Age – Page 45 – Balding Blog

June 14, 2006

My 9 Year Old Daughter Has Many Bald Spots – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman

My daughter has many bald spots on her head, we noticed this back in August of last year and it dosen’t seem to be getting better. I am at a loss as to what to do. I have had her saliva tested and put her on a vitamin and mineral regiment. She has also started to eat more vegetables at our urging to help with her problem. She is nine years old and has always been concerned with her appearance, I am very concerned that this will progress and affect her forever. Please send me any information that you think may help us.

Take her to a good dermatologist. Spots of hair loss are signs of something wrong like a fungal disease of the scalp or alopecia areata or a variety of other conditions. This is not the place for the amateurs (or even online opinions) and your daughter deserves a good professional opinion from an expert in person.

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June 5, 2006

16 Year Old With Receding Temples Wants Dreadlocks – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello, I’m 16 years old and I’ve been planning on getting my hair put into dreadlocks. I noticed my hair line near the temples were receding quite a bit. If I were to get my hair put into them would there be any negative effects?

Also, I had a blood test taken, and my doctor thinks that my baldness is down to my high testosterone levels and not much can be done for me, I told him about my real concern and I was told to take another blood test however focusing on different things. Is there anything that can be done to help regrow or prevent the baldness? I have been tempted to try certain products however I remain skeptical, what can you sugest?

Dreadlocks may put extra tension on your hair and may accelerate hair loss or produce traction alopecia (hair loss from pulling and tension is common with dreadlocks).
At 16 years old, your testosterone level should naturally be high.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of hair growth products out there. I am also a skeptic like you and I generally tell my patients that it is a “buyer beware” market. If you are concerned, have a good doctor map your hair for miniaturization and determine if you have early genetic hair loss and see if the doctor can predict the pattern of hair loss. I generally can do this in a young man at about the age of 25. Just remember that at your age, you are NOT a good hair transplant candidate and need to get the proper evaluation

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June 2, 2006

18 Year Old Has Extreme Dandruff – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My son has dandruff issue. After using several dandruff shampoos like Nizoral, Tegrin, Selsun,etc., the dandruff has not subsided. His hair loss is extreme. Even small hair are falling out. At age of 18 he is more balder than his dad.

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Your son should see a dermatologist for his ” extreme” condition. Genetic hair loss can be present in an 18 year old and he should have his scalp mapped out for miniaturization to establish the correct diagnosis. Dandruff usually does not cause hair loss. Without examining him I cannot advise you on why he is losing hair. He may (or may not) have male pattern hair loss, which is independent of dandruff. What you are calling dandruff could possibly be psoriasis. Get a professional to help here, in person.

May 30, 2006

Stressed 16 Year Old With Thinning Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m 16 years old, I first noticed my hair loss, probably early this year. I was worried, but not to worried as it wasnt that bad, and I figured it was natural for your hairline to shift. But I went the get my haircut and the guy cutting my hair told me I had “better brace myself for early baldness” that striked me as odd, because, while I knew something was happening with my hair, I didint realize that it was that noticable. I told my parents that I was concerned, but they pretty much brushed it off as me being paranoid. So I thought that maybe that was it for a while… then I noticed how much hair was on my hands everytime I shampoo in the shower, and no matter how long I do it there is always hair on my hands, and then on the towel I use to dry my hair. SO I begain to research on the internet, but I didint find anything that great, except for this site, and maybe a few others, the rest where just sites trying to sell miricle potions. I read up as much as I can on this. mainly the hair on the top and front of my head seems to be the hair that is falling out, and it almost looks like back of my head too, wear I part my hair, but I am un sure. I’ve become so self concious, and scared. I’ve spent many a night, laying awake in bed, almost in tears, trying as hard as I can to fiure out a solution. At first I was just gonna live with it and when I had to, just cut what hair I had left really short, or just shave my head all together, but when I really looked at it, looked at myself, that just wouldnt look good. There are men who can pull off being bald, and look great, but I just cant. I hate going to school and just looking around and seeing all these full heads off hair, and I’m sitting there trying as best I can to cover up my thinning hair. I look at it, and I dont care if I (in a perfect world) lost my hair in my 40’s or 30’s. My father is bald, his father is not, but his grandfather was, and my other grandfather on my mothers side is. I’m just very stressed out, and didnt know where to turn… some days I feel like “eh, just gotta live with it” while others I cant stand to look at myself, and mope around pretty much in tears. right now, I’d love to just get a hair transplant, I know I cant, but I wish I could, because from the things I’ve seen at other transplant websites, the hair is pretty much a natural head of hair, and it looks great. I appologize for this long, drawn out, and horribly put together thing, but while I write this, I’m extremeley stressed out about my hair. Well thanks for this blog, and helping us guys out.

