Author: Dr. William Rassman

What would you say is the most effective growth agonist? I’ve heard people say oral minoxidil, but is topical estrogen also capable of reviving follicles after they’ve dormant for a few years?

Reviving dormant follicles is not something that may always happen. The places were we see revival is usually when the loss is less than a year, two at most. Those who have had long term balding may not be able to revive those hairs. The traditional approaches all have value including Microneedling, minoxidil (oral or topical) and finasteride. Estrogens in the face of high testosterone may have more limited value.

The best way to use Minoxidil is to apply it at night after a hot shower, so the pores of your scalp can absorb the drug. Then, wash it off in the morning, so you can style your hair normally. It will take up to a year to see the value of this drug.

Men who wore boxer shorts had a 25% higher sperm concentration and 17% more swimming sperm in a single ejaculate than men who wore other types of underwear. For those couples who are having trouble conceiving, this is an important scientific observation.

Source: New Scientist 28 August 2018

Hi Dr. Rassman , I have been taking one Tab. Beta sitosterol (375 Mg containing Total Plant sterols at 1000 Mg ) along with Propecia / Finasteride ( 1 Mg )every day daily , as I wanted to combine the Natural with the Prescription , Please note that I am taking Generic Finasteride .I have been doing this from the pat 4 months in the effort to Stop my Hair Loss , recently last few days I am Noticing quiet a bit of “Hair Shedding” in my shower , I am quiet Upset , Can you please tell me if the Beta sitosterol and Finasteride combo is Lowering the DHT Too Much and that is in effect worsening My Hair Sheds? OR do you think they both have No Connection with each other in terms of Action and Pathways of blocking DHT are different !? Can Too Low DHT cause the hair follicles to shed OR as Beta sitosterol Lowers Cholosterol also , Maybe the Lower Cholesterol is causing the sheds? Please Help me on this , I am in Real Distress !

According to WebMD, “Beta-sitosterol is a substance found in plants. Chemists call it a “plant sterol ester.” It is found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It is used to make medicine”. It is not a drug.

In general hair loss in men is genetic and there is no stopping it. There are medications such as Propecia (finasteride) to slow it down, postpone, or even grow hair in the short term, but in the long term the genetic predisposition will win out. This time course is variable for each individual.

I do not think drug interaction has much to do with genetic hair loss. Sometimes people try to explain or blame their hair loss with certain events or medications, but the most obvious cause is that it is just the way you were per-programmed when you were born with the genes. If you want to take this any further, the best recommendation is that you seek a doctor for an examination and possible treatment options.

I’ve heard of new “DPI” hair transplants that are supposed to look even more natural. Does anybody have any opinions? I heard the biggest advantage is the density you can achieve with a low graft count. I just want to reconstruct my temples (I am 25 and they are just starting to go). If I could do this with only 500 or so grafts so I have more when I am older that would be fantastic.

DPI? When a new name is invented without a real new validated technology, it is a marketing ploy. There is no such thing as: ” advantage is the density you can achieve with a low graft count” other than to get your money. Use your brain and read my blogs at: https://baldingblog.com/ to educate yourself.

One of my patients did this search in Medical News Today. This is a kick off place for you to search further on the various subject below. The links are active below and many of these remedies have been addressed in previous balding blog posts over the years.

Apple cider vinegar for hair growth: Does it work?13 Sep 2017 What is apple cider vinegar and can apple cider vinegar boost hair growth? Learn if it is safe to use and what the proven health benefits of vinegar are.

Hair growth stimulated using stem cells14 Aug 2017 Using 3-D organoids made from stem cells, scientists managed to uncover a six-step process by which hair grows and stimulated hair growth.

Study provides new insights into male pattern baldness13 Jul 2017 New research maps hair growth patterns across the entire body, providing new insights into male pattern baldness and excessive hair growth.

Can I use vitamins for hair growth?12 Jul 2017 Health experts agree that eating a well-balanced diet that contains the 13 essential vitamins can help maintain the health of your hair.

Alopecia: Hair growth restored with new drug26 Sep 2016 Clinical trials conducted by Columbia University Medical Center find that JAK inhibitors may trigger hair regrowth in people with alopecia areata.

Drug promises robust new hair growth23 Oct 2015 Researchers have found that two drugs already approved by the FDA for other conditions can help strengthen hair growth, offering hope for people with baldness and alopecia.

Researchers generate new hair growth using human pluripotent stem cells 28 Jan 2015A new treatment for hair loss could be on the horizon; researchers have found a way to generate new hair growth using human pluripotent stem cells.

Mouse study finds immune system could promote hair growth 24 Dec 2014Cancer researchers have found an unexpected association between the macrophages of the immune system and regenerative skin stem cells.

Arthritis drug helps bald man grow full head of hair 20 Jun 2014Using an arthritis drug, doctors have restored hair growth in a 25-year-old man left bare of body hair from the uncommon disease alopecia universalis.

Signals That Prompt Hair Growth Discovered, May Pave Way For Baldness Treatment 05 Sep 2011Molecular signals that trigger hair growth have been discovered by scientists from Yale University, according to an article published in Cell.

Reversing Baldness – Clue May Lie In Stem Cell Signals That Trigger Hair Growth 02 Sep 2011By studying mice, researchers found that stem cells in the fatty layer of the skin send signals that trigger hair growth, and suggest the discovery could lead to new treatments for…

Adverse effects of common prostate enlargement and hair growth drugs: A review 26 Aug 2015Twenty-five percent of men currently taking Finasteride or Dutasteride, popularly known as Proscar and Avodart, for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement (BPH), appear not to benefit from…

To boldly go where few mice have gone before…27 May 2015Prolonged exposure to space conditions may induce skin thinning and cause profound alterations in the hair growth cycle according to a study in three mice published online in the first issue..

Positive clinical study results for Cellmid’s hair growth product using novel FGF5 inhibitor 17 Apr 2015Cellmid Limited has received strong positive results in all measured areas of its independently conducted, randomized, blinded and placebo controlled human clinical study of the évolis ONE…

Hair growth in mice promoted by honeybee hive sealant 16 Dec 2014Hair loss can be devastating for the millions of men and women who experience it.

A year ago, I got my synthetic hair implant in another country clinic, since they really persuaded me to try out their biofiber synthetic hair implant made from Italy. Now I started having inflammation and redness and itching, I visited a dermatologists who recommended that I get these removed immediately.

I have seen such patients and their entire scalp becomes very infected and scarred, even after the removal of the synthetic implants. This takes a long time and many visits as some of the implants get burried in the scalp. Fortunately, these have been outlawed in the US and many countries, but a few clinics remain in Europe and elsewhere offering it and some people think it is a great idea and may pay heavily for the decision to get them.