Author: Dr. William Rassman

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My Pharmacy Stopped Giving Me Propecia In the Bottle with Silica Packet – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been on propecia for about 10 years now with great results. Still a NW1-1.5. Just last year my pharmacy stopped putting my propecia in the original bottle with the silica packet/capsule to keep it fresh and block out humidity. They started putting it in those orange plastic cylinder bottles. So this past year I have noticed more hair thinning in the crown a bit and on the right side. I have been using this non original bottled propecia for about a year now and noticing thinning. Haven’t noticed much shedding but thinning though. This past month I went to a another popular retail chain and got propecia in the regular bottle with the silica packets/capsules in like how I had it before. I am noticing sheds now around 15-25 hairs but most of them are regular thick dark hairs. Maybe 5 of those hairs on thin miniaturized ones.

My question is was the non original bottle propecia pills destroyed by not having the capsules in it? Is losing 15-30 hairs a day in the shower a sign of propecia working again and I am going through a mini shed that will grow back as a start of a new treatments since the destroyed propecia didnt count as medication since they were not working? Are thick dark hairs a bad sign to shed compared to thin miniaturized ones?

I am so confused on what to do..Any help would be greatly appreciated

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SilicaI am not a drug manufacturer or a pharmacist, so I can’t speak with direct knowledge about pharmaceutical packaging. Silica packet are there to absorb moisture, so unless you are storing your medication in a sauna, it’s my opinion that it would not have much impact on the efficacy of the drug.

Normal non-balding men and women can lose 100+ a hairs a day, but I don’t quite follow the questions you posed at the end of your email. Losing 15-30 hairs in the shower doesn’t prove that Propecia is working or not. There is a big market for counterfeit drugs, even in good pharmacies, so you should be careful when buying these drugs.

With all that said, I am not sure if a Norwood 1 would really even benefit from Propecia, but that is another topic.

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Fun Time – The Tom Hanks Movie-Hair Quiz – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

From the article:

Tom HanksTom Hanks is in his fourth decade of being a national treasure. And when you’re around that long, you find yourself with a lot of very different parts — as in hair parts. From the rich, dark curls of his younger days to the short, hairline-showcasing look of today and all the weird beardy and shoulder-length ones in between, Hanks can make any cut look iconic. On the occasion of the Friday release of his new movie, Captain Phillips (short hair with a bonus goatee), this quiz tests how familiar you are with all of his past movie looks.

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Take the quiz — Take the Tom Hanks Movie-Hair Quiz

For the record, I got 10 out of 13. Many of them were just guesses, though.

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Not Hair Loss News – Higher Radiation Doesn’t Help Prostate Cancer Treatment – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Escalated-dose radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer did not significantly affect the frequency of biochemical or clinical failure compared with a standard protocol, a randomized trial showed.

Men treated by the standard radiotherapy protocol had a 5-year rate of combined biochemical and clinical failure of 21.43%, whereas the escalated-dose, or hypofractionated, protocol was associated with failure rate of 23.3%.

The incidence of late toxicity did not differ between protocols, but hypofractionated therapy worsened urinary function in men who had urinary problems at baseline, Alan Pollack, MD, PhD, of the University of Miami, and co-authors reported online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Read the rest — Higher Radiation Dose No Help in Prostate Cancer

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HairDX Showed I Had Only a 30% Chance of Propecia Response – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman, If you had a male patient who was 43 years old and is only approaching a Norwood 2A pattern, showed to have the balding gene based upon the HairDX testing and showed to have only a 30% chance to respond to Propecia based upon the HairDX, would you still advise the patient still continue taking Propecia. Also has father who is a NW7 and started balding at 18.

Secondly, would he still be a good candidate for a hair transplant to thicken the hairline even if he may not respond well to Propecia? My doctor advised me to continue taking the Propecia. Would you do the same?

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I am not your doctor and you need to discuss your treatment option with the doctor who ordered the HairDX test. Is a 30% chance a worthwhile investment for you to take a pill a day? You can discuss your risks and benefits with your doctor.

I would not know if you would be a good candidate for hair transplant surgery because I do not know what you want or what your goals and expectations are, as I have not examined you. If you indeed have a Norwood class 2A pattern of “balding”, I would doubt that you are a candidate for a hair transplant at your age, but I would have to see you (or at least see some good pictures) before drawing any conclusions.

Hair transplantation is an elective cosmetic surgery. If want to lower or thicken your hairline and change your look that is your prerogative, but your response to Propecia and your candidacy for surgery are not related. The hair transplant surgeon’s job is to guide you, give you realistic expectations, and an overall Master Plan.

