Author: Dr. William Rassman

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationNot Hair Loss News – Energy Drinks Increase Blood Pressure and Produce Changes in EKG – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

The group aimed to see how energy drinks affect heart health, given that these drinks, along with dietary supplements, are not regulated as stringently as new drugs that must meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety requirements, Shah said.

In a literature search, they identified seven observational and interventional trials that evaluated the impact of energy drinks on QT interval, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Three studies with a pooled sample of 93 subjects had QT/QTc data. Six studies with a pooled sample of 132 subjects had blood-pressure data, and seven studies investigated heart rate.

The patients, who were all young (aged 18 to 45) and healthy, underwent ECG and blood-pressure testing before and just after drinking one to three cans of energy drink—most commonly Red Bull, but also others such as Full Throttle and Meltdown RTD. An 8.4-oz can of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine, compared with 35 mg of caffeine in a 12-oz Coke or about 100 mg of caffeine in an average cup of coffee, Shah said.

Block Quote

Read the rest — Energy drinks may prolong QT interval, raise BP

It’s not hair loss related, but it’s worth a post…

This is a study by Dr Sachin Shah, presented at the American Heart Association Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism / Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention (AHA EPI-NPAM) 2013 Scientific Sessions.

According to the report, the increase buzz may be the result of caffeine alone, but the changes in the EKG has not been explained and the relevance of it is not clear.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationCan I Have SMP in the Crown to Minimize the Contrast Between Skin and Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is your view on using SMP for someone with a fair bit of hair, fairly stable with propecia/minox for over 10years with a bit of thinning? Wanted to fill in the crown a bit to minimize the contrast of light brown hair and the scalp of a caucasian 42 yar old male? Is this a good solution and could it negatively impact a hair transplant in the future if need be?

Block Quote

Yes, it could have value if you already have some hair in the crown. Think long term -if you lose all of your crown hair, then the SMP will not work so well, but a hair transplant could solve that if and when that occurs. SMP works reasonably well in thinning hair.

If you would like a formal consult you can send your photos to hairdoc@newhair.com (it will be confidential) and I will reply with more clarity.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationAveda Invati Shampoo – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I was wondering if you have any thoughts on the new Invati Treatment for Thinning Hair (shampoo, conditioner, and scalp revitalizer) from Aveda. Supposedly it won’t regrow hair, but it will stop hair loss (at least that’s what they said in the store.) Sounds too good to be true. It also seems to be mainly targeted towards women, though they claimed it would work just as well for men.

Thanks!

Block Quote

I found the product’s page and have seen the commercials on TV. The site says it stops hair loss from breakage, meaning it does nothing for actual genetic hair loss, but rather, it may strengthen hair. I think you answered your own question about it sounding too good to be true. Having said that, if you want to try it, it is your prerogative.

Posted on

Do I Have a Juvenile or Mature Hairline at 26 Years Old? (with Photo) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, I’m 26 years old and was curious if I have a juvenile or mature hairline in my photo. My hairline has been the same since I was 16 or so by looking at past photos and I’ve had no hair loss or recession in other areas. The current length of it is 1/2in.

You have my permission to use for the site.

Block Quote

Thanks for your permission to post this. Click to enlarge:

 

This is a great picture because you wrinkled your brow, as I always ask my patients to include in their photo, is touching the highest wrinkle. If you follow the highest crease, that is where your hairline was when you were 7-9 years old. The corners are rising very slightly, but this is still in the Norwood class 1 category and I would consider this a juvenile hairline still.

There is a wide range between when your hairline hugged the highest crease to a fully mature hairline. What is noteworthy about your present hairline is that the mid-line ‘kisses’ the upper crease, which is clearly the same hairline you had in the middle when you were between 7-9 years old.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationCould Fasting 2 Days a Week Slow Down the Pace of Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr

There has been a lot of interest in the UK about intermittent fasting where an individual eats normally for 5 days a week and then fasts for two (not on consecutive days). There was a BBC horizon programme where it was shown to reduce IGH-1 (growth hormone) and improve insulin sensitivity. It is claimed that when a body goes into fasting mode the body starts to repair itself better by repairing cells rather than producing more cells. It was suggested that this may be beneficial to age related diseases, cancer etc.

Do you think this would slow down the pace of hairloss if insulin sensitivity improved and/or IGH-1 was reduced? Has research been done on this approach? Your thoughts would be appreciated

Block Quote

Genetic hair loss is not a disease. Balding is a genetic trait, like your height, body build, hair color, the way you look, etc. Even if this ‘fasting’ has value (which I would doubt), it will not change your genetics. Significant fasting can actually accelerate hair loss. You are what you are and although your patterned balding can be modified with drugs or transplants, your balding pattern is fixed in your genetics.

