Category: Age

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Does DHT Supression Have Negative Effects? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

I will try to keep my inquiry short. I am 23 and have been taking propecia for 15 months. I do not think that I have regrown hair and due to my obsessive practice of frequent checking, it is nearly impossible for me to tell how much hair I have kept or if I am continuing to bald. While I do not have a bald spot and have no discernable loss along my hair line, my crown has thinned significantly. I have read your posts regarding dutasteride. I am under the impression that you do not perscribe it. I have reached a point where I am desperate for hair regrowth and I would like to try the drug. My concern is regarding the supression of nearly all dht in the body. I am a natural bodybuilder and concerned that supression of DHT will have a negative effect on my muscularity. I cannot find an article or study relating to this specific inquiry. If you could help me I would greatly appreciate it. Additionally, I have actually visited your los angeles facility and impressed by the professionalism of the doctor I spoke with, he informed me that I would not, at my age be an acceptable transplant candidate.

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I do not know for sure, but I would suspect that the testosterone levels will increase to substitute for the DHT drops in effectiveness. Now with that said, you should be evaluating the degree of miniaturization to find out what is happening. In addition, I have no idea where your hair loss pattern is now, so before you jump into more drugs and act blindly, get the assessment properly done.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss in Child? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My new doctor recently told us that my 3 year old step-son has alopecia. She didn’t get into specifics with it but said that his condition seemed to be improving on it’s own. He has a bald spot on his right side and it was really bad in January when he first moved in from living with his mother. Is it possible malnutrition caused his hair to bald? He was also extremely underwieght according to another doctor?

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There are many causes of hair loss including fungal and bacterial infections. In children, fungal infections are not uncommon. Malnutrition would be unusual, particularly without dieting. Included are other conditions of genetic origin such as Alopecia Areata. If it is going away on its own and your doctor already has seen it, is involved, and is comfortable with your step-son’s situation, then just wait it out.

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Hair Loss Factors in 18 Year Old – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,
I am very concerened about my hair. I am 18 years old and I noticed that I could slightly see my scalp through my long hair about a year ago. I have been taking propecia for about 4-5 months and just recently I’ve been seeing my scalp more. Is this due to my recent routine of using head and shoulders dandruff shampoo every other day? or is it that there are more bathroom mirrors with lights above them? or is it my unhealthy diet from college food? or a mixture of everything? I also notice that I see a lot of scalp when I get out of the shower and my hair is wet. Please e-mail back. I’m really worried. Thanks a lot.

There are numerous causes for hair loss in your cases, like male balding pattern, stress from school, and dieting. You must realize that you can normally lose up to 100 hairs per day. I am not convinced about shampoo causing your hair loss.

You need to read the many entries here for hair loss in young men (see Age category). There is no substitute for getting evaluated by a good doctor who will map out your head for miniaturization and make a diagnosis for you. Do not be foolish and try to save pennies while you lose your valuable and irreplaceable hair. See a good doctor ASAP. Since you are in the Los Angeles area, it would be a good idea to call 800-NEW-HAIR to setup an appointment at my L.A. office if you’d like a free evaluation.




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Bio Matrix, Extreme Hair Therapy, and High Pressure Sales – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have recently turned 21 years old, and have been out of school last semester saving for some kind of solution to get my hair back. I have visited Bosley and Hair Club for Men (HCFM). Bosley was very cordial and did not pressure me or get me to sign a contract during my consultation or anything. They answered my questions at the time and left me with info and the consultant’s card. HCFM on the other hand views me more as a walking dollar sign rather than someone with a concern. I visited them 3 weeks ago and I still get calls from the consultant or salesman, I should say 2 to 3 times a day. I walked in, watched a tape, and then he told me I was too young for transplant surgery and he recommended the all new “Bio Matrix Transplant”. Within minutes he hustled me into signing a 3500 dollar contract. I called the next day and cancelled after reading more about it. Its basically a wig, which disgusts me. Anyways, then I met with him again to talk to him about EXT Extreme Hair Therapy. He said it was the same price as the Bio Matrix thing, which I think is a lie because I can’t imagine vitamins, shampoos, and monoxidil can cost over 3000 dollars for a years supply!!! It is my firm belief that he works on commission, and that is why my voicemail has 10 messages on it right now.

I tell you all that to say this: I need a good doctor to speak with to give me honest answers and someone who can give me the best route to go with this thing. I go to you because I read from this site and see how much knowledge you have and know you are trying to help and educate people, and I appreciate that.

