Author: Dr. William Rassman

according to this actual study, masturbation can indeed increase levels of DHT which causes hair loss.

Link: Journal of Endocrinology – Endocrine effects of masturbation in men

A few things that should be pointed out:

• The study was performed over 30 years ago, with the article dating to 1976.
• There are no controls on sexually active men here.

I suspect that an active sex life will keep testosterone levels up and as DHT is a metabolic end point for testosterone metabolism, that means that DHT will rise. With that said, this does not mean that hair loss will result, and that is the point. The presence of DHT working on the genetically sensitive individual is what causes hair loss and I don’t believe that masturbation or regular sex will impact the rate of hair loss. Once again, I strongly believe that masturbating does not cause hair loss.

Do you actually believe there will be a stem cell breakthrough in the next few years doctor? I want to believe this, but I have come to see these predictions as moving timelines. It is very disappointing that science has not be able to develop more effective treatments for genetic hair loss. Progress has been at a stand still since finasteride. I want to believe that one day I can have my hair back, but I think it is just wishful thinking.

Yes, I believe that there will be some breakthrough, maybe not stem cell but possibly something else. There are many people working on drugs that stimulate the growth of dormant hair follicles and I believe that is where the breakthrough will come from.

 

I believe acne and dandruff and hair loss are related. They are all caused by cells that go through their cellular life cycle at much faster rates than normal. How can this be denied?

I believe Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are all related. They’re unexplained mysteries that can’t be proven. How can my claim be denied?

Honestly, it is very easy to deny something and much harder to prove something. Show me scientific proof and I won’t deny your theory.

Can you receive or do you recommend getting a hair transplant while on Accutane (isotretinoin)? My understanding is that the drug disrupts cell division and skin regeneration. Will this delay healing?

Yes, having a hair transplant while you are on Accutane it is not a good idea. You should wait a year without the drug ensure that the transplants will work and grow well. There is no point in spending money and your donor hair if you are not going to have good results.

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.

You said “The best way to avoid it is if you are taking finasteride and have significant eD, then stop the medications before it goes on too long.” That is not an effective risk management approach to avoiding post finasteride syndrome. Once a patient decides to take the drug, they should be aware that they are taking on a risk that they may permanently develop post finasteride syndrome. Your post creates the impression that they have the ability to minimize their damage once they start taking the drug which is not true.

I can only go by the experience of a small handful of doctors in the field who are honorable which probably represent experience with well over 50,000 patients combined together. We all stop the finasteride if the ED can’t be addressed by reduced dosages. In our experience of 50,000+ patients, we have never seen PFS in our practice.

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.