Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Can I Just Drink Minoxidil?

Dear dr. Rassman,

I hope you answer my question.I am at a very desperate stage in my hairloss. The daily appplication of minoxidil is making me look horribly bald. Can I drink the minoxildil solution twice per day rather than put it in my scalp? will it give the same results? I do not care about the heart side effects as looking into the mirror is enough to give me chest pains and anxiety attacks. Please answer my desperate plea.

The stomach will probably destroy the minoxidil when taken orally unless it was put into some compounds for oral ingestion. Minoxidil was originally on the market for blood pressure control many years ago, sold as a pill called Loniten… but for the best results as a hair loss treatment, topical is the way to go.

I wouldn’t expect the topical form to be safe to ingest, considering it contains propylene glycol (which may cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea). Plus I doubt it would be effective. I think that you need to meet with a doctor and get your problem surrounded.

To sum it all up though, do not drink the minoxidil.


2009-06-03 11:24:59Can I Just Drink Minoxidil?

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Can I Have Several Smaller Scars Along Langer’s Lines Instead of 1 Large Linear Scar?

Dr.Rassman/Dr.Pak,
Is it possible for an FUT patient:-

– to have several small (5cms) donor-strip scars rather than the normal one large scar, and would such scars heal better if they followed Langer’s lines?
– to have donor-strip scars incorporated into existing scars (in permanent zone)?
– to have, using your experience and artistry, donor-strip scars with the appearance of naturally-occurring scars: the normal scars that most people receive from the everyday knocks and bumps of an active childhood/adulthood (falling out of trees, falling off bikes, sport injuries, fisticuffs, etc.).

I appreciate that all surgery inevitably leaves scarring and even with the standard of your work some compromise is necessary. But, perhaps like many men, I’m uncomfortable with the thought of having scars that are so obviously due to hair transplant surgery – even though such scars can be covered by wearing longer hair and/or camouflaged by SMP. However, if the scars could be disguised as accident-related scars much of the anxiety of having FUT surgery would be removed and, within reason, any amount of scars would be acceptable.

Thank you.

Multiple small scars were offered in the past, all placed horizontally in Langer’s lines (the lines in the skin where collagen fibers are naturally oriented). Some were significantly less detectable; however, they may not be very efficient if a lot of hair is needed (as in the Norwood class 6 or 7 patients) and multiple small scars often have some hair loss associated with them.

I frankly do not know of any doctors offering this approach. If for any reason, you are a person that widens scars, this approach would leave your head full of scars.

I had three strip surgeries all in the same place for my balding crown, but only one scar remains that is so small, few can see it. In my situation, having only one scar was the right decision and I did not need Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP), as I did not need to hide what was already hidden.

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Can I Have SMP in the Crown to Minimize the Contrast Between Skin and Hair?

What is your view on using SMP for someone with a fair bit of hair, fairly stable with propecia/minox for over 10years with a bit of thinning? Wanted to fill in the crown a bit to minimize the contrast of light brown hair and the scalp of a caucasian 42 yar old male? Is this a good solution and could it negatively impact a hair transplant in the future if need be?

Yes, it could have value if you already have some hair in the crown. Think long term -if you lose all of your crown hair, then the SMP will not work so well, but a hair transplant could solve that if and when that occurs. SMP works reasonably well in thinning hair.

If you would like a formal consult you can send your photos to hairdoc@newhair.com (it will be confidential) and I will reply with more clarity.

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Can I Make My Own Topical Finasteride?

I have finasteride 5mg pills. I crushed up the pill until it was very fine powder. I put it in an empty bottle of Minoxidil. I added 5ml of Minoxidil. Shook up the contents My intention is to shake up this mixture prior to applying and apply 1ML of this mixture a day via the Minox dropper. Thus this mixture should last 5 days Am i missing something here or is this sound?
The finasteride will not absorb into the skin and be effective the way you are using it. The real topical finasteride has a liposomal base that allows skin absorption. That is why you pay good money to a compounding pharmacist.


2019-11-05 10:17:16Can I Make My Own Topical Finasteride?

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Can I Have One Side Transplanted Now, and The Other Side Later?

I work at a job where I really wouldn’t want people to know that I had Transplant. I was wondering if I could have one side done at a time. That way I could comb over it. What do you think?

I have done this with good effect on a number of people. You are correct, if you have enough frontal hair, combing it to the front and side can provide cover for a transplant.


2006-03-07 12:33:30Can I Have One Side Transplanted Now, and The Other Side Later?

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Can I Just Have a Lot of Smaller Transplants Over the Years Instead of Waiting for My Final Pattern?

Hey Doc,
You have a great site going. Thanks for all you do. I am a 20 year old male and my hairline is receding at the corners. The only family history of balding that I have is my maternal grandfather who was completely bald by the time he was thirty. I am currently on finasteride, but I was wondering about a transplant.

