130 before propecia!). I have also had a few bad experiences with difficulty ejaculating that I never had before proprecia. Of course I have never thought before now that Propecia could be the culprit. I have only found a couple of comments from random people so far on the internet about “joint pain” and propecia, what is going on?

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Many of your complaints may not be related to Propecia. Ejaculation volumes are often decreased on Propecia. I have had one other patient report weight gain. You could decrease the dosage (rather than go off the medication entirely), and see if that reduces your joint pain. Discuss this with your prescribing doctor.

At 22, have you developed a Master Plan for your hair loss with your doctor? Got your hair mapped out for miniaturization yet? You may not even need Propecia or it may not be the right thing to use for you. You are in control so take the driver’s seat.

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When Does Hair Loss Stop? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr.
I am an African American male who is 37 years old and started noticing my hairline receding at the age of 27. My hair loss at this point is not bad (probably class II). At the moment, I have no balding in the crown area but as I said earlier, my hairline is receding. My mom side of the house (brothers have full heads of hair) and my dad still had his hair before he passed at the age of 43. I have a few questions

1. At what point if any does your hair loss (receding)stops?
2. I decided a few years ago to take propecia after I started taking some other DHT blockers (procerin, kevis, follicure etc…). I even visited the hair club for men. Is there anything right now that I can do (laser therapy) that will continue to reduce hair loss.
3. Has avodart been approved for hair loss yet and would you recommended it?
4. Are there any good Dr’s you could recommend from my area (Hampton Roads are of Va)

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  1. Most people start their balding process in their early 20s, some like you in the late 20s and a few after 30. The general rule is that for those who have hair loss in their 20s, most of it will slow down by the mid 30s and by the time the person reaches 40-45, it should slow down even further. There are no real rules other than what you see. You can anticipate it by mapping out your hair for miniaturization to see what the future may hold for you.
  2. There is only one FDA approved, proven DHT blocker, however with that said, many products claim DHT blocking effects without the science behind those claims. You must, of course, make your own decisions. I’ve written about laser treatments quite a bit — see Low Laser Light Theraphy and the general “laser” keyword search.
  3. I do not prescribe Avodart, because it is not FDA approved to treat hair loss. It is doubtful that the drug company which produces it (GlaxoSmithKline) will seek FDA approval for hair loss.
  4. For doctors in your area, I would intervew those who are on the ISHRS.org website, for at least they are interested in education for themselves.

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Hair Loss InformationWhy Am I Experiencing Hair Loss Months After Surgery? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi
I’m 18 year old male. I had surgery about 4 months ago. 2 months after I noticed my long hair has been falling out in clumps of 15-20 hairs in one pull or when I brushed it. It has been going on now for 2 months and my hair got very thin very fast. I have noticed a bunch of new tiny hairs growing in front of my hair line but after reaching 1 cm in lenght they had stopped growing and some of them are falling out as well.

I would be greatful to hear your answer.

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Am I to assume that your surgery 4 months ago was not a hair transplant? Hair transplantation at 18 years old is very unusual and in most situations, not appropriate. Hair transplants can accelerate hair loss in an 18 year old and that is one reason this is rarely done. If you have genetic balding and are not on the drug Propecia, I would suspect that you have an extremely high chance of acceleration of your hair loss. If your miniaturiation is high, then that makes hair loss in an 18 year old almost a sure bet. The amount of hair loss and the distribution of the hair loss will reflect your genetic pattern. This sounds like shock hair loss with the acceleration of your patterned balding and may be permanent.

If you are not on Propecia, it may not be too late to start it and try to hold on to what you still have. I would like to know who did your hair transplant (if that was the surgery you meant)?

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Does Minoxidil Strengthen Existing Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr., I know minoxidil does not block DHT but I was wondering if minoxidil strengthens existing hair, or if it just regrows a bit of new hair. Thanks for helping out so many people with your site!

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I believe that it does strengthen the hair on some people. Minoxidil is not, however, a reliable drug for either strengthening or regrowing hair in the majority of patients that take it.

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Hair Loss InformationGNC Men’s Mega Men and Hair Loss, Follow-Up – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor,
You recently mentioned (GNC Men’s Mega Men and Hair Loss) that a certain GNC multivitamin contains DHEA, which can produce hair loss as a side effect. I use the GNC mega men multivitamin, and I can’t find any mention of DHEA -or the full name of Dehydroepiandrosterone- in the ingredients. Does it go by a different name? I suspect one or more of the following ingredients: L-Arginine, L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine, L-Taurine, L-Valine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine.

I also take a protein shake that contains much larger quantities of L-Isoleucine, L-Leucine, L-Valine, and L-Glutamine. In addition, I take a creatine supplement with L-Glutamine, Taurine, Glycine, K-Arginine, and L-Methionine.

Ironically, I usually take these supplements alongside of a DHT blocker (first propecia, more recently Avodart) because I was experiencing thinning hair a while back. I’m under the impression some of these may increase DHT production in the body.

I would appreciate it if you could tell me which, if any, of these ingredients produce hair-loss, or increase DHT, as a side-effect.The good news is that I haven’t noticed any additional hair loss, but I would like to cease use of these products ASAP if they accelerate the hair loss process.