My hair loss started probably at age 17 or so. I have no “bald” spots but my hair is thin on top now and would like to get it back to the way it was. I believe doing something now will help since it is still early. People can see through to my scalp. I used to spike the front of my hair and now I comb it forward and cut it short to try to hide the thining. Is hair transplantation out of the question, is hairgenesis an option, and perhaps is HCFM’s EXT an option? Please give any help you can as I am looking to act now with whatever solution necessary. Also if you can direct me to a good ethical doctor in my area that would be awesome!!! I will supply before and after pics in another email another day when I have access to a computer. I am typing this on my sidekick2. I am also curious about your thoughts on procerin. Looks like a good product. Thank you for your time and I appreciate what you are doing on this site!!

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I have heard horror stories about hair salesmen in the past and yours is, unfortunately, very typical. Commission sales are the driving force for the free enterprise system we live with. Car salesmen also get to me in a similar way, so I hate buying a car just because I do not want to deal with the saleman. I absoletely believe that salesmen should not be turning men into victims and certainly salesmen have no place, absolutely no place, in a medical practice.

Take a look at my post yesterday titled The Truth About Cheap Hair Transplants, for it goes into the entire process of shopping for hair restoration. Also, see the post on Hair Club for Men from earlier today. As you are aware, you need a good doctor, but to be more specific, you need one who can map out your scalp and give you a good diagnosis. Young men often can reverse genetic hair loss by using Propecia. Go to the ISHRS site to find a good doctor in your area.

Hair loss from age 17 to 21

We generally do not like to transplant young men, but according to your pictures (thank you for granting me permission to post them), the pattern you show is classic male patterned genetic hair loss. Your scalp needs to be mapped out for miniaturization. If you do have genetic hair loss, this is best treated with Propecia first. Allow the drug 8 months to have a good chance to reverse or at least stop the hair loss. With a good doctor managing you and understanding where you are coming from, a hair transplant is possible if you do not respond to Propecia, but you must have a good assessment of your donor supply and your final pattern should be estimated prior to considering a hair transplant. Also, the issue of your maturity, your financial ability to follow the process, and a worst case look at your Master Plan must be commanded by you in advance of such decisions. I would love to get to meet with you, so if you plan on a trip to California on a discounted airline, you might be surprised at what you will learn and find it of great value for the trip. The consultation is free.

Oh, and in regards to Procerin, please see my previous comments here.

Good luck.

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Hair Loss InformationIs Bosley the Best Hair Transplant Place? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey doc, I have just found your website and have enjoyed it tremendously. I am 23 and have noticed my hair thinning since I entered college at 18. I tried Propecia but grew impatient. I wish I would have stuck with it but I chose to stop. I have lost enough hair now that I am fairly thin on top and towards the front. I was curious if you would recommend a transplant for someone so young. I am on the bubble about this, but I think that for my mental well being and career that really it is my only option. I am constantly unhappy with my looks and miss dating a lot. Truly the only real thing holding my back is the price, I would do it tomorrow but I just truly do not have enough saved. I think I would need extensive graphs to restore what I have lost. I have only looked into Bosley because it is the most popular and respected name. Would you recommend them or should I look elsewhere? I am very afraid of a poor surgery where I come out looking like a fool for the rest of my life because of some doctors weak job on my head. Thank you so much for your time.

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You must be careful that you are not body dysmorphic. Dating and hair loss relate with regard to self-confidence certainly, but losing your hair should not be an excuse to stop living. Your points about career, mental well being, dating, happiness, (I can go on and on) are good reasons many people try to either hold on to their hair, or if they can not or have lost it, they can get it back with good medications or hair restoration surgery. Now with that said, you need to first get a diagnosis established, your scalp mapped out for miniaturization and the pattern of hair loss that you may develop. Many good medical hair restoration practices, such as Bosley or NHI, can supply a good working diagnosis for you. It is important that you find a hair restoration clinic that you feel comfortable with, and that you feel will give you the results you are looking for. I would not go somewhere based solely on marketing. Do your research.

There is much in this blog about how to shop for hair transplants (my lengthy post from earlier today, The Truth About Cheap Hair Transplants, is a good start), because budget minded people need to understand the entire shopping experience. With a diagnosis in hand, you may find out that you can reverse it (if you have it) with something as simple as Propecia (one pill a day), which works well for many young men. Be careful of the sale pressures to make you buy a hair transplant before you do your comparative shopping and before you know what is wrong with your hair. Knowledge is power, and you as a buyer are very powerful in determining your fate and the status of your hair for much of your life.

