Dr. William Rassman – Page 929

May 15, 2013

I See Slight Regrowth in My Temples After 4 Months on Propecia and Minoxidil – Balding Blog

After about 4 months on propecia and minoxidil I am experience a very slight start of regrowth in my temples! nothing major at all, but it would seem as if i will be able to sustain my current hair. In my temple region I have to types of hairs sprouting. One is thick and dark(like the rest of my hair)sprouting along the edges of my existing hair line. and the other is light and fine scattered through out where my hairline used to be. I was just wondering what I should expect, long term from these new hairs.

It takes a full 8 months or more to see real results from these medications. At 4 months, I would expect some small hairs from the minoxidil and minimal impact from Propecia. Be patient and wait at least 8 months, if not a year.

May 15, 2013

Stomach Pain and ED After Just a Month on Finasteride? – Balding Blog

I am a 25 year old male who recently quit taking quartered Proscar pills after only 1 month on them. I began experiencing dull, persistent stomach pain and what I believe to be erectile dysfunction.

In the past 7 days, I have achieved only one full-on erection. I have achieved a couple relatively weak erections in the morning, but none strong enough for vaginal penetration. My girlfriend and I have attempted sex about 4 or 5 times, and only been successful the once.

Is it possible that I have ED after only a month on finasteride? Further, is it possible that now, 6 days after stopping, I am still experiencing sexual side effects? I am open to the possibility that the ED issues are psychological, but I am extremely worried about how to regain my sexual ability.

Thanks for your help.

You should be asking the doctor who prescribed the medication. I would need a more detailed history that would be obtained if I saw you. Erectile dysfunction can occur in as short a time as a week and stomach problems have been reported in the form of nausea, bloating, and excess intestinal gas.

The medication is ‘fixed’ in the tissues for up to 1-2 weeks although it is essentially our of your blood stream in 24 hours. I would expect that if your ED is caused by the medication, it should go away when you stop the medication, along with any other side effects you might experience. It could also be psychological.

May 14, 2013

Interview with Dr George Cotsarelis Regarding His Research – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr Rassman.
Here is an interview from dc George Cotsarelis and his research so far. Link: Dermatology Focus (PDF file)

What is your opinion on this Dr Rassman?

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I really have nothing to add. Dr. Cotsarelis has written extensively and is doing some exciting research with great potential for solving the hair loss riddle.

For those that are curious to read the interview, it starts on page 1 and continues on page 11 in the PDF linked above.

May 14, 2013

Should My First Hair Transplant Be FUE and Save the Strip Method for Later? – Balding Blog

Excellent website. I have a question about FUE and strip surgery. I have read on forums and other hair loss websites that say its better to have a FUE transplant first if it is your first time getting a HT done rather then doing strip surgery. The strip method should be saved for any additional surgery that is needed or if you can in a second time. For some reason, they didn’t specify what type of surgery to get based on the size of the balding or number of grafts needed. I have read on this website that the larger the balding area the better it is to do strip because you can take out more grafts.

I am contemplating getting a surgery done, however, I am worried in the future my balding will progress and if I have to shave my hair in the future I don’t want a ’smiley face’ in the back of my head. Not to mention, if I need additional surgery and do choose to do strip again for some reason, I don’t want two smiley faces on the back of my head. I also wanted to add, I am 30 years old and have temple recession and a little thinning on my hairline and mid scalp. I know I will need a surgery in the future. I am on propecia so the crown has been holding well.

Take care.

For less extensive balding patterns in the Norwood class 3 range, either FUE or strip will get you where you want to be. If you start with FUE for a class 3, then you should finish with FUE. The choice here may be price of the procedure, as FUE is generally more expensive. The bond with the doctor you link with is also a factor. For the advanced balding patterns (class 5, 6, and 7), extensive harvesting with strip surgery is well understood with considerable experience in the hands of most surgeons. The FUE technique may not get you the yield in the 7,000+ graft range typically harvested with extensive restorations in some of the advanced balding patterns. I am assuming that the surgeon does not go outside the permanent zone for additional donor grafts.

For a graft yield in a Caucasian male, 5,000 – 8,000 follicular units may be an upper end for donor supply in FUE. The yield goes down in Asians and Africans, as the density is lower in these races. These numbers were calculated as follows:

The permanent zone contains 25% of the original hair. In Caucasians birth hair numbers are 50,000 follicular units, in Asians it is 40,000 follicular units, in Africans it is 30,000 follicular units. For FUE, the doctor can harvest no more than 2/3rd of the follicular units safely in the donor area in a Caucasian (that is 8,250 follicular units). If the density is higher than average for that particular individual, then the numbers can rise. For example, if a person is born with 60,000 follicular units (not uncommon in a Caucasian male with higher than normal density), then the surgeon may be able to harvest over 10,000 FUE grafts. That requires a high density birth hair presence which is present in less than half of Caucasians, rarely in Asians, and almost never in African hair type individuals.

May 14, 2013

Could the Atkins Diet or My Ankle Injury Have Caused My Rapid Hair Loss at 21 Years Old? – Balding Blog

I have really learned a lot reading your articles.