Thank you very much.

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My comments that reflected the presence of DHEA in the product GNC Men’s Mega Men come from the GNC.com website, where it states “Features DHEA, one of the most abundant hormones produced in the body and is a precursor to other hormones.. ”

DHEA can cause hair loss and that is all I have said about it. I am not against this product, just looking for things that cause hair loss and reporting what I learn to this audience.

With regard to the other listed nutrient supplements that you asked about, clearly a deficiency of any essential dietary elements in your diet can, by themselves produce hair loss.

L-Glutamine: There is a suggestion that high amount of this can cause increases in growth hormone, which could therefore produce hair loss if that association bares out.

Taurine, Glycine, K-Arginine, and L-Methionine : There is no direct association that I know of between taking amino acids supplement and hair loss. Any deficiency in these however, will produce hair loss. Good diets should alone produce adequate amounts of these essential nutritionals.

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Combat Itching from Hair Systems – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I wear a hair system and I would like to know how to combat itching

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Itching may be caused by the inability to get a good wash. Can you remove the system and wash your scalp regularly? After a wash, are there abnormalities in the skin of the scalp? As you will note, I am starting to ask questions that require observations. Other than basic cleanliness, I would have to examine you before rendering an opinion.

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FUE with a 0.75mm Instrument – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

Quick question regarding your “FUE Scars” response on May 30th. Are any tools under research or developement (at NHI or anywhere else) that will leave wounds in the 0.75 mm or less range? Or does “impractical” mean “impossible?”

Thanks!

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CommandentsThere are some doctors using a 0.75mm sharp punch for FUE which is smaller by a factor of 30% from the 0.9mm punch. The follicular holocaust is very large. If it were reliable, I would be using it. Some doctors are telling their audience of patients that they CAN do this successfully with a 0.75 mm sharp punch. I am just a mortal and will not delude the public into believing what they may want to hear, or selling them a ‘bill of goods’ that I believe promotes the business at the patient’s expense.

If the technique can be perfected (we are trying to do just that), then it would be superior to what we do now with a 0.9mm instrument, because the wound would be much smaller, faster healing (now it heals in 5 days), create a smaller scar (now the scars are 0.9 mm round) and possibly would allow more harvested follicles. But alas, the technology is where it is now, that is, except in those doctors who promote their godly likeness.

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Bulimia and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi.. about 2 years ago, due to break up of a relationship and some family problems,i began abusing laxatives (bulimia) ( during this time i was on dianette to treat my polycystic ovaries, i stopped takin diannette 10 months after my laxative abuse started).. i abused laxatives for about a year and half where then i got help and stopped. however during this abuse period, i suffered alot of hair loss.. and now my hair is about 50 % of what it was.. i cannot tell you what this has done to me mentally.. firstly because i was well known for my beautiful thick and glossy hair and secondly because by profession i work on tv.. i went to see a dermatologist who insisted i take 600mg of ferrous sulphate a day.. i did this for a bit but it gave me tummy cramps and constipation. he says the injection is big and painful, but i dont really mind. what i want are results.. its been almost 7 months and even though im eating healthily , and not taxing laxatives, i cant see any new hair growth. and i have this awful feeling my hair is still thinning.. i got myself some hair extentions to give myself a bit of confidence.. and it was successful to give me some confidence if only for a while.. i will have the extentions removed within a couple of weeks, which i would find tolerable if i knew my thick luscious hair will grow back.. but as i said i cant even see any new hair growing.. i feel my dermatologist isnt taking full action to combat my problem, im willing to undergo and try anything.. do you know of any top dermatologists in london with specialty in hair loss or its research? do you also mind giving me your opinion on what i should do.. really appreciate it. thank you

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You have many things that precipitated the hair loss and if the hair thinning has not reversed in a year or so, it will probably be your new normal status. Bulimia, diet problems, and general intestinal problems most probably contributed to your situation. The presence of Polycystic Ovaries in itself produces enough endocrine abnormalities to explain the persistence of your situation. You are correct to locate a good dermatologist, but I am not familiar with London’s doctors. Ask other doctors who they would use for their own family.

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Taking Propecia When There Is No Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

To Dr. Rassman:

I am 19 years old, and my hairline has receded slightly. My mother insists that I am paranoid, and that my sense of paranoia is only exacerbated by my reading too many Philip Roth novels. But a few jokes here and there about my thinning hair from friends who don’t know about my “paranoia” has only confirmed me in my judgment.

I want to start taking Propecia. My question is, in the unlikely event that I’m completely wrong and am not balding at all and that my mother is actually correct but I go on Propecia anyway…are there any side effects from taking Propecia when it’s not “needed,” besides the ones reported (decreased libido, etc.) by those who do “need” it? On a side note, (forgive my naivete), are proscriptions of Propecia difficult to obtain? Thanks very much for your time and help.

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There is no point to blindly commit yourself to a lifetime of drug without a diagnosis. Be smart and get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out what is really happening. Many 19 year olds are developing a maturing hairline, not balding. Get a good doctor to tell you what is happening to you. Friends, at your age, can be cruel even if it is not intentional.