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First you need to know that balding can start in the teen years. As I have said many times on this site, you need to get a diagnosis and have your hair mapped out for miniaturization and then you will know if you have just developed a fine hair (natural) or are thinning in the balding sense (many miniaturized hairs will be seen). If you have miniaturization, then you probably will follow the bald side of the family. There is good news here, because a daily pill of Propecia will likely slow it down or prevent it. At that point you could be doing something about it, but there is no point to worry about something that may not be. Your parents are like many of the doctors out there who do not really understand balding and its management. Show this blog to them, select particular sections on it and then get to see a good doctor who will map out your scalp as I have suggested here.

May 26, 2006

Why Is My Hair Falling Out At Age 14? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

what is premature genetic balding…?why is my hair falling out at age 14?

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Assuming you are male, genetic balding can be seen in the early teens, although it is unusual. There are other causes of hair loss as well. I would have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization to make the diagnosis. See a good dermatologist to get this done. If it is early genetic balding, the drug Propecia may help, but clearly you need a good doctor to manage your hair loss.

May 25, 2006

Taking Propecia at Age 57 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 57. Over the last 5 years I have suffered hair loss. I have consulted with three hair-loss experts. Two have said I should be on Propecia, one said at my age it will make no difference. Will it?

I have four elevated liver counts. I do not drink or smoke, nor have I ever smoked or drank. Will taking Propecia have negative effects on my liver?

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The value of Propecia should be determined after you have a diagnosis in hand for the balding process. How much miniaturizationdo you have as compared to balding? Propecia works well if the miniaturization process is well underway, but the hair still should have substantial volumes. With regard to your liver, what is your diagnosis as the cause of your liver problem? Doses of Propecia must be reduced when people have liver disease. I do not like internet medicine, because I like to see and bond with my patients. That is why you need a good doctor first, then a Master Plan to determine what to do next. Propecia may make a difference in the crown hair, even in a 57 year old.

May 23, 2006

Transplanting Hair on 74 Year Old Woman – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My mother who is 74 is experiencing hair loss. It’s in the range of your grade one that you show on your website. Anyway, she’s in wonderful health so we’ve ruled out any medical conditions that may cause hair loss. She was taking medication for her menopause (primpro) that she’s been off of for approx. 2 years now and isn’t taking any other medications that include hormones of any sort.

My question is..recently her and I went to a company here in Brea, California to see about transplants or any other methods of hair restoration. They told her that because of her age, the doctor wouldn’t even consider giving her transplants cause if the hair wouldn’t grow on the top of her head now naturally, it wouldn’t even if they did do the procedure. Is this true?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

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Hair loss in women needs to be evaluated first, from a medical point of view. If the loss is recent, she may have an underlying medical problem (such as eczema, malnutrition, autoimmune disease, drug reactions, infections, many other problems too numerous to mention). Then she needs to have her hair mapped out for miniaturization so that a diagnosis is made. With all of that in hand, you need to then make decisions. Medical health issues must be addressed first, then the doctor who maps her scalp for miniaturization (often a good ethical hair transplant surgeon or dermatologist) can make a decision about hair transplants. From the little you are telling me, I would guess that hair transplants may not help her. Her age is not the issue, for I have transplanted people as old as 89, but the value of hair transplants must be weighed so that the total picture is the patient, lifestyle, health, etc. The value should not be determined by how much money the surgeon makes, but how much value she would get from doing a hair transplant.