I am a 21 year old college student. About a year and a half ago I gained thirty pounds and in the last eight months lost 45 pounds, the bulk of which I lost the in the first four months through the Atkins Diet and intense working out. I also had a bad ankle sprain in the middle.

The past four months I have been experiencing shedding, rapid hair loss and a receding hairline. The front scalp has become very thin while the middle is still thick and grows normally. The right hairline has receded about one centimeter further than the left and I can also feel a bald spot, about the size of a nickel, on the right side of the back of my head. The scalp is very itchy and I find that after I itch that there is a white residue on my finger nails.

I feel like I am still young to have lost so much hair.

I still have relatively thick hair but it looks unnatural and frays to the left. Can this be tied to my weight loss, ankle injury or increased stress?

Acute weight loss can cause or accelerate hair loss. I would doubt your ankle injury had anything to do with your hair loss. It’s also possible that these things occurred coincidentally timed to your genetic predisposition.

As far as your nickle size bald spot at the back of your head, you need to see a doctor for this as there are many causes for such a problem. Without good pictures and an opportunity to examine you, there is little more I can say here.

May 13, 2013

Hair Loss InformationTED Talk: The Great Porn Experiment (with Video) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I watched a TED Talk recently that gave rise to many questions as to the actual percentage of sexual dysfunction/erectile dysfunction attributed to medications for hair regrowth. According to these scientific studies, hyper stimulation brought about by our internet lifestyle and in particular by pornographic images plays a major role in sexual desensitization that profoundly affects the intimate relationships with our partners.

I noted that the age group of men that had the most significant issues regarding sexual dysfunction aligned with the age group of men that sought solutions to hair loss and thinning with medications to prevent the fallout of hair.

I am not saying that the viewing of porn is to blame for all sexual dysfunction, only that there are co-factors that appear to significantly compound the problem. We wrote about a study that linked porn and ED a couple years ago here.

I have posted the video below and welcome your comments.

May 13, 2013

Temperament Change from Taking Propecia Reminds Me of Taking Antidepressants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am now about five weeks into taking Propecia and think that it has affected my temperament. (It reminds me a bit of taking SSRI anti-depressants some time ago.) I little wish to lose my hair and will in a little while decide whether or not I continue with this medication which I gather takes about three months to have a noticeable effect.

What interests me is knowing whether or not this sex hormone pharmaceutical is more or less severe in its side-effects than the female contraceptive pill which it reminds me of (I am a medical layman) in its operation?

Hope that you do not mind a question from outside the United States!

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There are mental side effects reported in a small group of individuals, much as you described. I’ve written about this many times before, including here, here, and here.

In one study, finasteride has been found to inhibit hippocampal neurogenesis in mice, which is related to emotional behavior. There are reports in humans with the higher dose (5mg) used to treat the prostate, and Wikipedia lists a few very tiny studies from at least 6-10 years ago that might point to a link between depression and finasteride in humans. This preliminary study from nearly 7 years ago suggests that patients with a high risk of depression should be prescribed finasteride with caution.

May 13, 2013

In the News – Do Redheads Have a Higher Skin Cancer Risk? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

The red in redheads’ hair is thought to put them at increased risk of the dangerous skin cancer melanoma, even if they don’t spend a lot of time in the sun, according to a new study.

Study co-author Dr. David Fisher and his research team first uncovered the apparent link between red hair pigment and melanoma last fall. That study used genetically altered mice that had been given a mutant gene that increased their risk of contracting the skin cancer.

Now the researchers are taking the next step: asking why the body’s creation of the red hair pigment — called pheomelanin — might prompt that risk.

Their new paper, published May 9 in the journal BioEssays, speculates that pheomelanin could increase skin cancer risk by leaving skin cells more vulnerable to DNA damage.

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Read the rest — Red Hair Pigment Might Raise Melanoma Risk: Study

May 10, 2013

A Few Hairs Are Weak and Wavy in My Otherwise Straight Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I’ve noticed that a few of the hairs at my hairline have become ‘wavy’ where as most of my hairs stand straight. Is it the case that these hairs are miniaturising?

They don’t appear to be thinner in diameter than the hairs next to them…but also don’t seem to grow as strong (i.e. they ‘fall down’ rather than grow straight up).

Thanks in advance.

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The weaker hairs you’re seeing could be miniaturizing, or it could just be that you’re seeing hairs in different parts of the hair cycle. Without seeing you, I have no way to know.

If you want to know if you have started the balding process, looking at one hair at a time is not the way to go. See a doctor who will measure your hair bulk in different parts of the scalp. Balding people (even in the early part of the process where you can not see any thinning) will always show a reduction in hair bulk.

May 10, 2013

Hair Loss InformationShould I Use Vaseline On My Eyebrow Transplants? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doctor, compare about eyebrow transplant and hair transplant. Which has higher success rate and why?

3-4 days after eyebrow transplant I have a very little crust and scabs. Is it a good sign? Do I have to use vaseline petroleum to my eyebrow right away after procedure?

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Hair transplant results are the same for eyebrow or scalp. The eyebrows tend to crust less, but the key to keeping crusting down is to use a good washing technique daily after the transplant. I have never recommended Vaseline petroleum after a hair transplant.