Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Accutane and hair loss

I went to the dermatologist the other day and she diagnosed me with TE. I am 21 years old and male. She blamed it on stress, when in reality I’m not stressed. What I believe it’s from is the 5 month accutane course I finished up in October of 2016. I honestly didn’t notice much shedding, but I have a ton of hair, and it’s short too. My barber told me I had uneven hair growth in January. Since then I can feel/ seethe spots that I am in shedding in. To this day I’m still shedding. Is there something I should do about this? Is this normal? Should I just let time do it’s thing?

Accutane is known to produce hair loss and the effects can last ujp to a year after you stop the drug. Go back to your dermatologist.

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ACell update for NHI ACell for hair replication and ACell for scar improvement

Based on case reports of Dr Hitzig and Cooley from 2010, and the spirit of science we have tried to replicate the cloning claims by applying for clinical research through an institutional review board (IRB), also known as an independent ethics committee (IEC) or ethical review board (ERB), IRB.

We had two category of ACell trials:
(1) ACell to promote new hair follicle regeneration from plucked hair, thus creating two hairs from one hair as the plucked hair is assumed to grow back. This in essence is viewed by some as cloning.

At this time, at about the 3+ year mark, our patients who received ACell for hair regeneration have not reported growth and we had seen all of them at the 6th month and 12 month point in time. If you read the ACell update from ISHRS Alaska 2011 conference, it would seem the ACell cloning was only hype.

(2) ACell to promote wound healing and less scar formation. This involves ACell that is incorporated into the strip donor wound.

At this time, at about the 3+ year mark, some patients have reported less pain after the surgery and a better looking scar (those who have had more than one surgery to compare their own experiences). But the overall width (size) of the scar is not any better (smaller). In other words the scar may NOT be smaller, but they are less pink and seemed to heal faster.

In summary we have spent thousands of dollars applying for the IRB permission as well as materials cost as well as staff hours for not so stellar results. More importantly it is regrettable to those patients who have participated in hopes of unlimited hair to only receive nothing from their effort. ACell may have some place in wound healing and we still offer this option to our patients at no cost.

To be clear: ACell does not grow hair. ACell does not make the scar smaller. Acell may heal the wound better but there is no clear proof of this. This observation is merely subjective.

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Accutane Hair Loss is Permanent?

Hello Dr. Rassman last you told me to go to a doctor in ny, I went to see him but he stated that he just didn’t know. I a 3rd round of accutane over 2 years ago, and have experienced hair thinning since.. I am very distraught since I thought the ny doctor could give me more answers and explanations as to how accutane could possibly damage hair follicles forever. I’ve been researching but its all about people like me complaining aobut the accutane induced hair loss, but no reason how it could do this damage. I was told that accutane works by reducing your sebacous gland. I had no idea that sebum would play a role in thinning or damaging hair.. I don’t know why doctors are saying it can be permanent, when in the past they said its only temporary.. and its been over a year, my hair is so thin. I’m taking biotin and I’m not even sure if that will work. I have no one to turn too. Can you explain to me what needs to be done, or how it can damage the hair follicles, if accutane only effects the sebacaus glands. thanks.

Medical clinical science is as much a descriptive science as a biological science. That means we describe what we see, possibly more than we understand what we see. Do not be too hard on the doctor, because I am sure he told you what he knows. As for scholarly doctors, that doctor is as scholarly as they come. We know that Accutane does, at times, cause permanent hair loss (that is what we see) but if we really knew why, then we could surround the cause of it and maybe fix it. I do not have the answers you are looking for, nor do others I have asked. Sorry!


2006-06-21 10:59:49Accutane Hair Loss is Permanent?

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Accuracy of Miniaturization Mapping?

How accurate is miniaturization analysis? My trichologist said unless you examine hair bulbs and shafts under microscope, you cannot determine the exact cause of hair loss. She also said that any thinning looks like male pattern baldness. What do you think of her opinion and the microscopic hair analysis?

