Author: Dr. William Rassman

Posted on

Chemical burns to scalp from dyes or hair straighteners

Is there a way to check whether the hair loss is from chemical burns as opposed to a condition like alopecia?

If there is an event where a chemical burn could have happened, then the burn may limit some or all of the hair growth in the area where the burn happened. I generally say if hair has not grown in 8 months since the incident, then the chemical burn is permanent. Hair Transplants or Scalp Micropigmentation give solutions to this problem along with concealers like Toppik.


2021-03-15 13:20:09Chemical burns to scalp from dyes or hair straighteners

Posted on

Cheerleader Got Hair Ripped Out!

hi Im a cheerleader and recently while I was stunting my partner and I were doing a trick where I start laying on the floor. Well while I was down there he stepped on my hair and then proceeded to throw me up in the air. The results were a huge chunck of hair coming out, at least 50-100 strands. I have long dark hair,about to my lower back, and I was wondering if that hair will grow back and if so how long will it take?

It will grow out, but it will take some time to grow to the length you have now. It might take a few months to get started, or it may start in as little as a few weeks, but it will come back.


2008-03-11 11:12:19Cheerleader Got Hair Ripped Out!

Posted on

Chemical Induced Thinning

Hi I’m a 21 yr. old male who is experiencing a form of chemical induced thinning and breakage. In August I had colored my hair and it had come out very dark. I frequently washed it and damaged it further, thinking it would fade the color. Needless to say once I started to notice some breakage I did everything I could do to condition my hair. The thinning was a very rapid affair, only taking a week. Since then there was no unusual hair loss. I was prescribed a topical steroid for redness in my scalp and I had some bad dandruff for about a month. Now I notice some new hairs coming in around the hairline and I still feel a diffuse thinning on top of my head kind of near my crown. It is hard to tell the new hairs from broken off hairs. Also I don’t see any kind of scarring. What advice can you give me to help my condition? Also what can I expect?

If you truly have hair thinning, you need a complete evaluation of your scalp and hair to determine if there is a genetic component to this process. It may not be due exclusively to the impact of the chemicals you used. If it was, then the chance is very good that most of your hair will grow back as long as no significant damage to your hair follicles and surrounding skin (which is probable). To determine if you have an underlying male balding pattern which may have exacerbated further hair loss by the chemicals which you have used, it is best getting a scalp and hair examination for miniaturization by a doctor that specializes in hair.


2005-12-08 09:30:54Chemical Induced Thinning

Posted on

Chemo After Breast Cancer 2 Years Ago — Hair Still Hasn’t Come Back!

I had breast cancer and my last chemo treatment was in July of 2006. I finished radiation in October 2006. It has been almost two years and my very thick curly hair has not come back. I have a few sparse hairs all over my head, but they are very sparse. I take tamoxifen daily. Will my hair come back and what can I do to help it. I have used Nioxin for two years and just recently started uses minoxidil. Are there vitamins to help? Just what can I do?

I do not know how to help you. My experience is not in the area of chemotherapeutic drugs. Your best information will probably come from the doctors who are managing your chemo. They see many people with hair loss and can probably give you the answers you are looking for. I wish I could offer more, but this is beyond my specialty.

Posted on

Chemical Relaxer Causing Itching and Scaling of Scalp

I am an African American female, and I used a chemical relaxer on my hair. Within a few days I had excessive itching and excessive scaling. The results are all over my head. Can you tell me what this could be? Chemical burn? Dandruff? Not sure. I applied Sulphur 8 to mu scalp to control some of the itching. It has helped a little, but if I tough my scalp the itching starts up again. The itching seems to get bad about 3-4 days after I wash my hair.

So, my questions are: What could this be, and how should I remedy the situation? Also, does this seem sever and should I get a doctor involved?

Thank You.

A chemical relaxer is, well, a chemical. Any chemicals can cause local skin irritation or an allergic reaction. I would suggest that you see a primary doctor or a dermatologist if this problem persists. Burns from chemical relaxers are quite common.

Posted on

Chemical Damage?

Hello Dr. Rassman. I experienced a sudden hair loss and breakage from strong chemicals. In the months since ive stopped using the chemicals there has been no further hair loss. But a few days after putting the chemicals on my hair I noticed that 1000’s of hair strands were markedly thinner. Is it possible that a chemical could just shrink the hair shaft permanently? Also the texture of my hair is different. If I stopped using the chemicals would my texture and hair shaft diameter return to normal or would the follicles continue to produce thinner and finer hair shafts?

I have addressed this question in a variety of forms (see: chemical damage). Please note that even though you think the cause is chemical, there is no substitute to getting a good examination in the hands of a good doctor who can look throughout your scalp at the condition of the other hairs on your scalp that do not seem to bother you.


2006-06-20 11:03:47Chemical Damage?

Posted on

Chest hair and finasteride

I’m on Fin since 5 months

I’m often shaving my chest hair with a clipper and I’ve noticed that it has been a while but my chest hair hasn’t grow longer as usual

Some men get a reduction of body hair or body hair growth rate on finasteride


2019-05-19 10:26:25Chest hair and finasteride

Posted on

Chemo and Hair Cycles

When you have chemo what happens to the hairs that are in the resting state after chemo finishes?

The hair starts to regrow as new hair buds enter the anagen phase of hair cycling.

Posted on

Chemo After Breast Cancer 2 Years Ago — Hair Still Hasn’t Come Back!

I had breast cancer and my last chemo treatment was in July of 2006. I finished radiation in October 2006. It has been almost two years and my very thick curly hair has not come back. I have a few sparse hairs all over my head, but they are very sparse. I take tamoxifen daily. Will my hair come back and what can I do to help it. I have used Nioxin for two years and just recently started uses minoxidil. Are there vitamins to help? Just what can I do?

I do not know how to help you. My experience is not in the area of chemotherapeutic drugs. Your best information will probably come from the doctors who are managing your chemo. They see many people with hair loss and can probably give you the answers you are looking for. I wish I could offer more, but this is beyond my specialty.