Category: Age

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Will Propecia Only Prevent Shock Loss in Younger Men? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman,

You frequently mention the safeguard of taking Propecia to prevent shock loss. You also mention how shock loss is more frequent in younger men and so I’m left with the impression that Propecia will only help young men prevent shock loss. I’m 36. I seem to have stabilized my hair loss with propecia. If I’m a NW 3 and have been on propecia for 15 months, what are my chances of shock loss? Also, if I’m going for a mature hairline, how many grafts are needed for a typical NW3?

Thank you

I believe that Propecia can and does prevent shock loss in anyone having a hair transplant at any age (although nothing is 100%). The young man is most vulnerable to this complication. At your age, your chances of developing shock loss are slim.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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90 Year Old Woman Has Severely Itchy Scalp, Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My mother-in-law is 90. She has been having a severe itch problem, dry scalp, and loss of hair. She has been to Her family Dr. and to a Dermatologist and they just say it is dry shin. She has a Rx cream to apply. I’m mainly concerned about her scalp. It is so very dry. I have given her a treatment for conditioning the hair. Also had her use Selsun Blue shampoo several times. It doesn’t seem to be getting better and the hair loss seems to be getting worse. She scratches her head so much that she gets sores. Is this just part of getting older or some other problem? Dr. here haven’t helped much. Do you have an answer? We would appreciate any help you can give.

Thank you so very much!

In dermatology, there is a humorous anecdote when referring to skin problems. It goes something like this — “If it is dry, wet it; if it is wet, dry it.” I would focus on shampoos and conditioners that are made for dry skin. Sometimes, I recommend a good quality hand lotion be gently rubbed into the scalp. Then with a shampoo an hour later, wash off the scalp with a shampoo for dry skin, following by a conditioner for dry skin. See if this works.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Doctors Discouraged 19 Year Old From Using Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Im a 19 year old male,and for the past year and especially the past 3 months my hair has thinned and receded almost an inch. Ive always been told i just have a large forhead so i shrugged it off, now im scared because i am afraid to go out without my hat on and i dont like this. Ive started rogaine but i feel like its gonna be pointless cause of how much ive already lost, im not ready to suck it up and shave my head yet. Both my docter and dermotoligist told me its just bad genes and i got male pattern baldness and discouraged propecia and vitamins. Ive died it 5 times in the last year, and i plan on dieing it again, because the darker color makes it seem as though i hav e more hair, both docters told me this doesnt affect it. Ive always had long hair and im not ready to lose it, am i to young for a hair transplant.

If you have genetic hair loss, you should be on Propecia, so I disagree with your doctors. Without a doctor / patient relationship, I can not make a diagnosis, but 19 is not too young for Propecia treatment in genetic male patterned balding. You need to have your hair mapped out for miniaturization to determine the diagnosis. You are clearly too young to think about hair transplants, particular without getting some doctor first to take care of your hair loss with appropriate medications.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Teen Girl Losing Hair, Wonders If It Is Cancer – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Im a 14 year old girl and about 2 weeks ago I cut my hair myself. I always do so I didnt think anything wrong was going to happen. But now any time I run my hand though my hair I have like a hair ball and it’s starting to scare me because I used to have really thick hair. My mom has thin hair. Could i have cancer? My grandmother has a history of it.

Based on what you’re telling me, I doubt that you have cancer. If there is a family history of cancer (ovaries, breast, uterus) then you should find out if your family has the gene for such cancers. If that is the case, you can get checked out for the cancer gene as well. If it is not in the family, I doubt that you need to get the genetic test. I remember when I was in medical school, each and every time I found out the details of a disease, I seem to have developed the symptoms of that disease. Eventually, I learned to disassociate my learning from my life and I stopped getting the weird diseases. At 14 years old, cancer is unusual, but that is a matter you should discuss with your parents and your doctor.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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Hair Loss Information » 5 Year Old Daughter’s Hair Won’t Grow — What Can We Do? – Balding Blog

My 5 year old daughter’s hair will not grow. The sides (around her ears) grow longer than the very back and top of her head. We have tried trimming it, (she does not have enough to trim any more than an 1/8 of an inch at a time), we have tried shampoos to strengthen it etc. When I run my hands through her hair, it comes out. We have taken her to a local doctor who had no answers for us. She is almost six and we are scared that this is going to become an issue with her soon. We do not know where to go at this point? Any suggestions?

There are a number of genetic diseases that could be responsible. A good dermatologist should evaluate her. An example of a genetic disease can be read about here — Gene Glitch May Up Inherited Hair Loss.