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Hair Loss InformationStarting to Lose Hair at Age 19 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, I am 19 years of age. Over the past year I have found that I have lost alot of hair. All my life I have had thick hair. my whole family has relatively high hairlines, even my 13 year old brother. I have always had one although there was always alot of hair around the hairline. In recent months my hairline has been receeding noticably and I have found that hairs have come out when showering, sometimes just randomly in the day, and I find them in my mouth. There are no patchy bald spots. However the hairline is extremly thin and around the crown it has also thinned out. Even the hair at the sides do not feel half as weighty as they used to. I used to badly need a haircut every two weeks, now although I still do at times, it is more in the vain hope it will make my hair look better. It is whispy looking on top also. I also find my scalp feels odd although this could be in the mind. It has all happened suddenly.

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You need to have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization to determine if you have genetic balding. If you do, it will follow a pattern much like those shown on the Norwood chart, as your hair starts to thin in these patterns before it becomes bald. Over 50 years ago, General MacArthur said, “Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away”. I will rework his quote by saying, “Hair never dies, it just fades away”. Some day, when hair cloning starts up or we figure out the missing link in the pathway that stops the hair from cycling in the normal manner, we might be able to revive those hairs that are present even in the baldest of men, but at age 19, lets start to crawl before we walk. Don’t live in fear of what may not be. Get a good doctor to diagnose you and then treat you appropriately, if treatment is needed.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss in 14 Year Old Girl – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi, im 14 and i noticed that my hair is getting real thin.it used to be very thick and i was wondering if i have a disease or something..i told my mom but she doesnt know what it is and i just want to know if its just getting thin for no reason or if its something more serious.

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There are many causes of female hair loss. You need to see a doctor, because many of the causes of hair loss in a girl of your age may reflect a medical condition that needs to be treated. You and your mom should read through the Female Hair Loss category of this site to see my other commentary about hair loss in women.

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Hair Loss InformationTeenage Female with Thinning Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi I am 17 years old. I’m going to be 18 in 2 months. I used to have very thick, long, black and beautiful hair. Over time it started thinning. I dont know why. Is it that Im not eating enough vitamins? Or that I dyed my hair? I’ve dyed it about 5 times my whole life. I also blow dry and straighten my hair. Is that bad for my hair? I really want my long thick hair back. Will it grow back? What can I do? Is there anything I can take to make it grow faster?

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You need a proper examination of the scalp looking for miniaturization. First you must rule out that you are not early in the female genetic hair loss course. Then, if positive, you need to have your overall health checked out, looking for a variety of hormonal issues and diseases that can cause hair loss. If you do not have miniaturization or other causes of hair loss and hair thinning, then you may be having changes into a new adult hair type. Some people as they mature from teens to adults, will change their hair character. Sounds like you need a good doctor to point you in the correct direction.

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Genetic Balding in Family History – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, Im a 16 year old male and i have been experiencing frightening thoughts of a receeding hair line. My hair is currently around 40cm long from the root. Not so long ago I looked in the mirror to notice that my hair was slightly more blonde amongst the corners from my temples up, and the hair seems thinner and smoother. Im probably guessing it is from wearing my hair tight in a bun. There is no form of genetic balding in my family. Is this a Form of balding that can be overcome?

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It sounds like you could have traction alopecia which occurs when one braids his/her hair tightly, causing continuous traction, which over time will cause permanent hair loss. The actual pattern of hair loss will be helpful to view so send me a photo and I can tell you from that (wrassman@newhair.com). Alternatively, receding hairlines in men as they mature is a normal part of the aging process, most notable between the ages of 18-29.

Please note that genetic balding may skip a generation or two, so it is possible that you have a genetic predisposition to lose your hair. I recommend that you see a doctor that specializes in hair, so that he can evaluate you in detail, looking for miniaturization to determine if there is any balding process going on.

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Bald for 20 Years – Will Propecia Work? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m 43 and completely bald except around the side of my head-I can grow hair everywhere on my body except the top of my head-lol! I’m wondering if Rogaine or Propecia has worked on guys that are already bald and I have been since I was 22 or so

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Going on Propecia or Rogaine may help prevent further hair loss, but if your skin is smooth and the depth between the skin and the skull is very shallow (atrophic skin), these medications will probably not cause you to grow hair on your ‘runway’. The reason is that when the supportive blood vessels, fat, muscle, glands and nerve tissue atrophy and die off, there is little to stimulate with these medications. If your hair loss process is stable and meets the above criteria, then there may be no point to medications. If your hair loss is not stable (some small hairs are still there and the scalp is not atrophic) then these medications may help. If your fringe area is dropping , then Propecia may stop its migration downward (to your ears). I doubt that minoxidil will have any impact, but you could try it. Propecia or Rogaine will not strengthen the follicles that have already shriveled up and disappeared, but they may help hold or regrow whatever follicles are left that are in the miniaturized state.