Posted on

Will Cloning or a New Drug Be the Next Treatment for Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr

Are there or have you heard of any new potential treatments for hair loss that we might likely see in the next 5 years or so? There doesn’t really seem to be anything new since the discovery of propecia and that was some time ago. In your opinion will it be hair cloning or some form of drug if there is anything on the horizon

Block Quote

There is a lot of activity with clinical trials going on, but we are not privy to them. We, like you, wait to see which treatments rise to the top. I couldn’t say whether cloning or a new drug will be first to rise, though. It all depends on the ongoing research and development.

Posted on

If Testosterone Peaks In My 20s, Why Am I Now Losing Hair at 40? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My question is about the link between DHT, testosterone, aging and hair loss.

If DHT levels are related to testosterone levels, and testosterone peaks at about age 18-22, how do we explain a hairline that does not even begin to recede until age 40? Does DHT increase with age? Do follicles become more sensitive to DHT with age? Is hair loss that begins at an older age caused by something other than DHT?

I will be turning 40. Up until about 1.5 years ago, my hair was very full – no signs of loss at all. Since then, it has gradually receded above the temples and it feels a little thinner on top. I’m not interested in Rogaine or Propecia, but I would like to understand what’s happening.

Block Quote

If you are losing hair (in a pattern), you probably have genetic balding. It generally happens in the early 20’s to the 30’s, but there are always exceptions to the rule (and it can happen in your 40’s and 50’s). In my opinion, it does not have to correlate with the levels of DHT, because it is programmed in your genes… and your genes will express your balding pattern as it was programmed to do. You can have very high levels of DHT and never go bald if you do not have the genes. Or you can have very low levels of DHT and still go bald because you do have the genes.

In the end, the best treatment for genetic balding in men is finasteride tablets daily to slow or stop the loss as long as possible (for those men with the genes for balding, so that DHT can be minimized). If you are not interested in the medical option (Rogaine/Propecia), then the surgical option would be hair transplants to address the corner recession.

Posted on

What is the “Leading Edge” of the Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr,

First I would like to thank you for writing this blog which has been very helpful to me. I was wondering what exactly you are referring to when you mention the “leading edge” of the hairline? Is that the center of the hairline just above the furrowed brow or does it include the whole “edge” of the hairline? Also I was wondering if it is possible that the hair thinning at my temples is just a sign of a developing mature hairline? Thank you!

Block Quote

If you believe you are losing hair on your temple area, you may have a component of genetic balding. I am not sure that dicing out the semantics of descriptive terms will help in diagnosing a condition. Leading edge just means the frontal edge of your hairline.

Send us pictures and with your eyebrows lifted enough that you crease the forehead and we (as well as the readers) can comments on your hairline location and appearance. Your question and pictures would probably be more suited for BaldingForum.com.

Posted on

Could Alopecia Areata Evolve to Totalis or DUPA? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been recently diagnosed with alopecia areata (one spot) and have had several HT session in the past. Recently been under a lot of work related stress. and my hair has been thinning all over event in the safe zone (I am 48 Years old). And the back of my scalp has a see thru appearance. So I am wondering if this is diffuse alopecia areata that could evolve to alopecia totalis or DUPA since my donor area is very thin?

Block Quote

Anything is possible, but not probable. Alopecia areata without any treatment often will resolve over time (which can take up to one year).

Posted on

I See Redness Above and Below My Strip Scar from 20 Years Ago (with Photo) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor Rassman,

First of all, thank you for your blog, it’s a huge source of information. I had a hair transplant over 20 years ago. It has not given me the result I was (naively) looking for. This is why I want to shave my head with a no guards clippers. Then I am looking to fill my scar with SMP to hide it. I took photos today as part of the consultation but I noticed I have small squares of reddened skin above and below the scar. Do you have an idea what this could be and would you have any advice to maybe soften it? You have my permission to use my photo.

Thanks and all the best

Block Quote

And thank you for allowing us to publish your photo here. Click to enlarge:

 

We routinely perform Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) at our office on a daily basis for the type of scars you have. In fact, most scars we see are worse than the one you show. I’m not sure why you’d still see any redness around the scar if you had your surgery two decades ago, though. A topical hydrocortisone might reduce the redness, but you should talk to your dermatologist about this.

If you would like more information on having SMP done, you can call our office at (310) 553-9113 or (800) NEW-HAIR for a consultation with a doctor. And for those interested in seeing a before/after example of SMP done over a strip scar, here’s one such patient:

SMP