A miniaturization mapping is just looking at the hair under a microscope and comparing it with normal hair that is often in the general area you are studying! I have never understood what the trichologist is looking at under the microscope. The accuracy of our mapping process is regional, based upon the changes that occur in miniaturization (often progressive) with genetic balding. More importantly we evaluate the pattern of miniaturization (under a microscope) at different areas of the scalp to determine how extensive it is in areas where future balding will occur, which will always miniaturize prior to becoming bald. Early in the process, the naked eye will often be unable to pick up the changes in thinning, so the mapping here has great value. And in case you missed it, I’ve provided tips on performing your own miniaturization mapping:

  1. Mapping Your Own Scalp for Miniaturization, Part 1
  2. Mapping Your Own Scalp for Miniaturization, Part 2
  3. Mapping Your Own Scalp for Miniaturization – VIDEO

To answer more specifically to what your trichologist said, you don’t need to examine the hair bulbs and shafts under a microscope to determine the exact cause of hair loss. The cause of hair loss is genetic balding in probably 99% of men. We use a miniaturization study to find out if there is early balding and then quantify it as well. We also use a miniaturization study to plan for treatment (medical or surgical) and follow the progress of such treatment plan. Drugs like Propecia may reverse miniaturization.

Finally, if you do not have male pattern baldness (women, for example) looking at hair or its bulb under a microscope wouldn’t tell much unless there is a telogen effluvium. Generally after taking a good medical history and examination, doctors do a scalp biopsy in women (as a last resort) to determine if there is a pathological process or order blood tests to see if there is an underlying medical issue.

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Acne in the Recipient Area After a Hair Transplant

Would getting acne in the recipient area in the days and weeks post-op have any effect on the grafts? If so, for how long after? Thanks.

Sometimes hair transplant patients may experience folliculitis weeks to months after surgery, which looks like acne. It is generally advised to follow up with the surgeon and use warm towel compresses to address the area. Some doctors prescribe a short term oral antibiotic for it as well.

The cysts that form reflect the sebum production of the transplanted hair that can not exit the skin, because there is no pore present. It generally does not affect the grafts.

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Actor Charlie Sheen’s Hair Loss

Any comments on Charlie Sheen? These shaved down pics would indicate he probably wears a hairpiece. I am more interested, however, in if that frontal patch seems to be a thick transplant to enhance a natural look from the hair system?

Photos: without and with

thanks

Charlie Sheen

The shaved photos of his head show that he has a strong frontal forelock (just like talk show host David Letterman) and shows a classic Norwood 3 balding pattern. When the forelock is strong, it may last into his old age. I would also have to assume that he wears a hairpiece, which is what we are looking at in the second picture.


2010-04-27 15:30:59Actor Charlie Sheen’s Hair Loss

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Accutane

I began to lose my hair in the frontal region of my head, shortly after beginning to take accutane. Is there any thing that will help?

Hair loss from Accutane is a known side effect. First you must weigh the options of stopping the Accutane. Your doctor should be able to help you make the right decision. The lost hair may return, so you need some time to observe what happens. If the hair does not come back within 8-12 months, then you might need a complete evaluation with a doctor like me, who specializes in hair loss.

I have previously discussed Accutane on my blog, which can be found below:

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Acne, Hair Loss, and Numbing Pain in My Arms

First. It was nice to see a blog about hair loss authored by real doctors and thank you for that. I am from Philippines and there are not much doctors here that specializes in hair loss problem thus when I visited once before, i was not able to get answer. So i hope you could help me here.

I was 19 when my hair loss started together with some big acne. My mom said it is hereditary but what concerns me is the very very subtle tingling pain in the place where I am having hair loss (which is the front). Sometimes I feel it after I comb my hair.

Another are the acnes, is there a case that having an acne and hair loss at the same time is a symptom of something.

3rd is I always experience numbing pain in my arms that I have not experience before.

I am sorry if I have too many questions because I read a lot about hair loss but couldn’t find answer to why I am having one. Right now my hair is in a norwood 2. I tried to talk to one doctor before but his answer was because it was due to stress then gave me prescription for my acne not my hair loss. Sorry. This is already long but Thank You in advance.

Acne doesn’t cause hair loss, and hair loss doesn’t cause acne. Your loss may be stress-induced like your doctor said, but at 19 years old it’s entirely possible that you’re showing early patterned hair loss. A Norwood Class 2 could just be a mature hairline, though. That isn’t anything to be concerned with. I haven’t seen you, so I can’t make that determination.

I do not know what numbing pain in your arms has to do with having acne or hair loss. I think you may be trying to link everything into one. Unlike physics, there is no unifying theory about hair loss.

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Actual limited frontal hair transplant post-op of 600 grafts at 4 days (photo)

The important take-away here is that within 4 days, with proper washing techniques, there is no scabbing present and nothing detectable short of a little tinge of pinkish color if you look close. All patients having a hair transplant should look like this within 4 days of the transplant. Some of the hairs that were placed already have shed so you can see why it is impossible to count the grafts after a few days.