Would it be a bad thing to have smaller transplants over the next fifteen years instead of just waiting until you’ve reached your final pattern? For example, could I have one to fill in the corners, and then another in ten years to fill in whatever else is thinning or gone? As of right now, I am about a NW 2.5 with no evidence of thinning in the crown.

Not everyone has the exact same goal, and some patients have transplants to keep ahead of their thinning. This issue is up to both you and the doctor to plan out the Master Plan. Generally, most patients do not wait until they are completely bald… but in your case at 20 years old with early loss, you would likely not be a candidate just yet.


2012-01-26 09:32:29Can I Just Have a Lot of Smaller Transplants Over the Years Instead of Waiting for My Final Pattern?

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Can I Predict How Fast I’ll Lose Hair Even If I’m Already Taking Finasteride?

I am 25 (almost 26) and I am starting to notice some hair loss. I have been using generic finasteride…5 mg…and I cut it into 4 pieces to take once a day. I’ve been using it for a couple years now. I also use Rogaine (the foam), though sometimes I forget to put the rogaine on.

I have noticed on this board that you mention finasteride will “eventually stop working” and there is really nothing I can do about it. Is there any way to further slow the growth down? I was thinking of upping my dosage to 2-3 mg a day of finasteride. Will this work? Am I doing myself a disservice by using the generic brand instead of Proscar?

Also, is there any way to predict exactly how much hair I will lose, and how fast?

Thanks!

Finasteride does not stop working, but your hair loss can continue while you are taking it. Some people report a noticeable decline in the benefits they saw from Propecia after the 5 year mark or so, but that just means your body is winning the tug of war over genetic balding. If you stop the medication at that point, you will see even further, faster loss (which is what I refer to as “catch-up” hair loss). Finasteride slows hair loss in men, but does not necessarily stop it. I wouldn’t up the dosage without first consulting your prescribing physician. The higher the dose, the greater the side effect risk.

To my knowledge, there should be no difference between the generic finasteride 5mg pills cut into quarters from the 1mg Propecia pill. It’s the same drug, afterall… just different dosages.

There is no way to predict exactly what your hair loss pattern will be or when you’ll get to it. You can get a good idea by mapping your scalp for miniaturization, and then mapping it again in 6-12 months to see the progression (if any). An educated guess could give you some clues at that point, but it’s not an exact science.


2009-04-21 22:58:34Can I Predict How Fast I’ll Lose Hair Even If I’m Already Taking Finasteride?

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Can I Prevent Hair Loss Following Giving Birth?

I am 25 years old, had a baby in 6 months ago, and since lost about 30 pounds. My scalp is also itchy. I know with pregnancy and weight loss you can lose hair. I am just wondering if it is reversible or what I can do to stop my hair from falling out before it is too late.

You must wait it out, at least a year. Hair loss often returns by then, especially if you are not breast feeding. There really isn’t any way I know of to prevent it, as there are many hormonal changes occurring that cause this telogen effluvium.


2013-06-18 18:09:00Can I Prevent Hair Loss Following Giving Birth?

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Can I Prevent Stress Hair Loss?

I am going through a divorce and heard that stress can cause hair loss but it will probably grow back when the stress subsides. Is this true? Is there anything that can be taken to prevent this?

Some people do lose hair all over the scalp due to extreme stress, but there’s no pill to take to treat or prevent this. Stress management is an art and a science. You should contact your family doctor if you believe that your stress is impacting you with hair loss.


2010-05-21 10:45:31Can I Prevent Stress Hair Loss?

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Can I Just Start Propecia or Should I See a Doctor First?

I am 17 years old almost 18 in 5 months. I am starting to thin in the back of my head but no signs of thinning in the front. So in order for this to stop, can I start on propecia or should I seek a doctor first? Also my dad is bald and my grandpa is somewhat bald. But my uncle (dad’s brother) is not bald. On my mothers side, my grandpa has a full head of hair.

So does propecia really help in this situation or what should I do? Because I am really considering taking this medicine. So please help me because I don’t want to be bald at all.

Many men don’t want to be balding, but genetic hair loss can happen as early as 16 years old. Propecia (finasteride) is a treatment for genetic hair loss in men, but it is by no means a cure (there is no cure). It is a prescription medication, so you must see a doctor to find out if you should be taking it. By seeing a doctor who can measure your hair bulk, you will know for sure if you are starting the balding process. If so, then Propecia would be the best approach to slowing it down or halting it.

Propecia isn’t a guarantee to stop all of your loss, but it should at the very least slow down the process. You could even see some regrowth, especially if the loss is early and limited to the crown (I assume that is what you mean by the back of your head). Each person responds differently, so without an examination I couldn’t give you any real indication of what benefits the drug will provide. That is why a good examination of your hair by an expert hair doctor will get to the bottom of what you are fearing.