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11 Year Old Girl Has Gray Patch of Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My daughter is 11 years old. We recently noticed a gray patch of hair along with a pink spot on her scalp. What caused this? She had braids this summer and it was not there. Please help because shse is being teased at school now.

Sometimes it is normal to have patches of hair that is different in color. I doubt it had anything with having braids. You may want to have your daughter seen by a dermatologist if you are noticing something different on her scalp. There may be a medical condition that may be causing the change in her scalp and hair pigmentation (such as ringworm, which is common in children).

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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7 Year Old Daughter Has Telogen Effluvium – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My daughter’s hair has been falling out since mid July. She is 7 years old, and other than her hair falling out seems perfectly healthy. Her pediatrician referred me to a dermatologist who said it was telogen effluvium. I cannot think of any event that could have triggered this. She had the flu in mid April and the hair started falling out in mid July. Could this be a cause? Does hair typically grow back? Do I have any options for her other than just waiting it out?

Sincerely,
A very worried Mom.

There is much written on the subject. You need to understand that there is much we do not know. The acute phase of the disease entity may disappear in about 3-6 months from the time of onset. If there is a chronic form present, it may last a great deal longer. Read the material below. Good luck!

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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I Have No Signs of Balding, But I Take Propecia Anyway – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 20 year old male with no sign of baldness or a maturing hairline. However, I have been taking Propecia for almost 2 months and I have noticed that just below my hairline I am starting to sprout hair.

Thank you for such a great blog!!!

If you ‘think’ that you may eventually developing balding, then follow your hair mapping yearly for miniaturization to find out if and when you start balding. If you tke the drug without knowning, you will never know if it has value until you stop it. Simply put, you should not be taking Propecia without a prescription, and you should not be taking Propecia if you do not have male pattern hair loss! Why give the drug company your money when you have no benefit to achieve.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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22 Year Old Just Had a Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 22 years old male and i have nearly lost all my hair keeping in mind its genetic in my family but i think it happened too quick to me. I started experiencing hairloss at about 17. now i have had a hair transplant done (at age 22). what will be the best thing i can do to prevent losing anymore hair?

One more thing is my transplant Dr told me that my transplanted hair will fall in 1 2 months and then regrow again, but the transplanted hair have already fallen (14 days after the surgery) with the dried out skin. please advise me on this thanks

You should be relating to your hair transplant surgeon face to face, not to an internet source like this for your reasonable and unanswered questions. The fallout you experienced is normal. Hair from the transplants should grow in 3-5 months.

To prevent hair loss, any 22 year old should be on Propecia. If your doctor did not put you on that drug (generic name is finasteride) then I might consider that to be malpractice (in the United States), as hair loss in a young man is progressive and often rapid after a hair transplant in someone of your age. For the man in his 20s who has a hair transplant and are not on that drug, the hair loss will almost always accelerate as you suggested that you have already experienced.

I am concerned about hair transplants at the age of 22. Did you seek out second opinion? What is the Master Plan for the long term? You and your doctor need to lock that plan into place, or you may feel abandoned if your hair loss progresses. Peace of mind is in proper planning and good communication between you and your doctor is as important as good surgery. Please arrange to meet with your doctor and get a long term plan from him/her that you can use as you get older. Find out what he expects will happen to you. You need to know that information, for it is critical to your future.

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Hair Loss Information22 Year Old Male Taking Avodart – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi ive been reading your forum all morning, and im really impressed by the site, if you replied to me it would be greatly appreciated. im a male 22 yrs old. and have been takin avodart for 4 months,my hairline is slightly receiding on the side but the front of my hair is at the right height my problem is my hair seems to grow longer, but continurs to thin. on the top. will avodart cause my hair to shed then grow back thicker? or will once its fallen out will it never grow back?? thanx 4 any response.

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It is my general opinion that you should not be taking Avodart (dutasteride). It is a powerful medication with a very long half life in the order of weeks/months (half life is the time it takes for a drug to be out of your blood stream). It is not approved or indicated for male pattern hair loss and more importantly, it has not been studied on young men who may potentially (intentionally or unintentionally) be fathers.

If a doctor prescribed you Avodart, you should discuss these matters with him/her.

With respect to growth and shedding, there is no way to tell or predict your rate of hair loss or the contributions of shedding as a cause of it (I suspect shedding is rare). At the least you may want a baseline study, so I would suggest that you map your scalp for density and miniaturization to objectively record the hair loss/gain.