Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Garlic Gel for Treating Alopecia Areata?

For those of us with Alopecia Areata, – this study may be beneficial to you guys. The study is quite positive. Please read the link below:

Link: Local Study on Garlic for Alopecia Areata

Nice find and thanks for sending. I don’t recall seeing too much about using garlic as an alopecia areata treatment.

This was a small study of 34 people presented last year at a conference in Australia. It does sound interesting, and I found another small alopecia areata study discussing the use of topical garlic gel in combination with betamethasone valerate, but I don’t know that the study mentioned in the link you sent was ever published in a peer reviewed journal. While the article is from the Philippine Dermatological Society site, it just mentions that the presentation was by one of their members…not that it was published in a medical journal.

I am glad there are new alopecia areata treatments being explored, regardless of how stinky they may be. And it’s worth noting that a few years ago the NY Times wrote about unlocking the secrets of garlic for use in medicine.


2011-07-27 14:16:06Garlic Gel for Treating Alopecia Areata?

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Gene Identified to Solve Hair Loss?

From the BBC — Gene find triggers baldness hope

Hair loss in humans might not be irreversible, suggest scientists who have helped create new hair cells on the skin of mice.

We have all hoped that we could make new hair from stem cells or gene manipulation. It looks like we have moved one step closer to that goal.

More articles about this here —

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General Anesthesia for a Hair Transplant

Why can’t the procedure be done under general anesthesia, to avoid the shock loss associated with the local anesthesia and the epinephrine used with the local anesthesia?

General anesthesia has risks that local anesthesia doesn’t have (the death rate is about 1:20,000 people). In addition, hair transplants are very long procedures, and general anesthesia would cost a lot of money for 8 hours and put you at more risk than needed.


2020-06-04 20:08:40General Anesthesia for a Hair Transplant

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Generic Finasteride Approvals

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I have been reading some things on the internet and I’m confused about whether the FDA really approved a generic for Finasteride last summer. I thought that Dr. Reddy’s Finast was approved, but I am not seeing it available yet. Any news on this?

All pharmacies will now fill generic finasteride prescriptions of the 5mg dose. There appears to be two producers for this medication, one comes from India and the other from Israel. The cost ranges between $54 (at Costco) to as high as $90 at some pharmacies. These pills can be cut into quarters with a pill cutter.


2006-12-12 16:30:58Generic Finasteride Approvals

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Generic Hair Loss Drugs

Hello Dr. Rassman,
Well I am 23 year old student and I have been experiencing hair loss since I was about 22. My question is regarding dutas or the generic avodart that is made in India. Do you believe that this is a legitimate form of .5 mg dutasteride? Furthermore, I just order procerin and was going to take it in conjuction with the .5 mg dutas as a supplement as well as revivogen and tricomin. Do you recommend this and if not what do you recommend that I take to supplement the dutas. Thank you for your time.

I can not advise you on medications made off shore (India). The other supplements you discussed are not scientifically proven to my satisfaction. That does not mean that they do not work, just that I can not advise you that they do work. I generally stick to what I know works and that is limited to two approved medications Rogaine (or the generic form of it) and Propecia. The rest is up to you, the buyer.

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Generic Minoxidil Says Only Intended for Vertex

I purchased 5% Minoxidil from Costco and on the side of the box it explains that Minoxidil is only intended for the top of the scalp ( vertex only ) and will not work for receding hairlines or on the front of the forehead – is this true ?

I don’t have a problem with the top of my forehead or the back. I have receding hair line. If it is true, can you recommend what I could use to regrow hair for receding hair lines ?? I appreciate your help, thanks

The claims for minoxidil reflect the approved study that was submitted to get the product to market through the FDA. I am certain that minoxidil works on skin (best in the crown), but it even works on the face of women, putting hair where there was none before. Minoxidil is not my #1 choice for men with genetic balding. My preference is to treat the cause of the balding with a DHT blocker (finasteride).

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Generic Plan for Hair Loss

Could you send me a generic plan…I have been using propecia for two yrs.. might try avodart down the road but not until I hit the 5 yr mark. I would like to know what else I can do maximize .. keeping my hair… THANKS

If you’ve followed the many questions and answers on this blog, you will see that there really is no ‘generic master’ plan. The doctor must create a full map of your scalp loss status, the degree of miniaturization of the hair at each point on your scalp showing the balding and thinning area so that the progression will be clearly defined. As you move from class of hair loss to another, you need to have a good doctor who UNDERSTANDS exactly where you are and where you are going. Then and only then, can you have a plan customized for you and modified as you get older and progress with the hair loss that is a certainty in the years to come.

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Generic Propecia (1mg Finasteride) Now Available in the US?

Snippet from the press release —

Drug firm Dr Reddy’s Laboratories today said it has launched its generic Finasteride tablets used for treating male pattern hair loss in the American market.

The company has launched Finasteride tablets in the strength of 1 mg in the US market on January 2 following the approval of its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) with 180 days of marketing exclusivity, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said in a statement.

Read the rest — Dr Reddy’s launches tablets to treat hair loss

So it sounds like Dr Reddy’s has a 6 month exclusive window to sell their brand of generic Propecia before other pharmaceutical companies can legally make their brands for sale in the US.

I’m not sure if they’ll keep the Finax name they were using to sell 1mg finasteride in other countries or if they’ll go with something new, but if anyone out there has picked up some of their 1mg finasteride, let us know in the comments!


2013-01-06 10:29:49Generic Propecia (1mg Finasteride) Now Available in the US?