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Hair Loss InformationI’m Taking Steroids for Chronic Sinus Inflammation and I’m Seeing Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(male)
Due to chronic sinus inflammation and infections, as well as mild asthma, I have been on Steroids (Prednisone and Advair 500/50) for about 5 years now. In that time I have experienced many minor side effects. One thing that has happened is hair loss. Not rapidly or in large quantities but progressively each day. Going way back in my family (both sides), we have been blessed with thick healthy hair and I carried that trait until I started getting sick and jumping on these drugs. I did some initial research online and discovered others who have either made the connection or question the connection to steroid use. Is this a path I should pursue? If I saw a hair loss specialist, would they be able to help determine cause?

Thank you for your advise.

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Corticosteroids in general can cause many systemic problems (not only hair loss), but hair loss from steroid use is not uncommon in those with the genetic hair loss gene. In general, hair loss in men is mainly from genetic androgenic alopecia without steroids.

You may want to note if your hair loss is diffuse or limited to certain areas. If you want a clear diagnosis, see a doctor.

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Rogaine Regrew My Hairline! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc

Just want to share a success story. I had my hair mapped for miniturisation, it was apparent that i was thinning in the temple region and starting in the crown area. I have been using 5% minoxidil ever since for about a year now and I have experience exceptional regrowth in the temple region(although the regrown hair is shorter than the rest of my hair-2cm long, the rest of my hair is 5cm long in the front). I heard that minoxidil does not grow hair there!

The regrown hair has covered the receding hairline making my hairline appear more full, I now have a mature hairline, could even be a lower than a mature hairline. I have just started propecia 40 days ago to maintain what I got on my head, at the moment i’m very happy!! By the way i’m 20 years old..

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Your results are terrific by your own description; however, at your age the pull of the balding process will be great, so the minoxidil and the Propecia you just started on may not hold the hair there forever (particularly lower than a mature hairline).

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Shady Hair Transplant Centers Require Research to Identify – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Where can I turn to if I feel like I was ripped off by my hair transplant doc? After looking him up on the web I am now not even sure he is a legit doctor.

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I’m not sure where this doctor (or fake doctor) is located, but if he is in California, then I would contact the Medical Board of California. They are looking for victims who have been harmed through unauthorized treatments, to come forward so that they can investigate and if appropriate prosecute doctors and clinics that break the law. Some people pass themselves as licensed doctors and their victims are reluctant to go to the medical board in many situations.

Here’s an example of a fake doctor that we’ve reported on before —

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Could I Develop Traction Alopecia From Touching My Hair Over and Over? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is it possible to develop mild traction alopecia from constant touching/feeling of the hair with your hands? Ive been touching my hair for over a year and I think it is thinner in certain areas where I touch it the most than it was a year ago. I cant seem to stop touching it. I really want to. The hair loss is only noticeable to me so I think if i stop touching now the hair might grow back in a few months. What do you think?

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I guess it depends on how much and how hard you are pulling on your hair. Touching your hair shouldn’t be an issue. If you have an issue where you cannot get yourself to stop touching your hair, it may be some form of an obsessive compulsive act and you should follow up with a doctor. In general, hair loss in men is mostly due to genetic androgenic alopecia (not traction alopecia).

Without an exam and medical history, I have no way to tell you what you have or if your hairs will grow back.

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I’m a Diffuse Norwood 6/7 at 21 Years Old – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I started losing my hair when I was only 13 years old and now at 21, I’m a very diffused NW 6/7. My permanent zone is also not as thick what it was used to be. My father and grandfather both have good density in their permanent zone but they both started losing their hair after mid twenties.

Does permanent zone of young MPB sufferer thin out too?

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You need to see a doctor and get a good diagnosis of your hair loss and its cause. You may have diffuse thinning (including your donor area) or you may just be a Norwood 6/7 with fine hair. I do not know this. Permanent zones do not undergo thinning with typical male pattern baldness.

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I’ve Colored My Hair for Years, But I’m Noticing It Has Less Volume and Thinner At the Ends – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
After two years of coloring my hair every 3 to 4 months I noticed that my hair is half the volume and is very thin at the ends. Also i have curly hair and now the ends are almost straight. I went to the dermatologist who made the test for hormones and everything is fine. My scalp itches a lot and is kind of oily. My hair is not oily, but if I massage my scalp my fingertips feel oily. The last six months my hair is not looking good, its very thin at the ends. And today is so itchy. Even itches my face and neck. Please, any advice? Thank you

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If your scalp is itching and your hair is thin, there is possible allergy or chemical damage from the coloring. But otherwise, hair changes in volume for many reasons, including age, abuse (coloring can be a type of abuse), nutritional causes, hormone changes, various skin problems and diseases. As well, drying or oily conditions may impact the hair quality.

I do not have the expertise in the area of skin conditions, so I am not the one to ask about that. It sounds like a possible allergy, but that’s something your dermatologist should’ve been able to determine. As you have already seen a dermatologist, your next step might be to see a good stylist who knows about programs to maintain your hair bulk better than I do.