May 19, 2006

48 Years Old With Shock Loss After Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr Rassman
I recently had transplant surgery at a reputable office to combat thinning hair on top and a receding hair line. I am 48 years old. I was suprised by what I believe was a fair amount of shock loss around the graft areas given my age. I was not on propecia pre-surgery but began taking it a few days following the procedure after reading your column. Now I believe propecia can also cause shedding in the early months. Could you explain the difference between shedding and shock loss and what you believe I am experiencing. Maybe a combination of both.

Thank you

Milk It sounds like you experienced shock loss and if this is in the miniaturized hair, the hair may not come back. Treating thinning with transplants is not something I do often. In many people with miniaturized hair, transplanting into that ‘unhealthy’ hair does little to really increase the fullness. I believe that for most people like you, any benefit you will get in the long term may be lost in the short term, making transplants a poor decision. I would think that Propecia should have been used in advance of your hair transplant procedure just to minimize this risk. The transplants done may offset the hair loss and the Propecia may bring some of the hair back. Only time will tell. Once the glass of milk falls and the milk spills out, it may be impossible to bring it back.

May 18, 2006

Hair Loss Information » Hair Transplants for 21 Year Old Male – Balding Blog

I am 21years old and I am starting to look like my dad. According to your balding classification, my pattern is now like a a Class 4a pattern but my dad is a Class 6 or 7 pattern. I went to a hair transplant doctor and he said I was too young. I already have no hair halfway down my head, Would you transplant me?

First, you must recognize that this process is an important lesson in planning for both you and I. I believe that young men like you can receive surgery, but before that happens, you need to have a Master Plan that takes into account all of those elements that make a 20 year old different than a 26 year old or a 50 year old. These would be my criteria:

Propecia: I would want you to be on Propecia. Would you be willing to stay on it? I would want to know if you had any side effects from the drug.
Hair: I need to assess your donor hair supply and be sure that it meets your present and future need for donor hair over time. I would also need to know your overall hair and scalp characteristics as a hair transplant candidate.
Health: I would need to have a complete medical and psychiatric profile on you.
Maturity: I do not do surgery on anyone who does not do their research and understand what they are getting themselves into. I must be assured that you understand what is happening to you and what may happen to you as you continue to bald in the future. By the way, did you elicit the advice of others (parents, close friends, some older, wiser person)?
Finances: Have you lined up the financial resources to follow the surgery to a reasonable stopping point? What if the balding progresses to a Class 7 pattern?
Reasons: I need to know much about you — I’d need to know if your expectations are realistic and reasonable? What is the goal in terms of what you expect to obtain? I would want you to meet patients and understand just what you will look like if you had a hair transplant.

I must be sold on taking you on as a patient. I must have faith that you know enough about the process (over time) to appreciate the things I said above. Although I rarely do a hair transplant on someone under the age of 25 (I do some), the concept of your becoming a Class 7 balding man is the worst case for both of us. You do not have to become bald to get hair as that would be unreasonable on my part. Are you prepared to manage the worst case in a cooperative manner with me?

To state emphatically that you are not a candidate for a hair transplant is an unduly hard position. Each and every patient needs to be assessed individually, weighing all of the elements above (and everything else that is relevant) before any decisions are made. I try not make decisions about any of my patients on any one issue, including age. I want to get to know the person inside the head, well beyond what is evolving on top of the head.

May 11, 2006

White Hair at Age 23 – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 23 years old and have visible white hair. i know that this is an aging process and that scares me. i am a very physical athlete and i am worried if this aging is going to effect the way i compete. is this transformation independent from my bodies aging or am i doomed physically as well?

Graying hair is just a change in the way your hair cells manage pigment. This does not mean that you are going to get old sooner, that is, unless you see your body aging as well. Don’t worry, be happy!

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