Author: Dr. William Rassman

Posted on

Isn’t New Hair Grown from Rogaine Still Effected by DHT?

Hello Doctor,

I do not understand this dependability of my new hair grown on rogaine, isn´t this new hair also affected by DHT? what a I mean is: will my new hair fall even if I take propecia? why is this new hair different from the ones being saved by propecia?

thank you doctor

Riding a bike or driving a car may get you to where you want to go, yet they work very differently… just as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) work differently to treat hair loss. Propecia blocks DHT production and by creating this block, the genetic element for hair loss is ‘subdued’. Minoxidil may work by extending hair cycles and/or moving hair into the anagen cycle. DHT can still do its dirty work.


2007-07-26 13:33:02Isn’t New Hair Grown from Rogaine Still Effected by DHT?

Posted on

It has been 4 months, has the hair transplant failed? (Photo)

You are actually ahead of the curve and already have growth. At 4 months you still have another 4 months to see 80% of the growth to styling length of about 1 1/2 inches. Patience is a virtue, so wait a few more months and you might be very happy yet.


2020-09-01 09:56:27It has been 4 months, has the hair transplant failed? (Photo)

Posted on

Semen back to normal in 3 months

Just to say that my semen is back to normal viscosity (as attested by the GF), almost three months after starting finasteride (it was watery).

That’s about par for the course for people who stop taking finasteride


2020-04-20 17:56:45Semen back to normal in 3 months

Posted on

It Seems Everyone Blames Every Bad Thing on Propecia

Doc, I can fly. Is that a side effect of Propecia? Reading your blog makes me laugh, because it seems like everyone blames every single bad thing in their life on Propecia. Propecia has allowed me to keep a full head of hair and I have had zero side effects from it.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I think you’re right — I have definitely noticed a lot of blame pointed toward this medication. Not many men will write about the positive benefits of Propecia, as they use the medication without any problems and go on with their lives. It’s those that feel they’ve been wronged that become the most vocal.

The side effect risk from Propecia is in the range of 1 to 2% of the men who take it. Those 1 to 2% are the most vocal, along with possibly another 10% of men just need a cause to rally behind, like the building bandwagon against Propecia.

Posted on

Itching, Shedding — I Need Help!

Hello,
I have been experiencing thinning in my crown and temporal regions over the last 6 or so months. I am only 23 years old and am a little worried about losing all of my hair. I have been on finasteride for about 2 months so I am hoping this will slow the process untill I can look into a transplant. My question is that I have been experiencing extreme itching in these thinning areas for the past year or so and I am wondering if this is normally associated with hair loss or if this could possibly be causing it? I have been using Nioxin shampoo for the past year also but this was a problem for me before using this product. The area does not appear to be irritated or dry and my scalp also feels a bit numb at times in my crown area. Could you give me any recomendations? also how long would I have to wait before a hair transplant would be beneficial for me? Is it normal to experience increased shedding and thinning after being on finasteride for 2 months? does this mean it may be working? or is this a negative sign? thank you for your answer

When your hair thins, there is a greater tendency to get drying (best treated with a shampoo and conditioner for dry hair) and more sun exposure, which produces skin damage from UV light. Many people like Nioxin shampoo, and it’s worth a try. The company suggests that this shampoo has DHT blocking activities, but I doubt that. I have a repeated recommendation that applies to you. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization so that you know what is happening to you and can develop a good Master Plan with a competent, capable doctor for your long term management of the hair loss you are experiencing.


2007-01-10 07:18:31Itching, Shedding — I Need Help!

Posted on

Itch and Inflammation Associated with MPB

What is the cause of the itch/inflammation associated with Male Pattern Baldness?

I’ve addressed this before on BaldingBlog.com and you said there is no correlation between inflammation of the scalp/hair follicle and Male Pattern Baldness. If you go on to any Hair loss forum you will see that a lot of hair loss sufferers get inflammation in the areas where they are losing hair. I have all the common traits of MPB and get inflammation on my receding hairline and thinning crown. I’ve seen a slight decrease in inflammation on finasteride but had to quit finasteride due to side effects. Since then the inflammation has become worse and it itches throughout the day. My Doctors have no clue about inflammation caused by MPB and don’t have much of a clue about MPB either. Nizoral was reccomended by forum users online and not by my doctors , it has helped a lot. This isn’t right , it is aggravating and worsens MPB. Here is a article on MPB and inflammation: Hairloss-Research.org

I don’t understand why none of my doctors and many other forum user’s doctors know about inflammation and it’s correlation with MPB. I know a lot of MPB sufferers do not get MPB and therefore it seems that is something else. From looking at online forums and MPB sufferer’s stories I have seen that it happens to people with more aggressive Male Pattern Baldness which is mostly younger people. I’m 19 and I find this hard to deal with. I have to figure out about inflammation myself. There is clearly a correlation between the two.

More articles: AndrogeneticAlopecia.com and SearchWarp

I don’t know where to start. You will have to come to grips with your balding. If you can not use Propecia for side effects reasons, you will have a problem in controlling the hair loss. The inflammation that you talk about has been reported to me by some patients and I suspect that the decreased hair bulk make the scalp drier which can produce an itch. Nizoral is a popular antifungal shampoo, so if that is alleviating your itch problem, perhaps you’ve got something going on with your scalp other than just genetic balding.

Your comments above and your insights will be shared through this site. Thank you for telling your story.

Posted on

itching and scratching the scalp

I know this question might be silly, but I’m a little concerned. Some nights I find myself waking up from my sleep while itching my scalp really hard, like nails digging in a little in my scalp. Nothing too intense of course, but just enough to have some flakes peeling off.

I’m kind of freaking out that I’m causing some bad damage to my scalp. I was looking for input from people knowledgeable on the matter, or have had any similar experiences and know good remedies.

Any input would be appreciated.

Scalp scratching causes hair loss and can introduce folliculitis. Never scratch your itch other than rarely and softly


2019-06-22 09:27:34itching and scratching the scalp

Posted on

Itchy Scalp, Hair Loss from MS?

I am a 45 year old female who is diagnosed with M.S. (relapsing & remitting). My scalp has, over the last few months, become itchy followed by overall hair loss (no patches) and there is no dandruff – could it possibly be linked to the M.S.? Is there anything I can do to help the situation. I mentioned it to my doctor who said it was probably my age and there was nothing I can do about it.

This could be a chicken and egg situation. We know that Multiple Sclerosis causes paresthesia (numbness, tingling, or burning) and this may cause you to scratch it. Scratching it can cause hair loss. So in one of the scenarios, the MS can be the underlying cause of a process that leads to hair loss. There are many other things that can cause thinning hair, so you might want to see a dermatologist for an assessment of the hair loss.

Posted on

Itchy Scalp After a Hair Transplant

Hello i just want to ask you a question, i had a hair transplant about 4 months ago but lately i have been getting a itchy scalp and when i itch it, there are alot of flakes that come off. What could this be?

Healing can produce itching. You might consider applying conditioners that are made for dry skin and see if this solves the flaking problem.


2008-05-29 14:29:03Itchy Scalp After a Hair Transplant